Another Shot at Strong

By Bob Luder

Photos courtesy Discover Strength

Leawood residents will have an added opportunity to get fit this spring. Discover Strength, a personalized strength training company based in Minnesota, is set to open its first location in the Kansas City area in late May, according to franchise owner Ben Gervais, who operates the facility at 4957 West 135th St. with his wife, Brady.

“It’s a passion of ours,” Gervais says. “We wanted a market where we could get highly engaged in the community. Leawood stuck out for the friendliness of its business community. Everybody is very engaged and supportive.”

Discover Strength is unique in that it focuses strictly on strength training. Gervais says there isn’t a single machine in the 2,100-square-foot space that plugs in. There are no treadmills or ellipticals; all the equipment is medical-grade strength equipment.

Discover Strength practices what Gervais calls the “Three Es.” The first “E” is efficient—clients work out only twice a week and 30 minutes at a time. The second “E”

is evidence-based—the facility’s exercise physiologists follow scientific evidence and proven, peer-reviewed training techniques to maximize effectiveness and results. The third “E” is educated experts—Discover Strength hires only those with four-year degrees in exercise science, with focused study in exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning, and nutrition.

“We want to provide workouts that don’t get boring,” Gervais says. “Each workout is individualized.”

Workouts are by appointment only, with no enrollment, membership, or termination fees. Clients pre-purchase sessions and, when they train, their accounts are debited. Gervais says the facility will be open 5:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

“We just want to help as many people as we can,” he says. “We’re chomping at the bit to get open and get going.”

To learn more and sign up for a free introductory session, visit www.discoverstrength.com/leawoodks.