Strength Training From The Heart
Creating a culture of meaningful movement & a community that feels empowered, embodied, and strong.
We serve athletes looking to grow their capacity and folks brand new to lifting who are ready to increase strength, mobility, and holistic wellness.
Fitness Union is the antidote to big-box, bro-y gyms and the isolation of working out alone.
We are as committed to supporting your inner growth as your outer transformation. Woman-owned and operated, we hold inclusivity, approachability, and holistic health core to everything we do. Our coaches & providers are experts in their fields and are skilled in empathetic and compassionate guidance. Our members join us at every fitness level, ready to increase their strength and be supported in community.
Located in the heart of the Alberta Arts District in NE Portland, our space is warm, welcoming, and fully appointed with state-of-the-art equipment.
Strength is an inside job…But that doesn’t mean you have to build it alone.
Come in and say hi! Your first session is free!
Build Muscle and Mindfulness
Like you, we believe that health and wellness are more than just time spent in the gym. We see strength-building as an antidote to the stresses of our daily lives, to our sedentary habits, to the physical strains of growing older.
We know that the mind-body-spirit connection is vital and that meaningful movement is transformational. We’re committed to providing a space that supports you to feel and be stronger — inside and outside the studio.
Our Values
Holistic
The mind-body-spirit connection is central to everything we do at Fitness Union. Mindfulness practices, rest and recovery, gratitude and joy, and community and connection offer a comprehensive experience of wellbeing — and translate into your life both inside and outside the studio.
Inclusive
With a strength-based approach to training, we aim to be a place where folks of all fitness levels feel welcome and supported. We’re excited to serve as a counterpoint to the big-box, bro-y gym vibes and a refreshing alternative to the isolation of working out alone. Here every body belongs.
Member-Led
There is no pressure or intimidation here, only encouragement and skillful guidance. Coaches practice compassionate listening to follow progression that feels aligned with your unique goals and supports your emotional and physical safety. Programs are customized, adaptable, and effective.
Embodied
So much of the fitness industry has encouraged people to check out of their bodies, ignore their internal knowing, and push past their limits in unsafe ways. Here we get centered, move mindfully and with intention, and tune into our bodies to enhance self-trust.
Communal
You’re not meant to do this alone. We know there is strength in numbers, which is why we train in cohorts and partnerships. Show up for yourself, and each other. Community makes all the difference.
Our Coaches
“Personal Training is my calling, nature is my happy place & connection is my game.”
Kim offers one on one coaching for those individuals who want to take a deeper dive into their health and healing by customizing a blend of mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, movement and plant medicine.
Kim Stout
Founder, Coach, Meditation Teacher, Fast Like a Girl Coach, Microdosing Coach
I come to this work with a degree in Psychology. I didn’t want to become a therapist but I always knew I was interested in helping people. I found my way to fitness after being a stay-at-home mom for many years. When my young son went to school, I felt unmoored. I had never been an “athlete” but I found solace in movement — it helped me tangibly process stress and anxiety, to feel capable and strong. I felt compelled to share that powerful impact with others. In the subsequent years, fitness and movement has been a steady companion as I navigate chronic health issues and the challenges that come with being an empathic person in a chaotic world.
Credentials:
• Fast like a Girl Certified
• Microdosing Coach
• Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certified
• Pose Technique Running Specialist
• Trauma Informed Weightlifting Practioner
• Fitness Technology Certified
• ACSM Certification in Personal Training
• Online Training Academy Certified
• B.S. Psychology
“Before Kim was my trainer, my training was inconsistent and had no general direction. Now, I have a solid online fitness program and a friend that keeps me accountable. The results I’ve seen so far make me feel confident and strong. She is quick to reply whenever I have a question and she is always able to fit me in to her schedule when I need an in person coaching session.”
—Dr. Kevin Y.
MELANIE SANDERSON
Certified Personal Trainer
Having experienced personal growth through the joys of movement and strength, Melanie loves to help others cultivate their own experiences in whatever capacity best suits them. A teacher of movement and fitness since 2005 with an approach that utilizes education to empower, Melanie is ready to meet you wherever you’re at.
ACE Behavior Change Specialist
Functional Range Conditioning Movement Specialist
TRX Certified
NPTI Kettlebell Training Certified
BS Exercise Biology from UC Davis
Teagascóir Coimisiún Le Rinci Gaelacha
“Melanie is a thoughtful instructor who takes the time to explain how our movements in class connect to our holistic health. She incorporates exercises and stretches that support strength and better posture while explaining the benefits of what we’re doing. I really appreciate that she’s more than a fitness instructor, she educates us about why the work we’re putting in matters. It makes it a much more meaningful, informed and empowering fitness experience.”
— Holly
Amy Chamberlain-Torres
Certified Personal Trainer
A lifelong athlete and outdoor enthusiast, Amy grew up in NE Portland with a deep appreciation for movement and wellness. After earning degrees in Biology and an MBA in Colorado, she spent 15 years as an executive in the bioscience industry. Now a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and with a NASM Women’s Fitness Specialization, Amy blends a scientific mindset with a warm, compassionate coaching style.
Amy believes that feeling safe, seen, and supported is the foundation of meaningful change. She strives to create an environment where members can explore their own strength, develop confidence in their bodies, and learn proper technique in a way that feels empowering and sustainable. As a coach, she values vulnerability, curiosity, and meeting people exactly where they are, whether they’re new to training or returning to movement in a new season of life.
Outside the gym, Amy is an avid traveler who has visited more than 50 countries. She also loves hiking, camping, skiing, reading a great book while lounging in a hammock, and spending time with her husband and two children.
BS Biology
NASM CPT
NASM WFS
CPR/AED Certified
“I’ve been intimidated by gyms and heavy weights my whole life. Having Amy show me around the gym and create a plan tailored just to me opened up a whole new world. I feel more confident as my strength as increased and I feel like I know what I’m doing!”
-Briana
Lydia Dasari
Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach
Coach Lydia is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer (NCCA) and NASM-Certified Nutrition Coach who brings a science-based, compassionate approach to health and wellness. After years immersed in fitness culture, she found her way to a more balanced, joyful relationship with movement and nourishment - a shift so meaningful that it led her to leave the corporate world and pursue coaching full time!
Her work is rooted in the belief that true wellness is sustainable, individualized, and empowering. Rather than creating dependency, she aims to work herself out of a job, equipping clients with the knowledge, confidence, and self-trust needed to become the pilots of their own health journeys. Education, autonomy, and long-term success are at the core of everything she does.
Through Hungry Hippie Wellness, she creates a supportive space where people can reconnect with their bodies, learn without judgment, and build nutrition habits that feel good in real life. She’s honored to walk alongside each client as they move toward a balanced, sustainable relationship with food... and all the ways it can change their lives for the better!
"I never thought I would look forward to working out, but I do. I've completely changed my relationship with food into a healthy mindset that sees it as fuel instead of comfort. It feels sustainable and it's working!"
-Rose