CrossFit Primal, Waukee

When Brian Maro dared his friend Jeremy Yoder to come with him to CrossFit classes for two weeks, Jeremy wasn't worried. After all, he had been a certified fitness instructor for more than 15 years and had earned a black belt in tae kwon do, a national title in full-contact sparring, and an accreditation in advanced scuba diving. He could handle it.

But after his first session, the challenging workout had humbled him, and Jeremy had a new respect for the abilities of seasoned CrossFit athletes. Determined to improve, he threw himself into CrossFit five days a week, eventually earning certification as a CrossFit Level 1 trainer.

Today, Jeremy and Brian join forces to captain their own CrossFit gym—CrossFit Primal. Amid kettlebells, pull-up bars, and oversized tires, the duo of certified trainers and their staff lead students through CrossFit's signature high-intensity functional workouts. The coaches also slingshot students to their fitness goals with nutritional guidance that includes recipes and personal consultations. Committed to creating a supportive community, instructors provide their students with routine encouragement, host regular class parties, and devote every third class to faithfully re-creating scenes from Cheers.