Meet Emily Switzer The Anchor Method redefines the gym experience By Angelina Purvey The Anchor Method, located in Kentfield, takes a new approach to fitness by prioritizing both physical and mental health. At just 25 years old, Emily Switzer has created a gym that emphasizes confidence, connection and well-being for the audience of teen girls. Switzer has always wanted to share the importance of mental health and found that physical fitness strongly supports it. Throughout Switzers’ teenage years, she found herself struggling with mental health. “My harder years were middle and high school. Growing up, I obviously had really good memories and moments, but I think that it is a difficult time to be a teenager, and I don’t think there are enough mentors out there for girls from that 12 to 19 year old range,” Switzer said. She experienced adjusting to a new lifestyle from moving to California from Indiana, and additionally struggling with friendships. One thing that helped her through hardships was getting her body moving. Her love for exercise and spreading awareness for mental health led her to pursue building a gym for teenagers. “To me, creating that community was something that I always wanted to do, and it doesn’t even feel like work. It’s really fun to work with the girls,” Switzer said. Focusing on mental health and fitness, Switzer was determined to find a way to combine the two. This goal led her to opening The Anchor Method, one that offers teen-based classes, ranging from ages 12 to 19. At The Anchor Method, teen group classes consist of a 45-minute workout that is centered around partnerbased exercises, followed by a cool off with 15 minutes of journaling and stretching. Switzer explained how journaling is a key part of the experience. “[There are] journals that we keep [at the gym] for the girls, so they’ll grab their journals, pens, yoga mats, and then I always have a different prompt. Each month I go through different prompt focuses, [along
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Volume LXVIII, No. 4 • February 6, 2026 • Larkspur, CA
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EMILY SWITZER ASSISTS a student with position and form during an outdoor teen group class. with] questions. Sometimes they just write said. Junior Maggie Chang has been [individually], or sometimes they share attending the gym since October with their partners or as a group,” Switzer of 2025. Chang continues to enjoy her said. time at The Anchor Not only does this Method because of the provide time for selfnontraditional merging reflection, Switzer has of mental and physical noticed significant To me, creating that health, making it so changes to clients’ community was enjoyable that it doesn’t confidence and even feel like a workout. attitude after coming something that I “I really like the to multiple sessions. always wanted to do. mindfulness and the wind “I would say a down at the end, but also lot of the girls that Emily Switzer, we do different exercises typically come to owner of The Anchor to keep it interesting classes are not as Method [while focusing] on confident in their working out different bodies or in their parts of the body. I abilities. The classes and the journaling definitely instill that always found that [the classes] pass by confidence in them. A lot of the girls come really quickly, [without even noticing] in pretty shy and quiet, and even by the time passed until it’s already over,” Chang end of just one class, it’s awesome to see said. Chang also feels the environment them slowly start to open up and be willing to share a little bit more, even [if it’s] just created by Switzer has really made communicating with their partner. Some a difference in her gym experience. of these girls have been with me for three Switzer’s encouragement and effort to years, middle school to high school. Not create a community among the other teens only are they lifting a lot heavier, but their does not go unnoticed. body awareness is more there, and their Continue reading at redwoodbark.org in confidence; when they walk in the door, the Lifestyles section they’re just like I own this place, this is my safe place, I feel confident here,” Switzer apurvey@redwoodbark.org
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