Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

Today, we're speaking with Ian Mullane, the Founder and CEO of Keepme, a business dedicated to increasing the revenue of health and fitness operators utilizing Artificial Intelligence. He's being working with AI for the past six years and is committed to better understanding why members leave the gym. As the fitness sector is confronted with its greatest ever challenge, clubs worldwide are pulling out all the stops to keep their members active and engaged. Ian says operators need to rely on data and hyper-personalization to move into the future. It's adapt or die, especially for the brick and mortar gyms and clubs. Recently, he published a powerful white paper in an effort to spark conversations around the shift and disruption that's currently happening within the fitness industry. The truth is that the industry will never be the same. It will never return to how things were pre-COVID. Are you ready to learn the six key rules for survival? For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/fbDsjylzYuA Ian Mullane is the Founder and CEO of Keepme, a business dedicated to increasing the revenue of health and fitness operators utilizing integrated Artificial Intelligence. Relying on years of data, he wants to show you how to stop guessing and offer a game-changing level of personalization for gym and club members. By reimagining the customer journey, operators have the opportunity to enhance their service offerings, engagement, product customization, and more. Technology today has completely disrupted every business around the globe. The fitness industry is no exception. The industry will never return to how things were pre-COVID. If brick and mortar operators are not ready adapt and make the customer the center of all experiences when it comes to the personal wellness ecosystem, they may not survive. Keep.me uses predictive and machine learning models, operators can hyper-personalise engagements with a commercial and operational perspective and increase response levels to benefit the business. After 18 years of working with some of the biggest names in Fintech, including Thomson Financial and SS&C, Ian Mullane left corporate life as the COO of Sungard's Asia Pacific business. Since then, he's founded and grown a number of companies including Locowise.com, Vanda.fit and most recently, Keepme, an AI-powered membership retention tool. Episode highlights - Brick and mortar operations face big challenges ahead You need to optimize for revenue and for retention Apps are nothing more than vehicles to create experiences 5G will change how people consume fitness content Adapt or die You probably don't know your competition Personalization is the future of fitness How to reimagine the customer journey Effect of membership plans on retention rates Making the customer the center of the ecosystem How fitness will become like banking Power of first-mover advantage Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Ian Mullane.

Today, we are speaking with Jason Stella, the National Education Manager for LifeTime Training and a podcast host who has more than 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. He's an innovator who has dedicated his life to coaching and consulting the top fitness and nutrition companies in the U.S. and also developed the Alpha Training program. Jason is a firm believer in personal development and capitalizing on your strengths to reach your full potential, both in business and in life. Living by the 3 P's (purpose, preparation, performance, and persistence) he's been able to re-invent himself over the years and return to doing what he loves, which involves getting trainers to elevate the training industry. From personal and small group training trends, the challenges and opportunities the global pandemic has presented, lessons learned from 2020, and best practices to take into the future, his insights will give you an idea of what to expect in the world of health and fitness in 2021. Please welcome, Jason Stella, to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/kFAymkaR7g0 Jason Stella is the National Education Manager for LifeTime Training and a podcast host who has more than 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. He's an innovator who has dedicated his life to coaching and consulting the top fitness and nutrition companies in the U.S. and also developed the Alpha Training program. Episode highlights - How to successfully take your personal training business online Importance of having a vision and taking risks Failure is not failure, it's a learning experiences Behavior modification and accountability 5 fundamentals every trainer needs to be successful Why personal development is so important to him How purpose, preparation, performance, and persistence bring out your potential The essentials of creating a successful group training program How the personal training business model is changing due to the pandemic Consistency is the key to your fitness goals. Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Jason Stella.

