In today’s fast-paced world, technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives—including the way we work out. New high-tech fitness studios offer cutting-edge exercise programs that promise efficiency, customization and incredible results. From Electrical Muscle Stimulation workouts that engage your muscles with precision and hot sauna workout sessions that combine infrared heat with exercise for maximum impact to AI-powered Exerbotics machines tailored to your personal strength profile, these Pensacola fitness studios are helping us exercise smarter, not harder.
ONE WELL LIFE
A Shocking New Workout
Are you looking for a cutting-edge exercise modality that boasts less workout time and excellent results? One Well Life (OWL) has brought just that to Pensacola with its innovative electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) exercise program. What started as a personal mission for co-owner Brandon Sandefur quickly grew into a unique fitness studio he opened along with his friend and business partner, Mason Hicks, a physician’s assistant. Sandefur and Hicks, along with their wives Andrea and Brittany, brought this state-of-the-art technology to the Gulf Coast as a way for people of all fitness levels to exercise smarter—not harder.
Sandefur found EMS out of necessity. After a college career in football and nine surgeries on everything from his shoulders to his knees, traditional workouts became too painful. “I’d go to the gym, but I wasn’t getting anything out of it anymore. It would hurt, and I’d need days to recover,” he explained.
Sandefur’s background uniquely positioned him to bring EMS to Pensacola. After college, he spent 23 years in finance, building a career that allowed him to retire early. His passion for performance and recovery stemmed from his days as a football player, where he experienced the toll of physical exertion firsthand. “I’ve had just about everything torn or broken at some point,” he said. “Shoulders, wrists, biceps, knees—you name it. After nine surgeries, I knew I had to find a way to keep moving.”
Frustrated and searching for a solution, he discovered EMS through his friend Hicks and his wife, Brittany, a certified personal trainer. “I realized after using EMS one time, this is it,” Sandefur said. “Not just for me, but for anyone dealing with pain, limited mobility or even busy schedules. I thought, ‘We have to bring this to Pensacola.’”
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) workouts use electrical impulses to contract muscles in a way that traditional workouts can’t replicate. Sandefur explained that during an EMS session, participants wear a specialized suit embedded with electrodes. These electrodes send low-frequency electrical pulses to major muscle groups, activating over 90 percent of muscle fibers at once—far more than conventional exercises engage. “There are different frequencies that you can use with this,” Sandefur said. “The lower frequencies are for people who are trying to build muscle and gain strength. The higher ones are for people want a more aerobic workout.”
Perhaps the best thing about EMS is the time requirement. An EMS workout lasts just 20 minutes, but practitioners claim it delivers the results of a 90-minute gym session or even more. That’s because the electrical pulses cause muscles to work harder, deeper, and more efficiently. Sandefur also emphasizes that the OWL program is not a gym—it’s a fitness studio that offers one-on-one personal training in conjunction with EMS training.
“It’s not about replacing traditional exercise entirely but maximizing effort and results in a fraction of the time,” Sandefur explained. “It’s also incredibly low-impact,which makes it ideal for injury recovery, older clients or anyone who can’t handle high-intensity workouts.”
OWL uses both the Miha and the Wiemspro EMS suits—both top-of-the-line suits that have been cleared by the FDA. The suit is fitted with strategically placed electrodes that deliver customized levels of stimulation to each muscle group. At OWL, clients start with a consultation to assess their goals—whether it’s strength training, weight loss, injury rehab or improving overall fitness. Clients are scanned by a Styku 3D scanning machine that evaluates multiple body composition metrics and provides a baseline as clients begin their EMS journey. Clients are encouraged to rescan at varying intervals to monitor progress.
During a session, clients perform simple bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges and planks while the EMS suit stimulates different muscle regions and enhances the workout. “You’re exercising, but the suit takes it to the next level. It’s like having an invisible weight that your body responds to,” Sandefur said. “Anyone can benefit from EMS because it’s personalized to your fitness level and goals. It doesn’t matter if you’re in peak condition or just getting started.”
Sandefur explained that clients often see results like weight loss, toned muscles, improved posture and reduced back pain within weeks. In addition, EMS also stimulates the smaller, stabilizing muscles, which leads to better overall strength, balance and endurance.
One Well Life is located at 3101 E. Cervantes St., Suite-D. For more information, call (850) 390-7221 or visit onewelllife.com.
HOTWORX
Sweat it Out with Infrared Fitness
One hot trend in the fitness world is HOTWORX, a new gym that offers an innovative exercise program that combines the benefits of infrared heat absorption with guided workouts. Pensacola native Kyle Lay opened HOTWORX with his parents and business partners, James and Rita Lay, to help people meet their fitness goals in a more efficient, personalized and high-tech environment. Lay’s first HOTWORX studio on Nine Mile Road quickly gained a loyal following, and he has recently opened a second location on 12th Avenue in East Hill.
