Our Team

Luis Quiroz

I was born in the small fishing port of Chimbote, Peru in 1968. Although small, Chimbote is very rich in customs and culture—Latino, Incan and Chinese among others. The town has a history of more than 160 years of cultural interchange with different ethnic groups from North and South America, Central America, Europe and Asia. As a result, I learned to be respectful of all races and cultures.

At the age of eight, I began training in a school named Shao-Li-Ten where my teachers were Li Ten Sui (1898 - 1989) and AntonioLi Fon, aka Li Shi Sam (1953 - Present). Both are direct descendants of an important monk at the famous Shaolin Temple. At Shao-Li-Ten I learned two companion styles originating in the region of Canton with characteristics unique to south China:

Hong-Ka - This style predominantly focuses on force over technique.
Choy-Ka - This style emphasizes the use of technique of force.

Later, as a complement to these styles, I was taught Mongolian Wushu and Chi Na. Both are for close combat with the main objective of controlling your opponent before you strike. Over the years, I have learned many other kung fu styles and continue to train and learn. Although martial arts are my passion, they are not the center of my life. That spot is reserved for my beautiful daughter, Alma.

Matt Ledbetter

"When something is important to you, you will find a way...If it isn't, you will find an excuse." -Unknown

My name is Matt Ledbetter and I have been helping people build better lifestyles and achieve their health and fitness goals for over 7 years. Having experienced the transformation firsthand has helped me to fully understand what it takes to achieve any health or fitness goal. It now is my passion and pleasure to help people feel that amazing sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Teaching each and every client to set goals, eat properly and build an overall lifestyle that they can enjoy every minute of!

Growing up in a small town in Oregon and weighing 106lbs in kindergarten, I was definitely a BIG fish in a small pond. (Yes, 106 lbs at 6!) After years of using my very concerning weight problem to my advantage, I was asked to play college football at Concordia University in St Paul, MN in 2001. By now, as you can imagine, I'd begun to grow into my weight but still tipped the scales at 305lbs and 6'2"! After college, I walked away with two very important things: a degree in Kinesiology/Nutrition and a shocking realization that my "I play football, so I can be fat" excuse was gone! Now that my only "real" excuse was gone, reality was setting in.

Over the next year, I put my nutrition and exercise knowledge to work and did the most important thing that I have ever done for myself...losing 100 pounds in 10 months, revealing the real me.

Aren't you tired of being uncomfortable in your clothes? Aren't you tired of feeling your belly hang over your pants while you eat dinner? Isn't it about time you wear a bathing suit with confidence? Don't you think it's important to be a role model for your children? Or that it's imperative you are alive to play with your grandkids?

Don't you think it's time to reveal the real you?

Education: B.A. in Kinesiology, Minor in Nutrition, Muay Thai Kickboxing Certification, Coaching Certification & NASM Stretch Certification.

Kirk DeWindt

With a background in exercise science, health promotion, and complimentary medicine, I've always looked at health from a multi-dimensional and comprehensive point of view. From the highs of achieving All-American status as a collegiate athlete, to the lows of a life-altering past health struggle, I've realized how important it is to take care of the one body in which we have to live our lives. With this belief and passion, I've been lucky enough to turn improving the lives of others into a career.

Helping people is innate in my nature. Combined with my relentless passion for staying fit and the continuous desire to help others, I am fully committed to you and your fitness and health goals.

* I am here to give you direction.
* I am here to hold you accountable.
* I am here to be your motivation.
* I am here for you.

I look forward to having the privilege of authentically investing in your health!

Leah Menya

My passion for health and wellness started after falling in love with the fitness guru himself, my husband, Stephen Menya. (If you have not read his philosophy page yet on the site, please do and you will understand where I am coming from.) I have always been a healthy, active person, but after meeting Stephen and seeing how much I could change the way I feel and look by just being more conscious of it completely inspired me. My desire is that everyone would receive the same inspiration to better themselves at some point in their lives.

