By the time you walk into Your Gym Bestie, it’s clear this isn’t a typical fitness space. Music from different cultures fills the room, conversations flow between English and Spanish, and individuals of all backgrounds lift weights side by side. At the center of it all is Robbi Dominguez, a Latina personal trainer and small business owner who has turned her passion for fitness into a welcoming community hub.
Dominguez is the owner and head trainer of Your Gym Bestie (often called YGB), a boutique gym in Madison that focuses on strength training, confidence, and connection. While the business officially began about six years ago, its roots go back to Dominguez’s own fitness journey.
“I was just a member at the gym at first,” she said. “I had my own transformation, and women started asking me what I was doing. That’s when I thought, maybe this is something I could be really good at.”
At the time, the gym was owned by someone else. Dominguez began by teaching a class or two, gradually becoming the main trainer. Eventually, she took over the space entirely, launching her own LLC and rebranding the gym as Your Gym Bestie. Today, the space, equipment, and business are fully hers.
(Photo supplied.)
Starting and growing the business wasn’t easy, especially with the challenges of COVID-19 and the realities of entrepreneurship. Dominguez juggled multiple jobs —waitressing, office work, and training— while building her client base.
“Everyone talks about the glamour of owning your own business,” she said. “But nobody talks about quitting a nine-to-five to work 24/7.”
Despite the hurdles, YGB slowly grew. What once looked like one or two clients scattered throughout the week has become a nearly full schedule. Dominguez now trains clients from early morning to evening and offers multiple weekly classes.
What sets YGB apart is its intentional focus on accessibility and inclusion. As a bilingual Latina trainer, Dominguez works with clients who might otherwise feel uncomfortable or excluded from traditional gym spaces.
“I have women who only speak Spanish training alongside women who don’t,” she said. “I’ll switch between Spanish and English during class, and everyone just follows along. I love it.”
Dominguez is especially intentional about creating a safe, non-intimidating environment — something she herself once struggled to find.
“I didn’t feel comfortable in big gyms,” she said. “So I wanted to create a space where women, especially Latinas, feel at home and empowered.”
Her training philosophy goes beyond appearance. While she once focused more on weight loss and aesthetics, her approach has evolved.
“Now it’s about how you feel,” she said. “I want women to work out because they love their bodies, not because they hate what they see in the mirror.”
That mindset shows up in the gym’s atmosphere. Dominguez describes it as a safe space and a true community — one where people laugh, cry, swear, and support each other.
YGB offers personal training, semi-personal training for small groups, and affordable classes that mix strength training and high-intensity interval training. Classes are $20, and Dominguez also offers an introductory personal training package of four sessions for $100. She works closely with clients to accommodate schedules and budgets.
“I don’t think fitness should be a privilege,” she said. “I don’t turn people away just because they can’t afford something.”
Beyond the gym, Dominguez collaborates with local businesses and organizations, hosting community events and supporting initiatives like toy drives and neighborhood programs. She’s also beginning to expand into virtual training and hopes to eventually bring additional trainers into the business.
For Dominguez, the long-term goal isn’t just physical transformation — it’s confidence, mindset, and lasting impact.
“I’m not just coaching reps,” she said. “I’m coaching confidence.”
True to the gym’s name, Dominguez sees herself as more than a trainer – “I really am your gym bestie,” she said. “I’m in your corner, pushing you, supporting you, and believing in you.”
