Earlier this year, Millcreek became home to one of six Smart Fit Method studios. The studio features several state-of-the-art exercise and recovery machines, health analysis equipment and highly-trained instructors to offer members one-on-one coaching.

The founders are a father and son duo. Rob and Connor Darnbrough started developing The Smart Fit Method after they each suffered life-changing injuries. Connor lived through a broken back and later a neck injury, damaging nerves down the right side of his body, resulting in a complete loss of feeling. Rob, who had been a cyclist in the Canadian National Cycling Team, suffered from an enlarged aortic valve.

“My dad was told never to lift over 30 pounds, never walk up the hill again for the rest of his life,” Connor said. “He just was bedridden, basically for six months because he was so scared to do anything. 

Connor refused to believe that his previously active father would have to accept a sedentary life. This is what inspired the vast amounts of research and experimentation with exercise technology that eventually led to the creation of The Smart Fit Method.

The Darnbroughs first bought a Vasper, an exercise machine developed in collaboration with NASA to provide a high-intensity workout, without the physical impact of traditional exercise. The Vasper is now a staple at all Smart Fit Method studios.

After seeing so much improvement in his father’s cardiovascular health, Connor wanted to take it further.

“We were seeing things go in the right direction, but we had to start tying in the other areas that we need to focus on: mobility, strength, recovery, capacity and nervous system health,” Connor said.

The research that spread from the initial success with the Vasper included a year of trial and error out of the Darnbrough’s garage with other pieces of equipment. As the experiments continued to yield positive results, Connor left college to educate himself on exercise physiology and health.

“I just went down this long rabbit hole of getting all these different certifications, researching this equipment,” he said. “I wanted to go to the traditional path, but that wasn't in the cards.”

Connor and Rob opened the first Smart Fit Method studio in Cardiff, California in 2020. Connor credits the expansion of their business to their initial members. “All of our investment was member based,” Connor said, “which I think is kind of cool, as people who have been doing it see the value in it for themselves and [are] expanding it out to places where they live.”

The Smart Fit Method members start their health journey with state of the art 3D body scanning equipment. This equipment analyzes body mass and breath to give members a clear idea of where they are beginning with their fitness. From there, trainers will help members to calibrate exercise equipment for a personalized experience. All workout equipment at The Smart Fit Method is designed to maximize results in a shorter amount of time than traditional gym equipment.

Post-workout, members can choose how they want to maximize their recovery. The studio offers red light therapy, dry saunas and cold plunge baths, among other recovery machines. All of this technology combined is intended to help members feel their best, exercise efficiently and increase their health span.

Visit www.smartfitmethod.com to see membership options at their Millcreek location.