What exactly is The Lab? A gym? A clinic?
Neither, and that's on purpose. Gyms hand you equipment and leave you on your own. Clinics patch you up and discharge you.
And this is not physical therapy either. PT has a defined end point, and for many people it is the correct first step. We are what comes after. Our work starts where that ended, and it is aimed at your life rather than your minimum function. If you need physical therapy first, we will tell you on the call and point you toward someone good.
The Lab is what was missing in between: a place where adults 50+ rebuild strength, mobility and energy with a plan built around your body, and a mentor by your side in every single session. First we assess you (your body, your history, your goals). Then we design your program. Then we do it together, at your pace.
I already tried the gym / physical therapy / the chiropractor and it didn't work. How is this different?
Almost everyone who gets here has already tried a lot of things. Rest. A sheet of exercises. A modified group class. A room full of equipment.
What almost nobody has tried is a plan built from an assessment of your body, run by a professional who is accountable for your goal. Those are two very different paths, and it is exactly why this works for people who felt they had tried everything before finding us.
Those other things didn't fail because something is wrong with you. They failed because nobody looked at your whole body, your history and your life before handing you a routine. Here the assessment comes first, your plan is yours alone, and you're supervised 100% of the time. You'll never be left guessing, and you'll never be sent home with a printout of exercises you're not sure how to do.
How long until I feel different?
The honest answer is that it depends. The clarity comes on the very first visit: you leave the assessment knowing what is going on with your body. Physical change takes time, and how long depends on what we find. Most often, our members begin feeling a positive change within the first month.
Everyone is different, with their own history and their own limits. After your assessment we can tell you, with reasonable certainty, how long your process will take.
Is it safe for me?
Yes, this is exactly who we work with. Most of our members arrive with a long history and years without training. We start gently, measure how your body responds, and adjust every week. You'll never be pushed like a 25-year-old, because you're not one, and that's precisely the point. If your doctor gave you instructions, bring them and we build around them. We work alongside your physician, never instead of them.
Do I need to go on a “diet” to see results?
No, and please don't. Radical diets are guessing games: they pile on stress and frustration, your body pushes back, and in a few months you're right where you started (or worse). We do the opposite of guessing: a 45-minute metabolic test that shows us exactly how your metabolism works: what your body burns, when, and how. With that data we go to the root of the problem and build eating habits you can actually sustain, without banishing the foods you love.
How much does it cost?
The assessment is free. The 90-minute in-person assessment costs zero dollars.
What follows depends entirely on what the assessment finds, which is why we do not quote a program before we have done one. Anyone who gives you a number before measuring you is guessing what you need or, worse, trying to sell you what they think you'll buy. By the end of the consultation you will know the full investment, in writing, before we ask you to decide anything.
By the end of the assessment we know two things: whether we are the right people for you and, if we are, which solution fits your case. If we are not, we tell you and refer you to someone who can help you better than we can. We'd rather do that than sell you something you don't need. One more thing worth knowing: the annual membership may qualify for HSA/FSA through Truemed, which for qualified members is a tax savings of about 30% on average.*
Do you take health insurance?
No. We're a membership club, not a medical provider, so we don't accept Medicare, Medicare Advantage or private health insurance. If coverage is your priority, we'll say so honestly on the call rather than take your time.
Think about what strength, balance and energy buy you after 50: more independent years doing what you love. Our members put it best: this is the one membership that pays you back every single day you use it.
Can I use my HSA/FSA to pay for this?
Possibly, yes. We’ve partnered with Truemed so qualified members can put pre-tax HSA or FSA dollars toward their annual membership, a tax savings of about 30% on average.* Eligibility is conditional and individual: it is not automatic and not everyone qualifies. The 30% figure is the median tax savings; yours depends on your tax bracket, state and plan type. Truemed’s cost is included in the purchase price and Truemed is the Merchant of Record on the transaction. This is not tax advice. Just ask us when we call you and we’ll walk you through it.*Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. Learn more at truemed.com/disclosures.
Where are you located? Is parking a hassle?
We're at 601 N Federal Hwy, Ste 208, Hallandale Beach (second floor, with an elevator that opens right at our door). And parking is the easy part: there's free covered parking attached to the building with direct access. You park under a roof and walk straight in. No circling the block, no sun, no rain. You'll find the map just below this section 👇 We also have two locations in Panama, where The Lab was born.
Do I have to climb stairs to get in?
No. There is an elevator and it opens right at our door, so you never climb a single step to get in. The free covered parking is attached to the building, so you park under a roof and walk straight to the elevator. Once you are inside, everything is on one level. If you use a cane, a walker or a wheelchair, you can get in and out on your own.
How long is a session and how often do I come?
Most members train about 3 times a week, 45 minutes a session. That is an average, not a rule. Your frequency depends on your capacity and on what your body actually needs, and the plan adapts to your real situation. Somebody coming back after years without training starts somewhere very different from somebody who simply wants to stop losing strength, and both are normal here.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Our team works in English and Spanish. You can do your assessment, your sessions and your paperwork in whichever language you are more comfortable in. The Lab was born in Panama in 2016, so Spanish has been part of how we work since day one.
What certifications does your team have?
Straight answer first: our mentors are not physical therapists, and we will never pretend they are. They are strength training professionals specialized in people over 50, with years of experience working with adults who had stopped training. On top of that, every mentor goes through The Lab Academy: two months of study and supervised practice, 8 hours a day, ending in a 3 hour final exam. Nobody works the floor at The Lab without passing that exam.
I still have questions! How do I talk to a human?
Of course, real humans are kind of our whole thing. Call us at (754) 465-5228 and someone from our team will answer you personally: no bots, no scripts. Or pick a time on the calendar at the top of the page and we'll call you to confirm.
Talk soon,
Mickael & The Lab Hallandale Beach team
