HYPE Nutrition creates space for people to feel comfortable, pursue wellness
HYPE Nutrition is located at 25 Winooski Falls Way, Suite 110 in Winooski. The business offers healthy shakes and snacks, and fitness classes. Photo by Stella Shaefer-Surdez.
On the Winooski side of the Winooski River is a Black-, queer- and women-owned business that aims to help residents from marginalized groups feel comfortable while pursuing wellness.
HYPE Nutrition is run by couple Brittany and Cris Sandlin, two former college athletes who decided to leap into entrepreneurship during the Covid-19 pandemic and create a space for people like themselves.
“We don’t want wellness to be a luxury,” said Cris Sandlin, who, along with their partner, has a background in health and nutrition.
The Winooski storefront is situated beneath the Spinner Place apartment complex, adorned with a vibrant Pride flag and a bouquet in the window.
The co-owning couple opened their business to supply clients with various resources to improve their health and fitness. Their business offerings go beyond its gym, personal training, and fitness programs: HYPE has a smoothie bar and sells health-focused food, too.
Above all else, HYPE Nutrition aims to ensure all its clients are comfortable in their environment.
“The big thing that we advocate for is creating space, especially for marginalized people in wellness,” Sandlin said. “I’ve worked in gyms … queer people and people of color, especially in Vermont, feel really uncomfortable. Women can feel really uncomfortable in gym spaces.”
The Sandlin’s try to meet the needs of those groups through one-on-one training and private exercise spaces.
The couple wants to expand their business by holding an outdoor fitness camp in Winooski as a cheaper option for people who can’t afford personal training or have busy schedules.
They also try to incentivize folks through online challenges where people show off their body transformations. Winners split a cash prize.
HYPE Nutrition is also a licensed restaurant. Its menu includes high-protein donuts, waffles, shakes, energy drinks, and protein-infused coffee.
How do the owners come up with their flavors?
“It’s just like a freestyle, like, what would taste good?” Cris Sandlin said. “Like an Almond Joy protein shake. What can we throw together to make it taste like an Almond Joy, you know?”
She and her partner want to offer healthier alternatives to let people enjoy the foods they love while maintaining balance in their nutrition.
When asked about the ultimate goal for HYPE Nutrition, Sandlin put it simply: “We just want to be here, you know? Make space for people.