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Blenheim Fitness Studio Makes Movement Fun
Blake Rogers peeks out her window each morning to admire her commute. A short walk across the yard leads to a turquoise barn on her family’s Blenheim farm. But this is no ordinary barn. It’s home to Thrive Fitness Studio, a women’s fitness and yoga space Blake built from the ground up—literally.
“It was an old barn on my husband’s farmland,” she says. “They were going to tear it down in 2014, but I said, ‘It’s so cute, let’s move it. I’d love for it to be a yoga studio one day.’”
That dream sat quietly for years after the barn was moved to the couple’s property. When the pandemic hit and gyms shut down, Blake, already a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer, finally brought the old structure to life.
“I missed my yoga students so much,” she says. “I started filming YouTube videos for them at home, but before Sandhill brought fiber to our area, I had to drive to town just to upload them.”
When her home and studio became one of the first in the area to get Sandhill’s fiber internet, Thrive flourished. “I could record, upload and even teach classes online,” Blake says. “It gave me the flexibility to grow Thrive while being a new mom.”
Bare Shell to Boutique Studio
Originally a Sears kit house, the barn had never been finished. “It was just studs and a concrete floor,” Blake says. “We had to make it structurally sound again, add a roof and basically start from scratch.”
The renovation began in 2020 and wrapped up the next year. Inside, Blake designed a clean, modern space—black and white with vaulted ceilings and natural light to contrast the rustic exterior. Outside, she kept the original turquoise color. “Everyone around here calls it the ‘Green Barn,’” she says. “After throwing up paint samples for a year, I just went with the original. It’s part of the story.”
What began as a pandemic workaround became one of Marlboro County’s most uplifting fitness communities. Thrive offers small-group, high-intensity interval training sessions, functional fitness classes and Vinyasa yoga. “I’m a one-woman show,” Blake says. “I teach all the classes, and I love it. I’ve got about 35 clients, and the energy here is incredible.”
Her approach is simple—make fitness fun and accessible. “You don’t need fancy equipment or a huge gym,” she says. “My goal is to make movement something people look forward to. We laugh a lot. We play. We move every day.”
That supportive culture is what makes Thrive special. “We’ve built a community of women who lift each other up, literally and figuratively,” Blake says.
From Blenheim to India & Back
Blake’s journey began in 2012, when she couldn’t find a yoga class in Bennettsville. “So, I thought maybe I’ll learn to teach it myself,” she says.
She began her first 200-hour certification that year and later completed her 500-hour credential, earning the title of experienced registered yoga teacher. In 2016, she traveled to Rishikesh, India, the birthplace of yoga. “It was such a powerful experience,” she says. “When I came home, I had a new sense of gratitude for what I get to do every day.”
Blake added certified personal trainer to her credentials in 2016, expanding her reach to women seeking strength and mindfulness.
Though her barn-turned-studio isn’t large, the results achieved inside it certainly are. “A lot of my clients start out not knowing where to begin,” she says. “But once they realize it’s about showing up and moving every day, everything changes.”
Her favorite moments are when clients share small victories, like fitting into old dresses, receiving an improved medical report or surprising themselves with new strength. “It’s not about the scale,” she says. “It’s about confidence and feeling strong.”
Community Meets Connectivity
In a rural area where opportunities can feel far away, Blake credits her community and reliable technology for helping Thrive live up to its name.
“Honestly, I run my entire business from my phone,” she says. “Without Sandhill’s fiber internet, it would be impossible. It’s been a huge blessing for small businesses like mine.”
That connectivity is fueling her next idea of creating a Thrive Fitness app. “I’d love to design something that gives women simple, effective workouts and a sense of connection no matter where they are,” she says.
Balancing business and motherhood, Blake keeps her priorities clear. “I don’t want to look back and realize I missed my son’s soccer games,” she says. “That’s why I keep Thrive small and personal. It’s not about being the biggest, it’s about being meaningful.”
Asked to sum up her philosophy, she doesn’t hesitate. “Move every day and have fun doing it,” she says. “Fitness doesn’t have to be complicated. Just move, laugh and keep showing up. That’s how we thrive.”