I've never joined a gym in my life. The ambience just never feels right to my Filipina sensibility. So, when I walked into Tone Fitness Studio in Santa Rosa, California a year ago, something felt different. The place is warm and inviting. I noticed the sacred altars in various corners. I took note of the long counter where the members bring in flowers and produce from their gardens to share. I took note of the smiling faces of the staff. When I met the owner, Monica Anderson, something clicked. Of course, I thought, this third-generation Filipina American business owner knows how to build community.

When I asked if I could interview her for this piece, there was a long pause. She says that she feels uncomfortable talking about herself to a large public. But she felt that this was something she could do for me. I told her that we would trust the Universe and her purpose (in giving me the idea and the permission Monica grants me) to be revealed in time.