Who is Martha Rounds?

Martha Rounds was a mother of 3 children, an entrepreneur ahead of her time, and the founder of Martha Rounds Slimnastics.  Martha earned a business degree in 1941 from Miami University of Ohio in the days when women were not expected to pursue higher education, especially in business.

Martha began Martha Rounds Slimnastics in 1963 with just 7 participants, growing the number of registrants to more than 10,000 per year!  Even though trendy competition and large gyms have entered the fitness industry over the past 30 years or so, Martha Rounds Slimnastics holds the honor of being the first exercise class in the St. Louis area for women to come together to get fit, and continues to be the largest community based fitness and exercise program dedicated to serving the needs of the metroplitan area.

Martha died in April, 2001 at the age of 82.  Martha's daughter, Tracy Brennan, took over the business in 1988 and ran it successfully until its sale to Caimi Company, a holding company domiciled in Missouri and owned by one of the Instructors, Maureen Murphy.  Murphy taught for Martha Rounds Slimnastics for 5 years prior to taking over the business.

Murphy changed the name to the current Martha Rounds Fitness.

About Our Management

Maureen Murphy, Owner and General Manager, has over 20 years of experience in the health, wellness, and fitness industry.  Murphy has her Primary Certification from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.  She is also certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor. Murphy graduated from Barnes Hospital School of Nursing, received a Bachelors Degree in Nursing Science from St. Louis University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Webster University. 

 

Some of Murphy's accomplishments include: Managing the wellness program for a large St. Louis based corporation; A lecturer/presenter on the fitness needs of the deconditioned woman; Bringing the Ellipse Fitness program model to St. Louis and opening the very first Ellipse Fitness franchise in St. Louis (Oakville); and the Founder of a nonprofit organization called Caimi Foundation.  Caimi Foundation raises funds to provide community-based fitness and wellness opportunities to increase awareness of "modifiable fitness-related" health issues in women and their families.  (Click on the following link to learn more about Caimi Foundation.)

 

What is Martha Rounds Fitness?

Martha Rounds Fitness was started in 1963 and up until a few years ago, was known as Martha Rounds Slimnastics.  Martha Rounds Fitness serves the fitness needs of the St. Louis metropolitan area.  We are a community based exercise program utilizing current theory and practice to provide cardiovascular, strength-training, flexibility, and core conditioning exercises.

 

Our fitness classes are 45 minutes to 1 hour in length and adhere to exercise standards set by the American Council on Exercise ("ACE") and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America ("AFAA").  All Instructors are trained and expected to practice the Code of Ethics (ethical practice guidelines for Group Fitness Instructors) from the IDEA Health and Fitness Association.

To learn more about the classes we offer, visit Class Description.

 

Our General Conditioning Classes include a warm-up, low-impact aerobics, hand held weights, resistance bands and tubes, mat work, and yoga and/or pilates based exercise.

Our SitnBeFit classes are geared toward individuals who have mobility restrictions, common for individuals with arthritic conditions.  These classes are also appropriate for individuals who may have a large amount of weight to lose.  Exercises can be done standing or sitting.  Weights and resistance bands are used.

 

Our Pilates classes are a series of non-impact exercises to develop core strength, flexibility, balance, and inner awareness.  These exercises can be done by people at any fitness level, and they are easily adaptable to accomodate people in a deconditioned fitness state or for people with limited movement.

 

Martha Rounds Fitness employs 30+ Group Fitness Instructors and provides about 70 classes per week in 20 different locations throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.  Our Instructors attend Company provided continuing education to maintain certification as Martha Rounds Fitness Instructors.  Our continuing education includes training from local ACE and AFAA Trainors.