Optimal Aging

Let's talk about time and money. We all get the same 24 hours in a day, but some people insist they just don’t have time to exercise. It’s the No. 1 excuse, isn’t it? Right up there with “I can’t afford it.” Luckily, the over-50 demographic has more time and money, generally, than younger people do. But the objections persist -- so you need to know how to address them. Highlights: 2:50 -- A b...

Have you played the role of fitness consumer lately? It might be an eye-opening experience. Just do a quick Google search on gyms and studios in your area, and see what you find on all the websites that pop up. What kind of messages come through the words and images?  I did this recently while out of town and looking for a gym to use for the day. And it was helpful to be reminded of what a gym con...

I met Sumit Seth a couple of years ago at a fitness conference, and we sort of immediately connected because we were two of the few participants who are not actually gym owners or trainers. We were both there to network, to learn, and to promote our new ventures — my Prime Fit Content and his Naamly, a web-based platform that helps fit pros connect with their clients and improve retention.  Since...

Jim Adams is the owner of Catalyst Strength and Functional Nutrition in St. Louis — and the author of a brand-new book, “Masters in Fitness Business.” It’s a companion piece to his podcast of the same name and, I’m glad to report, it’s really good. Jim’s a thoughtful interviewer and he presents his guests in a warm light that’s beneficial to the audience. Believe me, that’s not as easy as it might...

Sometimes you find yourself at a perfect moment to look back on the recent past and also look ahead to what might be just around the corner.  And we’re all at such a point right now, aren’t we — here at the end of pandemic.  So I want to share a recording of a roundtable discussion on the topic that I was asked to join last week, hosted by Dr. Dan Ritchie of the Functional Aging Institute. It’s me...

Bruce and Mindy Mylrea are living the life that many couples in their 60s want. They closed up the house in California, live full-time in a motor home and travel the country.  That mobile home is decked out with pictures of the pair and lots of fruits and vegetables, with their website, OneDaytoWellness.org , and their slogan, Take Control of Your Health Now. The high-energy pair are full of enthu...

Lawrence Biscontini is many things in the fitness world. He is a Mindful Movement Specialist. He is a philanthropist, speaker, and course development specialist for organizations including ACE, AFAA and NASM. He teaches yoga, runs fun FitCamps in Puerto Rico, and has written more than a dozen books. Plus — like me — he’s a big fan of "Ru Paul’s Drag Race." He even points out during our i...

When David-Dorian Ross was in his early 20s, he had a brief, intense experience that changed his life. It was during his first session of tai chi, and the way he describes it is how others recall a profound religious experience. "It was a gift," David-Dorian says now. "I had this knowledge, this certainty, like a memory of the future that I would do tai chi for the rest of my life a...

Some people over 50 like to go to the gym so they can do well in the gym -- and that’s great. But others want to train so they can enjoy something outdoors.  And that’s the specialty of Renae McCloud , a TRX instructor in Seattle who gets her Baby Boomer (ish) clients ready for demanding, fun outdoor adventures. I met Renae after I wrote about an Atlanta man who celebrated his 75th birthday by run...

Too often in the digital age, we overlook traditional media in our marketing plans. But getting an article in the local paper or a segment on local TV or radio can still provide powerful exposure for your fitness business -- particularly if you’re appealing to an older market. After decades in the media, as a reporter and editor, I want to share how you can stir up interest among your local media...

A lot of fitness entrepreneurs are trying to do what Sue Hitzmann has already done. She created a thriving brand, wrote a best-selling book, and helps people all over the world live better, more healthy lives. So, I’m delighted to have Sue as my guest this week on the Optimal Aging podcast. Sue is the creator of the MELT Method, a gentle, self-care system to treat pain and reverse the signs of agi...

Where are we in the fight against the pandemic? It seems like things are improving, doesn’t it?  This week, I invited three fitness professionals from around the country onto the Optimal Aging podcast to discuss this particular moment in time — from their own perspectives — just for a quick pulse-check.  Two are longtime owners of successful fitness facilities that cater to the over-50 market - De...

