Jess Tries It: MissionFit offers more than just a workout

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — For this edition of Jess Tries It, WWAY’s Jessica Keisling visited MissionFit in Wilmington to experience a workout designed around strength training, functional movement and community support.

The class begins before anyone picks up a weight, with a dynamic warmup and stretching session aimed at preparing members to move safely. From there, coaches demonstrate each exercise and offer modifications so people of all fitness levels can participate.

MissionFit centers its workouts on strength-based training paired with low-impact cardio and functional movement, with the goal of building muscle while reducing the risk of injury.

“We really emphasize strength training over a lot of high impact cardio… to help people attain those goals for the long term,” owner Jeff Washington said.

Washington said his philosophy was shaped by his time serving in the U.S. Army as a combat photographer and paratrooper at Fort Bragg.

“That’s when I found my love and passion for strength training and fitness,” Washington said.

After years working in the fitness industry, Washington said he noticed too many people dealing with injuries and burnout. He said that led him to create a gym focused on sustainable fitness.

“We decided to remove a lot of those movements…and really focus on strength training… longevity,” he said.

While the workouts are challenging, Keisling said what stood out most was the atmosphere inside the gym. Members encouraged one another throughout the class, creating what Washington describes as one of the gym’s biggest priorities.

“We lead with community as one of our biggest drivers,” Washington said.

That sense of community has made an impact on many members beyond the gym, according to coach Tory Starks.

“Mental health is like top notch…just from like the community itself, even though I’m a coach…they like push me just as hard as I push them,” Starks said.

Keisling said the experience showed that MissionFit is about more than exercise. The gym combines physical training with a supportive environment that encourages members to keep showing up for themselves and each other.