Located on five acres off County Road 1103, JLAFit Athletics is a high-performance training facility that blends big-city expertise with a community-driven feel. Founder Jesse La Forgia has spent nearly 25 years in the fitness industry, bringing a level of training usually reserved for professional athletes to families, student-athletes and adults of all fitness levels.
His mission: to build confidence, prevent injuries and help people truly love working out.
Building a fitness community in Celina and Gunter
JLAFit’s growth has been driven by relationships and word-of-mouth marketing.
“One person finds out about us, then their friend finds out, and then their kids find out,” La Forgia said. “That’s the way we’ve always grown.”
Many families are drawn to JLAFit because it offers something they can’t find elsewhere.
“I'm an actual strength and conditioning coach who's certified, and I make the programs,” La Forgia said. “People are really starting to come in for that.”
Youth training that builds confidence
JLAFit’s youth programs are thriving, with summer middle school camps drawing 13 to 15 kids per session for two-and-a-half hours of fieldwork, agility drills and weightlifting.
“These kids really like to work hard,” La Forgia said. “They compete with each other, and they all play different sports.”
For La Forgia, the camps are about more than athletic performance; they’re about helping kids build confidence.
“We’ve had some kids really come out of their shell. ... Parents have brought their kids not thinking they were going to stick around, ... and they have grown to love it,” he said. “I love pushing a kid in a gentle way to show [them] that [they] can get things done. I give them small goals. ... If they fix something small, I make a big deal about it.”
The long-term payoff, he added, is giving kids their first positive experience in a gym setting.
“I want to be the first person to help these kids. ... I fell in love with working out when I was a little kid, ... so working out with them has been my favorite thing.”
Personalized coaching for every level
While JLAFit has earned a reputation for high-level athletic training, La Forgia prides himself on adapting to every fitness level.
“I can coach anyone, anytime, any sport, any age,” he said.
His background ranges from personal training in New York City to working with professional athletes at Exos, one of the top sports performance facilities in the world.
Unlike high-end gyms, JLAFit’s pricing reflects its community-based model.
“This is a high-end gym, but I don't charge high-end pricing,” La Forgia said.
Experience JLAFit for yourself
La Forgia encourages anyone curious about the gym’s unique training style to take advantage of JLAFit’s free one-week trial.
“The hardest part is showing up,” he said. “You just have to come try it.”
For more information, visit JLAFit Athletics website here, or stop by the gym at 6699 CR 1103, Celina for a tour.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
