When Mary Ruth Singer agreed to accompany a friend to an Orangetheory Fitness class, she expected little more than a mundane workout. Instead, she discovered an entirely new rhythm for her life.
“I went that day, and then I signed up that day,” Mary Ruth recalls. “I just fell in love with it.”
Her quick decision surprised her husband, Scott. Mary Ruth, he jokes, is rarely one to rush. The couple courted for 10 years before marrying and waited another decade to have children. Committing to Orangetheory after a single class was decidedly out of character.
Still skeptical, Scott soon joined her for a workout. Before long, the studio became an inextricable part of their lives.
When the Aiken studio faced closure, the Singers could not imagine losing what Scott describes as an invaluable community asset. They joined their two sons, Brad and Andrew, and another business partner, Caren Friendman, to purchase the franchise, officially assuming ownership September 1, 2025. As they mark their first anniversary, membership has grown from approximately 170 to 280.
“We have seen it transform so many people in a positive way,” Scott says. “It became a place where people could make great friends and do something really positive for themselves.”
Fellow owner Caren Friedman has experienced that sense of community personally.
“It makes me feel at home,” Caren says. “And it makes me feel a part of the community.”
For Mary Ruth, the transition from member to owner represented an unexpected reinvention. A nurse by training, she began her career in cardiovascular nursing before spending much of her professional life in pharmaceutical sales. She had imagined easing toward retirement, not taking responsibility for a fitness studio.
Yet her background proved uniquely suited to the role. She understands both the science behind caring for the body and the importance of making people feel supported.
That sense of belonging undergirds the Singers’ vision for Orangetheory Aiken. Members ranging from their 20s to their 70s work alongside one another. Some are accomplished athletes while others are entering a fitness studio for the first time. Each follows the same workout instructions while adjusting the intensity to individual abilities.
“No one judges you here,” Scott says. “Everybody is extremely supportive whether it is your first workout or you have completed more than a thousand.”
Longtime member and Aiken native Cheryl Anaclerio says the studio feels like home. A lifelong exerciser who also attends another gym, she appreciates Orangetheory’s distinct combination of structured coaching and technology.
“I knew I was going to love it the first time I went,” she says. “I love having a coach tell me what we are doing.”
The instructor-led, 60-minute classes combine cardiovascular conditioning, strength training and endurance exercises. Heart-rate monitors allow members to view their effort in real time, while the Orangetheory app records results and helps them recognize progress.
For Cheryl, the technology provides an added sense of motivation. She enjoys tracking her heart rate, calories burned and “splat points” which are Orangetheory’s measure of time spent in the targeted heart-rate zones. She also values the flexibility of a membership she can use while traveling.
Orangetheory can serve as a primary fitness routine or complement other active pursuits.
“We can be your multivitamin,” Mary Ruth explains.
The Singers focus on functional fitness for daily living. They want members to build the strength and endurance necessary to lift a child, reach a high shelf, travel confidently or remain active as they age.
That philosophy branches out into their own story. The couple enjoys skiing and golf, and they recently joined their two sons for the final portion of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. Their sons walked approximately 500 miles over 33 days, while Mary Ruth and Scott accompanied them for the final 60 miles.
“We want to be active and healthy in the last third of our lives,” Scott says.
Cheryl shares that focus on longevity.
“It is about continuing to move,” she says.
The studio’s influence, however, extends outside of physical results. Coaches take a personal interest in members, regularly checking in and offering support throughout their fitness journeys.
“It truly feels like a family,” Cheryl says. “The coaches are motivating, and they genuinely care about your health and progress.”
She is particularly grateful to Mary Ruth, Scott and their partners for working to keep the studio open. Preserving Orangetheory Aiken meant saving relationships that had become integral to members’ lives.
For anyone hesitant to begin, Mary Ruth offers reassuring advice: Walk through the door, allow yourself to be a beginner and focus on consistency rather than perfection.
“Don’t be afraid,” she says. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Scott echoes that encouragement. Although the workout can be challenging, every movement can be adapted. At Orangetheory Aiken, each person arrives with different abilities and goals. What unites them is showing up for classes one day at a time. Together, members build strength and lasting friendships within a growing community.
“It is truly like family there. The instructors are amazing. They are so personal and so motivating, and they really care about your health and your fitness journey.” - Cheryl Anaclerio
“No one judges you there. Everybody is extremely supportive, whether it is your first workout or you have completed more than a thousand.” - Scott Singer
Your First Class Is Free
Experience a coach-led workout designed for every fitness level. Orangetheory Aiken combines strength, cardio and community in one energizing hour. New participants can try their first class free. Visit Orangetheory.com or call 803-220-0100 to reserve your place today.