P+E Wellness’ Piseth Sam helping a customer.

By Mina Rose Morales

A queer, nonbinary immigrant of color and a queer woman co-founded a Somerville-based boutique fitness studio to provide a safe space for marginalized groups in the community to work out.   

Emily Kaplan met Piseth Sam at their previous job. Kaplan worked in human resources while Sam was a trainer. Shortly after Kaplan left the company, Sam was let go. Sam attempted to find a job as a trainer at smaller gyms but found no luck. They decided to open a gym together.

Piseth Sam lifting weights.

Sam said, “We didn’t feel comfortable going to a commercial gym. So, we were like, ‘if we don’t feel comfortable and this is our space that we know how to engage with how are other people similar to us or have parts that reflect identities that we identify with, how could they come in and feel good about engaging in this space you know?’”

Sam was born in a refugee camp on the border of southern Thailand and northern Cambodia. They were raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Sam’s been in Somerville for about 10 years. “This area now feels like home to me,” said Sam.

Kaplan grew up in Reading, Massachusetts. She’s lived in Somerville for about 10 years. She is studying food and nutrition policy and programing.

“There is something very special about this area,” said Kaplan.

 Kaplan and Sam were one of many small business owners who received a grant from the American Express Co. They gave grants to underrepresented and economically vulnerable small business owners and entrepreneurs. The grant is for their “pay it forward” fund, which they use explicitly to offer low cost no cost classes.

Emily Kaplan exercising after the interview. — Photos by Mina Rose Morales.

“We had these experiences of discrimination. Often out right being asked out while we were working out, often being stared, and ogled. These experiences that didn’t make us feel comfortable being in a space that was open to everyone and that’s just unacceptable. It’s not ok to feel unsafe while we were working out and so we really wanted to address that problem,” said Kaplan. Sam responded, “Right.”

They opened P+E Wellness online in January 2021. They had held workout classes in their driveway in May 2021. They installed their equipment onsite in December 2021. In late January 2022, they had their grand opening and have been in business since then.

“We were like OK, if we don’t feel good, we need to make a space. We need to make a space where women can come in … or however they identify … and not get stared at, not get unsolicited advice, and feel like you can own these weights. That’s really what propelled us,” said Sam.