María’s journey from Michoacán to Madera is more than a story of building a successful fitness studio. As it gradually progresses you start to see how having a nurturing community, resilience, and faith while following your passions can greatly pay off.
Her story goes to show that no matter how many setbacks you face, if you believe in yourself and your vision, you can always rise again.
María’s story begins in Michoacán, Mexico, where she cultivated a love for the active life long before she even considered it as a career. “I never played sports, but I’ve always loved exercising. Not for the looks, but for how it made me feel–mentally and emotionally,” María shares.
She later made a life-changing move to the U.S. in her early twenties, and like many immigrants, María faced the challenges of building a new life in a country where she didn’t speak the language.
Her first job in the U.S. was as a housekeeper, a humble start for someone with a degree in law from Mexico. But no matter the job, she was determined to do better for herself which saw her quickly transition into a nanny role, where she worked for an American family with four boys.
It was in these early years that María learned the value of perseverance and adaptability, all while studying English and slowly finding her footing in her new country.
María’s true fitness journey began almost by chance. After joining her husband's gym and regularly attending workout sessions, María became intrigued by a spin class she watched from the sidelines.
One early morning, she took the plunge and decided to join the 5 a.m. session, and from that moment on, her love for spinning was cemented. The experience was transformative for her. “I left that class feeling amazing. I fell in love with the bike, the vibe, the music,” María says with a passion that is still evident today.
That feeling never left her, and from that moment, she knew she wanted to share it with others. After several years of personal dedication, María decided to take a step further by becoming a certified spinning instructor. What started as a simple desire to feel good quickly turned into a mission to help others experience the same joy she found on that bike.
Starting small was never a deterrent for María. What began with a single spinning bike in her garage eventually grew into something much larger.
After moving to Madera, California, María brought her fitness equipment along, and soon enough, word began to spread. Neighbours and friends were curious about her fitness regimen, and before long, María was inviting them over for spinning sessions in her home.
But getting the community interested in spinning wasn’t easy. For six months, María offered classes in a small martial arts studio where her son trained. “Nobody came,” she admits, laughing about how she once thought spinning might not be for her town.
But she remained patient, and eventually, her perseverance paid off. Slowly, one person turned into three, then five, and soon, María’s classes were filling up. With more bikes and more members, Xtreme Fitness Madera was officially born. But she didn’t stop there.
With her first group of regulars, María began expanding her offerings. From three bikes, her class sizes grew, and soon she needed a bigger space. She moved her operation into a small gym and worked tirelessly to grow her business. But the journey was far from smooth.
The road to success wasn’t without its challenges. As her studio started gaining traction, another local gym noticed María’s growing following and tried to swoop in. They began offering to merge businesses, but María knew something didn’t feel right. “I didn’t like the vibe,” she says bluntly. “It wasn’t what I wanted for my business.”
She chose to trust her gut and made the difficult decision to walk away from that opportunity.
Despite the business growing, life had other plans for María. Personal challenges, including a difficult divorce, forced her to shut down her spinning studio in 2016. The pain of watching her business–something she had built from scratch–fall apart was almost unbearable. “It was like seeing my baby being torn apart,” she says, reflecting on the emotional toll.
But María is nothing if not resilient. Even when everything seemed lost, she held onto her faith. For a full year, she remained patient, believing that if this dream was meant to be, it would find its way back to her. “I always said, if this is for me, God will give it back to me.”
After a year away from the fitness world, María’s heart still longed to return. “Every day, I was talking to God, asking for strength,” she recalls. And just when she thought all was lost, an opportunity came knocking–her old studio space was available for lease again.
With little money and no equipment, María took a leap of faith. She signed the lease, even though the space was in disrepair. “There were no floors, and I didn’t have any connections for equipment. But I knew I had to do it,” she says.
Slowly, she rebuilt her business, this time with more determination than ever. And just like before, her community showed up. Clients returned, eager to support María and her vision. She started small again, with just a few bikes, but eventually expanded into a fully equipped gym offering a variety of classes beyond spinning.
Through it all, María’s son has been by her side. “I wouldn’t have done any of this without him,” she says, beaming with pride when talking about her son. “He was so patient, even when I worked late. This business is as much his as it is mine.”
María’s studio offers more than just spinning. She’s expanded to boot camps, conditioning classes, and even spa services to help her clients rejuvenate.
Her philosophy is simple: health isn’t just about fitness; it’s about balance. “Your body is your temple. You only get one body in this life, so you have to take care of it,” she stresses. And taking care of it means more than just working out—it means resting, eating well, and finding peace.
María knows each of her clients by name, checks in on them when they’ve missed a class, and creates an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. “People come here because they have a need,” she says. “They walk through those doors with something heavy on their hearts, and my goal is to help them feel lighter when they leave.”
It’s this personal touch that sets her studio apart. “It’s about more than just fitness,” María emphasizes. “It’s about creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and supported.”
María’s faith in God carried her through the darkest times, and it’s what continues to guide her today. “Faith is the key,” she says with conviction. “I always tell people, it doesn’t rain forever. One day the sun will come out bright and shining.”
Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there’s always hope. And with faith, family, and a lot of hard work, you can always rebuild.
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