ABOUT US
PURESTRENGTH is a professional fitness training facility, not a gym.
We seek to inspire, inform and educate, providing expert one-on-one instruction designed for your optimal training experience.
Not your typical workout facility we've created what we feel is an ideal environment with your whole being in mind.
In your 20-minute, once a week personal training sessions, one of our exercise specialists will guide you through your slow motion/high-intensity training.
Utilizing our P.L.E.A.S.E. The Body Blueprint and the breakthrough technique of slow cadence strength training, on select equipment in an exclusive setting, at Pure Strength we help you reach your fitness goals in a focused, efficient manner.
We desire the minimum amount of exercise that will produce the stimulus for adaptation. Anything beyond this amount of exercise only acts to consume precious recovery resources. This allows you to obtain optimal results.
Ready to Find Our More?
History of Superlow Model and our P.L.E.A.S.E. The Body Blueprint
Researched and documented in 1982 by Ken Hutchins through the Nautilus sponsored Osteoporosis Study at the University of Florida Medical School, SuperSlow® has demonstrated to be a most safe, productive and efficient exercise. Research has shown that the optimal environment for “SuperSlow®” training includes the following:
- Private one-on-one instruction
- No Distractions
- The Best Equipment – all of our equipment is specially modified for using the SuperSlow® training protocol
- Controlled temperature
Click here to learn more and figure out what this looks like for you!
Meet The Team
Melissa Gunn
Founder
Melissa is a Certified SuperSlow Instructor, a certified Exercise Specialist, and a fitness and nutrition coach. She has two decades of experience in the health and fitness industry, has worked with thousands of people over the past 20 years to regain and rejuvenate their health, and today is the founder of Pure Strength LA which has helped women and men over 40 gain optimal wellbeing. She discovered slow cadence, high-intensity strength training and immediately found this technique to be in a class alone.
Melissa found that many people were either not getting results when they went to the gym on their own or were getting injured. She is devoted to sharing her expertise and helping her clients stay injury-free, and feel stronger as they age!
Melissa Gunn is passionate about sharing the importance of being truly healthy, educating her clients so they feel this passion, experience it, and come to believe it for themselves!
Melissa founded Pure Strength LA in 2004, which stands as a private, exclusive, personal training studio. Its core principles are simplicity, efficiency, and balance, to give individuals the very best personal training in a private and focused environment.
Our mission is to educate people over 40 how the goal of gaining strength is the foundation of your health regimen and the #1 factor in healthy aging.
We've been honored to be featured in numerous Los Angeles publications such as Angeleno Magazine and Valley magazine, as well as being targeted in news segments for local news stations. We have recently launched virtual training to benefit our clients outside the greater Los Angeles area.
Lupita Dubon is a NASM-Certified Instructor with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a concentration in Exercise Science. Her education, combined with her experience working in a physical therapy setting, has given her a strong foundation in anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, and human movement, as well as an understanding of how to work safely with a variety of physical limitations.
Her experience working with athletes at Glendale Community College has further strengthened her ability to work with clients of different ages, abilities, and fitness levels. Lupita is especially thoughtful when working with clients who are returning to exercise after an injury or surgery, helping them rebuild strength safely and confidently.
At Pure Strength LA, Lupita brings warmth, care, and attention to every session. She enjoys educating clients so they understand not only what they are doing, but why they are doing it and how becoming stronger can support their health and everyday life.
Lupita also plays an important role in training and mentoring new instructors, helping ensure that every member of the Pure Strength team provides the same high standard of safe, science-backed instruction and personalized care.
Lupita
Instructor
Lucero
Instructor
Lucero holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science, and her passion for movement science truly aligns with our mission. She focuses on the profound impact that targeted exercise can have on strength, longevity, and overall well-being.
Lucero is dedicated to helping each of you build strength safely and effectively. She’s not only passionate about seeing you reach your goals but also ensuring that you feel confident and supported every step of the way.
We are thrilled to have her expertise and energy on our team and can’t wait for you to experience the benefit of her knowledge firsthand. Lucero’s warm and supportive approach makes her a great fit for the Pure Strength system, where she’s dedicated to helping everyone build strength safely and effectively.
Tugce holds a degree in Physical Education from Ege University and is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. She has also completed training in nutrition coaching and brings strong experience in Pilates, which allows her to integrate both mindful movement and strength-based training into her approach.
Her philosophy is that strength and movement should be empowering, enjoyable, and accessible to everyone—regardless of age, background, or fitness level. She is passionate about guiding people to build not only physical strength but also confidence, mobility, and balance in their daily lives.
Tugce has worked with clients of all ages and fitness levels, creating personalized programs that blend functional training, Pilates principles, and nutrition guidance. With her holistic background, she helps individuals improve performance, prevent injury, and enhance overall quality of life.
Tugce
Instructor
Jared
Instructor
After discovering HIT in 2021 through leaders like Jay Vincent, Drew Baye, and Doug McGuff, Jared completely transformed his approach to training. By focusing on efficiency over volume, he experienced firsthand how shorter, more intense sessions can drive real, lasting results.
