Locally-owned gym Central Athlete, and the recovery and wellness lounge Central Health have served Austin since 2015. Husband-and-wife duo Jesse and Amanda O’Brien founded the studio to offer a personalized fitness model—supporting clients through fitness, nutrition, and behaviors—rather than personal training or group classes.

“We empower individuals with personalized fitness and nutrition strategies that drive real, sustainable results,” Jesse O’Brien said. “By meeting clients where they are and helping them become who they want to be, we redefine what's possible for their health and performance."
Husband and wife duo Jesse O’Brien (right) and Amanda O’Brien (left) founded Central Athlete in 2015. (Courtesy Central Athlete)
Check it out

Clients work one-on-one with a coach to develop a fitness, nutrition and lifestyle program based on goals and a personal assessment, all provided by the team of coaches. General Manager of Operations Rachel Rubin said the business is optimized for the lifestyles of working professionals who face time and equipment limitations, often due to travel. Central Athlete also caters to post-surgical cases and athletes.

“Our coaches are professionals and have rigorous educational requirements, and understand the science and physiology about how to drive results for people, regardless of their experience in the gym, their walk of life, their demographic [or] anything that they're dealing with,” Rubin said.

What they offer


The Central Athlete facility is open 24/7 and offers a variety of equipment needed to train effectively. The gym also fosters community for its members, with events ranging from yoga to pickleball tournaments.

Upstairs is the recovery lounge, Central Health, which provides members with various therapies to help their well-being, recover from training or injuries, and relax. These include:
  • A sauna to promote detoxification, improve circulation and soothe muscles
  • A cold plunge to enhance muscle recovery, boost circulation and reduce inflammation
  • A red light therapy booth to stimulate cellular activity, accelerate healing and promote skin rejuvenation
  • Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy, which sends electromagnetic pulses to target areas of inflammation or soreness
  • Exercise With Oxygen Therapy, which combines exercise with increased oxygen intake to help with stamina and recovery
  • FLOWpresso, which provides compression, heat and pressure to the body to promote relaxation
Located above the gym facility, Central Health offers a variety of equipment for members to use to support their wellbeing. (Courtesy Central Athlete)
“Central Athlete is focused on the whole human being,” Rubin said. “You can't live your healthiest, most fulfilling, best life if you just work out hard; you must have a lifestyle that supports the hard work.”