BACK Story

Growing up in a Lebanese household, I got to witness something beautiful, something that shaped the way I see community, connection, and strength.

Every morning, my mom and her closest friends would gather for what we call sobhiye — a Lebanese tradition of sharing morning coffee, conversations, and life. These couple of hours shared together almost on a daily basis was their version of therapy, their daily ritual of being seen, heard, and supported.

I watched how this group of women empowered my mom. They supported her when things were heavy, reminded her of herself when she felt lost, and celebrated her when there was something to celebrate. They didn’t fix her problems, they stood with her in them. And that made all the difference.

I watched, from the outside, and then got to experience how powerful female friendships can be. How grounding. How healing. How essential.

Roots comes from that.

I wanted to create a space where women can form those kinds of bonds again—connections that go beyond coffee and conversation, and extend into health, movement, and strength. A place where women don’t just come to train, but to connect, grow, and reclaim their strength—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Roots is women centred by design. Not because we want to exclude, but because women deserve a space that’s been missing for too long. For most of history, we’ve been told to shrink, be quiet, be small. In fitness we’re encouraged to pursue “toning” instead of strength, to worry more about appearance than power.

And beyond that, women’s bodies have simply not been studied, respected, or understood enough.

Women go through unique phases. Hormonal shifts. Cycles. Pregnancy. Perimenopause. Menopause. All of these affect how we move, fuel ourselves, and recover. And that deserves dedicated attention.

Roots is my way of creating the space I wish existed sooner.
A place where women learn to understand their bodies instead of fighting them.
Where strength is celebrated, not feared.
Where softness and power coexist.

At its core, Roots is a return to what I witnessed growing up: women supporting women, daily, quietly, powerfully.

Meet the Team

  • JOANNA AKL

    FOUNDER & HEAD COACH

    A former competitive basketball player with a degree in Engineering, I bring scientific precision to human movement. For over seven years, I’ve specialized in women’s health and longevity, crafting tailored programs that blend biomechanics with female physiology.

    My approach is versatile, adapted and human. Whether through functional training, athletic prep, or rehabilitation, I curate individualized plans to meet your specific goals. Currently deepening my expertise in naturopathy, my mission is to offer holistic, expert guidance that empowers you to achieve optimal health and fitness.

  • JULIE HARTZ

    FOUNDER & OPERATIONS MANAGER

    With a Scientific PhD and a background as a competitive soccer player in Switzerland and Canada, I build Roots on two pillars: analytical rigor and team spirit. My academic training taught me to make fact-based decisions and manage complex projects, while my athletic career instilled deep discipline and resilience.

    At Roots, I am the reliable foundation. I handle structure, management, and strategy so our coaching can shine. My focus isn’t just on performance, but on creating a stable, safe environment where every woman can progress with confidence.

CLIENT REVIEWS

  • Monisha logan

    "I was fortunate enough to work with Joanna as my trainer and she is absolutely the best!! Joanna truly cares about each and every single client, and truly tailors her approach to each person's unique needs and goals. Her expertise, deep sense of passion, and genuine personality makes working with her truly an enjoyable experience. I cannot express how grateful I am to have had Joanna as my trainer - she is truly remarkable!"

  • Sheba Siddiki

    "Joanna is one of the best trainers I’ve ever come across. She’s professional, knowledgeable, actually cares about you and your progress, and understands the female body. She was my personal trainer for one year and due to relocation, I sadly had to say goodbye. If you’re looking for a personal trainer, and you want to get in the best shape of your life, I highly recommended Joanna. She will not only become your trainer, but also one of your best friends."

  • Sabrina Taglieri

    "Joanna’s dedication to her clients is what makes her coaching truly effective. She’s determined to understanding their goals, extremely knowledgeable and effective in designing targeted programming and committed to seeing her clients through all their challenges as well as celebrating all their wins with the utmost sincerity. She has a way of making you feel like your gains are her gains and in that way encourages you to bring your absolute best each session."

  • Becca Travis

    "As a long term client of Joanna’s I cannot say enough good things about her. She cares deeply about her clients and their wellbeing. She is incredibly well informed in the world of woman’s health and personal training and the combination of the two is rare and invaluable. I highly recommend her services."

  • Marina Essak

    "What sets Joanna apart is her genuine love for what she does and her holistic, individualized approach. She throws out the old rules for women’s fitness, focusing on building true strength and resilience. After two complicated pregnancies, Joanna helped me rebuild my muscle and confidence with a focus on form and function. Her sessions are never a chore—they’re unique, fun, and filled with great energy."

  • Nadine Nhieu

    "As a trainer, Jo asked questions while also watching my form to gauge what exercises, moves, reps, etc would be best for my workouts and was super clear with instructions and guidance. I had some things in life that made my fitness performance a bit worse as well as an elbow injury, but Jo handled all of that with so much grace and care, I no longer felt like those were limitations. She's not only helped me understand proper form for olympic lifting, but also how to healthily deal with mental and physical stressors or limitations, just by being able to quickly modify weight, reps, or exercises."

  • Emily Pau

    "This is my first experience of personal training ever and Joanna has been so patient and supportive to help me achieve my goals. As this is my first time with weight training, Joanna is really detailed to help me with getting the right posture the first time to avoid any injuries, and also to keep challenging me. The gym really feels like a family and I was quickly embraced by all the members into this fun and positive community. Looking forward to more training ahead!"

  • Saira Faruq

    "I went from knowing nothing about fitness to caring about seemingly menial goals like better grip strength and better mobility and wanting to become stronger overall. Joanna tailors my workouts with my goals in mind and pushes me to do my best, every workout feels refreshing."

Behind The Name

Roots is About becoming grounded—so everything else can grow.

Roots are what come first. They anchor, nourish, and make growth possible long before anything is visible.

Roots is about returning to the body and building that foundation. Full agency over ourselves begins with agency over our physical being-feeling at home in our skin, proud of what our body can do, and confident in our presence. The gym becomes a place where that agency is rebuilt, slowly and honestly.

At Roots, our approach isn’t about control or suppression. It’s about understanding, tuning in, and acting with intention until it becomes intuitive. We restore our connection to the body and learn to trust its innate intelligence. Growth here is not linear. We adapt, deepen, rest, and grow again.

Roots is not about always searching for more. It’s about becoming grounded so that everything else can grow.