30 minutes to a better you – Dante Harper opens Flex Key West

30 minutes to a better you – Dante Harper opens Flex Key West - A man sitting at a fruit stand - D.W. Harper
Harper has been training Key Westers for the past seven years and opened Flex in February at its Simonton Street location.

You can’t afford to not be healthy: that’s one of the mottos Flex owner Dante Harper lives by. As a trainer in Key West for the past seven years, Harper opened Flex to help his clients grow and see the results they desire. 

“You got this,” “let’s do this,” “you have gotten this far, so let’s finish it,” are all phrases Harper used to say to himself when things were tough and he needed motivation to start his own business. They are now phrases he cheers his clients on with during their 30-minute workout sessions. 

“If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will,” he said. “I believe in my clients and I strive to make them believe in themselves.”

He knows what gets him motivated to work out — great music, routine, and a lot of sweat — and that’s what pumps up his clients like Jessica Rodriguez. She’s been working out with Dante for more than a year and loves the push she gets from him in the short amount of time.

“You definitely feel it and you definitely see it,” she said. “It’s basically like one-on-one personal training in the perfect class size studio.”

Classes are scheduled every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are limited to eight people. Harper loves cardio and core circuits that will leave his clients sore for a week. “Results and longevity are what it’s all about at Flex,” he said. Packages start at $15 per session. He also offers walk-in rates. 

Before opening Flex, he trained with his twin brother Rashad, who has moved overseas to train for professional mixed martial arts. Together they coached clients at the beach and local parks. Regulars of theirs have gone on to personal bests during local half marathons and more. “That chapter of my life taught me the importance of discipline and perseverance, and I have carried that with me into my new business,” he said. 

Harper wears a lot of hats during the week, but his most rewarding is after hours when he gets to be Zion’s dad. “My son is myself times 10,” said Harper. “He is full of energy and enthusiasm, mischievous at times, and very observant. Being a father is not only about being present but being available; the goal of raising kids is to raise them to be better than ourselves.”

Harper fell in love with gym life for the mental and physical release after a long day. “The gym is one of the few times in a day where you have an opportunity to look at yourself and really see what you are made of,” he said. “Flex Key West will help you get there.”

Flex is located at 207 Simonton St. Harper can be reached at 305-395-2017 for questions and sessions can be booked at flexkeywest.com/booking or on the MindBody app. 

Kristen Livengood is a Marathon High School and University of South Florida grad, mom of two beautiful little girls, and wife to some cute guy she met in a bar. She enjoys red wine, Tito's, Jameson, running (very, very slowly), and spearfishing.