Local opens alternative fitness facility, creates exercise app

LAFAYETTE — When Jason Schlaffer realized that he wouldn't be doing any creative writing until his senior year at William Patterson College, the former Kittatinny High School football player and track stand out called foul.

"Why should I pay all that money when I won't even be doing what I came here to do until the last year?" he thought.

Schlaffer, who grew up in the hamlet of Hampton, decided to trade in creative writing and the stiff college tuition bill and channel his energy in another direction. He turned to health and nearly a decade later, he became a fitness entrepreneur and is a partner in a thriving, alternative fitness gym called The Compound in Lafayette.

Schlaffer is also the inventor of a phone and computer app called ExerVolve that's already gone international.

Fitness journey
His journey began, appropriately, in a gym. After graduating from competitive high school sports, he found a home away from home at The Fit Experience in Sparta.

That's where then owner, Steve Crane, saw the potential in Schlaffer. Taking note of Schlaffer's uncanny combination of charisma and knowledge of the equipment, Crane asked him if he was interested in becoming a trainer.

"He kept on asking me about it," Schlaffer said, "And finally I said, 'If I get my certification will you hire me?'"

The ink was barely dry on the degree before Schlaffer was working for Crane as a trainer.

In 2010, Schlaffer became the Fitness Director at Newton Health and Wellness and that same fall, he started developing exercise programs and serving as a speed, agility and strength consultant at Drew University.

In the spring of 2011, Schlaffer became the director and event coordinator for a non-profit community. In May of 2012, he became the Exercise and Nutrition Program Director at Sunrise House Foundation.

As each window of opportunity opened, Schlaffer kept his ties at The Fit Experience. He learned as much as he could over the years and created his own theories about combining exercises in groups.

Then three years ago, Schlaffer came to an impasse in his life.

"I had to decide whether I should stay in Sussex County where my roots were or move on and try someplace else," he said.

ExerVolve
That's when he sat down with his brother and discussed creating an exercise-related app. Schlaffer started perusing what was already out there. He wasn't impressed.

"They were all very generic and seemed to ask the same basic questions," he said.

Schlaffer knew he could do better, but it would mean going out on a limb and a lot of money. He decided that instead of buying a house, he'd create an app. After the first company he approached was unable to create his vision, he elicited the help of Blue Whale, at prestigious tech design company.

Schlaffer named the app ExerVolve, which asks 15 questions including whether they've had any injuries, the types of exercise equipment they have at their disposal, pre-existing conditions, goals and more.

"There are thousands of possible combinations and sub-sequential exercise programs that ExerVolve can generate all based on each individual," Schlaffer said.

The app officially became available last August. Through Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth, he sees new subscribers pop up not only in the U.S., but new foreign countries every week.

The Compound
Concurrently with the creation of ExerVolve, Schlaffer followed his dream by opening The Compound.

Located in Lafayette, The Compound is a personal and group training facility that caters to all ages and is open seven days a week. Owned by Schlaffer, Garrett Goldsberry, and Dan Tramontozzi, the facility is a collaborative effort between three companies, ExerVolve, The New Jersey Wrestling Academy, and The New Jersey Mixed Martial Arts Academy. They share the space to bring a variety of innovations to the area.

Schlaffer's personal training clients use basic things like tires and peg boards in gym classes. There are various contraptions to work the entire body including Mace Bells — once used in battle in India — to take core exercises to a new level.

His underlying philosophy is to think outside the box.

"Forget the cardio machines, forget the spin classes, if you want real results you need to work your body from all angles," he said.

To this end, group classes at The Compound see participants doing various stations and then completing an obstacle course while Schlaffer and his trainers on staff move around the room ensuring that everyone is doing things properly.

"It's very rewarding to see people getting the results they are here," Schlaffer said.

One of his favorite clients is an older woman who he's seen complete exercises she never thought she could do.

"Many of my clients think some of the exercises we do here are only for competitive athletes,” said Schlaffer. “I say that progression equals possible and it's so empowering for my clients to do things they never have done or thought they'd do."

The ExerVolve app is free to download with advertisements, or $1.99 for no ads at www.ExerVolve.com. The Compound is located at 11 Route 15 in Lafayette. Visit www.theCompoundNJ.com or call 862-268-4040 for further information and/or to schedule a session.