about ironworks gym

I'm David.

I'm one of the owners of Ironworks Gym, in the space that Paso has known for decades as the Iron Jungle.

The Jungle has been part of the Paso fitness community for decades. Thousands of people have trained in this space. Friendships were made here. Lives were changed here. And, oh, the stories that could be told.

Welcome to Ironworks Gym.

We're not trying to erase the past. We're building on it.

Same space. New chapter.

A little about ME

I've called Paso Robles home for many years. Outside the gym, I spend my time working construction, nonprofit work, and volunteering. I live outside Creston and am the proud father of two grown daughters.

I've also spent much of my life pursuing fitness.

I've run 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, ultramarathons, trail races, Spartan races, Tough Mudders, and yes, even a few wine runs and Santa runs. I've climbed Mount Shasta and Mount Whitney and pushed my body in a lot of different ways over the years.

But that's not where my story begins.

At one point, I weighed more than 300 pounds.

Between raising my daughters and building companies, I lost track of myself.

I know what it's like to avoid mirrors. I also know what it's like to walk into a gym feeling as though everyone else belongs except you.

I joined group fitness classes because I needed structure, encouragement, and accountability. The people around me taught me how to train, how to eat, and how to deal with the mental side of changing my life.

But the biggest thing they gave me was my pack—my people, my community.

Over time, I lost more than 100 pounds. The guy who once struggled with his weight eventually ran races, climbed mountains, and learned just how much his body was capable of.

The accomplishments are great. But what changed my life was finding a community that helped me get there.

That's a big part of what I want to create at Ironworks.

I'm not building THIS alone

My business partner, Sheela, is also my best friend.

We've trained together, run races together, suffered through Spartan courses together, and spent a lot of time working alongside each other in service to our community.

Sheela brings a very different set of strengths to Ironworks.

Her professional career has taken her from pharma and biotech to private investigation to medical technology, operations and finance. She's worked with companies developing innovative medical products and she’s even jumped into home reno/flips here in town.

She's smart, driven, organized and a go-getter; the person who figures out what needs to happen and then gets it done.

She's also had her own evolving relationship with fitness.

After her divorce 7 years ago, Sheela began a fitness journey of her own. Staying active became an important part of her life, eventually including 5Ks, Spartan races and plenty of adventures in between.

Today, she's working toward getting strong and healthy once again. This adventure has been a launching point! It’s been a reminder that staying healthy and strong sometimes means adapting, learning and starting again.

She's a mother of two grown children, and grandmother to a very active little guy. She's called the Central Coast home for years and loves the life she's built here.

Most importantly, Sheela and I share a belief that a meaningful life includes being of service to others.

We bring different experiences and different strengths to Ironworks, but we agree completely about the kind of gym we want to build.

Why Ironworks

We know the first step can be the hardest.

We know motivation doesn't equal discipline.

We know bodies change. Lives change. Priorities change. Sometimes you have to start over. And sometimes you just need someone in your corner reminding you to keep going.

We also know that feeling strong and feeling good about your body is a feeling like no other.

The gym is often the hardest part of my day—and the part I look forward to the most.

This is why Ironworks Gym exists.

When you walk through our doors, our hope is that you feel welcome, supported and certain that you belong.

Maybe you're training for your next competition.

Maybe you're trying to lose 100 pounds.

Maybe you're navigating a body that doesn't work quite the way it did 20 years ago.

Maybe you've never belonged to a gym before.

Or maybe you simply want a great place to train.

You belong here.

You give it your all, and we'll make sure you have the space, the equipment and the support to do your best.

Welcome to Ironworks Gym.

We're glad you're here.

— David & Sheela