Today, we are speaking with a global health and fitness industry analyst who is committed to improving the health and well-being of society. He is the Founder of Gymtopia, the award-winning platform distinguished for curating corporate social responsibility projects and authoring reports that analyze the fitness industry's evolution. With a mission to help purpose-driven, high-impact social enterprises be successful, he produces work that is both inspiring and influential. His most recent report: Health Club Industry Active Ageing Report argues that the fitness industry needs to harness the opportunity of engaging an ageing society. What do consumers really want? What does it mean to operate a purposeful business? How do you get the government to care about the fitness industry in this era of COVID? You're about to find out. Please welcome the Managing Director of UK-based Oxygen Consulting and Founder of Gymtopia, Ray Algar, to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/BqwKwbtllao Escape Your Limits homepage – https://escapefitness.com/podcast Ray Algar is a global health and fitness industry analyst who is committed to improving the health and well-being of society. He is the Founder of Gymtopia, the award-winning platform distinguished for curating corporate social responsibility projects and authoring reports that analyze the fitness industry's evolution. Ray Algar is a UK-based strategic business analyst and adviser to the global health and fitness industry. His entire career has involved collaborating with organisations to encourage people to become healthier and more physically active. Fitness businesses have been started or scaled from the insights contained in his work. He is motivated by a deep sense of curiosity and a desire to produce work that has the capacity to move people. With a mission to help purpose-driven, high-impact social enterprises be successful, he produces work that is both inspiring and influential. Visit www.oxygen-consulting.co.uk to learn more about Ray Algar. Episode highlights - Let go of what's no longer serving you. Consumers don't just want a product. They want a story. Even world-class leaders make mistakes. Big shifts in the ways consumers are interacting with physical activity. Creating places of belonging within the industry. Phenomenon of 'gym substitution.' Why biggest is not always best. Having a compass in times of volatility. Creating social impact. Learning lessons COVID has taught the industry. Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Ray Algar.

Today, we're speaking with the founder and CEO of one of America's fastest growing fitness franchises, Bedros Keuilian. He is a sought-after high-performance consultant and mentor, best-selling author, and self-made entrepreneur who has built multiple million dollar generating global brands and businesses. His book, Man Up: How to Cut the Bullshit and Kick Ass in Business (and in Life), is a powerful guide for anyone who wants to grow a company, make a difference, or launch a new brand. He'll teach you to be resourceful and use your purpose, passion, mindset, and determination to overcome any adversity. He is a prime example of what it means to live the American Dream. Are you prepared to learn how to MAN UP and dominate your goals? Please welcome Bedros Keuilian to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Bedros Keuilian is the mastermind behind many of the most successful brands, businesses, thought leaders and best-selling authors throughout multiple industries. Odds are you've seen his international franchise Fit Body Boot Camp in your town, or his coaching and consulting clients on hit TV shows featured on ABC, NBC, Spike TV, in popular magazines, & on top of the New York Times Bestseller list. Bedros Keuilian is the founder and CEO of Fit Body Boot Camp, which is one the fastest growing fitness franchises in the country. He is a sought-after consultant and mentor, a best-selling author, and a self-made entrepreneur. His rags to riches story is a powerful lesson in determination, resourcefulness, and what it means to not only survive, but to thrive. His book, Man Up: How to Cut the Bullshit and Kick Ass in Business (and in Life), is a New York Times Bestseller and will teach you how to use your purpose, passion, mindset, and determination to overcome any adversity. On a mission to shake things up, Bedros is the guy you want to be looking to for advice if you're interested in growing a company, making an impactful difference, or launching a new brand. There is such thing as living the American Dream. He is living it and wants to teach you how to do the same. Visit https://bedroskeuilian.com/ to learn more about Bedros Keuilian. Episode highlights - No politician is going to put me out of business Suffering and adversity mean you're alive Why you shouldn't choose easy over hard How the pandemic can make you a greater leader The power in offering hope to your team To succeed you have to be specific Why businesses need to market their local community Differentiate yourself to beat the competition Join Matthew Januszek in powerful conversation with Bedros Keuilian.

In this week's Escape Your Limits podcast Director and Host, Matthew Januszek, sits down with our podcast Manager, Wendy de Knoop, to discuss navigating the business through 2020 and the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way. Matthew also dives into what to expect from the Escape Fitness brand in the year ahead. Additionally, this episode will present you with powerful and provocative real-life accounts of how some of the most influential and successful people in the world escaped their own limits to overcome mental, physical, and emotional hurdles to champion their highest potential. It is our hope that their stories of self-development and discipline, leadership, getting into elite physical condition, and achieving what others said couldn't be done will inspire you to tap into your own greatness and achieve your goals in 2021. What does it mean to Escape Your Limits? You're about to find out. Tune in to this end of year compilation on the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/4YRw-9bFokk Over the past 20 years, Escape Fitness has forged countless meaningful relationships with the world's greatest business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry influencers. Each guest featured in this end of year episode shares specific, actionable, real-life experiences and demonstrates how to champion your highest potential and make success happen for anyone. You're about to discover how to Escape Your Limits. Episode highlights - What you can expect from the Escape Fitness brand in 2021 The lessons Matthew Januszek learned about business and life in 2020 Fitness industry trends to look out for How the world's most influential people overcame adversity to escape their own limits Inspiration to achieve your goals in the New Year Achieving remarkable results not only in business but for the mind and body Join us as we offer insights into what's ahead for Escape Fitness and the industry in 2021 and get inspired by some of the world's greatest leaders to achieve your goals and Escape Your Limits in the New Year.

