EGR GYM founder: Edval Júnior's story in Carpina, Brazil

Edval Júnior, founder and creator of EGR GYM, explains in the first episode of EGRCast that the gym in Carpina, Pernambuco (Brazil), grew out of his own life change: in 2019, weighing 130 kg and leading a sedentary life, he started working out, and shortly afterward the idea of opening a gym took shape. The name EGR is made up of his father's initials, and the goal is to go beyond an ordinary gym and operate as a health center that cares for both body and mind.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

The first episode of EGRCast, the official EGR GYM podcast, featured the gym's founder and creator, Edval Júnior. Recorded before the opening, the conversation led by host Valdênia Vasconcelos covers the personal journey of the Carpina-born entrepreneur, the origin of the name EGR and the vision that guided the project.

More than introducing a gym, the episode explains why EGR GYM was founded with a commitment to treating physical activity as health care in the broadest sense. Below are the key takeaways from the interview.

Who is Edval Júnior, founder of EGR GYM?

Edval Júnior is a Carpina businessman who works in food wholesale and retail, agriculture and livestock farming. He says he completed half of a Civil Engineering degree before putting it on hold to work alongside his father. Exercise, he says, came into his life unexpectedly.

In 2019, a friend pointed out that he took care of many businesses and many people but neglected the most important one: himself. At the time, Edval weighed 130 kg and was sedentary. That remark led him to the gym and kicked off a real change in his habits. Today, working out is part of his daily routine:

My morning workout is like brushing my teeth.

He trains Monday through Friday starting at 6 a.m. and usually does some kind of activity on weekends as well.

How did the idea for EGR GYM in Carpina come about?

Shortly after that life change, a gym chain approached the family: a feasibility study carried out in the city had identified a family-owned lot as a suitable site for a location. The negotiation didn't move forward, but it sparked the interest of Edval, who was already a dedicated gym-goer. The idea for EGR GYM was born from that meeting of personal experience and opportunity.

What does the name EGR mean?

One of the most common questions about the gym is what the acronym stands for. Edval Júnior explains that EGR are the initials of his father's name, whom he describes as his inspiration: a hard-working man, devoted to business his whole life and with uncommon vision.

The acronym came to identify the family's businesses when Edval took over the rural properties, giving rise to EGR Agropecuária, Haras EGR and EGR Atacadista. When he conceived the gym, he made a point of keeping the name, both as a tribute and for the credibility the brand had already built in the market.

Why does EGR GYM aim to be a health center?

Asked to sum up the project in one sentence, Edval Júnior highlighted personalized service and the extensive use of technology, with a commitment to always offering members the very best. As someone who goes to the gym every day, he says he has missed closer attention, better equipment and, above all, a complete assessment before starting to train.

In the vision presented in the episode, people leaving a sedentary lifestyle should first undergo an assessment that may involve a cardiologist, a nutritionist and, in some cases, a psychologist; older people or those with pain may need support from a physiotherapist. Add to that a pleasant environment designed specifically for exercise. At the end of the conversation, he agreed with the definition suggested by the host: EGR GYM would be a health center that cares not only for the body and muscles, but for the mind as well.

How did Carpina follow the arrival of EGR GYM?

Edval Júnior says that on the streets of Carpina, by message or by phone, the most frequent question was always the same: when would the gym be ready? For him, each stage had its moment, and the news would be revealed little by little. In his view, Carpina and the whole region stood to gain from a new standard of gym.

In closing, the founder made a point of thanking the team involved in the project, from construction to marketing and consulting, stressing that the venture doesn't depend on a single person and that everyone working together is what makes personalized service possible.

The full journey up to the opening is told in the article on how EGR GYM was born in Carpina, and behind-the-scenes moments from day-to-day life appear on the EGR in Action page.

To visit EGR GYM, located at Av. Pres. Getúlio Vargas, 923 (Rua dos Tamarindos), Santa Cruz, Carpina - PE, sign up online or chat with our team on WhatsApp. All other episodes are available on the EGRCast page.