Gunnar Peterson

Gunnar Peterson is a Nashville-based personal trainer whose clients include celebrities, professional athletes, and everyday people. Gunnar is the former Los Angeles Lakers’ Director of Strength and Endurance. He is widely recognized for his expertise in functional training and his commitment to developing and implementing innovative fitness techniques. With over 31 years in the fitness industry, Gunnar’s dynamic approach, boundless energy and (sometimes risky) humor only add to the effectiveness of the experience his clients enjoy. With a client list as diverse as his training methods, Gunnar emphasizes strength training modalities that can be transferred from the gym to daily life, and from training camp to championship game. He has worked with athletes from the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, USTA, professional boxing (male AND female!) and various NCAA sports. Many film and television celebrities have also sought Gunnar’s guidance in preparing for roles and have stayed on to become year-round clients, making him a cornerstone of their fitness regimen.

After piecing together countless gyms for clients over the years, in 2016 he officially launched his Gunnar Gym Design company. The focus was to bring his unique training style to life worldwide, just as it was in his Beverly Hills gym and now in the Nashville performance center, Common Ground. His residential and commercial gyms have been well received in the US and abroad. In 2017, Gunnar partnered with the Dream Hotel Group and designed a Gunnar gym in their Hollywood location. In 2026 Gunnar Gym Design was rolled into a partnership with Tom Brady and Brady Gyms was created.

Gunnar is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a graduate of Duke University. He is an editor and wrote a regular column for Muscle and Fitness magazine for over a decade, he is on the advisory board for Fitness magazine as well as contributor to Clean Eating magazine. Gunnar is also regularly featured in Allure, Elle, In Style, In Touch, Us, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, and other magazines. His television appearances include The Today Show, Fox & Friends, CNN, CNN Headline News, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Extra, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Lala’s Full Court Life, Revenge Body and numerous shows for E! and VH1.