Strengthening Social Ties: Sayrs Consulting Partners with LM Fitness on Mental Health and Community Engagement

Written by Cesar Castro | Edited by Hayley W. Sayrs

The healthiest communities have the strongest social ties. Having a sense of community is one of the most vital aspects of a fulfilling life and being socially isolated is harmful to one’s health in a myriad of ways including:

• Mental Health - Social isolation and loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. 

• Brain Health - Social isolation can lead to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. 

• Physical Health - Social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It can also weaken the immune system. 

• Quality of Life - Social isolation can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, such as cooking, paying bills, driving, and taking medicine, especially as we get older.

• Health Behaviors - Social isolation can exacerbate poor health behaviors, such as smoking, physical inactivity, and poor sleep. 

• Emotional Pain and Trauma - Social isolation can cause emotional pain and make a person feel threatened and mistrustful of others. It can also exacerbate feelings of despair for those who have experienced trauma.

A sense of community provides us with spaces and places that we can feel accepted, valued, and free to grow without the stress of high costs or exclusivity. However, finding spaces that foster such a sense of belonging is increasingly challenging, as more public places are privatized, and gathering spots—sometimes called “third places”—become harder to access. In Los Angeles, our community spaces sometimes serve multiple needs, including those of our unhoused neighbors, which can add complexity for families and friends seeking to gather. The importance of accessible gathering spaces cannot be overstated, especially in a city where rising costs make community-centered experiences increasingly out of reach.

Coordinating the LM Block Party for Mental Health Month highlighted how third places can thrive when business owners collaborate with their communities. Byron Paredes, founder of LM Fitness, has built a culture that extends beyond his gym, creating a shared space for the entire neighborhood. In a world where meaningful social interaction can feel scarce, block parties and community events provide vital opportunities for connection, strengthening both the social and economic fabric of our neighborhoods. Since the pandemic, free events that promote reconnection have become crucial for supporting mental health and building resilient businesses.

Working with Sayrs Consulting as an outreach coordinator for the event, I spoke with Byron’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paredes, who immigrated here from Ecuador. Byron credits much of his business knowledge and sense of community to his parents. Mr. Paredes always had the vision for opportunities and Mrs. Paredes was raised with a conservative business mind. Combining both traits Byron learned how to take calculated risks. 

"Two lessons I've learned as the son of immigrants: First, carry their name to new heights—strive for achievements they couldn't reach. Second, they instilled strong values in me, like hospitality. When you walk into my house or my gym, you're family—and these values shape how I run LM Fitness and how I treat my team."

- Byron Paredes, Owner LM Fitness Center

Listening to Mrs. Paredes share Byron’s longstanding commitment to creating spaces where people can come together over food and conversation revealed these events as more than just gatherings—they are true acts of community-building, deeply rooted in culture and a thoughtful commitment to future generations. Though these events may also serve a promotional role for local businesses, they enable people from diverse backgrounds to connect over shared interests and create genuine bonds.

The LM Fitness Block Party, held during Mental Health Month, brings together vendors, community members, and wellness advocates, offering a platform to share ideas and explore ways to foster healthier lifestyles. Since the launch, LM Fitness has been hosting regular community gatherings featuring group runs, barbecues, and dance parties for patrons. Gyms like LM Fitness serve as hubs where business and community converge, fostering innovation around healthy lifestyles and inspiring the creation of more inclusive events throughout the city. When local business owners come together to support each other, they strengthen the social ties that form the foundation of economically and socially thriving neighborhoods. Events like these remind us that building healthy communities is one of the best ways to support healthy lifestyles—an undeniable social determinant of well-being that cannot be overlooked.