We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leon Hembry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Leon , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
At Total Effort Fitness, and now with our new recovery initiative Rest Assured, our mission is to empower people to take ownership of their health—physically, mentally, and spiritually. We believe that effort is the difference-maker. Not perfection. Not luck. Just effort—applied consistently, supported by the right people, and rooted in faith.
This mission isn’t abstract for me. In 2023, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had to undergo a nephrectomy—surgical removal of my kidney. It was a moment that could’ve derailed everything, but my faith in God, my physical conditioning, and my mindset didn’t allow it. Because I had already been living the mission—staying fit, staying strong, staying ready—I was able to recover fully and return to running and training without letting the diagnosis define me.
That experience only deepened my purpose. I know now more than ever that fitness isn’t just about aesthetics or competition—it’s about resilience. It’s about preparing yourself to face whatever life throws at you. And that includes rest and recovery, too, which is why I created Rest Assured, Tulsa’s first napping and recovery pod center. We’re not just training bodies—we’re restoring them. We’re helping people feel safe, supported, and capable again.
This mission matters to me because it saved my life. And now I want to help others reclaim theirs—with total effort and full recovery.
Leon , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At Total Effort Fitness, what sets us apart is how personal the journey is—for both me and our clients. I’m not barking orders from the sidelines. I’m right there in it with you. Whether it’s a strength workout, HIIT circuit, or a long-distance run—I do the work alongside my clients. That’s rare in this industry. But I believe leadership comes from example, not instruction.
It builds trust. It creates camaraderie. And it makes it very clear to everyone in the room that we’re in this together.
Another major difference is our focus on recovery—something that’s often overlooked in fitness culture. That’s where Rest Assured comes in. We’re creating Tulsa’s first recovery pod center because we believe rest is just as important as reps. You can’t perform at your best if you’re running on empty. So while we push our clients to earn their effort through hard work, we also teach them to honor their limits and restore their energy in sustainable, healthy ways.
Lastly, this gym is about more than sets and reps—it’s about transformation. Total Effort Fitness isn’t a franchise. It’s a mission. It’s a culture built on discipline, belief, and community—and I believe that personal connection is what keeps people coming back long after their first session.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.totaleffortfitness.com
- Instagram: @TOTALEFFORTFITNESS
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totaleffortfitness/
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/coachhembry
Image Credits
Jeffery Nichols
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