Trap Lab creates a space for intergenerational health through fun and fitness

Icea Pettigrew and Sharde Bullard opened the doors to Trap Lab in 2023. Located at 1646 SW Dash Point Road, Suite A, Federal Way, the boutique fitness studio is a physical representation of the two sisters’ search for a place to build positive physical and mental habits. health in a welcoming and culturally appropriate environment.

When they couldn’t find it, they created it.

The studio offers classes such as kickboxing, yoga and dance fitness, as well as mental health events. “Trap” refers to the type of music that brings energy to their classes, but it has a deep double meaning for the sisters.

At Trap Lab, they ask, ‘Are you ready to change the formula?'” Pettigrew said. “When we talk about formula, we’re talking about escaping the mindset that you’re trapped in a routine and not prioritizing self-care.”

Together, participants and instructors work to help each other break out of this closed mindset.

“Switching the formula involves pushing someone to a place where they’re uncomfortable, but also that we give them the tools and resources to break down any barriers they might have,” Pettigrew said.

The journey to creating the space began with a diagnosis three years ago.

Pettigrew was diagnosed with diabetes by her doctor and prescribed insulin with “no health and wellness talk” or any discussion of how to manage the condition other than medication.

That assignment left her “feeling trapped, feeling defeated,” Pettigrew said. She made an appointment with another provider, who gave her information and resources to try to manage the condition by adding more exercise and changing her diet.

This led her to the door of a large chain of gyms, but she did not feel welcome there and found it overwhelming and without any elements of fun.

“I wanted a space where they not only focused on weight loss, but body positivity, where I felt like I was joining a sisterhood,” Pettigrew said.

Bullard had a similar experience of struggling to find welcoming spaces during her own journey when she began exploring yoga and meditation. She had a background in dance and fitness, but after going through some personal losses in her family, she got out of her fitness routine and had to find something more.

“Once I realized that my body was changing and most importantly, my mental health was changing, I had to change all of that,” Bullard said. Returning to training, she said: “I really wanted to make sure I wasn’t just trying to look like everyone else. I really just wanted to be the best me and the healthiest me that I could be. And I had to start mentally.”

Pettigrew asked her sister for help with her fitness journey, and the two began working out, then rented space and offered classes to invite others to join them.

“We thought, let’s just have the class and let’s just bring in our culture, let’s bring in the music that everybody likes to listen to. And let’s just have fun,” Pettigrew said.

Instead of focusing on weight goals or a certain activity level, they focused on the need to “come together and just be a reflection of ourselves and be our authentic selves” because “healthy looks different to everyone.”

When it comes to fitness and personal growth in general, Pettigrew and Bullard say a supportive community can create a safe space to work through the discomfort that change requires. When people train there, “we’re in it with you, pushing just as hard as you are,” Bullard said.

Wellness for generations

Pettigrew and Bullard were also part of founding the local nonprofit Phenomenal She, which is headquartered in the same complex on Federal Way. This organization focuses on supporting young women and girls through mentoring and activities, specifically women of color.

Although they provide a training space for the Phenomenal She dance team and have offered classes for youth, the Trap Lab is also a specific place where the family of the girls who participate in Phenomenal She can have their own health.

One of those holistic offerings includes activities with culturally relevant licensed therapists and mental health events, in part because seeking therapy in her community is often “taboo,” Pettigrew said.

“The first thing they think about therapy is walking through a closed door, into an office where it’s cold and nobody understands what they’re talking about. So being able to bring our therapists into the game has opened so many doors for our girls and women in our community,” she said.

“We’re able to create that space for their moms and their grandmas and their aunts because everything trickles down,” Pettigrew said, noting how important it is for the Phenomenal She girls to be able to have a home that’s “grounded.”

The sisters are interested in finding more community partners in health and holistic wellness in Federal Way, with the goal of creating a space for education and community conversations around everything from nutrition to mental health.

“We want to come together and build and build a healthier Federal Way,” Pettigrew said.

The first class is free and guests can also drop in for $20. Class packages and quarterly subscriptions are also an option.

The space is also used as a practice and meeting area for the Phenomenal She dance team. They will be participating in the upcoming Seattle Majestics vs. Los Angeles Legends women’s soccer game at 7:00 p.m. on May 11 at French Field, Kent-Meridian High School, 10020 SE 256th St., Kent.