Chuck Norris may have a long-lost twin brother right here in Redmond. Now this likely is not true but, when I met Tom Kuhn recently, owner and head trainer at Body Smart Fitness, I was struck by his resemblance to the action movie star.

Unlike Norris, Tom sports only a mustache, not a full beard. But the chiseled chest and arms, accentuated by a tight shirt, definitely made me think of Norris.

Starting as a personal trainer in Bend, Kuhn’s been in the fitness industry since 1985. With 33 years in the fitness business, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, the guy knows fitness and what it takes to attain it.

Kuhn opened Body Smart Fitness in 1994 on South Highway 97 and has never moved. On May 1, Kuhn opened an adjoining building, bringing the total square footage of the facility to 8,000 It seems the gym has every exercise machine, as well as free weights, known to man.

The Redmond Chamber of Commerce helped Body Smart launch the expanded facility with a June 1 ribbon cutting.

While not the glitziest fitness facility in Central Oregon, Body Smart Fitness made this reporter feel immediately welcome. Definitely a “mom and pop” family atmosphere.

“The biggest deciding factor between gyms is the atmosphere,” Kuhn said. “The atmosphere is cultured by whoever they have working (trainers.) A customer has to feel very comfortable walking in. We have a very low-key, relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.”

I met Tyler Kuhn, one of the five certified personal trainers at Body Smart Fitness, and Tom’s son, during my recent visit. Tyler is the kind of young man you want to meet if you’ve made the decision to get fit but have no clue about how to get started.

“I like to give my orientation clients a basic workout to begin with, a nice general workout, in order to assess where they are fitness-wise,” Tyler said.

“A good trainer needs to have a personality that complements our gym and the ability to work with each client individually,” added Tom. “We don’t have drill sergeants here, people who yell and scream, that’s not us.”

Tom Kuhn’s a realist, however, and knows that choosing the right gym is a very personal decision.

“I always recommend that people go and visit gyms at the time that you would normally want to work out,” he said. “Atmospheres in gyms change throughout the day.”

“Feeling out” the atmosphere means watching other folks working out, how the personal trainers interact with clients, what kind of music is playing, how clean the facility is, and, of course, membership fees.

Members are not obligated to work with a trainer at Body Smart Fitness. But every new member gets a fitness assessment.

“All people who join get a free orientation, an assessment with a trainer,” Tom said. “This one-on-one time helps both parties to see how, and if, personal training is going to help them.”

The initial assessment can be very basic or can go into depth with body fat assessment, cardiac strength and more, if the member requests it.

“We adapt to the people when they join,” Tom said. “Some people want to lose weight, some want to gain, some just want to be healthy, gain mobility/flexibility in order to run life a lot easier.”

Group classes are popular at Body Smart Fitness. A strength building class is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays concentrate on cardio and core, and a spin class is offered on Thursday mornings. Average class sizes range between 5 and 10 people.

Membership rate-wise, Tom Kuhn believes they are very affordable. “Our rates are very competitive, a little bit less than other gyms,” he said.

Members can get rates as low as $15 per month for basic use of the gym. Personal training runs about $18 a session.

— Reporter: 541-548-2185, bmintiens@redmondspokesman.com