Today, we are speaking with the Executive Director of a family-owned and operated company that has become the world's largest group fitness provider. What began as a single gym in Auckland, New Zealand, more than 50 years ago has evolved into a business with a network of more than 140,000 trained instructors who deliver exciting training programs to millions of members each week. Driven by the defining philosophy to "make people fall in love with fitness," he has spent decades dedicated to pushing the envelope to offer life-changing fitness experiences to the masses. This ambitious mogul opens up about how he harnessed technology to expand the market, dealt with setbacks and failure, and how digital fitness is shifting the club industry Please welcome the founder and Executive Director of Les Mills International, Phillip Mills, to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video – https://youtu.be/HipEWhEWh0A Phillip Mills heads up one of the most recognisable brands in fitness. More than 50 years since the launch of the company, he continues to drive the business forward on his father's mission to "make people fall in love with fitness." In 1997, Phillip established Les Mills International, a separate company to Les Mills NZ, in order to take licensed fitness programming to the global market. Always one step ahead of the game, he was quick to realise the power of digital and the opportunities it created to engage and inspire. A focus on enhancing the in-club experience through Trip, the fully immersive cycling experience, Phillip also began rolling out development for Les Mills On Demand. Hailed as the Netflix of Fitness, Les Mills On Demand provides anytime, anywhere access to quality group exercise classes – extending operator influence into homes and daily lives. The goal? To grow the market and drive participants back to their local club. Today, LMI continues to drive a "fitter planet," working with operator partners to engage even more participants across the world. Les Mills International is on a mission to create a fitter planet. For them, that means helping people fall in love with fitness. What began as a single gym in Auckland, New Zealand, more than 50 years ago has evolved into a business with a network of more than 140,000 trained instructors who deliver exciting training programs to millions of members each week. Visit www.lesmills.com to learn more about Phillip Mills and the world's most popular workouts. Episode highlights - You do not freeze during a recession. You find ways to add value to your business. 30% of the world's population are using some kind of gym. Your best defence against the virus is to be fit and healthy. You must do what you love and love what you do. What your best defence against COVID-19 is Marketing to the out of shape and deconditioned market Why Les Mills built huge studios in their clubs What makes Les Mills different than other fitness brands The importance of music and group fitness His views on failure and success Join Matthew Januszek in this insightful conversation with Phillip Mills.

In this episode, psychologist and author Kelly McGonigal discusses the mind-body connection and the importance of physical activity during the pandemic. She explores the positive impact of movement on mental health, happiness, and personal success. The conversation touches on topics such as collective joy, addiction, hope molecules, stress responses, and the evolutionary reasons behind hormone release during exercise. The chapter also emphasizes the power of dance and gratitude in enhancing joy and resilience.

