Navigating gyms today and their abundance of exotic-looking machines and equipment can often be tedious for beginners and experts alike.

Going ”old-school” instead – and focusing on lifting and free weights – is more the philosophy of Jamestown residents Erick and Cammy Sandberg, who recently opened Southern Tier Barbell at 100 Institute St. in Jamestown.

The gym, which touts itself as an old-school style strength training facility, is not the typical franchise with rows of cardio and weight machines.

Rather, members can focus on heavy lifting, free weights, specialty bars and the so-called ”Big 3”- dead lifts, squats and the bench press.

”We basically started this out of frustration,” Erick Sandberg said. ”There are so many other gyms that are not geared toward people who really want to lift like this.”

Last week, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi visited Southern Tier Barbell to mark its official grand opening. Cammy Sandberg said she was excited about Teresi’s visit and what the gym would ultimately offer the community.

”We’re different because you’re definitely going to get a workout here,” she said. ”Here it’s all about about getting together, pushing each other and doing your best.”

Personal training is available at the gym. There are no contracts or sign-up fees, only a monthly fee that’s paid whenever the gym is used.

”We encourage anybody at any level to stop by,” Erick Sandberg said. ”(Lifting) makes you feel good and it’s a good release for stress. I myself have back problems and since I started using just free weights, my back problems have gone away.”

Southern Tier Barbell is open Monday through Friday, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information, contact 404-5438 or visit the Southern Tier Barbell Facebook page.