In Laguna Niguel, Sacred Strength Sanctuary takes a different approach to what personal training can look like: private, highly individualized, and tailored to each client rather than the typical gym experience.
Founded by Joe Bando, director of operations and master strength therapist, and Amanda Gale-Bando, Ph.D., clinical director, the studio serves adults of all ages.
Its focus is on helping active adults and seniors build and maintain strength, confidence, and independence. That mission reflects the couple’s own experiences, shaped by vastly different professional backgrounds and personal journeys.
Joe’s own transformation, including a 110-pound weight loss, ultimately led him into professional strength training, while Amanda’s background as a clinical psychologist brought decades of expertise in resilience, emotional well-being, and human performance.
Together, they saw an opportunity to combine those perspectives in a setting where clients receive undivided attention.
“Sacred Strength was built to be more than a gym. It is a sanctuary where people are known by name, where relationships matter, and becoming physically stronger can become part of something much larger: living a stronger, healthier, more capable life.”
That philosophy guides nearly every aspect of the studio. Sessions are conducted entirely one-on-one and typically last about 20 minutes, twice a week. Training prioritizes controlled movement, appropriate resistance, and recovery rather than lengthy workouts or volume for its own sake.
“We are not trying to give people the maximum amount of exercise they can endure. We are trying to give them the precise amount their body needs to become stronger.”
The studio’s specialized Imagine Strength equipment allows exercises to be adjusted to each client’s physical characteristics and needs. Trainers monitor movement throughout each session, while EverStrong software records performance details, including resistance and time under tension. This information allows training to be calibrated over time rather than delivered through a preset program.
For senior clients, that distinction can be particularly meaningful.
Someone returning to exercise after years away may have different needs than an already active client looking to improve performance, yet Sacred Strength accommodates both, with the same level of personal supervision.
“Every person needs strength throughout their life, and virtually everyone can become stronger.”
The studio’s close-knit community has become another defining feature. Twelve members signed on before the doors opened, an early sign that the concept was resonating. Since then, referrals and personal relationships have driven much of the studio’s growth, with clients often lingering before or after appointments and forming connections that extend beyond training.
The Bandos have chosen to grow their practice slowly and intentionally. Sacred Strength opened in February 2026 after an extensive search for the right location and equipment, and future plans include expanding the facility and potentially bringing on another trainer.
A second South Orange County location may eventually follow, but for now, the focus remains close to home—and close to the client.
“Without question, witnessing the transformation in our clients is the greatest reward, but entrepreneurship has given us something equally important: the freedom to serve people in the way we genuinely believe they deserve to be served.”
At Sacred Strength, progress is about more than what happens in the gym. It’s about feeling stronger and more confident in everyday life while preserving the ability to enjoy the people, places, and passions that make life worthwhile.