For many in Middle Tennessee, fitness is about more than just a workout, it’s about building community. That’s exactly what Maddie Roster, founder of Get Mad Fit, is creating through her unique event series, Tone and Tap.
But her story doesn’t begin in Nashville. It starts in Iowa, weaves through Charlotte and Kansas City, and lands in Music City, where Maddie currently is helping reshape what it means to work out.
A former college athlete turned personal trainer, Maddie didn’t begin her career in fitness. She worked in sales after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, but during the pandemic, she realized she wanted to pursue something more impactful. “I could die tomorrow, and nothing I was doing would really matter,” she said. “I wasn’t making any change. That’s what sparked my personal training journey.”
Maddie and her husband eventually made their way to Nashville after a short stint in Kansas City. Now married and rooted in Middle Tennessee for the past two and a half years, she’s built her personal training brand Get Mad Fit while continuing to expand on a fun concept bringing wellness and community together.
“I told my husband this was my last move,” she joked. “Rebuilding a clientele in every city is exhausting. But Nashville feels like home. The community here is so open and supportive.”
She trains primarily out of CODE Fitness in Germantown, a boutique-style gym housed inside the LC Germantown community.
“Fitness shouldn’t feel like punishment,” Roster said. “It should feel like freedom—like something that lets you do more with your life. My goal is to make people feel stronger and more capable, inside and outside the gym.”
Maddie’s path to fitness wasn’t linear. A lifelong athlete who played multiple sports and golf at the collegiate level, she originally imagined herself in physical therapy. But queasiness about the medical side of that profession pushed her toward sales, where she spent the early years of her career.
When the pandemic hit, she had the chance to reevaluate. “I realized I wasn’t making an impact,” she said. “I was just working. Coaching fourth-grade basketball gave me this spark. I wanted to teach movement, to help people. That’s when I really committed to personal training.”
That athletic foundation, she says, gave her an edge as a coach. “Sports taught me how to work as a team, how to stay disciplined, and how to bounce back after setbacks. Those lessons show up in my training sessions every day.”
The name Get Mad Fit is more than a catchy brand, it reflects Maddie’s mentality. “It means channeling that drive to push yourself,” she said. “You don’t have to be angry to work out, but you do need passion. That’s what I try to spark in people.”
Her sessions mix functional training with strength-building and mobility work. But she’s just as focused on mental health as physical progress.
“Exercise gives you energy. It makes you happier. It improves every area of your life,” she said. “My job is to help people discover that for themselves.”
While Get Mad Fit is the heart of her business, Maddie founded Nashville’s Tone and Tap event which has amplified her impact in the community. Hosting monthly workouts at Monday Night Brewing in Germantown and adding new sessions soon at Diskin Cider in Berry Hill, she brings together groups who might never step into a traditional gym.
Her expertise as a personal trainer allows her to seamlessly modify for different skill levels, turning what could be an intimidating HIIT-style workout into something approachable.
“All levels are welcome,” she emphasized. “If you need a modification, I’ll give it to you. If you want to push hard, I’ll challenge you. Everyone gets to move at their own pace.”
That welcoming spirit has made Tone and Tap more than just a workout, it’s a networking hub, a social circle, and an entry point into fitness for many.
“We want people to feel welcomed,” Roster said. “It’s not about being the fittest person in the room. It’s about moving your body, meeting new people, and starting your Saturday with a smile.”
To keep things engaging, Maddie incorporates a mix of equipment including step hurdles, ladders, medicine balls, bands, and adjustable dumbbells, plus plenty of partner drills and group finishers.
Afterward, the brewery transforms from gym to gathering space. “We take over the taproom for an hour before they open. Once class is done, everyone helps put tables back, grabs their drinks, and we just hang out. I run around introducing people to each other. It’s such a cool vibe.”
The unofficial motto of the program, proudly displayed on T-shirts? “Detox to Retox.”
While the brewery setting makes Tone and Tap unique, Maddie’s bigger mission is about inclusivity in fitness. She sees her role as both a trainer and a confidence-builder.
“The gym can be intimidating. I’ve been there. Every trainer has,” she said. “But my philosophy is that there’s always some way you can move your body. My goal is to make sure people feel confident and comfortable, no matter where they’re starting.”
That focus on accessibility has carried into her one-on-one training, where she’s worked with everyone from kids and teens to seniors and busy professionals. The proof is her emphasis on longevity and quality of life.
“I want people to be able to run, skip, and jump as long as possible,” she said. “My mom is in her sixties, and she can still skip up the stairs because she’s stayed active her whole life. That’s what I want for everyone.”
With Tone and Tap now firmly rooted in Nashville, Maddie is looking to grow its reach while continuing to expand her personal training practice. The next Tone and Tap is scheduled for Saturday, September 20 at Monday Night Brewing.
She’s also preparing to launch more Thursday night events this fall, giving Nashvillians another way to break up the workweek with movement, community, and bubbles.
“I just want people to understand that fitness isn’t reserved for athletes or celebrities,” she said. “It’s for everyone. And once you start, you realize it gives you more energy, more joy, and more confidence in every area of your life.”
To get started with Maddie one-on-one or attend a Tone and Tap event, visit her Instagram.
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