Optimal Aging

Unlock the secrets to optimal mobility and injury prevention for those over 50 with Andrew Menter, the visionary CEO of Physmodo. Discover how a simple overhead squat assessment captured through your smartphone can revolutionize fitness routines by measuring and enhancing mobility, stability, posture, and symmetry. Andrew enlightens us on the concept of movement as a vital sign and the paramount i...

My grandmother, who was born in 1905, lived at home until the end of her life at 95, but she was always afraid her children would send her to an old folks home, as she called it.  Nowadays, things have changed so much we might even need a new vocabulary to discuss communities for older people. But whatever we call them, they’re offering a more attractive environment for people to live later in lif...

Could targeting the over-50 demographic unlock unprecedented growth for your fitness business? Listen to Jay Croft of Prime Fit Content as he reveals five essential strategies to make your fitness brand stand out in a crowded market. Drawing from his recent presentation at the Functional Aging Summit, Jay delves into the challenges of feeling invisible in the fitness industry and how understanding...

Unlock the secrets to a sharper mind and healthier body with our guest, Dr. Cody Sipe, CEO of Brain Body Fitness franchise. Ever wondered how pairing brain games with physical exercise could stave off dementia? In this engaging episode, we dive into the innovative world of Marbles Brain Body Fitness, the pioneering brain gym franchise focused on a brain-first model. Cody, a co-founder of the Funct...

How old is too old? How late in life is TOO late in life to get fit, change your life, and improve your health? Or is the answer, it’s never too late?  Well, these are the questions we’ll be covering on this episode of Optimal Aging, where we discuss the business of exercise, healthy living and wellbeing for people 50 and over. Each week, we explore what healthy living means for millions of people...

On the last episode of Optimal Aging, I shared a recent presentation I gave to the Functional Aging Institute online. THIS episode features the Q&A session that followed, and it's full of smart questions and (I hope) useful replies. Do you wonder about posting on a blog? How often you should share on social media? And what about emails? Then, this is the session for you, as Dr. Dan Ritchi...

This week's episode is the recording of a webinar I did with Dr. Dan Ritchie of the Functional Aging Institute. Dan was kind enough to let me present on seven "Do This/Not That" communications examples for gym owners who want to grow their businesses with more people over 50. There were quite a bit of questions after my presentation. I'm going to share the Q& A next week, b...

They say knowledge is power, and mankind has never before had so much power – or knowledge – at our fingertips as we do now. When that comes to fitness over 50, health and wellbeing, the potential for improving lives with this data is spectacular.  We can carry real-time information on body composition, biomarkers, heart-rate variability, sleep, stress and more with us at all times. But how can we...

Longevity is a trendy topic these days. Everybody wants to read and talk about the newest, best ways to live a vital life for as long as possible. So, I take a look back at a powerful conversation I had with a frequent exerciser as she was turning 100. Toni Stahl passed away recently at 105, and she and other super-agers left us key lessons about how to be like them. One of them put it super-simpl...

Ryan Carver learned a key lesson about marketing his gym to people over age 55: Make it about THEM, not about HIM. Ryan, owner of Leverage Fitness Solutions near Salt Lake City, told me he realized he had to make his content more emotional and follow the “hero’s journey” – with the client as the hero and him as the helper. They’re Luke Skywalker. He’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. I loved it when Ryan told me t...

Remember Daisy Duke on “The Dukes of Hazard"? Anyone who grew up in the late '70s and early '80s does. It featured a beautiful young actress named Catherine Bach playing the part of Daisy Duke, who was most famous for her short-short cutoff jeans, curvaceous figure, and legs that went down to Mexico. Like millions of households every Friday night, Amy Lang and her family would gathe...

Fitness success is a lot like communications success. Both involve repeating the same steps consistently over time, making incremental progress, and remaining committed to doing the right thing. Even when a shiny new temptation wants to steal your attention or you'd rather just stay on the couch and forget about it. Aaron Hines, a gym owner from the Nashville area, who has been putting in the...