"Anything that comes at the cost of your peace, is too great an expense." As a speaker, author, consultant, coach, and mentor, Herman Siu helps both individuals and businesses find positive growth. As a 6th generation Shaolin Temple Descendent, Herman shares his ancient wisdom and practices to help better every facet of a person's life. His mission is simply 'to inspire you to live an abundant life full of simple solutions' motivated by the belief that in order to change the world, we must change ourselves. In this episode, Herman discusses how rebelling and playing sport helped him learn leadership skills, the importance of being a producer not just a consumer, how we all need to process at an elite level in order to also perform to our potential and the steps we can all take to embrace the hurdles in life and find greater peace. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video – https://youtu.be/yd8YJzdF5O4 Herman Siu is a 6th generation Shaolin Temple Descendent who shares his ancient wisdom and practices to help better every facet of your life. Through his deep knowledge of Chinese medicine and nutrition, he's healing clients and audiences worldwide, helping them to rediscover their creativity and potential from childhood, before we were tainted by society, television, politics and other cultural influences and offering powerful messages of mentorship and advice to anyone in search of positive growth. As a speaker, author, consultant, coach, and mentor, Herman Siu helps both individuals and businesses build their personal blueprint for continuous evolution and success. Herman's unique set of skills allows him to help his clients understand exactly what is holding them back, what their blind spots are, and what they can add to their strategy to get better results.Every day our world is bursting with new information, but people are starving for more guidance and wisdom than ever before. Herman's understanding of the link between the metaphysical world and today's digitally-driven society in the urban jungle puts him in the upper echelon of today's East-meets-West humanitarians. Through his mission, Herman dedicates his days to helping others unlock their true potential. Visit www.hermansiu.com to find out more Episode highlights - How curiosity can lead to greater understanding How sport can teach valuable leadership skills Understanding how important it is to feel a sense of purpose Understanding the link between emotions, food and eating How to become more of a 'producer' rather than just a consumer How to find and maintain balance between work, health and family life What small steps can be taken to start making meditation more of a regular routine Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Herman Siu…

What has Covid-19 taught us and how will its influence the industry moving forwards? In our first interview with Martin, back in June 2020, Martin was based in the UK, overseeing LifeFit Group's six brands, including Fitness First, Barry's Bootcamp, elbgym, Smile X, The Gym Society and New Moove. He talked about leading from the front in a crisis and the challenges of reopening facilities after lockdown 1.0. Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Martin Seibold Today, as the world continues to deal with the effects of a global pandemic, Martin has moved back to his native Germany. In this episode, he talks very candidly about the challenges Covid has presented and its impact on business, plus how this current crisis will impact the industry moving forwards For more information on the Escape Your Limits podcast visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video version – https://youtu.be/LtJFPGiWLeI Martin was destined to map out a career in the fitness industry. He grew up in Germany, where, at a young age, he started working in a gym owned and managed by his parents. The gym became IHRSA's first facility member and was acquired by Fitness First as part of the brand's global growth strategy. Martin as appointed marketing manager and, within six years, the business had expanded to over 90 clubs. Martin's talents did not go unnoticed and in 2006, Fitness First's Founder, Mike Balfour asked Martin to relocate to the UK to head up the brand in the territory. Today, Martin is leading multi-brand strategies and teams around the world, implementing humble growth strategies for the long term success, not just of the Fitness First brand but for the entire LifeFit Group brand portfolio. The LifeFit Group unites multiple fitness brands from the boutique, high-value-low-price and premium segments under one roof, including Fitness First, Barry's Bootcamp, elbgym, Smile X, The Gym Society and New Moove. The Group is committed to inspire and support its customers to live their best lives through personal, fun and focused health and fitness experiences. For more information visit www.lifefit-group.com Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Martin Seibold… Episode highlights - How business leaders need to step outside of a situation, clear the diary and concentrate on a clear plan without interruptions Why it's important, as a leader, not to be sat in HQ but to be highly visible, out with the customers, the teams, the partners. How the German and the UK governments differed in their management of the pandemic. National versus regional lockdowns. Which is the favoured approach and why Should gyms be allowed to open? A single Fitness First Club in Germany recently won a lawsuit which declared the club should have been allowed to open. The brand attracted a lot of international attention for its actions It's important to get decision makers and influencers into facilities to see how they operate and the safety measures in place How the industry has been guilty of focusing on servicing the minority and how this has to change if we are to address some of the major global health issues affecting the population How we have to, as a population, focus more on creating positive lifestyle habits. How presenting our industry as part of the COVID solution openly in marketing and promotion is resonating with people and influencing behavioural change How do we turn the tide on inactivity? What population groups should we be targeting? How adjusting the environment can attract new segments of the population. The answer to growth lies in diversity of offer rather than trying to convert people into 'gym lovers', offer them an environment they will enjoy People enjoy human interaction and this is why coming out of the first lockdown, Fitness First saw such a healthy engagement amongst the membership. It also accounts for the fact that going into second lockdown there was no big spike in cancellations How being upfront and transparent has resulted in a retention of 75% of revenue during second lockdown How Smile X successfully plugged 'white spots' in urban areas across Germany The challenges of creating and monetizing a digital product Learn from the lessons and practices of other industries As a leader, it's important to preserve the business. This means making difficult decisions around staffing levels and cost management. This is one of the biggest challenges. The other challenge is how to keep staff engaged and motivated during times when they are not able to fulfil their day jobs. How this pandemic will affect the industry in terms of number of facilities and percentage of population engaged How the population's heightened awareness of the need to maintain personal health will be a main growth driver for the sector post Covid-19