HOTWORX is a 24-hour studio that offers virtually instructed infrared sauna workout (also known as 3D Training) designed to help people sweat more, burn more calories and recover faster. HOTWORX provides a private, spa-like experience with multiple infrared saunas that fit two to three people each. The recently opened East Hill location offers eight saunas with large-screen TV monitors for virtual instruction. Four empty saunas are used for 45-minute isometric exercises like yoga, Pilates, core and more.
The other four saunas are for high-intensity interval training (HITT) exercises, and house equipment like cycles, sitting ellipticals and rowing machines. These high-intensity rooms are scheduled for 15-minute intense workouts, but multiple sessions can be done back-to-back for those who can work out in the heat for longer periods of time. In each sauna, virtual instructors guide clients through workouts and offer modifications for easier or more difficult variations.
The HOTWORX method is based on the idea that heat raises core body temperature and speeds up metabolism. The infrared heat used in HOTWORX penetrates the body, causing you to sweat and accelerating the detoxification process. When core body temperature rises, there is an anabolic effect that speeds up metabolism. In addition, infrared heat can also strengthen and activate the regenerative processes in the human body. Workouts in an infrared environment can help clients burn more calories and accelerate recovery.
HOTWORX also uses technology to integrate with many popular fitness devices. Members can also utilize the HOTWORX app to book sessions, track calories burned and monitor workout progress. The app also syncs with most smartwatches to give real-time feedback and to add to your workout goals.
Outside of the saunas, HOTWORX also offers the FX Zone (Functional Exercise Zone), which provides members with an area for functional workouts between infrared sessions. Bands, weights, ropes and other equipment are available for any combination of functional training exercises and routines. A trainer video is on display with various routines recommended for the FX Zone equipment.
One of the major draws for the gym is flexibility. HOTWORX is open 24/7, so clients can work out whenever it fits their schedule. Staff is available during regular business hours, but members can use a secure door code to access the gym 24/7.
HOTWORX is part of a larger fitness trend focusing on efficiency and personalization. For Lay, bringing that efficiency, personalization and 24-hour access to the Pensacola community is what it’s all about. “It’s rewarding to bring something so unique to my hometown,” he said. “HOTWORX isn’t just about getting fit—it’s about giving people the tools to feel their best every day.”
Lay wants to keep HOTWORX pricing simple and affordable. He will be running specials at the East Hill location through January. The new East Hill HOTWORX is located at 3439-C N 12th Ave. For more information, call (850) 780-1073 or visit hotworx.net/studio/pensacola-fl-east-hill.
THE EXERCISE COACH
An Intelligent Workout
If you’re looking for a highly intelligent coach to design your workouts specifically for your unique abilities and mobility levels, The Exercise Coach might be for you. This fitness studio offers personal training sessions developed by artificial intelligence that utilize robotic equipment to create customized and efficient workouts for busy clients who want to improve their health without sacrificing time or risking injury.
After discovering The Exercise Coach’s approach to fitness in California, owners Tracey and Evan Forbes knew it was something they wanted to bring to Pensacola when they decided to relocate here. Evan is a retired swimming coach and Tracey is a retired science teacher, so they already had a solid understanding of the importance of fitness, healthy lifestyles, discipline and efficiency.
The key component of the program is the technology that combines Exerbotic machines and proprietary smart technology to create state-of-the-art computerized equipment that delivers highly efficient and effective workouts. This technology adapts to each individual’s strength and abilities and provides customized resistance levels for every movement. The equipment tracks progress in real time and offers immediate feedback to help clients stay motivated and on track.
By targeting specific muscle groups and avoiding unnecessary strain, the Forbes say the technology helps clients to work smarter, not harder. Even those with prior injuries or physical limitations can participate because the equipment is designed to minimize joint stress and prioritize safety.
Another unique aspect is that the resistance is used in both the eccentric and concentric movements to maximize effort. The eccentric movement is when a muscle lengthens. The concentric movement is when a muscle shortens while contracting.
Another great plus is that workouts are only 20 minutes long and take place twice a week.
“The adaptive resistance technology is designed to maximize muscle engagement and stimulate metabolic activity,” Tracey explained. “Research shows that high-intensity, low-duration strength training can improve muscle tone, boost metabolism and enhance overall health. There is also a functional fitness aspect to the program. It really helps clients build strength that helps in everyday activities, such as lifting groceries, climbing stairs or playing with grandkids.”
Clients also get two trainers—the Exerbotic machine and a human trainer who is present at every workout. Each client begins with a comprehensive consultation, including a detailed body composition analysis. This data helps the coaches and the computer design a program tailored to the client’s specific needs and goals. The studio is also appointment-based, so clients can receive one-on-one attention during every workout session.
The Exercise Coach is located at 2190 Airport Blvd., Suite 2650. For more information, call (850) 270-1901 or visit exercisecoach.com/pensacola.