Nothing moves people like a story.  More than mere facts, and more than promotions or advertising, a good story makes us feel something. We relate to it. We want to take action, even if it’s just talking about the story some more.  Here’s an example of how powerful storytelling can be – for people trying to improve their lives and for a gym or fitness studio. Gary shared his story with me, which I...

Alloy Personal Training is one of the most exciting brands in fitness. And Nick Garrity is a prime example of why, having launched two successful locations last year and preparing to birth a third. We discuss the secrets to appealing to the 'older' fitness clientele, the value of communications, and the essential power of providing a first-class, consistent customer experience. Nick and...

What happens when the craze for new weight-loss drugs hooks up with gyms and fitness studios? We’re about to find out, based on a couple of announcements from industry leaders in the last few months. And on this week’s episode, we have a leading industry researcher to help us see the opportunity here for gym and studio owners. Welcome to Optimal Aging, the show for fitness leaders trying to grow b...

We tend to go to the gym and lift weights in one plane -- up-down, up-down... But in real life, our bodies move in 3D, up, down and all around, at all angles, across multiple planes of motion. So if we want to be strong and truly fit, we need to be strong in 3D. And to get there, we need first to measure ourselves fully an accurately. That's the exciting premise behind Proteus Motion, which i...

Ever felt it's too late to start making healthy changes? This episode of Optimal Aging is for you. We're chatting with three inspiring men, all over the age of 50, who decided to rewrite their health narrative. Listen in as Bennett, Jerry, and Blaine share their stumbling blocks, the catalysts for change, and the practical steps they've taken to reclaim their health. They prove that...

Have you ever found yourself torn between maintaining your fitness routine and surrendering to the allure of total relaxation while on vacation? Well, this episode of Optimal Aging will simultaneously challenge you and offer solutions to this age-old dilemma. We'll share the fascinating journeys of Rachel and Oliver, two 50+ travelers who have managed to strike an impressive balance between t...

This week's episode is all about the intersection where gym management, communications, and customer experience meet. My guest is Dan Uyemura , who was a serial tech entrepreneur before opening his first gym in 2010 – and then his gym management software platform, PushPress, which helps gym owners scale their businesses effectively. PushPress streamlines billing, keeps up with attendance, and...

It's been five years since I got into the "fitness over 50" game -- and five years since I first met Dan Ritchie and the Functional Aging Institute. So, when Dan asked me to speak last week at an FAI gathering in Nashville last week, my thoughts turned to "then" and "now." I spoke about 5 points of communications in the over-50 market that were true then -- and 5...

My guest this week is Kelly Howard , who leads women into fitness by making it fun and adventuresome. She leads retreats, hiking and kayaking trips – all kinds of things to get women moving outdoors and start living a healthier, happier life. I love the approach and Kelly’s enthusiasm. She’s a coach, podcaster, and author. Her business website, fitisfreedom.com , promotes "Fitness consistency...

Imagine being in your 70s and crossing the finish line of a grueling obstacle course race. Or picture yourself chasing after your grandkids, not just watching from a bench. Today, we're sharing the fascinating, foot-to-the-pedal stories of men over 50 who have embraced fitness, transforming not just their physical health but their entire lives. From Jerry, the 76-year-old who decided to chall...

Curious about the future of fitness technology? In this episode, we are joined by Troy Taylor, the Senior Director of Performance Innovation at Tonal. Troy takes us on a journey through Tonal's success story amidst the pandemic, and the goldmine of data they've tapped into from their expansive user base. We take a deep dive into how connected fitness gained momentum during 2020 and 2021...

Industry expert Thomas Plummer  has seen it all in the fitness industry. A pioneer for the last 40-plus years, he  shares a ton of insight and advice about how to appeal to affluent, older clientele in this week's episode. Most fitness pros have no idea how to communicate with people who are a little bit different than the mainstream, 20-something customer. That's where I come in with Pr...

If your fitness business is aimed, even somewhat, at helping people over 50, then you are a part of the growing Longevity Economy.  It covers TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS in the US economy annually, and it’s only going to keep expanding for decades as more people age into the group. The over-50 market isn’t just growing – it’s also changing to include more people in Generation X. And people in the group a...