Total Fitness Body Zone
Photos By: John Burns
Anthony Cay, owner of Total Fitness Body Zone, originally planned to become a physical therapist. However, life experiences, including serving in the U.S. Army and being deployed in Iraq, led Cay down the career path of gym owner and personal trainer.
Cay decided to join the Army in 2005 based on numerous reasons, but none so poignant as the terrorist attack in 2001.
“9/11 really made me mad,” Cay said. “Serving our country continued to weigh on me when I was ready to do something else with my life. Plus, the military pays for your education and teaches you an actual trade that you can immediately utilize.”
When he joined the army, Cay chose the career path of Army medic, or combat medic, because he hoped it would eventually lead to him becoming a physical therapist.
“They told me that in order to do that, I would need to start as a medic, and then I could branch off into what I wanted to do,” Cay said. “They call us combat medics because the first emphasis is on combat, make sure you disperse the enemy, then go treat all those that need actual medical assistance.”
After Cay completed his military training, he returned home to Topeka and worked as an emergency medical technician for Topeka’s ambulance service, AMR Medical Transportation. As an EMT, Cay was able to gain experience in actual trauma situations, which would come in handy when he was deployed to Iraq, where he would serve for a year.
“There were only six medics deployed to care for over 300 military personnel,” Cay said. “Out of those six combat medics, I was the only one with actual experience dealing with trauma, so everybody was fighting over me. That felt pretty good!”
Photo by: John Burns
FROM SERVING TO TRAINING
After serving a year in Iraq, Cay returned home to Topeka and was working out at a local gym when the manager suggested he do some personal training. At the time, being a personal trainer was the farthest thing from Cay’s mind, but after a little persuasion from his children, Cay decided to give it a try. He began training people at the gym, but eventually moved his clients to his own home for their training sessions. It was during this time that Cay discovered he preferred personal training over his original dream of becoming a physical therapist.
“Physical therapy just moved too slow for me,” Cay said. “The biggest thing I like about personal training is that I can help people. When I can help someone to strengthen muscles, improve agility and conditioning, as well as help with their mental health and to get off medications, I’m checking off so many boxes. I feel like a superhero!”
As Cay’s personal training business grew, so did his need for more training space. He began leasing space from a local gym near Forbes Field to accommodate his clients, and then in 2011, he opened Total Fitness Body Zone. Cay continued to serve in the Army Reserve until 2017. After 12 years of service, Cay decided to end his army career and focus on his growing business.
“In the Army Reserves, you serve two to three days a month, and then for three weeks once a year. Being gone for three weeks was conflicting with me trying to run the gym. I was the only one working at my gym, and I couldn’t leave for three weeks and expect it to survive,” Cay said.
Once he could focus on growing his business, Cay found he once again needed a bigger location to serve his clients. In 2018, Cay moved Total Fitness Body Zone to 4601 SE Adams in Topeka. This bigger location allowed Cay to create targeted athletic training experiences for any type of sport.
Total Fitness Body Zone boasts an indoor football field, basketball court, punching bags, batting cages, power lifting equipment, specialty bars, ropes, tires, and several cardio machines.
TRAINING ALL FOR EVERYTHING
“Our main focus is athletic training,” Cay said. “We train kids from age 4 all the way to Division I, and even on into the professional ranks in different sports. We train for everything—from golf, football, soccer, volleyball, baseball—everything. Several sporting teams practice here, and then after practice, they get speed, strength, and agility training with me, so it’s a one-stop shop. And at the same time, the parents that are here with their kids can choose to either participate with the kids or use the full-sized commercial gym.”
Cay says starting training at a young age really helps with personal confidence and physical ability.
“It’s hard for people to understand why I start training kids so young because 4-year-olds are all over the place, but that’s my gift to be able to deal with kids. If they start here at a young age, they excel at their athletics and their physical education at school,” Cay said.
By helping kids to excel and be the best they can be, Cay hopes to turn the heads of DI recruiters and start seeing Kansas kids be the top pick for nearby colleges.
“We have two DI colleges nearby, KU and K-State, and their first look isn’t even in their own backyard. Something has got to change in our backyard, and I am that change,” Cay said.
Photo by: John Burns
EMPOWERING WITH EXERCISE
Cay also has a passion to help fellow veterans and offers discounts for those who have served.
“I want vets to come in here and focus on their PTSD instead of relying on pharmaceuticals,” Cay said. “Exercise is a huge part of how you can put down the pills and stop the diabetes, stop the high cholesterol. I want to help you alleviate your need for pharmaceuticals. This is a place where you can take your anxious issues and do something positive with it.
With eight acres available on the property that houses the gym, Cay hopes to one day add an outdoor football field with a track around it, making Total Fitness Body Zone a truly unique experience for anyone seeking to better themselves.
“People need our services. We empower adults, empower kids, and this is what the world needs. We are trying to put some light in the darkness. When people know what we are trying to accomplish, word of mouth will get my name out there,” Cay said.
