About Rare Breed Fitness

Rare Breed Fitness was born out of pure passion, grit, and an unwavering commitment to results.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, competitive bodybuilders and coaches Michael and Teresa transformed their Staten Island backyard into a makeshift gym. With commercial gyms shut down, they needed a place to train themselves and their clients—many of whom were preparing for bodybuilding competitions. Mike, a veteran coach with 30+ years of experience and a former gym owner, and Teresa, who had been coaching part-time while working a full-time corporate job, saw an opportunity to go all-in. Teresa left her career and together they built a full-time business from the ground up.

What started as an open-air setup with no roof or walls soon became a thriving training hub with over 100 active clients. Every night, they’d tarp the equipment. Every morning, they’d uncover it again. Rain, heat, humidity, even mosquitos couldn’t stop them—or their clients. On Saturdays, they’d load up their Jeep with hundreds of pounds of plates, dumbbells, and sleds to run outdoor workouts in a nearby soccer field. These legendary sessions would later become known as Adrenaline, a staple of Rare Breed’s programming.

When gyms reopened, they gave their clients the option to return indoors—but unanimously, the group chose to stay. The focus, privacy, and no-frills intensity of the yard workouts had created something special. But with winter approaching, they needed a new plan. After calling every shed and garage builder possible—and getting quoted out of budget or denied delivery—Teresa reluctantly agreed to Mike’s idea of using a tent. They rented one for $1,600 a month, installed rubber flooring, and set up propane heaters to survive the New York winter.

It wasn’t easy. The heaters kept the space tolerable, but not the weights—Mike and Teresa had to warm barbells by hand or store them inside. One gas tank a day. One brutal winter. But they never stopped showing up for their clients. The results they delivered spoke for themselves: countless physical transformations, pro cards, and D1 athletic scholarships—all out of a 450 sq. ft. tent the community fondly named “The Compound.”

In 2021, Paul Spano joined Rare Breed as a client, training directly under Mike’s guidance. What began as personal transformation quickly became something more. Paul was inspired by the mission, the no-compromise standard, and the relentless drive that defined the Rare

Breed culture. He didn’t just want to train—he wanted to be part of it. He rolled up his sleeves and put in real work, contributing sweat equity both in the tent and later at the brick-and-mortar location. His dedication, consistency, and alignment with the vision made him an integral part of the team. Over time, Paul became more than just a coach—he became a partner in the business, committed to building Rare Breed alongside Mike and Teresa every step of the way.

By March 2022, Mike and Teresa took the leap and signed a lease for a permanent location—without startup funds in hand. Most people called it crazy. They called it belief. Despite construction delays, city permit issues, and being scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars by an equipment vendor, they never backed down. With the help of their good friends-Paul, Paulie, Aimee, Albi and Chris, in December 2022, they opened their doors with a waitlist of hundreds.

What started as a small group training business quickly evolved into something bigger: a high-performance training facility with elite coaches, cutting-edge equipment, and a community that trains with purpose. Rare Breed isn’t just a gym—it’s a movement built on respect, discipline, and results.

Today, Rare Breed Fitness continues to grow with a clear mission:
To raise the standard for what a gym can be.

With plans to expand into more space, offer luxury recovery amenities, and deliver the best training and nutrition coaching in New York, our vision is simple: Transform lives and build the strongest community in fitness.