Sh;ft Your Mindset and Get in Shape at New Fitness Studio
The new and innovative Sh;ft studio, opened by Burlington resident, Kris Fabbri, focuses on the mind-body connection.
If you spend much time out and about in Burlington, you’ve probably seen Kris Fabbri. A mental health advocate and fitness coach, Her positive energy can be felt from far away. She’s also worked at several fitness centers in town and organized the Miles for Mental Health fundraiser.
But this fall, Fabbri set out on an exciting new endeavor. After years of trying to fit the mold of other fitness centers, she was ready to create a whole new mold, and in September 2024, she opened Sh;ft. She describes the studio as “a culmination of all the work I’ve done as a therapist, coach, and athlete.”
Kris has practiced psychotherapy privately for over a decade. But “I was able to help people more effectively through coaching,” she said, a fact she has seen over and over since beginning her work as a coach in college.
Many people work best in community, she says, and are better able to realize the benefits that go along with exercise. “I’ve enjoyed watching people connect with their bodies in a joyful way,” she says, without the focus on calories burned and the other sources of guilt and shame often associated with the fitness industry.
Mental health wasn’t discussed enough at home while Kris was growing up, nor is the mind-body connection acknowledged in many traditional fitness programs. After losing her brother to suicide and watching her mother struggle with mental illness, she was discouraged from processing her emotional struggles. “You just had to be okay,” she said. But she found in physical activity the strength she was missing mentally and emotionally. “I felt mentally strong when I felt physically strong,” she said.
Fabbri has decades of experience in all aspects of fitness and enjoys hiking, weight training, and yoga. She’s also an accomplished running, having qualified for the Boston Marathon six times and won several half-marathons and 5Ks.
Through her coaching she is committed to breaking the cycle of not talking about mental health for others by actively “allowing people the space to talk and grieve and process.” The new studio will prioritize a supportive culture among both coaches and members, embracing the interplay of exercise and mental health. Sh;ft aims to be a place where you can come as you are, move as you need, and know you’ll be greeted warmly and without ego or competition, says Fabbri.
Sh;ft offers what she calls the “ideal trifecta” of offerings: cycling classes geared toward any level from beginner to advanced (based on moods/themes such as RAGE, MANIC MONDAY, and RETRO), functional weight training classes, and yoga and mindfulness sessions.They offer complimentary memberships to veterans and a free trial class for anyone wishing to try out their offerings. Teens are always welcome with a parent present or with parent permission, and there will be special tween/tween offerings in the new year.
This winter, the studio will be offering several community engagement opportunities:
- November 23, 2024 - Outride the Dark ride for suicide awareness and prevention - benefits The Wounded Warrior Project (7:30 AM and 9:30 AM classes)
- November 29, 2024 (Black Friday) - Bikes & Brews with Fable Brewing
- December 14 - Santa Paws; therapy dog to come visit
If you’re wondering about the unusual spelling of Sh;ft, it’s not a typo. Fabbri says, “The i is a semicolon, which in the mental health community is a symbol of suicide awareness and prevention. It’s become a symbol of mental health solidarity.” As for Fabbri, having her own studio that she can run in line with her values has made her happier than she’s ever been. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of and I’m proud to be cultivating it.”
Sh;ft is located at 165 New Boston St in Woburn. Visit the website to learn more.