His approach centers on controlled, slow resistance training to maximize intensity and results. Jared teaches the science behind reaching muscle failure safely, highlighting benefits such as improved mind-muscle connection, better form and control, continuous muscular tension, and deeper strength development. He also empowers clients to push beyond their perceived limits in a safe, supportive environment.
With his strong knowledge base and calm, focused demeanor, Jared is a great fit for the Pure Strength team and its intelligent training system.
Patrick began his journey at Pure Strength LA as an academic intern, gaining hands-on experience while completing his degree in Kinesiology. After successfully completing his internship, he joined our team as a Strength Instructor. He graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science.
Patrick has a genuine passion for strength training and helping others experience the many benefits of becoming stronger. Through his own years of dedicated resistance training, he has developed experience in powerlifting, hypertrophy, and sport-specific programming, giving him a strong understanding of proper technique, progression, and long-term results.
At Pure Strength LA, Patrick combines his education with his personal training experience to help clients build strength safely and efficiently. He is committed to creating a supportive environment where clients feel confident, challenged, and successful as they work toward their individual goals.
Patrick
Instructor
Milena
Operations Coordinator
Milena brings a unique combination of creativity, organization, and people-centered support to Pure Strength LA. Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, she is a professional musician, vocal coach, pianist, and educator based in Los Angeles, where she has worked with institutions including UCLA, CalArts, LA Opera, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
At Pure Strength LA, Milena works closely with Melissa and the instructor team, helping support the day-to-day operations of the studio and helping ensure the studio runs smoothly behind the scenes. With a strong attention to detail and a naturally collaborative approach, she helps create an environment where both clients and instructors feel supported and cared for.
Alongside her work at Pure Strength LA, Milena continues her career in music and education, bringing the same attention to detail, adaptability, and collaborative spirit to every environment she works in.
THE SCIENCE OF OUR METHOD
Intelligent strength training without compromise
Scientific research has proven the effectivenes of the slow method of high intensity training employed at PureStrength. The logic and universal success of this slow-motion training continues to be evidenced decade after decade.
In 2001, exercise physciologist, Dr. Wayne Westcott conducted studies comparing this slow-method workout to traditional weight training. His research proves overwhelmingly that slow-motion strength training produces significantly superior results. In fact, it yields a 50% increase in strength compared to the traditional-tempo workout.
MUSCLES ARE THE ENGINES OF OUR BODY
Physical strength, and the dynamic energy associated with it, is largely a function of muscular vigor. The largest portion of our metabolism is represented by skeletal muscle tissue. Therefore, building and maintaining muscle mass is of utmost importance.
MUSCLES ARE THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT OF OUR BODY
Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle that naturally accompanies aging. Starting in early middle age, adults who do not strength train lose an average of one-half pound of lean muscle per year. This muscle is replaced by fat, compromising the body's structural support. PureStrength offers an efficient antidote to this problem.
A REGULAR PROGRAM OF THIS FORM OF EXERCISE ALSO HELPS
- increase bone density
- enhance joint flexibility
- build resistance to injury
- reduce back and neck pain
- lower blood pressure
- relieve arthritis discomfort
- control blood sugar
INTELLIGENT STRENGTH TRAINING: SAFE, EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT
Cultivating physical strength is one of the best things you can do for both your mind and body. Being strong allows you to think and move with stamina and grace, resulting in greater ease in your everyday life.
DON'T WASTE ENERGY, DON'T WASTE TIME
PureStrength pushes the body beyond failure to achieve unprecedented response. Best performed in just one 20-minute session per week, an ongoing program at PureStrength will support your objectives for: gaining muscle, reducing fat and improving cardiovascular health. Hard to believe, but our 1 x per week prescription actually allows the body its natural course to recover and build the long term, sustained strength desired from a workout.
NO MOMENTUM
Velocity and momentum diminish muscular resistance, waste energy, and compromise the integrity of your workout. The slow, smooth, controlled repetitions of our method require maximum use of muscle and mental focus, delivering an extremely safe, productive result.
SARCOPENIA: THE THEFT OF MUSCULAR STRENGTH & COUNTERING THE DECLINE
Starting in early middle age, adults who don’t strength train lose an average of one-half pound of lean muscle per year. With that muscle, goes part of their physical strength.
As strength decreases, so does everyday functioning. The ability to walk correctly, climb stairs, and accomplish simple tasks and chores diminishes.
This loss of strength creates a vicious cycle. Since it takes more physical effort to perform daily tasks, often mixed with discomfort, a person is inclined to avoid the effort. This creates even more weakness.
MAINTAINING STRENGTH, IS A KEY TO QUALITY OF LIFE AS YOU AGE
The regimen followed at 
counters the natural decline of Sarcopenia.
In Sarcopenia, the muscle loss is replaced by fat as evidenced by the image above. Muscle mass cannot usually be maintained into older age with ordinary aerobic activities.
Current studies using high intensity workouts have shown that strength can be doubled in just 12 weeks of training. Even frail nursing-home residents in their 90’s proved able to build muscle and strength. Additionally, preserving muscle mass supports the body’s ability to withstand disease.
