Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

Co-founder of Fit Freaks and Fit In 5, Marvin Ambrosius set up Fit Freaks to inspire people to live an active lifestyle, no matter what time schedule they’re on. After reaching the heights of success in basketball and having his sporting career stopped abruptly by injury, Marvin struggled with his own weight until venturing on his own fitness and weight loss journey. Now he’s teaching others to lose weight, five minutes at a time. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/fkqKi2n5Hxs Growing up on a diet of music and basketball, Marvin was taught to work hard and put the dedication in to everything that he does, whether the workload is a marathon or a sprint. Hi basketball career saw him reach the top five players in the country. However, five ankle injuries before he was 17 meant that doctors advised against the sport. Despite returning back to full health, the straw that broke the camel’s back was another final injury that brought the end to Marvin’s NBA dreams. Marvin also embarked on a successful music career, even working with Angie Stone and Alesha Dixon. Although, while his calorie intake balanced his basketball activity, it didn’t take long before he gained weight when he stopped exercising. Having put on around 4-5 stone in a year, he decided to do something about it. When his music career went quiet, Marvin started working for Sky TV’s sales team. It was here that he began developing Fit In 5, which originally started as an app before evolving into a TV show. Whether on your smartphone or on your television, Fit Freaks’ Fit In 5 is a high intensity workout programme that’s aimed at providing a challenge to every muscle group while still being convenient for any busy lifestyle. Marvin also still writes music, too, incorporating it into his workouts to drive the effort of every participant.   Episode Highlights -  How to redefine your career or approach when you’re forced to follow a new path through injury. Why yo-yo diets are a bad idea and will only show results in the short term before further weight gain is inevitable. The importance of stability in nutrition is paramount. The importance of timing in business, and how your end goal will certainly change as success comes. How building confidence for kids when it comes to exercise will bring benefits for their future in every respect, including keeping fitness as a part of their life forever. Why having complementary revenue streams or abilities will do nothing but bolster the benefits of every offering and opportunity you undertake.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Marvin Ambrosius

Mike Rashid has spent years of dedication on growth, collectively in his physical appearance, social media following of around four million people and multiple businesses. Mike loves a challenge, whether that be workout-based or in the boxing ring having turned pro at 41 years old. Through brands such as IMSOALPHA and Ambrosia Nutraceuticals, Mike continually provides science-backed benefits for body and mind, which parallels his personality and appearance – the result of when extreme power meets serene eloquence. Mike Rashid is someone that always has to have the edge. Competitive nature aside, he’s not just all about full-on fitness and physicality, either. A huge part of his daily life is about instilling family values and staying true to his word despite a tough upbringing. Growing up, Mike’s mother married to biggest drug dealer in New York. With that came a high-rolling lifestyle. However, in Mike’s own words, that doesn’t last, and his mother’s partner was murdered. Following the killing, Mike moved in with his grandparents. Always top of his class, Mike started out life at school as a nerdy kid, interested in science and a fan of playing the piano; he even took up tap dancing.  Mike’s father instilled a lot of core values in him, and it was this relationship that spawned the first trainer-boxer relationship. When it comes to competition, he told Mike “You gotta do what they’re not doing.” So began the dedication to doing better than everyone else. Mike started personal training and learned the business through working at a corporate gym for a year before going independent. Success followed and Mike Rashid got to the point where he couldn’t take on any more clients. He developed personal relationships with each of them and only took on clients that really needed his help, whether obese, blind or struggling in some other way. In 2012, Mike’s YouTube channel began to take-off, having been started as progress videos for clients. Here he applied the same sincere approach to advice, information and entertainment, constantly creating content and making every video about more than just fitness. Today, with 700,000 subscribers on the channel, his hard work is paying off and the momentum of mind and muscle is something that’s not set to stop any time soon. Mike’s company, Ambrosia Nutraceuticals (teaming up with industry leaders Marc Lobliner and Sean Torbati), is continuing to develop, innovate and progress supplementation for the benefit of all-round wellness. Through passion, research and bio-hacking, these products are much more than just a pre-workout formula. Discover more at ambrosianutraceuticals.com   Episode Highlights -  Why being an influencer and leader can make anyone feel the need to qualify themselves or, as Mike Rashid calls it, give yourself a gut check. How you can push yourself past what people perceive to be your limits in order to perform or be as big as anybody else, whether that’s physically or in business. Win or lose, you never know what’s going to happen. Mike explains why it’s always worth taking a huge risk and seeing what’s around any corner. How to cope with injury and manage expectations of those around you when it comes to what you can physically achieve. The difference and similarities between being a role model for family and fans. How to develop incredibly deep relationships with clients, taking pride in your work and your positive impact on their lives. What the trade-off is between business and pleasure, and what you have to sacrifice for success. The benefits of direct to consumer over wholesale or other business models, and why Mike’s margins make for greater net profit figures than some huge companies. The downsides of popularity and the negative attention that comes with putting your work in front of so many people.     Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Mike Rashid…

A huge location with its gym, swimming pools, tennis, basketball and badminton courts, along with a football pitch for an all-inclusive approach to training for every member, Tera Wellness doesn’t disappoint. CEO Terry Woo knows what he’s providing to members, and this value is what’s important when it comes to getting new people through the door. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/p-2JY-j69qY Terry started off as a personal trainer for California Fitness before a succession of roles and promotions saw him moving all over Asia, from Hong Kong to Taipei, to Singapore, and back to Hong Kong. Here he found out what benefits come with being out of your comfort zone, as he was asked to head up a yoga project that meant he was taking on every aspect of running the business from front to back end.  This level of pushing personal boundaries for further growth is something that’s stayed with him to this day in his current venture. Now in Shanghai with Tera Wellness, Terry wants to bring energy into every club for a party atmosphere that spans across staff and members alike. He leads by example, working out every day and taking the classes himself. Despite the responsibilities of being a CEO, Terry lives his job so that he’s not only enthusiastic but genuine when talking to staff and members.   Episode Highlights -  The difference between American culture in fitness to an Asian approach, where location and business mindset are very different things, and whether these evolve separately or follow trends from each other. Why passion is the most important aspect of creating a club and leading by example with any fitness offering. Why business isn’t about price wars, and more about quality of service and different offerings. The importance of managing growth and not opening new locations before you’re ready as a business.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Terry Woo…

Petra Kolber is not only an author and motivational speaker, but also so much more. She’s an innovator of fitness trends in the days before social media that have been built upon for boutique popularity today. In this episode, you’ll hear from one of the most genuine, open and emotive guests we’ve had on the Escape Your Limits podcast. Through work with Reebok, Equinox and more, she’s built her brand and become the voice of positivity and overcoming anxiety for anyone, documenting her insight in keynote speeches and books such as The Perfection Detox: Tame Your Inner Critic, Live Bravely, and Unleash Your Joy. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/OGbOG0UZG-E From growing up in West Kirby, near Liverpool, Petra found freedom to get out of the house in developing a dance background that would serve as a profession before her move into fitness. While working as a cruise ship dancer, her responsibilities also included teaching Jane Fonda classes on the side. These were the days before step had taken off, and Petra followed her passion for movement to the US. Petra created organic step workouts to live drumming – a class that she named “London Beat.” Her exciting, risk-taking experiences drew international attention and paved the way for the birth of the boutique classes that we know today. She was taken on by Reebok to star in video workouts and television appearances until moving on to build her own brand with a similar approach of instruction. Through this, Petra has won countless awards including Fitness Instructor of the Year, Best Female Presenter of the Year, Most Likely to Succeed, and more. With the trends of HIIT and tabata coming in, Petra pivoted in her career to step off the stage and figure out how to do things she loved while still staying relevant to the needs of her audience. Today, Petra’s approach is all about finding healthy pride and positivity; being aware of your own accomplishments without the ago, while still nurturing your own personal growth. Her purpose is to guide you on what she calls the longest distance you will ever travel: from your head to your heart. Petra’s book, The Perfection Detox, is available from http://petrakolber.com/book-the-perfection-detox    Episode Highlights -  How to stay relevant throughout your career, and pivot your position to align with your truth at any stage of your life. The importance of mindset when it comes to setting goals and achieving your dream, without losing happiness and joy. Why anyone can still not feel successful even if they’ve reached professional heights they would have never previously dreamed of. How to deal with failure, what failure is and how to dig down to a granular level in order to find out what you’ve learned along the way. Discover what your pain points are and how to overcome them, whether it’s through coaching, mental processes or enlightenment by reading about the experiences of others. How negativity bias affects us long term, while others will have more likely than not forgotten about the point we’re concerned about.     Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Petra Kolber…

A lesson in opportunity and finding out whether you sink or swim under pressure, here’s another success story stemming from the 24 Hour Fitness, Mark Mastrov leadership machine. Randy Dobson and Dane Fort, chairman and CEO of CMG.ASIA respectively have revolutionised how gyms work in Vietnam, and continue to set trends with multiple brands in the East. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/PvHpdoyqie0 Randy came from a family business in agriculture before finding a job the travel industry, looking for a career path with longevity and opportunity. With a strong ethos of taking charge of his own life, he joined fitness industry in Seattle in a company that was soon acquired by 24 Hour Fitness, where he developed his profession and migrated to Asia. Dane was an athlete at school. Following a financial struggle throughout education, he joined 24 Hour Fitness in sales, before joining Randy in the journey to Hong Kong and Malaysia and eventually starting the business together in Vietnam. Together, they’ve risen the ranks in fitness under the mentorship of Mark Mastrov, and continue to benefit the industry with forward thinking and incredible understanding of the market’s needs. A combined 40 years of experience along with the insight of the highest-level investors means that it’s no surprise Dane and Randy make such great business partners. They opened up their first club in Vietnam in 2007 and it’s been a multiple brand success story ever since. Culture is key, and the low staff turnover compliments the hard work that the two have put into staff onboarding and ensuring that everyone in the company shares the same vision, knows the benefits, and enjoys the same lifestyle benefits to improving the wellness of clients and customers in every sector. For the future, CMG.ASIA is ready for further change to the business model that leads on what the market needs, rather than what the company wants. It’s a futureproofing approach that will see them not only breaking into new markets but developing business opportunities ahead of the trends for maximum gains throughout the industry.   Episode Highlights -  Why it’s important to deliver, even under stress and pressure. How you can approach your current boss and explain that you want to start your own entrepreneurial journey, and why it’s not always a bad thing that they find out. The importance of trust with investors, building a relationship so that they know they can rely on your experience, insight and opinion. How to deal with failure and how to know whether it’s down to location, overheads, appealing to the wrong market or a combination of a lot of things. What leads to a company becoming a loss-making business, especially as this happens more often than not in Asia. Short-term thinking compared to planning for 10 or 15 years. The benefits of emerging markets are obvious, but what effect does not having other business to learn from in the market have on your own entrepreneurial learning? How Asia, and Vietnam in particular, has had a Gatsby era of excitement and popularity in fitness, and how companies positioned themselves to make people’s lives better.     Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Randy Dobson and Dane Fort…

Marco Ferdinandi, director of fitness operations at Pure Fitness in Hong Kong has spent over 25 years in the industry, listening to communities and drawing on experience to develop the best philosophies for anyone’s fitness journey. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/_bwxldHI6F8 On top of his graduation from Hong Kong University, Marco has gone on to receive further degrees in sports science, performance and management to bring an incredible background of knowledge and experience to everything he does. He joined the fitness industry in New York, but found its direction and approach falling by the wayside around the time of the financial crisis. Wanting to get out into the world, Marco originally looked for openings in Europe before work in Asia appeared as the perfect opportunity with Pure.  In his current role as director of fitness operations, Marco is always pushing the boundaries and trying new things with the support of the clientele, through community research and continual feedback. Whether in studio or outside, his programming at Pure offers solo workouts, PT, Group X experiences and more, implementing a passionate approach that’s driving fitness in the East. Since joining Pure, Marco has been responsible for installing the world’s first 270-degree immersive fitness studio, helped gain over 75,000 clients and employed 1900 staff. It’s incredible progress for the premium lifestyle brand that has cemented its place in premium locations and, with Marco’s influence, they’re in it for the long term. For more information visit pure-fitness.com   Episode Highlights -  How the Asia market differs from the west in its approach to staffing, education and how companies connect with clients. Why someone would want to pack up and work in the other side of the world, and how to take advantage of any exciting opportunity. How space and demand may prohibit certain models that are familiar in the west from operating in Asia, what’s popular with the Asian demographic at present and what future trends are on the horizon. Hear about the origins and history of Pure Fitness, and how it became a premium lifestyle brand in fitness, nutrition and more. Why an innovation lab is the perfect way to trial products and get feedback from both sides, with minimal risk.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Marco Ferdinandi …

A founding member of Les Mills International, self-titled observer and catalyst, Emma Barry is known for delivering fitness magic both in terms of workout delivery with icons such as Equinox and also through business advice and knowledge shares. Since the birth and growth of high intensity workouts, she’s travelled the world to teach, learn and love life. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/OYHP4xNYGU4 Born in London and brought up in New Zealand before moving abroad yet again, Emma is no stranger to the fitness industry on any continent. She began teaching and personal training as a student, before joining the industry professionally in the early ’90s during the original days of step and circuit training popularity. Changing the history of fitness, she was part of launching Les Mills International and helped lead the exercise giant on its growth journey through the rise of pre-choreographed classes such as Pump, which later became Bodypump. After weighing up the pros and cons of the decision, Emma decided to move to America and joined Equinox as director of group fitness programming, and she’s continued to influence, inspire, educate and inform ever since. Today, in California, Emma spends her time speaking at conferences and fitness shows, taking on research and learning around the world, contributing to publications and forums, as well as mentoring and helping people clarify what they’re doing or getting clear on project goals and putting energy behind them. Her clients range from boutique spaces in value markets and high end, to equipment manufacturers and anyone looking for feedback on the pros or cons of a particular product in group exercise. With over two decades in fitness, her invaluable levels of knowledge and market history can benefit any interest with a depth that few people can match.   Episode Highlights -  Hear why gender representation isn’t coming into the fitness industry yet when it comes to the standard models of conventions and promotion. Learn about what lifestyling means in fitness and how the influence of different market sectors affect trends, actions, opportunities and offerings. The origins of Les Mills, and what brought the popularity of the company’s programming at the perfect time for serious growth and longevity. How you can get clients and members to think like your brand, and why it’s important to integrate your brand’s values with lifestyles and mindspace.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Emma Barry…

Whether instructing, training, encouraging, recruiting or developing business, Barry Ennis has cemented his place in a niche of international fitness consultants. His meditative yoga background and business acumen brings a mindset to China that’s inspiring enthusiasm and growth in all things fitness. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/5cyug8kpQ7A Born in LA, Barry grew up playing baseball through college, making it far enough to play on professional scouting teams. His progressive coaches in baseball led Barry to undertake yoga. Not only was this the start of a new passion but, through shared interests, he ended up teaching his fellow students at college before becoming popular enough where it was time to get certified. Barry travelled to India to further study the discipline where it first originated. From Mumbai, he moved to Dubai where he helped create a bootcamp class business, and then moved on to work with the Flywheel Sports franchise, training the instructors before finding his new home in Shanghai. Since college, as well as an almost endless list of yoga disciplines, Barry’s taught indoor cycling, HIIT, strength, barre, and more. He’s now a master trainer / instructor at SpaceCycle in China. Training aside, Barry’s also facilitating growth through focus on instructor education as well as bringing in masters from all over the world to teach – aiding fitness for the whole country As a trainer, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere is key. As a podcast host for Fitness Career Mastery, he provides a source for personal trainers, group fitness instructors or gym owners all over the world to share secrets to success in order to achieve mastery in their careers.    Episode Highlights -  How cities new to modern fitness facilities can draw on experience from industry-developed locations to grow efficiently and offer more to their memberships. What kind of progressive coaching in meditative disciplines can benefit other sports. How to combat the first job vs experience dilemma and rebrand yourself to grow your career anywhere in the world. Why knowledge sharing is more beneficial for a whole industry, rather than holding secrets to success and trying to keep information to yourself.     Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Barry Ennis…   Please like and subscribe.

