Gather COLA swarmed with fitness lovers at 8 a.m. on a Saturday, blasting female rap music and positive vibrations throughout the Bullstreet District.

Local fitness company Powerhouse Cycle and HIIT hosted the hybrid workout event at the open-air venue. The space was split in half, with 11 stationary bikes on one side and a collection of weights, balls and bands on the other.

Powerhouse member Tatiana Rosser said the outdoor session was a refreshing change of scenery.

“It’s always good to be in a classroom, but it’s different when you’ve got, you know, open space,” she said.

Rosser has been a member of the fitness studio since January. Happy to be part of a company that holds her accountable, she was excited to support their collaboration with Gather.

“It’s been pretty transformational for me,” Rosser said.

The collaboration between Gather and Powerhouse came to be in an organic fashion. Founder Janiya Cunigan said she was sitting at a table near the entrance of Gather when a manager walked in, started a conversation, and she mentioned her business.

“We just started chatting it up, you know, about some potential partnerships, and this is what we came up with,” Cunigan said.

The Powerhouse Cycle Community Class hosted by Gather combined two of Cungian’s favorite fitness modalities, with groups flip-flopping between a spin on the bike and a strength session on turf. The founder said it was through working with various companies she realized her desire to provide people with a unique workout experience.

“I’ve worked with Orange Theory, I’ve worked with Cyclebar, I’ve worked with various other brands, and I just decided that I wanted to stop paying other people and give something back to the community that we didn’t have,” Cunigan said.

Collaborating with Columbia businesses is another aspect of Powerhouse’s mission. The studio has previously hosted events with Savage Craft and other breweries, but this was its first time working with Gather.

The outdoor food hall was added to the BullStreet District in December after months of construction. Abutting spots such as Segra Park and Methodical Coffee, Gather features 10 food vendors, a bar and private workspaces in an effort to provide variety for baseball enthusiasts and the work crowd alike.

The food hall also serves as an outlet for small businesses to attract the public, hosting weekly trivia and bingo nights with Palmetto Trivia and consistent pop-ups with companies such as Powerhouse.

“I’m just super excited and thankful for the partnership with Gather, and I’m hoping to continue our partnership together and grow the Columbia community,” Cunigan said.