Mark Willey, M Streets neighbor, founder and instructor of Offbeat Boxing and Cycling Studios  describes his brand of fitness: “Our classes are fun and hard, like life!”  

With a variety of options for group instruction ranging from cycling and boxing to sculpt and circuit training, Mark explains, “Our workouts are fun and hard. You can go to any gym and jog on a treadmill and do some strength work, but it won’t necessarily ignite a passion. We don't exercise just because of the benefits; we exercise because it's fun! Hitting a bag or getting lost in the music on a bike provides an emotional high one can’t often find in day-to-day life. We offer that escape, and we offer it in a beautiful space with a welcoming environment open to everyone.” 

Mark says starting the fitness studio has been a humbling experience. Open for nearly three years, he says he owes a lot to their members and the people of East Dallas who took a chance on a start-up studio and found a home. “I have always wanted to start my own business but never had a great idea of what to do. I basically lived at the boxing gym when I wasn't at work, and when I ran a 2:45 in the 2019 London Marathon, I realized my boxing training was the difference maker. I understood then that fitness was what I cared about all along, and I had found my inspiration to create something.” So I opened a fitness studio near White Rock Lake, the epicenter of endurance athletes in Dallas. I  expanded the concept to cater to everyone interested in staying active, not just runners, and also added a cycling room that ended up being our signature class format .”

The name Offbeat comes from the idea that this gym differs from the rest of the fitness industry. Mark says, “It’s not about just being on the fitness scene, it's about people taking care of themselves and getting stronger for their lives outside of the gym - as a teacher, a nurse, a mother, a caretaker... whatever it is they need to be their best self.”

He adds, “I love it when we get people who have always tried to stick to an exercise regimen but never really found their thing. All of a sudden they love to hop on the bike or punch a bag because they’ve found that spark. It's not a chore; it's not about getting skinny; it's about feeling great and having fun.”

This hidden gem of East Dallas is located next door to Cane Rosso Lakewood and boasts a $98/month unlimited classes membership, roughly half of what most competitors charge for the same quality of offerings. Mark says, “White Rock is in our DNA, and our space reflects it. Also, this is a family-owned business, created by an East Dallas resident solely for East Dallas. We are built to reflect the unique and beautiful community we are in!”

Mark’s word to the wise regarding a fitness regimen: “You gotta get moving every day. Find a routine that has variety and have fun with it! It may be hard to find the time, but it will pay dividends  through the energy it creates in developing your physical, mental, and maybe most importantly emotional well-being.”

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