A hero of health education, Jeff Kreil is an expert in both fitness knowledge and business nous. He guides and enlightens the fitpros of tomorrow to not only reach their potential academically but go above and beyond to forge relationships with the industry, too. Through a holistic approach, he’s helping to build the fitness world of tomorrow, student by student. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/gg20jZgaopo Jeff started his professional fitness journey as a personal trainer, with a view to becoming a strength and conditioning coach for athletes. Soon, he fell in love with working with all kinds of people before joining 24 Hour Fitness. There for 10 years, he found a passion for teaching, so became part of 24 Hour Fitness University, developing talents through programmes before transitioning to APEX Fitness and working under nutrition guru, Neil Spruce. It took a while, but Jeff realised his life goal: To teach at a community college, helping employers find quality candidates and helping candidates find employment. With 20 years in the fitness industry under his belt, Jeff is now instructing kinesiology courses that prepare students for NASM CPT, NSCA CPT, and ACE GFI accreditation – all requirements for the Associates Degree in Exercise Science and Fitness Specialist Certificate of Achievement programme. Evolving the curriculum through industry feedback and employment opportunities, Jeff’s approach teaches intention in programming. For example, how a particular movement aligns with the client assessments and how a fitpro should find reasoning behind every decision. There may be no wrong answer, but there does need to be justification, and that’s what Jeff is a master of teaching.    Episode Highlights -  How to overcome misalignment in the education world to discover which certifications will get you where you want to be. How to best benefit the needs of any hiring manager with the most sought after skills. How a fitpro should dig deeper to know what it is in a client’s life that’s leading to their condition, whether it be pain-related or goal focused. Discovering the best ways to up retention rates and why some gyms are losing the relationship with members as soon as they walk out the doors. How do you modify your fitness offering as a PT to accommodate different types of class interest, injury, or any market segmentation? Ways that you can build a following through individualisation and how you conduct yourself in order to increase interest in your classes or sessions.    Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Jeff Kreil of Moorpark College.   Please like and subscribe.

Heralded by the press as creating of some of the hardest and best boutique workouts, Kevin Yates of TRIB3 has been there since the beginning of the fitness industry’s growth in the UK. His community-led work and welcoming attitude accompanies everything he does, driving for further success with some of the biggest operators around the world. Watch the full episode on YouTube – https://youtu.be/P0KsBPPT3ec Before becoming a man of influence for multiple fitness businesses, Kevin’s profession spanned everything from playing football for Barnsley and Scunthorpe to undertaking a successful army career. In relation to the world of health and wellbeing, he worked for free for Fitness First to occupy his time and passion, as the army was still paying him, before being offered a paid job with the company later. There for 11 years, Kevin ended up as national fitness manager with 174 clubs under his belt. Along with many other big industry names, he also joined 1Rebel for three years before making his own boutique break as CEO of TRIB3. TRIB3 (pronounced “tribe,” for the record), both in the boutique studio setting and behind the scenes, it’s all about innovation and hard work. TRIB3’s tagline of “more than just a workout” couldn’t ring any more true, as it provides something new and exciting for every member. Whether pushing for a PB through your MyZone readings, trying one of the pre and post-workout nutrition treats for all, or joining every other member on a wall of fame after your first session, the community spirit and each club is something that’s only bettered by the exercise offering.    Episode Highlights -  Discover how a successful business within any industry needs to stay on the move to adapt to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances. Importance of the spread of your customer base. Can you build your business for the right amount of people, is it scalable when the time is right? Learn how the boutique market is divided, how each part of the market is progressed and what the opportunities are for the future. How franchising can expand internationally and grow the business in different markets around the world.    Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Kevin Yates of TRIB3…   Please like and subscribe.