“The Power of She” Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Fit Columbia, and Athleta Cross Hill partner to inspire women and girls

On June 18, two Columbia businesses and Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) will introduce their new partnership to celebrate women and girls and encourage their participation in active outdoor recreation.

The two businesses are Fit Columbia, a contemporary exercise studio in Five Points and Athleta’s local Cross Hill Market location, part of the national Athleta brand of women’s performance apparel. PCF’s signature project is the mountains-to-sea Palmetto Trail, South Carolina’s premier trail for hiking, biking, and other nonmotorized recreation.

“The three of us—Athleta Cross Hill, Fit Columbia, and PCF—are partnering to empower women, teach them about fitness, and support them in becoming more active,” Fit Columbia owner and teacher Angela Yong Sellers said.

“I am elated to be part of a partnership that advances the mission of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation,” Executive Director Natalie C. Britt commented. PCF is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission includes land conservation, creating access to the outdoors, and promoting active recreation on trails and greenways.

Sellers and Britt have been selected as “Athleta Cross Hill Local Influencers,” which is part of Athleta’s “Power of She” campaign to empower women and girls. Athleta is a Gap Inc. brand that makes and markets clothing “designed by women athletes to inspire a community of active, confident women and girls to reach their limitless potential.”

“Encouraging women and girls to step outside their comfort zone, get outdoors and stay active is core to our mission,” explained Laura Woltering, General Manager of Athleta Cross Hill Market. “We are thrilled to be partnering with like-minded brands in our area to bring health and wellness to our community, and support the efforts of both Fit Columbia and PCF.”

Athleta Cross Hill will celebrate Sellers and Britt at the partnership launch, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 18, at its store, 702 Cross Hill Road in Columbia. The free event is open to the public and includes refreshments. The partners look forward to meeting women and girls of all abilities who are curious about becoming more active and exploring the great outdoors. Athleta Cross Hill will announce a series of free informational events featuring Fit Columbia and PCF, scheduled for this summer and fall.

“We want women to come to the launch party and meet us,” Sellers said. “This is a way for women to interact with each other while they explore changing their lifestyles to move more.”

“Athleta’s culture shares a unity of purpose with Palmetto Conservation in promoting and encouraging women of all ages, sizes and abilities to head outside and get active,” shared Britt.  “The Power of She embraces all our core values.”

“What I like about working with Athleta and Palmetto Conservation is that they both understand the value of movement being more than just running marathons or lifting heavyweights,” explained Sellers.  “We want to reach women and give them a better idea of what ‘being active’ could mean for them. When you’re active, you feel better.”

Sellers, an accredited trainer and coach, and other trainers from Fit Columbia will present four free introductory sessions focused on movement, yoga and stretching. These activities help women get and stay in shape for enjoying active outdoor recreation. Fit Columbia offers sports training, stretch therapy, and personal training, as well as unique, playful group classes such as bungee fitness and aerial yoga.

Britt, an avid backpacker, mountain biker and kayaker, will teach Women’s Backpacking 101 at Athleta Cross Hill and share her enthusiasm for hiking and biking backcountry trails. She is passionate about the benefits of a walk or ride in the woods. In the fall, Britt is planning to teach a Women’s Beginner Mountain Biking class at the new Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park in Oconee County.

PCF also sponsors monthly Ladies of the Palmetto Trail hikes to various Palmetto Trail passages across the state. With 28 completed passages and multiple trailheads, the Palmetto Trail is accessible from anywhere in the state for
day trips, weekend jaunts and longer treks. Check the website for information and free maps,www.palmettoconservation.org.

“I am looking forward to working with this incredible team,” Britt said of the new partnership. “Angie Sellers of Fit Columbia is not just a friend—she is the reason I have progressed on my fitness journey. Her unique approach to whole body movement has allowed me to ride faster, backpack longer distances, and feel confident and strong,” she said.

Britt recognized both Fit Columbia and Athleta Cross Hill for their support of the Palmetto Trail. Fit Columbia has selected the Palmetto Trail as its charitable partner this year. Athleta Cross Hill is supporting Trail workdays. Employees Amanda Beecher, Khalilah McKee, and Hailey Green spent a recent Saturday clearing brush and trash from two miles of the Palmetto Trail’s Fort Jackson Passage near Columbia. Giving back to their communities is important to both Palmetto Trail partners.

About Fit Columbia 
Fit Columbia is a unique, contemporary fitness studio offering a balanced approach to sustainable fitness and life enhancement. Located in the heart of the Five Points neighborhood, Fit Columbia is not a franchise—this studio is independently owned and operated by fitness expert Angela Yong Sellers. There are no contracts or monthly fees at Fit Columbia, because we constantly evaluate the progress and needs of students and set new class schedules each month that are tailored to what clients want. Daily workouts draw from strength and cardiovascular conditioning, speed and mobility training, yoga, and group fitness to cultivate healthier bodies and minds. Everything at Fit Columbia can be done on your schedule and with your friends and family—email [email protected] for more information. There’s one reason you’ll push harder, move faster and grow stronger with Fit Columbia: It’s personal here.

About Palmetto Conservation Foundation
The mission of Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) is to conserve South Carolina’s natural and cultural resources, preserve historic landmarks, and promote outdoor recreation through trails and greenways. Founded in 1989, PCF is a statewide nonprofit organization with headquarters in Columbia. PCF’s largest and best-known project is building and maintaining the mountains-to-sea Palmetto Trail. In 2016, PCF inaugurated the Palmetto Conservation Corps to help interested young adults in South Carolina learn skills in trail maintenance and construction, assist with disaster recovery, and develop as the next generation of conservation stewards and leaders. The Palmetto Conservation Corps is South Carolina’s only trail-based AmeriCorps job-training and service program for young adults. To learn more about Palmetto Conservation, the Palmetto Trail and the Palmetto Conservation Corps, visit www.palmettoconservation.org and Facebook/palmettoconservation, or call 803-771-0870.

About the Palmetto Trail
The scenic Palmetto Trail is one of 16 cross-state trails in the United States and is recognized regionally and nationally as a visitor-friendly attraction. The Trail inspires active, healthy living and showcases the state’s diverse natural beauty, fascinating history, and rich rural and urban culture. From mountains to sea, the Palmetto Trail connects Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Sumter, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Berkeley and Charleston counties. When finished, the Trail will extend about 500 continuous miles from Walhalla to Awendaw. With 28 completed passages and multiple trailheads, the Palmetto Trail is accessible from anywhere in the state for
day trips, weekend jaunts and longer treks. Passages are typically fewer than 15 miles in length, but range from 1.1 to 47 miles and feature wilderness and backcountry paths, urban bikeways, greenways, rails-to-trail conversions, city sidewalks, and even the steps of the State Capitol. The Trail connects private and public lands, state parks, national and state forests, historic landmarks, and numerous cities, towns and communities. For information and downloadable maps of Palmetto Trail passages, and to become a Palmetto Conservation member and Trail supporter, visit www.palmettoconservation.org.

About Athleta
Athleta creates versatile premium performance apparel designed by women athletes to inspire a community of active, confident women and girls to reach their limitless potential. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to carry a woman through her life in motion – from yoga and training to commuting and travel. In 2016 the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in San Francisco, CA and a Gap Inc. brand (NYSE:GPS), Athleta apparel is available at its 148+ retail stores across the country, through its catalog, and at www.athleta.com.