Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Come celebrate the grand opening of JD3 Fitness Safford on Saturday, July 30, with a ribbon cutting at noon.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – The wait is over! The new JD3 Fitness Safford is ready to be your spot for your nutritional and fitness needs. Come check out the new gym and help them celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, with the cutting scheduled for 12 p.m.
Centrally located at 926 S. 1st Ave. (Highway 191), the new gym melds high-tech with Safford grit to combine and form a uniquely created workout center that is the epitome of Safford Bulldog strong.
Owner Josh Patton – who built his original gym JD3 Fitness in Thatcher next to Lee’s Rite Way market roughly seven years ago – was hands-on with his newest venture as well, remodeling the existing structure and custom building two Redwood wet saunas that are available to the clientele 24 hours a day.
“Everything here surpassed my imagination when we started building it,” Patton said.
The new gym is roughly 8,000 square feet, with a giant central space for the weight room alone and offers general weightlifting, powerlifting, cardio machines, including stair climbers, steppers, elliptical machines, bikes, treadmills, and rowers, two handcrafted wet saunas, a tanning bed, children’s room, and part-time child care, and a smoothie bar and meal prep.
With the location and variety of amenities and weightlifting machines, JD3 Fitness Safford is the perfect combination that is a fit for all sorts of fitness levels and workout goals. On the surface, it appears to be a no-frills place but is stacked with nice touches and amenities – some not found elsewhere.
Fuel Bar
One of the upgrades from JD3’s Thatcher location is the addition of the Fuel Bar. Patton put in a full, commercial stainless steel kitchen for the Fuel Bar, which will feature smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, salads, and wraps.
Eventually, Patton said the Fuel Bar will possibly also have a weekly or bi-weekly food preparation where customers can get a whole week’s worth of meals prepped.
Weight Room
Patton has spared no expense in purchasing the top-of-the-line weight machines and has strategically placed them so they just make sense when one is performing any type of regulated workout.
Leg machines are grouped together and the machines then move onto the upper body, with one universal machine able to perform eight different functions.
On the side is an enormous amount of free weights, some so heavy I’m not sure who is using them but Patton insists there are two or three local powerlifters who do.
Personal Trainer Jen Hanson
For those who would like a more personal touch, trainer Jen Hanson of Rising Phoenix Fitness will be available for instruction for an additional fee.
Hanson has been working in the fitness industry for the last 10 years. As a paramedic, Hanson realized many of her patients could have prevented a ride in an ambulance by eating well and exercising. In 2011 she decided she wanted to help people avoid unnecessary health complications and received her Specialist in Fitness Nutrition certification from the International Sports Science Association. Since then, she has received her Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist from the ISSA, earning her the title of Elite Personal Trainer. She has also received certifications in Burgener Strength Weightlifting Level 1, Training the Older Adult, and Online Trainer Academy. She is also a Precision Nutrition and CrossFit Level 1 Coach.
Cardio
O.K. So, there is a slew of cardio machines in a few different rooms set apart in their own sections. The machines include rowers, bikes, treadmills, stairclimbers, and stair steppers. But there is also a designated cardio room that features a virtual workout coach kiosk with on-demand classes.
With the touch of a button, users can choose a variety of workouts from novice to expert – all pre-recorded workouts.
Child Room
At JD3 Fitness, they like to create solutions instead of excuses. So, when it became apparent that it would be helpful to have a safe place for children to be while a parent or guardian completes a workout, Patton made sure to put some time and effort into a child’s room.
The children’s room has a few amenities and a TV and has closed circuit monitoring that is broadcast on the main weightlifting floor so parents and guardians can keep an eye on the children at all times.
According to Patton, the child care room will start out being staffed Monday – Thursday from 8 – 10 a.m.
Sauna
Owner Josh Patton is a hands-on type of guy and when he decided he wanted to have something a little special more than a run-of-the-mill sauna, he knew he was going to get his hands dirty.
Patton said the Redwood was milled specially for the project. And unlike the sauna at JD3’s Thatcher location, the two wet saunas will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week just like the weight room and nearly all of the other amenities.
Tanning Bed
Membership includes the use of the fitness center’s tanning bed. A sign-up sheet limits use to 20 minutes at a time, but, like the saunas, the tanning bed is also available at any time of the day or night.
“I don’t think any other gym has a tanning bed,” Patton said. “That was my wife.”
Memberships for JD3 Fitness Safford are just $50 per month for a single or $90 per month for a couple. For those who would like to have a dual membership with JD3 Fitness in Thatcher as well, it is just $10 extra per month per customer. So, come down on Saturday, check out the new fitness center, and take advantage of
For more information visit their Facebook page here.
