Today we’d like to introduce you to Lya Wodraska.
Hi Lya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to Utah as a sportswriter from Atlanta in 1996 for a job as a sportswriter at The Salt Lake Tribune. Once here, I fell in love with Utah’s wild spaces, its deserts, mountains and landscapes that make it special. I learned fairly quickly you had to be in shape to handle Utah or it would humble you, so I got to work improving my own fitness level. Things progressed to the point I decided to get my own training certification through the CHEK Institute, which is a highly regarded training system that stresses posture and functional fitness. Being someone who loves the outdoors, it has been a perfect fit for the kind of training people in Utah need.
I built my clientele steadily over the years to the point I was able to leave the newspaper industry in 2015 and focus exclusively on training.
Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to build connections in another area I love – the music industry – and have worked with several different world-renowned bands and singers in addition to a steady clientele here in Salt Lake City. I love the mix of training athletes, helping others find their “why” as they start their fitness journey and helping people rehabilitate from injuries.
I never thought about opening my own place until the gym I worked in was forced to close due to increasing rent. I opened The Backline SLC gym in 2024 with the idea of having a community gym where people are first and are treated as individuals and not just a member number or credit card.
At The Backline SLC, we have a conglomeration of great trainers, physical therapists and massage therapists that make sure our clients are taken care of in all aspects of their fitness.
The name of our gym refers to my time in the music industry, where ‘the backline,’ are the crew that directly support the artists by making sure they have the right guitar for the right song, the right drum setup, the mic where they need it and of course the right physical readiness to perform onstage.
The backline also refers to the posterior fascia that runs from the top of the body to the feet and has a large influence on posture and gait, so the name has a double meaning.
Our gym is based on functional fitness, because I believe a true sign of health is being able to use your body to its maximum capabilities. Squat racks, kettlebells, sand bags do so much more for building fitness than just moving from one isolating machine to the next. Helping our clients and members increase their athleticism or recover from injuries, manage chronic ailments etc., are all challenges we successfully address in our gym!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a small business owner certainly has its challenges, namely funding something as expensive as a gym which can be daunting as an individual. Luckily I have some great friends who believed in my vision for a community gym with a personalized approach and supported me.
I love being a part of downtown Salt Lake and seeing how our area is becoming more and more vibrant. When I moved to Salt Lake City from Atlanta in 1996, we had the 9th and 9th area that was known as the ‘hip’ area. Now we have the Granary district, the Maven District and the Milk Block district. It is exciting to be a part of this growth as a local business owner. The Backline SLC looks forward to participating in the continuing evolution of Salt Lake City.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Backline SLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We stress functional fitness so our clientele ranges from those returning to their activities after injuries or surgeries to high-level athletes to those who want to improve their health and fitness and stay out of their doctor’s office.
To me, the biggest satisfaction of being a personal trainer and gym owner is helping people learn how to manage their own health. We don’t believe in the cookie cutter approach. At The Backline SLC, we don’t just hand out programs that are cut and pasted from some AI gym program. We take the time to learn what our clients need and really teach them how to be in control of their fitness and dietary decisions. We assembled an entire team of great trainers, physical therapists and massage therapists specifically so we can address any individual challenges people might have.
As a gym owner, I am proud of the community we have built, where all of us who work at The Backline SLC know not only the names of our clients, but also the names of all our members. The world has become an isolating place where fewer people say ‘hi’ when they pass one another. That is a sad trend for me because it symbolizes the lack of kindness and disrespect that seems to be growing in this country. It is very important to us the gym is a welcoming space that will foster our members’ growth. Our gym is a welcoming place where you can come in and do your own thing, but you are going to be made to feel welcome. We want to know your name, your story and your challenges so we can help you succeed
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Personally, if I am not in the gym you are probably going to find me on my mountain bike, or on a hiking trail or in my garden. I love Utah and the outdoors options it offers and I plan to stay as healthy as I can to keep enjoying the activities I love.
I do believe authenticity is a big part of being a good trainer. If you aren’t living what you are preaching, how can you really be a good guide for someone else?
Everyone has their own challenges, whether it is fitness, dietary or lifestyle in nature. With our own experiences and training, we can help people thrive. Seeing people do so and being a part of the journey is so fulfilling to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebacklineslc.com/
- Instagram: @thebacklineslc
- Facebook: The Backline SLC Gym
