awards...
2015 NPC NORTH STAR PHYSIQUE BODY BUILDING SHOW! Winner in 🏆 EVERY CLASS
About Me
I’m James Lewis, a trainer, mentor, and community leader with over 20 years of experience helping people transform not only their bodies but also their confidence, resilience, and mindset. My work is rooted in South Minneapolis, where I have built a training practice that values both strength and personal growth.
My philosophy is simple: Fitness is for everyone. No matter your age, experience, or background, you have the ability to grow stronger, more capable, and more confident. I design training that meets you exactly where you are while challenging you to reach your full potential.
I offer private and group training, personalized nutrition guidance, and holistic mentorship. Beyond the gym, I lead the TRAIN-A-TEEN mentoring program, supporting the next generation with tools for health, discipline, and self-belief.
For me, training is more than exercise. It is about building community, creating space for growth, and giving clients the tools to thrive in every part of their lives. We push, we sweat, we support one another, and we rise together.
a South Minneapolis native with over a decade of personal trainer experience.
TRAIN-A-TEEN
youth mentoring Program
Empower a Teen. Transform a Community.
TRAIN-A-TEEN is more than a youth program—it’s a ministry and a movement.
This 8-week mentorship and fitness initiative equips boys ages 11–17 in the Minneapolis area with strength, structure, spiritual guidance, and a sense of purpose.
Led by certified trainer, mentor, and youth ministry leader James Lewis, the program blends physical training, emotional wellness, faith-based mentorship, nutrition education, and life coaching to give teens the tools they need to thrive. Through sponsorships from adult training clients and support from the community, every teen’s full participation is 100% funded—covering gear, instruction, enrichment, and spiritual development.
When you train, a teen trains too.
Program Focus Areas:
Fitness Training: Group-based workouts focused on discipline, health, and confidence-building
Spirituality & Faith Formation: Guided discussions and mentorship rooted in faith-based values and personal integrity
Life Skills Development: Mindfulness, journaling, leadership exercises, and emotional regulation
Nutrition & Wellness: Foundational nutrition habits for physical and mental strength
Violence Prevention: Conflict resolution strategies and emotional self-control
Youth Development: Training in decision-making, responsibility, and respect
Confidence Building: Progress through training, discipline, and personal growth
THREE SUPPORT PILLARS
1. Train & Sponsor-a-Teen: When adults sign up for personal training with James, their membership automatically funds one or more teens to join the program.
2. Donate to Support the Ministry: One-time and recurring tax-deductible donations help sustain and expand the TRAIN-A-TEEN mission.
3. Enroll or Nominate a Teen: Families, mentors, and community members can directly enroll or refer a boy aged 11–17 for the upcoming cohort.
Strategic Community Partnership
In partnership with Project Refocus, Inc.
This ministry would not be possible without our partner Project Refocus, Inc.—a community-rooted nonprofit dedicated to neighborhood empowerment and youth engagement. Their resources, infrastructure, and leadership have helped expand the program’s reach and deepen its spiritual and social impact. James credits Project Refocus not only for helping launch this ministry but for believing in his vision to empower young men.
Connect with Project Refocus on Facebook at:
Program Impact
Participants in TRAIN-A-TEEN report stronger confidence, better decision-making, deeper faith, and a greater sense of responsibility. The program helps reduce risky behaviors, improve focus, support academic and personal success, and create real community bonds through mentorship and ministry.
How to Get Involved
Sponsor a Teen: Every personal training membership funds a teen’s full participation.
Donate to the Ministry: Give one-time or monthly to support program expansion.
Enroll or Nominate a Teen: Help a young man access this transformative opportunity.
Host or Volunteer: Offer space, time, or expertise to expand our reach.
Share the Vision: Spread the word. Lives are changed when community steps in.
Train with James Experience
Training with James is not just about workouts. It is about transformation. With over 20 years of experience, James brings a rare combination of expertise, mentorship, and genuine care that sets him apart from traditional trainers.
James has worked with children, teens, adults, and seniors, as well as athletes at every level. What makes his approach unique is his ability to meet each client exactly where they are, physically and mentally, and guide them toward lasting change. He blends functional fitness, strength and conditioning, and nutrition with coaching that also builds confidence, discipline, and resilience.
Every session is designed for more than physical results. Clients leave feeling stronger, more focused, and more capable in every part of life. For James, training is about developing the whole person, not just the body.
When you train with James, you are not just getting a trainer. You are gaining a mentor, a motivator, and a partner in your growth.
- Weight Loss and Sustainable Management
- Toning, Sculpting, and Body Recomposition
- Resistance and Strength Training
- Muscle Building and Hypertrophy Development
- Mobility, Flexibility, and Injury Prevention
- Speed, Strength, and Power Performance Training
- Planning and Periodization for Athletes, Acting, and TV Roles
- Personalized Nutrition Coaching and Lifestyle Guidance
- Functional Fitness for Daily Living and Longevity
- Confidence, Discipline, and Mental Resilience Coaching
- Youth Mentorship and Development through Fitness
Group Training
5:00 am
6:00 am
10:00 am
Everyday – no excuses
Payments / Cost
Training Rates
I am currently in Minneapolis, however; I do offer on-location training
The Full Body Graveyard
We work hard for astounding results… you’ll see change as soon as 60 days
My Clients
“Consistency is key & note that you can’t out-train a bad diet” – JL
