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New gym offers array of fitness and wellness programs

There is a new gym in Brodheadsville with big visions and dynamic programs.

Signature Training Academy, 137 Erin Lane, opened Jan. 4. Located behind CVS, it was formerly Well Fit.

“This is going to be a destination zone for everyone,” said AJ Hiller, who owns this gym and MMA Signatures Academy in Stroudsburg.

He is planning a Community Day for June 13 as its grand opening. It will include a 5K run, food and other events.

Like other gyms, it offers personal training, free weights, fitness classes, cardio equipment and strength training machines. There is an emphasis on boxing, wrestling and fitness.

“I love this gym. It has everything I need. My wife comes to the classes,” said Gary Dickerson, a gym member from Saylorsburg.

The class list includes cardio boxing, cardio kickboxing, boot camp, rock steady boxing, total body stretch and women’s self-defense.

It has an indoor sports complex with a turf field, boxing ring, batting cage and soccer goal nets.

“This area is slammed from 5 to 9 p.m. each night. It is hard to find a parking spot,” said Dean Giannakis, a personal trainer and owner of two businesses.

Community teams and local organizations have booked the space seven days a week, while winter weather prohibits outside practice.

“This is only the beginning. I have 12 acres outside,” Hiller said.

Outside, there will soon be a basketball court, tennis court and sand pit volleyball.

Hiller has partnered with Giannakis and Dr. Derek Gorman to provide chiropractic services, clinical bodywork, spa services, corrective exercise, fitness-oriented blood work, meal prep and nutrition coaching.

Hiller’s goal is to have an overall training facility for the community, especially those who strive to be Olympians. A couple of his coaches have trained Olympians or have competed themselves.

“Dean is definitely a big piece of the puzzle toward this goal,” Hiller said. “His knowledge of so many topics is amazing.”

The two had an hourlong phone conversation when Giannakis responded to an advertisement Hiller had posted regarding expertise he sought at the gym.

Giannakis, whose nickname is Geo, owns Geo’s Recovery Lab and Dean’s Cuisine. Both entities are now part of Signature Training Academy. He also has locations in Palmerton, Stroudsburg and Mount Pocono.

“The idea is that the recovery lab comes into the gym to bring a fully comprehensive model to the client. We want to offer everything science and technology can provide,” Giannakis said.

Gorman, a graduate of Penn State and The New York Chiropractic College, has had an office in Cresco for five years.

“We will work synergistically. Dr. Gorman will do the chiropractic work and I will do the clinical bodywork, including sports cupping, massage guns and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization,” Giannakis said.

Gorman will continue to see patients there and clients at the gym.

“I am looking forward to working with athletes and getting out in the community more,” he said.

The blood work program will check things such as thyroid, micronutrients, testosterone, cholesterol and heart health. The lab work will be done on site, and then clinical teams and trainers can collaborate with the client as they move forward with the results and goals.

Dean’s Cuisine is farm-to-table based out of Stryker Farm in Saylorsburg.

“Directly on the farm is a processing plant and kitchen. Meals are made there by my wife, Andrea,” Giannakis said. “Meals are portioned for weight loss or for athletes.”

There are 30 varieties of meals, such as honey bourbon chicken and eggs with home fries. There are kids’ meals too, including sloppy joe, chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese.

The meals are stocked on site in a cooler at Signature Training Academy.

He also provides nutrition coaching.

Currently, the gym’s hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information: www.mmasignaturesacademy.com and www.geosrecoverylab.com.

Dean Giannakis shows some of the massage tools, including a percussion gun and heads, that are part of Geo's Recovery Lab. Giannakis and Dr. Derek Gorman will provide chiropractic services, clinical bodywork, spa services, corrective exercise, fitness-oriented blood work, meal prep and nutrition coaching at Signature Training Academy in Brodheadsville.
Gary Dickerson of Saylorsburg works out at Signature Training Academy, 137 Erin Lane, in Brodheadsville. The new gym opened in January. STACI L. GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS