Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.  Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Kinsey Livingston, VP of Sales at Mindbody and ClassPass. This LIFTS episode covers: Overview of the ClassPass annual report and its importance in understanding fitness industry trends. The merger between ClassPass and Mindbody, including the acquisition and service integration. Rise of Pilates as the top workout, with an 84% increase over the previous year. Growth of low-impact training and holistic wellness experiences. Influence of social media on making fitness more accessible. Shift in ClassPass demographics towards older age groups. Tuesday as the busiest day for fitness reservations. Significant increase in body scan bookings and the growing interest in personalized fitness data. Emergence of community-centered activities like soccer, volleyball, and paddleboarding on the ClassPass platform. Future trends in fitness and wellness for 2025. To view the report, click here: https://classpass.com/blog/2024-classpass-look-back-report/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00 Intro 02:04 ClassPass and Mindbody Merger  03:51 Overview of the ClassPass Report 05:46 Growth of Pilates and Low Impact Training 08:20 Influence of social media and Lifestyle Shifts 11:42 Popularity of Weekdays and Weekends 15:52 Body Scans and Personalized Data 18:25 Community-Centered Activities and Future Trends

Welcome to this episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.  Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Lauren Shroyer, VP of Product Development and Innovation at ACE (American Council on Exercise), the leading non-profit organisation certifying health coaches and exercise professionals which seeks to get people moving worldwide.  This episode focuses on the huge impact that AI is going to have on the fitness industry, and in particular, the frontline fitness professionals.  This LIFTS episode covers: The role of AI in personalization and data management. The shift towards online education post-pandemic. The integration of AI tools for creating, and tailoring fitness programs. Three key limitations of AI: Connection, Creativity and Common Sense. The importance of human connection and creativity in fitness. The challenges trainers face from gyms and the need to adapt to new technologies. Lumin, a studio in Texas that harnesses the power of AI to provide ‘the world’s smartest fitness studio’. How to integrate AI effectively, focusing on behavior change coaching and leveraging AI for efficiency. To learn more about ACE, click here: https://www.acefitness.org/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 2:43       Impact of AI on Fitness Professionals 10:18    Challenges and opportunities for Trainers post-pandemic 15:35    Embracing AI and technology within fitness 17:10    The three core things that AI cannot do 24:45    The role of AI in personalized fitness programs 29:29    The future of AI in fitness and ACE’s role 29:58    The potential of pure, AI-based fitness models 34:03    Final thoughts and future directions

Welcome to this extended episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.  Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Anthony Vennare, the founder of pioneering news aggregator Fitt Insider and Wellworthy to reflect on how predictions made about 2024 played out and to look ahead at the trends and innovations driving the future direction of the fitness and wellness industries. This LIFTS episode covers: A review of 2024 predictions and how they played out. Trends and predictions for fitness brands, tech products and consumer preferences. The growth in popularity and functionality of wearable tech. A look at how emerging fittech giants like Oura, Levels and Apple has played out. The impact of GLP-1s on consumers and the fitness industry. The boom in strength training and Pilates. The integration of fitness and healthcare. Increasing consumer awareness around food and environmental impact. 2025 predictions: rising investment in health & wellness, consolidation and a focus on personalized and prescriptive health solutions. Personal goals for 2025. To learn more about Anthony Vennare, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vennare/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 1:40       Reflection on 2024's predictions for big companies and big tech (Oura, Apple, Levels) 9:40       Reflections and Predictions: Small to Medium-Sized Fitness Businesses Predictions – Flexes And Fails 17:00    Trends Predications (GLP-1s, strength training, mixing modalities, Pilates) 25:08    Big Company and Tech 2025 Predications (connecting health clubs with healthcare, growth of peptide use, make America Healthy 36:03    Small To Medium Company and Tech Predictions (AI, women’s health, environmental awareness, reimagining the gym floor, vending) 46:20    General Trend Predictions (mental fitness to combat addictions and illness, evidencing health outcomes, consumers making incremental changes to improve health and longevity, attracting new investment 53:29    Final Thoughts and Personal Goals

Welcome to the last episode of LIFTS in 2024, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Giles Denning, Head of Marketing, PerformX.  Matthew and Mo are on the advisory board of PerformX Live, an event that is the business of fitness, a powerhouse environment and is taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 26th & 27th February 2025. The conversation in this episode introduces listeners to the themes that will be discussed on the main stage at the event. Bringing in thought leaders from around the globe that will discuss digitalization, premiumization, AI, recovery and more. In this LIFTS podcast, we discuss: PerformX and the themes that will shape the industry in 2025. Bridging the gap: the fitness industry's role in wellcare. Digitalization, premiumization, and the evolving fitness landscape. The biggest trends of 2024 and predictions of 2025. To learn more about PerformX Live, click here: https://beyondactiv.com/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 4.37       Theme One - Digitalization 8.28       Theme Two - Premiumisation 13.22    Theme Three – AI 18.53    Theme Four – Future of Recovery on the Gym Floor 21.57     Theme Five – Longevity and Bio-Hacking 25.56     The Fitness Industry’s Role in WellCare 32.58     Biggest Trends of 2024 and the Predictions for 2025 36.21    Brands to watch out for

In this special mid-week podcast, brought to you by Escape Fitness, we delve into the strategies that amplify a gym's digital presence and drive real business results with today’s guest, Dennis Yu, one of the world’s foremost authorities on leveraging digital marketing for success. Here, Dennis shares his decades of expertise, delivering actionable insights on how gyms can build stronger community connections by collecting, curating, and sharing hyper-localized digital content. Whether you’re a gym owner or operator, this conversation is packed with invaluable advice to attract more members and deepen engagement with local populations. Dennis Yu is the Chief Technology Officer at BlitzMetrics and co-author of the best-selling book The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads. A seasoned international speaker, Dennis has presented in over 20 countries and worked with iconic brands like Nike, Red Bull, and the Golden State Warriors. His insights have been featured in CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Los Angeles Times. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Southern Methodist University and a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics. In this Episode, we discuss: The ‘hidden’ data-value that led to the multi-billion dollar sale of Visio to Walmart. The ‘dollar a day’ marketing strategy. Google and YouTube as social media networks. Reviews and recommendations – do they deliver value? Hacks to encourage member reviews. Setting up Google Pages for success. Localization and personalization - the key to online visibility. Successfully organizing content across multiple social media platforms. Engagement and content strategy. Traditional marketing vs. digital marketing – which works best? The power of micro podcasts. ====================================================== Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 0:29       The ‘hidden’ data-value that led to the multi-billion dollar sale of Visio to Walmart 1:12       Using hardware as the gateway to data collection 2:21       Explaining the ‘dollar a day’ marketing strategy 7:10       Google and YouTube as social media networks 8:15       How influential are posted reviews and recommendations? 10:55    Hacks that encourage members to post reviews 13:06    Setting up Google Pages for success 18:06    Signals Google loves - localization and personalization 19:09    Organizing online information for optimal effect 25:17    How to organize content across multiple social media platforms  27:27    Engagement and content strategy 33:29    Traditional marketing vs. digital marketing – which works best? 34:49    The power of micro podcasts

On this week’s episode of the Escape Your Limits Podcast, we are joined by Rick Valente, a legendary figure in the bodybuilding and fitness industry, best known as the co-host of ESPN's BodyShaping. Born and raised in Connecticut, Rick discovered his passion for fitness early on, driven by a love for sports, martial arts and a determination to build a bodybuilder’s physique. Leaving behind a challenging upbringing surrounded by drugs, he made the life-changing decision to move to California in the early 1980s and train at the iconic Gold’s Gym. His dedication led him to win Mr. Los Angeles and place second in Mr. California. However, a significant injury in 1987—tearing a pectoral muscle while lifting 500 pounds—marked a turning point, shifting his focus to coaching and personal training. In this inspiring episode, Rick shares his journey from troubled beginnings to becoming a bodybuilding icon and TV personality. He offers timeless fitness wisdom, actionable advice for personal growth and stories of training alongside legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gregory Hines. This is a conversation packed with lessons on resilience, passion, and transformation. In this podcast, Rick discusses: Overcoming a troubled upbringing throughs sports and training. The pivotal decision to move to California and train at Gold’s Gym. The energy and culture of Gold’s Gym in the 80s. Training with legends and the community spirit of old-school bodybuilding. The art of posing and the aesthetics of bodybuilding. Reflections on training methods and the evolution over the years. Hosting the hit fitness TV show ‘BodyShaping’ and its influence on fitness culture. Dealing with family tragedies, retirement boredom and finding new creative purpose. To learn more about Rick Valente, click here: https://www.rickvalente.com/ ====================================================== Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 3:06       Influences in early life 5:47       Move to Florida and career beginnings 11:47    Gold’s Gym and celebrity encounters 20:13    Training techniques and workout memories 27:14    Bodybuilding competitions 32:11    “Body Shaping” and fame 42:08    Transition to writing and photography 43:36    Coping with boredom and personal growth 47:08    Advice for younger generations  

Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S – your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories.  This special episode was recorded live at Beyond Activ Australia APAC, where host Mohammed Iqbal attended to explore the cutting edge of fitness innovation.  Hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mohammed Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Aleksander Dahlberg- founder of Sahha, Aaron Verasammy- Vice President Sales - North America at ABC Fitness Solutions, and Emmett Williams- MD at Myzone (APAC).  In this episode, topics discussed include: Australian fitness innovation and global expansion of local brands. Rapid growth of Pilates in gyms and boutique studios. Unique fitness concepts combining multiple services. Integration of health data technology in fitness offerings. Challenges for international brands entering the Australian market. Maturity and entrepreneurial culture of the Australian fitness industry. Need for collaboration between fitness industry and government on public health. Influence of Australian lifestyle trends (e.g., coffee culture) on the fitness landscape. To learn more about Beyond Activ, click here: https://beyondactiv.com/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00 Intro 12:04 Aleksander Dahlberg 22:32 Aaron Verasammy 35:05 Emmett Williams

Welcome to this week’s episode of LIFTS, your bite-sized dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Kevin Yates, CEO Lift Brands EMEA.  With more that 20 years-experience working in the fitness industry there are few individuals on the planet with more experience than Kevin Yates when it  comes to building and operating boutique fitness brands. Currently heading up Lift Brands EMEA, which includes icon brands Snap Fitness and 9Round, Kevin also played a huge hand in the growth and success of European boutique brand, Trib3 and before that, the trailblazing UK boutique brand, 1Rebel. In this LIFTS podcast, we discuss: The evolution of boutique fitness. The pivot to multiple modalities within a boutique offer. The price vs value challenge facing  HVLP fitness brands. What component parts make a successful boutique fitness brand. From HVLP 1.0 to HVLP 2.0 and the brands leading the charge. What do boutiques have to do to maintain relevance in today’s market? Trend predictions for the fitness sector. To learn more about Lift Brands, click here: https://www.liftbrands.com/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 0:25       RFK’s as Health and Human Services Secretary in the US. Good news or bad news? 2:50       Intro to Kevin Yates 5:06       The evolution of boutique fitness 9:43       The pivot to offering multiple modalities within a boutique offer 11:25    Adaptions HVLP fitness brands need to make to be able to charge more to cover rising costs 21:03    What component parts make a successful boutique fitness brand 25:17    The evolution from HVLP 1.0 to HVLP 2.0 and the brands leading the charge 33:00    What do boutiques have to do to maintain relevance in today’s market? 36:12    Trend predictions for the fitness sector

Welcome to this week’s episode of LIFTS, a quick snapshot into the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, get together to discuss recent health and biohacking trends, nutrition and supplements, strength training insights, tech and wellness integrations and emerging fitness trends including the latest from industry innovators Oura, F45, Samsung and Vasa Fitness.  In this LIFTS podcast, topics include: Hostage tape; the viral sleeping trend. Repacking your pre/post workout supplements. Tips from Dr. Jim Stoppani on how to build muscle. The new Oura nutrition tracking tool. FS8, the new Pilates model from F45. F45 teams up with Samsung to bring workouts to Samsung TVs. Research results on benefits of ‘exercise stacking’. Vasa Fitness adds boutique strength class to HVLP offering. ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog:https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00       Intro 0:54       Viral sleep trend of ‘hostage taping’ 3:44       Exploring supplements and nutrition 10:00    The minefield that consumers face choosing nutritional products 13:27    The evolution of tracking apps 17:46    F45 introducing Pilates offering 19:33    F45 partner with Samsung to deliver Samsung TV workouts 21:23    Exercise snacking and strength training 27:44    Vasa Fitness adds boutique strength class to HVLP offering 30:53    Gym etiquette and social media impact 36:02    Final thoughts

Welcome to this week’s episode of LIFTS, your bite-size dose of the Latest Industry Fitness Trends and Stories. Today, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks, are joined by Yves Preissler, CEO of YP Fitness Consulting, an expert in turnkey and modular gym design solutions across global fitness, sport, wellness and recovery industries.  With 40+ combined years’ experience, Yves and his team of professional consultants have a wealth of global expertise creating high end finishes to create tailor-made concepts that deliver results for investors, developers and business owners. This podcast episode explores the future of gym design, covering trending topics such as sustainability, AI technology and customer-centric experiences.  In this LIFTS podcast, topics include: Customer-centric gym designs. How wellness and luxury are transforming training. Sustainability within the fitness industry. Equipment: price vs. quality and sustainability. Integrating AI and technological advancements. Fred Fitness: the first truly AI-powered gym. Designing gyms of the future. Technology vs. human interaction. The evolution of group fitness and personalized fitness. To learn more about Yves Preissler, click here: https://yvespreissler.com/ ====================================================== Support fitness industry news by sponsoring future LIFTS episodes. Contact us at marketing@escapefitness.com for advertising opportunities. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Shop gym equipment: https://escapefitness.com/shop View our full catalog: https://escapefitness.com/support/catalog (US) https://escapefitness.com/support/catalogue (UK)  ====================================================== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escapefitness/   0:00      Intro 0:30      Resetting the body while travelling 3:03      Alcohol and travel habits 4:19      Customer-centric design philosophy 7:03      How wellness and luxury are transforming training 9:25      Sustainability within the fitness industry 19:30    Technology integration into fitness 21:30    Fred Fitness: the first truly AI-powered gym 22:33    The evolution of group fitness and personalised fitness 31:41    Balancing technology and human interaction 31:59    Solving meaningful problems in fitness