OUR STORY
It Started with Rhythm
POUND Rockout Workout was born from a simple but powerful realization: movement feels different when it’s driven by music.
Founded in 2011, POUND is a female owned, female run company born out of the need for a workout and environment that felt different. An athlete and recreational drummer, Kirsten Potenza understood that the physical intensity and emotional release of drumming could send ripple effects through participants’ bodies, minds and lives. That it could have a profound effect not just on physical wellbeing, but social and emotional as well. POUND began as an alternative to traditional workouts–one that felt expressive, cathartic, and fun. It wasn’t about chasing perfection or counting reps. It was about tapping into rhythm, letting go and moving with intention.
From an Idea to a Movement
What started as a personal practice quickly became something bigger. People connected to the energy. They stayed for the way it made them feel—stronger, lighter, more confident, more themselves.
As POUND grew, so did its purpose. It evolved into a global workout experience rooted in inclusivity, empowerment, and community. The goal was never to fit people into a mold, but to create space for individuality, expression, and connection through movement.
The Experience
A POUND class is high-energy, music-driven, and deeply empowering. Using lightly weighted Ripstix®, participants move through cardio, conditioning, and strength training while drumming to the beat.
The workout is designed to be scalable, allowing each person to find their own intensity and style. The music leads, the movement follows, and the shared rhythm creates a powerful sense of momentum and release.
This isn’t just exercise—it’s an outlet.
Why it Works
- POUND is intentionally designed to support both physical and mental performance through rhythm-based movement.
- POUND is designed to keep participants engaged from start to finish by combining music-driven rhythm with full-body movement. The continuous use of lightly weighted Ripstix® creates a natural flow between cardio, strength, and conditioning—minimizing downtime and maintaining momentum throughout the workout.
- Rhythmic movement has also been shown to support neural engagement and focus, helping the brain and body work together more efficiently. Drumming patterns encourage bilateral movement and timing, which can enhance motor skills and overall body awareness.
- Music plays a critical role as well. Moving in sync with music can increase motivation, reduce perceived exertion, and promote consistency—making workouts feel more enjoyable and sustainable over time.
The People Behind the Beat
POUND is powered by a global community of instructors (POUND Pros) and participants who believe in movement as a form of self-expression and self-care. Our instructors lead with authenticity, passion, and encouragement, creating environments where everyone feels welcome—regardless of experience, background, or ability.
The community is the heartbeat of POUND. It’s what turns a workout into a shared experience and keeps people coming back.
Why We Exist
At its core, POUND exists to make fitness feel human.
We believe movement should be empowering, inclusive, and sustainable. That strength comes in many forms. And that working out doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful—it just has to be real.
Our mission is to help people build physical, mental, and emotional strength through movement that feels accessible, expressive, and inspiring.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe in the power of music and the freedom of rocking out. We support unleashing aggression, discovering new talents, and awaking new senses. We encourage sampling new forms of movement, uncovering new rhythms, and tapping into new ways of listening. We promote camaraderie, friendship and bonding. We believe in loving our bodies while improving them. We believe in handing you the permission to Rock!
LET’S HANG
@poundfit
Our ICONS make a pretty mean playlist…just saying.
Ok y’all. Let’s continue the party. Give us your current fav song 👇
Ummmmm excuse us…..but ICON @amberlikethecolor AND new tracks in the same sentence??? Very important news actually.
The last few years have been a lot. And somewhere between the burnout, the BS, and just making it to Friday, maybe you’ve stopped feeling like you.
You still love to move, you still give a damn, but that part of you that goes all in, takes up space, makes some noise? Maybe like the wildest, most alive version of you got a little quiet. A little careful. A little small?
If that lands anywhere, this challenge is for you.
The Re-Wild Challenge is a free 10-day experience built around one idea:
You didn’t lose your spark. You lost access to it. And there’s a way back.
Every day for 10 days you’ll get:
•A free POUND workout on Backstage, matched to the theme of the day
•A journal prompt, to go deeper than the sweat
•A daily social prompt, to share, connect, and make noise with the community
No pressure. No perfection. Just ten days of returning to what was always there.
Are you ready to come back wild? #REWILDCHALLENGE
Them: “Why do you do group fitness classes instead of just hitting the gym?”
Me: “Because I can skip the gym, but I can’t skip my people.”
Okay fine, one hint: you might wanna clear 10 days on your workout calendar 👀
Any guesses what’s coming? 👇
Repost // @leah.mpls
And somehow it ends up being the best job ever. 🤘
