If you are looking for a non-commercial gym with an aesthetic appearance, exquisite equipment and abundance of amenities, this LSU alumni-owned space could be just what you need.
Origin Gym, owned by Kirsten Willis and her husband Hayden Willis, is Baton Rouge’s hottest luxury fitness space located at 5830 McCann Drive. The couple held Origin’s grand opening on Nov. 29, 2025.
The pair have been in the powerlifting and bodybuilding community for many years. As a high schooler, Hayden set the all-time Louisiana High School Athletic Association deadlift record at 730 pounds in May 2019. Kirsten has extensive experience as an athlete and bodybuilder, having won the true novice category at the 2023 NPC Southern Muscle competition.
After graduating from LSU, both Hayden and Kirsten became personal trainers, even offering coaching as one of the many amenities at Origin.
“During our time at LSU, we became integrated and deeply familiar with its fitness community,” Kirsten said. “This gave us direct insight into the desires and needs of serious fitness enthusiasts in our local community.”
The entire space was outfitted with the true gym rat in mind: the sleek and moody interior paired with high-contrast lighting creates the perfectly aesthetic look any fitness content creator would be drawn to.
The duo’s time spent in various gyms across the country directly informed many of the decisions they made when creating Origin.
“There’s a common thread of community, equipment quality and energy that we experienced in the nation’s premier gyms,” Kirsten said. “We wanted to bring that type of atmosphere and caliber of equipment to Baton Rouge.”
One of the most unique features of Origin is its versatile machinery, including equipment like calibrated plates, PRIME Fitness machines and an incline track. The space is organized by muscle group, with the cardio machines, including a recumbent bike and curved treadmill, placed in a separate room from the powerlifting area.
“Making sure that our equipment feels great for all sizes and proportions was necessary,” said Kirsten. “We are accessible and welcoming to all, regardless of the more advanced equipment. We always make sure that we are around to assist people that are unsure about how a piece of equipment works.”
Included in both day passes and full memberships is access to red light therapy, massage chairs, cold plunge tubs, saunas and a posing room. Available for purchase is an assortment of pre-workouts, food and drinks.
The gym has already cultivated a community of regulars, especially from visitors who are in the powerlifting and bodybuilding spaces.
“It has truly been a blessing to see people embrace this place like we had dreamed of,” she said. “Seeing people in the community thrive and grow in their fitness journey means the world to us – it’s a huge part of why we wanted to make Origin. We would like to cultivate a community at Origin that facilitates this type of progress.”
In fact, the name of the gym was largely inspired by the two’s principle of empowering members’ individual paths toward growth.
“The word ‘origin’ signifies the start or the conception of a journey,” Kirsten explained. “For most people here, it’s more about the process than it is the end result.”
It seems that the couple views their business in a similar light; while they would love the opportunity to open a secondary location, the Willises are staying in the present at every step of the way.
“The goal is to make sure our current location and members are taken care of,” said Kirsten. “We plan to continually improve our current location to cater to the needs of our membership body.”
Origin Gym is open 24/7. For more information, visit Origin’s website.
