Equipment: At the Pit Gym, we have Cybex and Life Fitness equipment
Students should bring: A towel and water.
Average class length: 30–60 minutes
Number of Staff: 1–5 people
Class location: Mix of indoor and outdoor classes
Established: 2006
Registration required: Yes
Good for beginners: Yes
Guests allowed: Yes
Parking: Parking lot

Q&A with Smiley Elmore, Phd., Owner / Chief Encouragement Officer

Exercise is challenging, and people frequently give up on their fitness routines. How do you keep clients motivated?
We start off by letting our clients know that we believe in them and that we care about helping them reach their individual goals. With this established from the outset, our students tend to trust us and give their all during workouts. We also tell them that if the workout doesn't challenge them, it definitely won't change them.

What's the most radical physical transformation you've seen a client make?
We've seen several over the past 20 years, but one that really sticks out is our client who lost 26 pounds in four weeks, along with 10 percent body fat. My transformation is epic, as well. As an amateur bodybuilder, the judges laughed at me during one of my first competitions. I used that as a catalyst to push me on my path to become a professional bodybuilder. Four years later, I stepped on stage with 3.5 percent body fat and won two professional natural bodybuilding cards. I tell our clients that if they believe in themselves, pray, and relentlessly persevere, they'll reach their fitness goals—no matter how out of shape they are.

Do you run your gym according to a particular exercise philosophy?
We tell our clients to forget traditional thinking, to understand that we are all unique, and to never give up. We also hope to help others be their physical best so that the benefits of a healthy body can trickle out into other areas of their lives.