A lot of fitness entrepreneurs struggle with service offerings and pricing plans. For many, emotional intelligence can help them unlock the challenges of doing so successfully. It’s a powerful idea, and this week, fitness entrepreneur and speaker Lindsay Vastola shares her story -- and how you can apply emotional intelligence to grow your own fitness, health and wellbeing business. How much are yo...

We seem to be coming out of the worst of the pandemic… and we could be on the verge of a breakthrough — for your individual business and for fitness over 50 in general. We just have to be attuned to it and focused on seizing the moment. So, this is a great time to talk with Colin Milner , who is the CEO of the International Council on Active Aging. Colin has worked with The World Health Organizati...

Dr. Evan Osar began his career as a personal trainer even before he became a chiropractor. Since then, he also has founded the Institute for Integrative Health and Fitness Education in Chicago, and become an author and a public speaker.   Evan believes that fitness professionals are the solution to the health care crisis facing older adults, and he developed the Integrative Movement System to impr...

A year ago, were you anticipating a crisis to hit your business? You couldn’t have expected what happened, of course -- a pandemic messing up everything, including your business and the fitness of people everywhere. We all learned the hard way. But Covid-19 will not be the only crisis to affect your business, unfortunately. And as part of your preparations, you need to create a crisis communicatio...

A new bill in Congress could set up a fund with $30 billion to help fitness businesses hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. It has the backing of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and a group of fitness businesses called the Community Gyms Coalition that includes CrossFit, Orange Theory and Anytime Fitness. Two representatives in the U.S. House have introduced th...

I’m often asked, Where do you get your ideas?   It’s a good question, and I want to talk about that in this week’s episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast. In fact, I’m going to give you 15 tactics to ensure you always have plenty of ideas for your blog posts, social media accounts, email newsletters and other content channels.    These are things you can do – things anyone can do – to generate mater...

Greg Pryor played Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1986 and was on the 1985 World Series winning team, the Kansas City Royals.  In 1991, he was introduced to the Designer Food formulas of Durk Pearson & Sandy Shaw, authors of the best-selling book “Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach Adding Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years.” That led to him and his wife, Michelle, buying...

Rick Mayo is a veteran fitness professional and entrepreneur who’s helping to change how the industry approaches the underserved over-50 market.  Rick has two locations of his Alloy Personal Training studio in the Atlanta area, including one that focuses on mature women. Alloy has been licensing its systems to gyms everywhere for more than a decade. And, just before the pandemic, Rick launched a f...

Dr. Sean Pastuch , a former gym owner and chiropractor, founded Active Life to create better solutions than the modern medical model can provide. It manages physical pain without considering the emotional ramifications of the proposed intervention, he says -- like when a doctor tells a patient to stop running, playing golf, having sex, enjoying life etc.... “It's unacceptable,” Sean says. “We...

On today’s episode, we’re talking to entrepreneur Will Torrez , who had a furniture company in San Diego when Covid-19 hit -- and he had to pivot hard to survive. With no background in fitness, Will used his engineering skills and manufacturing resources to create a padded bench that’s loaded with resistance bands to provide a full-body workout. The tool is selling well and could become a strong o...

Dan John is a champion athlete and veteran trainer with a ton of knowledge, tips and encouragement to share on being fit over 50. Dan is an All-American discus thrower. He has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, the Highland Games, and holds the American record in the Weight Pentathlon. Dan -- inventor of the goblet squat, frequent contributor to fitness publications -- now giv...

Kate Bay Jaramillo wears many hats as a fitness entrepreneur. She’s a ketogenic lifestyle expert, a master fitness instructor, author, podcast host, and the force behind Ketogenicliving101.com. In addition, she helps “mompreneurs” and nutrition coaches build, launch and grow their online businesses. Kate has a wealth of experience running successful online coaching business, and she shares that kn...

If you’re trying to market fitness, nutrition and wellbeing to people over 50, then you need to get over your fear of selling. No, it’s not immoral of you to tell people how you can help them and to share your prices. Even this year! Ryan McKenzie is a fitness business consultant from Orlando, Florida where he has worked with some of the best trainers, gyms and corporations in the world. Ryan is a...