ProType Sports Academy, Independence

The trainers at ProType Sports Academy adopt a multifaceted approach to exercise, basing their fitness programs on scientific research and personal experience. After talking to clients about their fitness goals and level of physical conditioning, they formulate workouts designed to prevent muscles from hitting the snooze button after too many repetitions. Trainers work with clients through each step of the process, guiding them through workouts in weight training, plyometrics, and Vertimax training, the last of which applies weight to legs and arms simultaneously. They also helm group classes in subjects such as kickboxing, yoga, TRX, spinning, and Pilates. These classes take place across a sprawling facility complete with two basketball courts, two indoor-soccer fields, a boot-camp field, a dance studio, and a quicksand pit that makes for some intense resistance training.