NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When it comes to fitness, community, and faith, Toni Collard, alongside her husband David are redefining what it means to build a private women’s fitness club and a safe space for women in Middle Tennessee all at once.

The couple poured into their own strengths and are soon opening Barbelles Strength & Fitness, a private women’s fitness club and sanctuary. The club carries a West Coast–inspired approach to the heart of Franklin, Tennessee, with a 4,500-square-foot space designed exclusively for women. Toni Collard, a seasoned personal trainer with over 25 years in the fitness world, has always believed that fitness is about more than just lifting weights or cardio. Her approach to fitness has always been inclusive, creative, and rooted in community. David Collard brings years of experience in the world of construction, contracting work and more. Together, the couple is combining their areas of expertise to your advantage.

From personal training, to teaching group fitness, to even teaching PE at her son’s school,, Toni has been immersed in the fitness industry for over 25 years. Her approach to movement has always been inclusive, creative, and rooted in community. Even her early work with Revelation Wellness—a faith-based certification incorporating music, dance, and biblical principles—demonstrates her desire to merge body, mind, and spirit. Due to both of her parents being deaf, Toni has also incorporated her experience using American Sign Language to encourage anyone, no matter their disability, to come move with her. “I ended up getting two deaf women to come to my classes, which was amazing,” Toni said.

David Collard brings a complementary set of skills. Born in New Zealand, David traveled extensively, ultimately finding his footing in California, where he built a career in luxury construction. The two then formed a central mission to combine faith, fitness and female.

David’s is the Vice President of Bohler Builders Group and now heads the Tennessee division of the company. It wasn’t long before the Collard family packed their bags and moved to the East Coast. Their journey to Nashville, however, wasn’t without a challenge. For Toni, the move meant leaving behind a tight-knit community, years of Bible study, and a deeply rooted California lifestyle. “Moving here was traumatizing. It’s very different. It’s a culture shock,” she shared. It was in that moment of disruption that the idea for Barbelles Strength & Fitness began to take shape. “I was getting very depressed and Dave was like, ‘Why don’t you open your own gym?’” And I was like, ‘That’s really funny, how are we going to do that?’” Toni laughed.

Combining a new city with lifelong passions, Toni was ready to dive into the fitness scene and put her creativity to the test.

Toni started asking around and gaining insight into what Middle Tennessee gym goers are looking for.

A reoccurring need kept coming up.

The idea quickly evolved into a private women’s fitness club. Toni shared the response she received when floating the concept: “Every woman is like, ‘I pay for my membership and I don’t go to the gym because I am super intimidated,’” she said “I said, ‘Well, what if I opened a women’s club’? They were ready to sign up right then and there!” she added.

Although this request connected with the community, it also resonated with Toni too.

Toni’s personal history as a domestic violence survivor, and her role as a mother to a daughter now adopted by David, made the need to keep women safe, grew even more.

David reflected on the concept of the club. “There was one pivotal question that we were asking and it was, ‘What’s my purpose here?” he said. “Her being plugged into women’s ministry and community in California really left a void to bring women together again.”

Barbelles Strength & Fitness is designed to answer that need for a safe, supportive, and private space where women can work on their health without intimidation or distractions. Toni emphasizes that this isn’t just about lifting weights or burning calories.

“You walk in those doors and I will walk you through, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, come grab me and I will show you how to use that machine.” she shares.

The club itself is a reflection of their shared vision: aesthetic, luxurious, and intentional. Every detail, from True Fitness equipment to arched doorways and clay-finished walls, has been carefully curated. “It literally will look like a luxury, an elevated space. Imagine a gym inside a spa,” Toni said.

Amenities go beyond the club floor. A member’s lounge provides a space for rest, connection, and community—a place to grab coffee, catch up, or just breathe. The recovery room features medical-grade red-light saunas and a tanning booth designed for wellness and mood-lifting, not just aesthetics. David explains, “The idea is… when somebody steps foot in there for the first time… they immediately want to join. They immediately want to find out how much it costs and how do I… They’re just in love with the space.”

For David and Toni, Barbelles isn’t just a business, it’s a culmination of their personal journeys, faith, and shared purpose. “The gym will work itself out. The community will happen. Our faith is the foundation for sure,” David said. Toni added, “A lot of God and a little gym at the end.”

Their philosophy extends to the team as well. Trainers are treated as valued professionals, with fair compensation and support, allowing them to focus on their craft without juggling multiple jobs. “It is hard for trainers to make a living,” David shared. “We wanted to be very intentional about how we do that so that we have top-tier trainers and they’re able to stay with us and feed their families.”

As they prepare to launch Barbelles, the response from the Nashville community has been overwhelmingly positive.

Founding memberships are selling fast, and the excitement is evident. “I had a mom call me and she said she just couldn’t work out at her gym anymore and couldn’t wait for us to open”

For couples considering going into business together, Toni and David offer advice forged from both personal and professional experience. “Do a lot of praying together,” Toni said simply. David added, “It forces you to use your marriage tools,.” However, their mission always brings them back to center.

Our beginnings, when I met Toni, she was a single mom on welfare with a 2-year-old daughter,” David shared. “Creating this safe, positive, uplifting space is very special for us in that regard,” David shared.

For women in Middle Tennessee, Barbelles Strength & Fitness promises not just a club, but a safe, inspiring space to grow stronger in body, mind, and community. Toni summed it up: “Just come and experience it!”

Follow them on Instagram and become a founding member, spots still available.

Author: Tala Shatara