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A Gym to Build Your Best Self

Smash Iron Fitness— a place for all to hone their health and wellness necessities

Article by Kyla Sawyer

Photography by Brendan Stonestreet, Tay Price, Richie Banks

Originally published in Red Rock City Lifestyle

The new year is always a time of beginnings and fulfilling resolutions. Taking care of one’s health–specifically physical fitness–can be a great step towards wellness. The trainers at Smash Iron Fitness support anyone along this path in a custom way for each individual.

Consistency is the key component to creating lasting results. Carlo Paredes, personal trainer and owner of Smash Iron Fitness, said, “along with hard work, the small everyday decisions outside these gym doors matter. Not only do we focus on weights, but also the mind, nutritional guidance, and mindset.”

An influx of new gym-goers during the first month of every year is something many fitness trainers experience. With so much motivation to become a new and improved version of oneself, Paredes and the rest of his trainers advise starting small, like going for walks each day, eventually increasing the activity little by little. 

Whether the client is a bodybuilder, mom, office worker, or student who is just beginning their physical health journey, Paredes believes there is room for all. Even though it has the equipment to support elite athletes, Smash Iron Fitness makes an effort to discard all notions of intimidation, creating an open atmosphere for all levels of exercise. And as an added bonus, their podcast, “Smashcast,” can be an excellent resource for clients looking to connect to inspiring stories and tap into the minds of champions and business moguls.

Some people might not know where to begin when it comes to the gym, scaring them away from even trying. “It’s like taking a weight off your shoulders,” Paredes began. “Admitting you don’t know what you’re doing… now it’s time to nurture.”

Smash Iron’s personal trainers gauge what each person is already capable of and build from there. Training is an obvious aspect of exercise that comes to mind, but recovery is equally as important. Eventually, Smash Iron Fitness plans to open a recovery zone with a sauna and cold plunge, allowing guests to rebuild and rest their bodies. Taking nutritional guidance from personal trainers is another way to keep the body nourished and prepared for exercise.

An important and overlooked aspect of exercise is mental strength. Along with fitness training, Smash Iron offers jiu-jitsu training, a Brazilian form of martial arts. Focus and technique are essential in performing jiu-jitsu properly and are helpful both in and out of the gym. Experts and beginners can obtain a “RoninJitsu Membership,” providing access to all levels of classes, open mat, and the gym. 

Smash Iron Fitness encourages the community to care for their own bodies. Exercising through resistance training, honing skills in jiu-jitsu, and learning what diet is best for each person’s lifestyle, are all catalysts to feeling the most connected to oneself.

No matter the situation at hand, there are ways to incorporate new habits and practices into our daily lives. Revolving them toward a healthier existence only requires a little consistency.

Businesses featured in this article