The Second Time
is the Charm
Maridah Akram is one of many
others who learned that a global
pandemic can obliterate the bestlaid
plans, but true to form, Akram
powered through the setbacks with
her eyes firmly fixed on her goal.
Akram opened her workout
facility, Faithfully Fit Fitness at 16706
Chagrin, in September 2021 – nearly
two years later than she originally
planned, and in a different location.
“I think it was destiny to open
my business in Shaker. Several times I
drove by the space with my daughter,
and I would tell her to write down the
phone number in the window and she
would say ‘Mom, it’s already in your
phone. Just call it.’”
A resident of Shaker Heights
since 2009, Akram had had a lengthy
career as a registered nurse and nurse
practitioner at University Hospitals and
The Cleveland Clinic.
“I started on this fitness journey
after having my third child and gaining
weight,” says Akram. “Being a nurse,
I taught people about diabetes, heart
disease, and high blood pressure.
I had to take classes so I could train
other nurses, and as I read the
material, I thought to myself ‘how
can you talk the talk and not walk the
walk?’ I started a healthier lifestyle and
began to lose weight, which made me
feel better. And then I got involved in
running marathons.”
As she continued to explore her
newfound passion for running, other
runners would ask her questions
about its health benefits. This led her
to think about health and fitness as a
business endeavor.
“I decided I wanted to open my
own gym. So, in 2019, I left my job
and found a location in Cleveland.
I fixed up the place and was ready
to open – and then the pandemic
50 WINTER 2022 | WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
hit, and all gyms were forced to shut down. In late 2020, I went to get my
occupancy permit through the City of Cleveland and was denied. That was
another devastating blow.”
At that point, Akram realized she needed an alternate plan.
“My choices were to return to the hospital or pursue my dream,” says
Akram. “I had to really think about it. I finally called the manager of this building
and everything took off from there. Everyone in Shaker – the inspectors, those
involved with the Storefront Program, the economic developers – was extremely
helpful in getting my business going.”
Faithfully Fit Fitness is open seven days a week and offers a variety of
classes: step, trap spin, deep stretch, cardio hip-hop, and toning. There’s also a
course titled Pretty Curvy that consists of a high-energy workout while dancing,
and occasionally adding weights.
Akram stresses the necessity of spirit, body, and mind to accomplish
fitness goals.
“We know working out requires physical strength, but it also requires mental
and spiritual strength, to some degree,” she says. “When I ran a full marathon, it
took more than just being physically fit. So, even if I have a hard time during this
lifelong journey of health and wellness, I will remain faithful to the process.”
For more information, call 216-256-3972. SL
/WWW.SHAKER.LIFE