Our body is a temple that has been given to us by our Lord and Savior, and we should do whatever we can to take care of it. This one body is all we have! I love inspiring people to take care of their temple. Seeing the look on someone's face who now can bend over and tie their own shoes or successfully go up a flight of stairs without losing their breath just gives me the shivers.

Opening Lions Gym has been that blessing to Stephen and me. A place we would like everyone to be able to call their home gym. A place of community with no intimidation. All are welcome and we truly mean that.

Donald Painter

I met Stephen in 1999 while working at Prudential Insurance. We instantly hit it off and ever since then have been excellent friends. I have seen the creation of Lions Gym from the very beginning. In fact, Stephen rented a home from me and actually turned one of the garage stalls into a workout facility. And the vision grew from there.

I have always been driven to help Stephen fulfill his dream of owning and operating a fitness center. Since I am now retired, I spend as much time as I can at the gym helping him with whatever needs to be done—whether that be answering the phone, cleaning or just being a friendly smile behind the front desk to welcome people.

I have been working out with Stephen for several years. I would say for a 69-year-old, I am pretty fit. I try to workout at least three times per week. Please feel free to ask me what this gym can do for you, and I will tell you how this gym has changed and inspired me. Looking forward to seeing you at the reception desk!

Jill Halpin

I have a diploma as a Fitness Trainer and Nutrition coach from the National Personal Training Institute in Minnesota. Fitness has always interested me and been a huge part of my life. I have also been weight training and body building for over 6 years, which led me to compete in my first fitness shows this year. I loved seeing my body change and how fun it can be to push yourself to achieve your goals and when you see the end result of your hard work and dedication, it is truly one of the best feelings in the world. I am continuing my goals as a fitness competitor and plan on going all the way to nationals.

My passion is helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. Understanding and planning gives you a much greater chance of taking control of the goals. I have watched what a struggle it can be for many people bouncing from one fad diet to the next without success. It's not that they don't have the dedication and drive to succeed, they just don't have the knowledge and support they need to do so. I take some of that frustration away of wondering what to eat and what not to eat, which is key to any weight loss, weight management, muscle toning and muscle building.

I am not about quick fixes; it is all about teaching you how to live a healthy lifestyle. I teach women and men how to drop excess body fat and tone their physiques. I get my clients results!

Contest History:
2009 NPC - Gopher State Figure Masters Division, 1st Place
2009 NANBF - Ms. Minnesota, Beginner Figure, Tall Class, 1st Place

Dr. Richard Greene

My name is Dr. Richard A. Greene, and I have been a licensed Chiropractor in the Twin Cities for forty years. I have been in private practice in Edina for most of those years. My undergraduate work was completed at the University of Wisconsin and my professional education was completed at Northwestern Health Sciences University here in Minneapolis. Since Chiropractic takes a natural approach to health conditions and is concerned with health and wellness preventative care, good eating habits, sleeping habits and exercise habits are integral parts of the "Chiropractic philosophy". It has been my passion to see many physical conditions cured and taken care of through Chiropractic manipulation, whole food supplementation and health style changes. I have always tried to live a clean and healthy lifestyle so I would not feel guilty asking my patients to do the same. Being active and keeping my weight appropriate for my age and height has always been a priority. Regular exercise is very important for all age groups and for both sexes. I have always encouraged my patients to exercise on a regular basis either by themselves or if they can't be self-disciplined to find an exercise buddy to be accountable to. Regular exercise is always more fun if it can be shared with another person.

Being associated with Lions Gym has truly been a blessing for me. It has provided me with a place to exercise, get personal training and a place to refer others who may need the same. I have also been able to see some clients and do some consultations there. Stephen Menya is my personal trainer and has been for five years. At age 68, I am strong, active and healthy. I can attribute this to exercise, good eating and working out regularly with Stephen. It is always easier to turn over in bed in the morning and hit the snooze alarm than it is to get up, get moving and head to the gym. It is always easier to make excuses to not go to the gym after work or to just simply stop coming on a regular basis. But in the end, you are cheating your body of health and stamina and in the long run you are aiding your body in deterioration and to self-destruct.

Stephen Menya

Stephen's story is in the Philosophy page of the website; see: Stephen's Philosophy.