Buendia opened a commercial gym in Roseville, CA.
Last updated on December 19, 2025
Olympia Men’s Physique champion Jeremy Buendia’s ten-year dream of a commercial “Stoik Gym” has finally come true in Roseville, CA.
There are only eight weeks until the 2025 Olympia, which may be Buendia’s last, tournament. prep has been equated with creating his physical and spiritual sanctuary.
[My wife and I] we will always talk about the top quality gym we want to open…now we have one.
—Jeremy Buendia
Community Run Gym
Some of the best memories of my life and most important lessons were in the gym.
—Jeremy Buendia
Stoik Gym puts community first, fostering camaraderie that reflects the belief that gyms should build “characters and spirits” around bodies of beauty.
Stoik’s Equipment Selection
All the equipment at Stoik Gym has been chosen for functionality and accessibility. Highlights include:
- Nordic Hamstring Curl (NHC): Buendia described the NHC as “one of the most difficult tests.” Research showing thousands of subjects shows that strong, long-lasting hamstrings lead to a dramatic reduction in injuries. (1)(2)(3)
- Vertical Hip Thrust: This glute-focused machine looks like a variation of the squat machine, but creates anterior tension (horizontal loading) by driving the hips forward against the pad to reduce the load on the knees.
- A comparison using muscle electrodes found that hip thrusts made the glutes work better than squats. (4)(5)(6) However, research shows that squats are just as good, if not better, for glute development.
- Squat Machines: To build legs with limited joint movement, Buendia likes pendulum squats, which release pressure on the back and allow a full range of squatting. (7)
During the ride, Buendia showed off the versatility of his machine angles and tight turns. Buendia’s strategic structure prioritizes efficiency: machines with a low body on one side, an upper body on the other, and mirrors placed only where movement is important.
Final Olympia Prep
Buendia is still focused on preparing for the 2025 Olympia despite the tough demands of opening a commercial gym. She has experienced recent weight fluctuations due to long hours and a constant diet. With the Stoik Gym now operational, he will have time to strengthen before fighting for Olympia title number five in Las Vegas, NV, in October.
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References
- van Dyk N, Behan FP, Whiteley R. Including Nordic hamstring exercises in injury prevention programs reduces the rate of hamstring injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 8459 runners. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Nov;53(21):1362-1370. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100045. Epub 2019 Feb 26. PMID: 30808663.
- Raya-Gonzalez J, Castillo D, Clemente FM. Prevention of hamstring injuries through exercise intervention. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2021 Sep;61(9):1242-1251. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.11670-6. Epub 2021 Jan 22. PMID: 33480508.
- Morin T, Caillet AH, Nordez A, Doguet V, Lacourpaille L. Intensity of hamstring muscle regeneration techniques following selective hypertrophy induced by Nordic hamstring curl and stiff leg deadlift exercises. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2025 Jul 1;139(1):296-307. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00237.2025. Epub 2025 Jun 30. PMID: 40586278.
- Contreras B, Vigotsky AD, Schoenfeld BJ, Beardsley C, Cronin J. A Comparison of Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, and Vastus Lateralis Electromyographic Activity in Back Squat and Barbell Hip Thrust Exercises. J Appl Biomech. 2015 Dec;31(6):452-8. doi: 10.1123/jab.2014-0301. Epub 2015 Jul 24. PMID: 26214739.
- Plotkin DL, Rodas MA, Vigotsky AD, McIntosh MC, Breeze E, Ubrik R, Robitzsch C, Agyin-Birikorang A, Mattingly ML, Michel JM, Kontos NJ, Frugé AD, Wilburn CM, Weimar WH, Bashir A, Beyersmans MJ, Roberts Md, Roberts Md, Consel Hip thrust and back squat training cause the same gluteus muscle hypertrophy and transfer the same to the deadlift. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Jul 5:2023.06.21.545949. doi: 10.1101/2023.06.21.545949. Review in: Front Physiol. 2023 October 09;14:1279170. doi: 10.3389/phys.2023.1279170. PMID: 37461495; PMCID: PMC10349977.
- Plotkin DL, Rodas MA, Vigotsky AD, McIntosh MC, Breeze E, Ubrik R, Robitzsch C, Agyin-Birikorang A, Mattingly ML, Michel JM, Kontos NJ, Lennon S, Frugé AD, Wilburn CM, Weimar WH, Bashir A, Consetsmans RJ, Hensetsra MD. Hip thrust and back squat training cause the same gluteus muscle hypertrophy and transfer the same to the deadlift. Front Physiol. 2023 Oct 9;14:1279170. doi: 10.3389/phys.2023.1279170. PMID: 37877099; PMCID: PMC10593473.
- Kim SH, Kwon OY, Park KN, Jeon IC, Weon JH. Lower extremity strength and range of motion in relation to squat depth. J Hum Kinet. 2015 Apr 7;45:59-69. doi: 10.1515/hukin-2015-0007. PMID: 25964810; PMCID: PMC4415844.
Featured image: @jeremy_buendia on Instagram
