A new fitness center is proving that gyms aren’t just for athletes and 20-somethings. Spurling Fitness, which opened its Scarborough location in 2025, has a different focus: helping adults age 50 and older stay strong, healthy, and independent. The gym combines expert coaching with a welcoming atmosphere that feels more like a community gathering place than a traditional fitness center.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
A visit to Spurling quickly reveals what sets it apart. Manager Nick Bryan greets every member by name as they arrive for their workout. Most stop to chat before even picking up a weight. The conversation is just as likely to be about a gardening project, a grandchild, or a recent vacation as it is about a sore shoulder or a fitness goal.
Bryan loves it. He spent much of his childhood with his four grandparents, all of whom struggled with serious health issues. Watching them inspired him to pursue a career helping older adults stay healthy and independent. After earning a degree in Applied Science from the University of New England in 2024, Bryan started physical therapy school before realizing his passion was coaching people, not treating them.
Today, some of his proudest moments come from helping clients achieve everyday goals. One client wanted to be able to lift her six-year-old grandchild into a shopping cart. Another struggled with balance while walking on the beach. Bryan helped both achieve their goals. “Those are the wins that matter,” he says.
Fitness for Real Life
The gym’s approach reflects the vision of owners John Williams and Doug Spurling, lifelong Mainers and friends who saw a gap in the fitness market. In 2012, they opened a gym in Kennebunk specifically for adults over age 50. Their philosophy centered on functional fitness for everyday life. Its success has led them to open three other locations.
At Spurling, trainers are known as coaches. They work closely with members, demonstrating exercises, correcting form, and modifying workouts when necessary. They help build strength, improve balance, increase mobility, and maintain independence. Many clients arrive with past injuries, chronic pain, or concerns about aging. The goal is to meet people where they are and help them progress safely.
A Community First
What may be most striking about Spurling is how comfortable it feels. There are no mirrors lining the walls and class sizes are intentionally small. Members encourage one another and laughter is common.
In a fitness industry often focused on appearance and performance, Spurling Fitness is a welcome addition. With its emphasis on healthy aging, it is poised to help Scarborough residents stay strong, active, and independent for years to come.