How to optimize training outcomes through heart rate training Jesse N. Thomas MS CSCS, a self-confessed science geek, is one of the industry's leading heart rate training experts. Jesse has dedicated his life to helping athletes train for success. He has spent decades applying the vast array of knowledge gained from years of studying for multiple degrees in kinesiology and exercise physiology to helping coaches, instructors and athletes optimize training outcomes through the delivery of insight and education. In this episode, Jesse discusses the merits of heart rate training and the important role of the coach in teasing out optimal performance from individuals training in a group setting. He also explores how heart rate monitoring can flag negative training outcomes and the necessity of applying training strategies that drive a specific outcome. This is an episode not to miss for anyone looking to get the most out of their heart rate training For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version – https://youtu.be/xr6qxyFnmRY Jesse N.Thomas MS, CSCS, has dedicated a lifetime to competitive sports. His coaching has helped high performance athletes all around the world to improve physical performance and increase mental strength. Jesse studied for and achieved multiple degrees in kinesiology and exercise physiology, applying education to teach the importance of energy management and seeing the bigger picture of performance. With years of experience developing master training teams around the world for globally recognised brands such as UFC, ICG and Life Fitness, he's now sharing this information in his book, The Ultimate Heart Rate Training Guide and has established himself as one of the world's leading authorities in Heart Rate training. Fitness Deconstructed is an exercise and fitness educational resource aimed at coaches, athletes, trainers and fitness minded individuals keen to enhance their understanding of Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology in order to optimize training practices. Jesse also works with a diverse portfolio of international fitness brands – from equipment manufacturers - including MyZone and Life Fitness to commercial fitness operators, developing product and equipment specific training programs delivered via written content, presentations and workshops. Through Fitness Deconstructed, Jesse has developed leadership and competencies of thousands of athletes, trainers and coaches around the world. Today, Jesse continues to fulfil his ambition to effect positive change through education and practical application. His passion is Heart Rate training and his book: 'The Ultimate Heart Rate Training Guide' is available now via Amazon. Visit www.fitnessdeconstructed.com to find out more about Jesse' coaching, education and content creation. Episode highlights - Why it was important to improve the accessibility and availability of heart rate training education Most commercial fitness operators could get more out of their heart rate training equipment and programming if coaches and instructors were better informed Training outcomes can be achieved in a multitude of different ways. Understanding cardiovascular dynamics and how the heart goes into cardiac remodeling when demand is placed on it will determine the effectiveness of the training application on the outcome. How controlling training variables and applying consistency will lead to the attainment of goals in the shortest possible time frame How heart rate monitoring can be a useful indicator of the effectiveness of recovery strategies. Varying intensity - the 'rollercoaster of diversity' is the key to performance success whether training for an event or training for life Why questions have been asked about the accuracy of Karvonen's 1950s heart rate training zone equations and what this has means now for the application of heart rate training zones in populations where a maximal heart rate test is not appropriate How training at an intensity as low as 68% maximum heart rate (in MyZone's Blue Zone) can still be classified as High Intensity Interval Training How the overtraining effect impacts heart rate How steady state and HIIT training effects the neurological capacity of the heart How the type of training undertaken translates into performance outcomes. Defining what you want the outcomes to be will determine the make up of your training regime. Individuals are the product of their training The importance of personalized warm up prescription to effective training If training for life, what is the ultimate mix of weight being shifted and time allocated to training How regular interval training differ from HIIT training How the ability of a coach to offer modifications impacts the effectiveness of training for individuals working out in a group setting The role of education in helping participants to train smarter Choosing the right heart rate monitor for your training requirements? Most cardio equipment has a fat burning metric. How legitimate is this as an indication of the training effect How inconsistencies in heart rate behavior can be indicative of underlying health issues Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Jesse N. Thomas