Our story
We help women discover they’re stronger than they believed.
The women-only studio in Amherst where every workout is coached start to finish — scaled to every shape, size and fitness level.
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Years in health & wellness
Meet Diane
Diane Risdon, Founder & Head Coach.
Fitness has been part of Diane’s life for more than 30 years, but her path to Bad Girl Fitness didn’t start with owning a gym. Before becoming a full-time fitness professional, she spent 16 years as a special education teacher — an experience that shaped the way she coaches today: meet people where they are, help them see what they’re capable of, and never make them feel like they have to figure it out alone.
Diane opened the original Bad Girl Fitness in 2014 with a simple idea: women deserved a place to get stronger without feeling intimidated or judged. Since then, hundreds of women have walked through the doors — many arriving convinced they weren’t strong, athletic, or “gym people.”
Helping them discover otherwise is still her favorite part of the job.
Strong women aren’t born. They’re built.
At Bad Girl Fitness, that means smart coaching, challenging workouts, encouragement, and a community of women who genuinely want to see each other succeed.
Three things that never change.
The studio has grown a lot since 2014. These three have not — they are the reason women stay for years.
No rows of machines. Dumbbells, kettlebells, sandbags, ropes and tires — every workout coached, never followed.
A judgment-free, women-owned space where you’re supported, motivated and encouraged — not measured against anyone.
Progressive strength training that meets you where you are and grows with you, session after session.
Inside the studio
Coached by women who’ve got your back.
Every session is led by a certified coach — meet the team below.
The coaching team
Meet your coaches.
Every class is led by a certified coach who learns your name, your goals, and exactly how to scale each movement to you.
Diane Risdon
Founder & Head Coach
Thirty years in health and wellness — ACE-CPT, AFAA Group Fitness, NLP Master Practitioner. She opened Bad Girl Fitness in 2014.
Shannon Snider
Instructor
A certified Bad Girl Fitness coach, leading members through Forge, Combust, and Ignite.
Laura Krebs
Instructor
A certified Bad Girl Fitness coach, leading members through Forge, Combust, and Ignite.