Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Bruno.
Tony, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I knew what I wanted to do for a living when I was in high school. That interest became life serving very quickly after hurting my back while running sprints in off season football conditioning. Doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors could not relieve my pain so my parents decided to take me to Mayo Clinic. There they determined that I was missing a portion of one of my vertebrae since birth, yet they were not convinced that this would cause pain. I tried everything I could find, from stretches to electric stim, you name it, and spent years in pain. Unable to play hockey or football anymore due to low back pain.
At Illinois State I studied exercise science and athletic training, even all that knowledge didn’t reduce my pain. After years of searching while being a certified personal trainer I met some brilliant people (mentors). Paul Chek of the CHEK Institute and Greg Roskopf developer of Muscle Activation Techniques, to name a few. Their respective techniques, which I eventually got certified in, were the first two techniques to reduce my back pain. Most recently (the last 10 yrs.) I have studied more about nutrition and started using collagen and magnesium for myself as well as customers and it has worked wonders. I am playing hockey at least once per week with no pain at all in my lower back!
Today, I own and run a 3000-sq. ft. facility in Palatine called GrandeFit, where we use personal training, injury solutions and nutrition solutions to help people look, feel and play better. We have 7 personal trainers on staff, some specializing in nutrition, sports conditioning, injury rehabilitation, golf, weight loss and soft tissue massage.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is not a linear path, yet we can only see this in the rear-view mirror. My low back pain kept me from playing football and hockey for years. My peers made fun of me for being in pain when I was in high school and college, only to call me today for therapy on their spines/bodies.
From what I can remember, I have worked at 12 different gyms in 5 different cities including Chicago. Ironically, I have maintained hundreds of friendships, customers and relationships with people I have met at every single one of those facilities. Learning as much as I could along the way. I have learned more about the things that don’t work than I have about the things that work.
Mistakes become experience, hard mistakes become lessons, and mistakes you don’t learn from, well- you can’t fix stupid! And I have made some stupid mistakes that have taught me valuable lessons.
Finding the right place to grow your business and people to fit in with is where most trainers struggle. It has taken me 25 years to open my own place and feel right at home yet I have always loved what I do for a living.
GrandeFit – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
For the last 25 yrs. I have become known for helping people solve health issues mostly through the use of Muscle Activation Techniques and nutrition. It has taken years but I have become known as the “go-to” guy in a 10-mile radius around Palatine for helping people with injury solutions that no one else can solve.
We have a beautiful facility in Palatine with astro turf, a visual training light board, 4 squat racks, 4 cable machines, 2 spin bikes, Concept 2 rowers, 2 treadmills, 2 treatment rooms, and every possible accessory you need.
Our education and years of experience are what I am most proud of. Our average trainer has more than 25 years of experience. The experience and number of certifications is unmatched in the suburbs!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me:
Happy customers equals success,
Pain free customers equals success,
Referrals equal success,
Referrals from medical professionals equals success,
Playing pain free hockey equals success,
Busy trainers equals success,
Being able to continually learn is success,
Maintaining lifelong customers is success,
Maintaining lifelong mentors/professional acquaintances is success,
Time with my family is success.
Pricing:
- Sessions can range from $45-$95
Contact Info:
- Address: 325 W. Northwest Highway
Palatine, IL 60067 - Website: grandefit.com
- Phone: 847-561-6113
- Email: bruno@grandefit.com
- Facebook: GrandeFit
- Yelp: GrandeFit Palatine IL
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Denise
June 6, 2017 at 7:25 pm
First time I met Tony Bruno I asked him a question about eicosanoids. As is his way; he answered me with a question! This was the start of a fantastic working partnership and friendship! One that has lasted many years and continues to provide much discussion on health, nutrition and fitness related topics. You will not find a greater resource for these areas and much more! So grateful to be able to call on him for help when needed. More than honored to call him a friend! Great feature on a great fitness professional!! Kudos Tony!