SCULPTING A LIFESTYLE

The Sculpt Society founder, Megan Roup, discuses growing up in Santa Barbara and building her fitness empire

Written by Emma McDonnell E ach morning, you can find me outside with my laptop and mat, following along to a workout led by Megan Roup on The Sculpt Society. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty that comes with not knowing when one can set foot in a gym again, Megan’s workouts and sunny demeanor provide a sense of routine, which is both positive and motivating. Curious about who this bright light during this time was, I reached out to Megan to learn more about her journey.

When the fitness icon who grew up in Santa Barbara isn’t training celebrities and Victoria’s Secret models like Elsa Hosk, Shanina Shaik, and Martha Hunt, she’s expanding her Sculpt Society empire: fitness centered around simplified dance cardio for both dancers and non-dancers alike.

“Each class is designed for anyone and everyone, keeping cardio simple, repetitive, and easy to follow.”

Santa Barbara

Megan moved from Idaho to Santa Barbara before entering 8th grade at La Colina Junior High, all the while growing up in the classical ballet world. It was at San Marcos High School, when she joined the Marquettes dance team, that she developed an interest for other modalities of dance. Megan immersed herself in the camaraderie element of the dance team, a value she would carry with her through the launch of her business. Leaving her hikes at Inspiration Point and walks along the Santa Barbara shoreline behind, Megan danced her way to The New York University Tisch School of the Arts, to study ballet and modern dance.

Dance Journey

In New York, Megan found success in the commercial work of dance, with the NBA Brooklyn Nets. “This time was such a dream come true because I got to dance at a professional level with the most talented dancers in the country,” Megan reminisces. However, she was struggling to make ends meet and needed a side hustle. She decided to dip her toes into fitness, not thinking anything would come of it. Yet, within a couple months of teaching classes, she fell in love with it. She also recognized that there was a gap in the fitness world. What was lacking? “A class that was fun and efficient, under an hour, where everyone can smile, and get a kick-ass workout with amazing results.” This acknowledgement led Megan to launch The Sculpt Society workout method three years ago, and more recently The Sculpt Society app in November 2019.

The Sculpt Society

Megan’s dream materialized but it didn’t happen overnight. She spent years fostering her community and fine-tuning the flow of in-person TSS classes in NYC before offering them online.

Megan explains that in-person workouts will always hold a place in fitness, yet because of the current climate and shift to work from home, many people who dismissed fitness are loving that the TSS app offers cost-effective workouts with no commute time. The Sculpt Society app features full body 45-50 minute workouts, 30 minute sculpt workouts, 30 minute dance-cardio classes, and even “quickies” which are under 20 minutes, allowing you to squeeze exercise into a busy schedule. Each class is designed for anyone and everyone, keeping cardio simple, repetitive, and easy to follow. The real meat of the classes is the sculpt portion, where you use your body weight, with the option of ankle weights or other equipment.

Nutrition

Naturally, a fitness routine should be accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. Megan reveals that she’s not one to subscribe to a specific diet. “I’m someone who just strives to eat real food,” she points out. She generally eats fruit in the morning, loves Ezekiel bread topped with cashew cream cheese and avocado, eggs over a large salad, and some kind of protein, carb and vegetable for dinner. However, a healthy diet doesn’t mean Megan can’t indulge her sweet tooth. “Am I having a bowl of ice cream at the end of the night? Probably.”

What's Next

Both Megan Roup and The Sculpt Society are picking up the pace. Her plans include expanding The Sculpt Society app (the potential addition of a nutrition element), growing her merchandise, and connecting with more people in her community.

The core (pun intended) of The Sculpt Society is to inspire and empower women through movement and enable individuals to feel strong in their own bodies. Megan argues that fitness is incredibly powerful and connected to every aspect of our lives. So while you see amazing results through her classes, her priority is to have you feeling that you can workout consistently while also being more confident in your body. * thesculptsociety.com