Me when someone asks about weight loss coaching 👆
I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with being fat.
Your body is not a problem to solve. It’s not a before picture. It’s not a project that needs fixing before you’re allowed to feel good in it.
What is a problem is living in a world that treats people in bigger bodies like they’re less worthy—and then calls that “health.”
Because here’s the thing: health is not defined by your weight.
When people start moving their bodies, building strength, and actually supporting themselves, their health markers improve—cholesterol, heart health, strength, endurance—all of it. Weight change or not.
And on the flip side, being thin doesn’t automatically mean healthy. You can’t tell someone’s health by looking at them.
I also won’t ignore the harm that dieting can cause. A significant percentage of people who diet develop disordered eating, and eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness.
That’s not theoretical for me. When I got into fitness and started tracking macros (like so many trainers recommend), I developed orthorexia—an obsession with “healthy” eating, that I dealt with for years before kicking food morality to the curb and finding balance.
So yeah—weight loss coaching is a no from me.
But if you want to get stronger, feel better in your body, and build a relationship with movement that isn’t rooted in trying to shrink yourself?
I’m all in for that. 🏋️♀️
Jungle Gym Asheville
Share
Achieve your best self with fun, compassionate, personalized, fitness coaching.
Where strength grows wild! 💪🏼 🦜 🌺
We help women and qu**rs find strength in their bodies, so they can claim their power in the world 🐆
Weight-Neutral, Shame-Free Fitness 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Ready to leave toxic fitness culture behind and step into something stronger?
At Jungle Gym Asheville, we’re building a different kind of training ground. Our philosophy centers on body autonomy, body neutrality, and inclusivity — because every body deserves space to move, grow, and build strength without shame.
This is a place to tap into your power, build real strength, and reconnect with what your body can do — surrounded by a supportive community that believes fitness should empower, not tear you down.
Swing into the jungle and train with us.
Come try a class today! 🔗 In bio.
03/09/2026
Fitness has centered the same bodies for too long. We’re building a space where strength belongs to all of us — across sizes, identities, abilities, and seasons of life.
Something wider. Something wilder. Something welcoming. 🌿
We’re expanding the definition of what strong looks like. Come experience it for yourself.
03/03/2026
Big jungle win 🌿🐒
Chelsea officially graduated their apprenticeship and is now a FULL BLOWN TRAINER at Jungle Gym! We’re so proud of the work they’ve put in and the coach they’ve become.
Ready to train with Chelsea?
🌴 New client special: $29 for one week of unlimited classes
🐅 Curious about 1:1 training? Book a free consult and let’s talk goals.
Send us a DM to get started. Let’s get to work 💪
10/03/2025
Meet Chelsea (they/them)!
Chelsea is a personal training apprentice with 10+ years of movement experience, including circus arts, partner acrobatics, yoga, and strength training. Their approach combines functional movement, breathwork, and mindful progressions to build strength, mobility, and body awareness from the ground up.
With a background in psychology, communication, and mental health, Chelsea brings a compassionate and empowering coaching style that supports both physical and emotional resilience.
Join Chelsea’s group classes every Monday & Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. — build lasting strength, gain confidence in your body, and rediscover the joy of movement. Check out our website to try classes free for a week!
10/02/2025
Meet out newest member of the team, certified trainer Neil Goss (they/he)!
Neil helps clients build strength, confidence, and resilience—physically, mentally, and spiritually—through thoughtful, personalized training. 💪🧠
Their approach is rooted in accessibility and mindfulness, drawing on years of experience with home-based workouts using kettlebells, dumbbells, and bodyweight movement.
Their mission is to champion and encourage clients toward health and wellness goals through strength training and movement, while cultivating consistency, discipline, softness, and resilience—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
As a fiber artist, Neil brings the same patience and presence from weaving and dyeing into training—believing that real progress comes from steady, sustainable practice.
✨ Neil has room in their schedule for new clients!
DM to start training with Neil today!
10/01/2025
Meet the Jungle Gym team! 🦜🐍🐆
I'm Taija (they/them, in the middle), the founder of Jungle Gym 👋🏼
On my left is Neil (he/they)
And on my right is Chelsea (they/them)
I'll be posting more info about each of us soon, so stay tuned!
09/21/2025
Goodbyes can be hard, but they make room for new beginnings!
I do feel a little sad to be saying goodbye to Taija Ventrella Fitness, my 🦄 brand of my 20s - it saw me through so many wonderful and hard times, and through so much growth.
And I'm also so so excited to be introducing my new brand... Jungle Gym, filled with lush greenery and exciting new faces. 🌿🐆🌴🦜🌺
And don't worry, there will still be the occasional unicorn peeking out of the foliage.
New website launching soon... 🚀
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Location
Category
Contact the business
Website
Address
Brevard Road
Asheville, NC
28806
Opening Hours
| Monday | 7:30am - 6:30pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30am - 2pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30am - 2pm |
| Thursday | 7:30am - 6:30pm |
| Friday | 7:30am - 12pm |