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A gym in River North combines personalized training with medical care. Founder hopes they can open to underserved communities as they want to help people live better.

The gym called SHIFT is a high end, all in one workout, health care and wellbeing center that opened just last month. It is pioneered by Dr. Ari Levy who is a former member of the medical team for Chicago Blackhawks.

His idea started 19 years ago when he thought of combining a gym with doctor's clinic to address the fitness, nutrition, medicine and recovery needs of the people. When he was a freshman at Highland Park High School, he stood 4 feet and 9 inches because of his kidney condition.

Levy said that his classmates were looking at him differently. However, his parents were very supportive of him and helped him take responsibility for his own health. He takes his medications every day and tests the level of his protein in his urine. He overcame his condition when he was 15.

Levy also wants accountability, goals and habits to be incorporated in the SHIFT gym. Members of SHIFT can start with a personalized medical wellbeing care. There is also a program for people who travel often. Persons who promote personalized fitness and medical oversight can also avail of a package.

The gym can also be for people who want to have a lifestyle change in eating, exercising and recovery. Most programs are covered by health savings and flexible spending accounts. However, it is not covered by medical insurance.

In an interview with Biz Journals, levy said that the gym is an integrated health facility designed to help people take control of their health. It also hopes to help people live their best lives. SHIFT gym will feel like a place that is alive, vibrant and invigorating.