New-and-improved Pacific Beach Training is a place “where adults can come and be kids for an hour,” said Junior Leoso, owner of the all-purpose fitness center at 4440 Ingraham St.
“The gym should be an adult playground,” said Leoso, a Hawaii native, who’s been revamping the decor and fitness menu at PBT, formerly Addie’s Personal Training Studio, the past couple years.
“We’ve got a new look, feel, name and revamped our brand,” said Leoso. “The gym is built for this community. It’s built with the idea that we offer a well-rounded sports-training aspect — but not just weight training.”
PBT doesn’t concentrate on any particular workout mode, offering a little of everything instead.
“I hired a kettle bell instructor to teach kettle bells. I hired a fighter to teach fighting classes, etc. So there’s no watered-down effect. We definitely live, and get the benefits from, the fact that we’re a team together,” Leoso said.
PBT offers numerous small-group classes and training courses focusing on a number of fitness facets including nutrition seminars.
“We plan on doing things like that all year long,” said Leoso, whose philosophy is training needs to fit individual lifestyles.
A former semi-professional football player, Leoso initially focused on strength training. But he’s realized as he’s gotten older that fitness is broader-based.
“My idea now is longevity, making sure my clients have good blood work, low body fat, that they enjoy hiking or surfing,” he said. “We have so much to offer, we don’t really have a genre. We don’t have the ‘weightlifting’ guy or the ‘aerobics’ girl. We’ve got everything in-between.”
Leoso doesn’t counsel clients that “this [exercise mode] is the only way.” Plus, he pointed out, variety is more fun — and practical.
“For 99 percent of the population that goes to the gym for a healthier lifestyle, you’re going to benefit much more from (being) well-rounded,” he said.
Leoso’s goal has always been “to help people,” adding, “fitness just happens to be my key, my tool. People come into my gym, and that’s my chance to help them.”
PBT is the culmination of years of training for Leoso, who noted the industry is a “people business.” He likes the one-on-one contact with clients. He responds to their input on how to improve his programs.
Leoso said his location “is the best, in-between Grand and Garnet on Ingraham between the freeways.”
“To my knowledge, we’re the only small gym with a parking lot (in PB), not street parking,” he added.
More expansion might be on the horizon, and could happen sooner rather than later, Leoso acknowledged. Pacific Beach Training Where 4440 Ingraham St. Hours:?Seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Info:?pacificbeachtraining.com, 858-483-2711
