HALO Talks: Elevating Wellness

Hari Singh was the Dairy Barn President for 15 years and learned about this "CrossFit thing" when it started making waves in NYC. He became a convert and started CrossFit NYC (the 16th CrossFit affiliate in the world.) With 26 instructors on staff and 2 locations, "We never thought we'd get 30 people!" he jokes. Hari has a strong relationship with Greg Glassman the Founder and mentions, "He isn't saying anything different today than he has when we first started." How do you win in an industry with no barriers to entry? What was one of the biggest things CrossFit NYC did in the beginning that helped set them apart? Learn more about CrossFit's early days, Hari's journey & much more!

One day, Elana Frankel, Co-Founder of Indigo & Haze--a highly curated CBD marketplace specializing in plant-based wellness, beauty, and living--was in Miami and the next? She was in the hospital having a CAT scan. The doctors still don't know what happened but they do know she suffered a TBI. (Traumatic brain injury.) Her road to recovery was accelerated due to her use of CBD tea, but she kept quiet about it. "3 or 4 years ago, CBD was underground, especially on the East Coast! People needed education. When you said 'cannabis' people went straight to marijuana or 'getting stoned' or 'do I need a medical card?'" says Frankel. CBD is non-intoxicating and has a massive array of health benefits. Listen now to learn more about her incredible journey and this rapidly moving market segment.

"Save your money before you open your studio. You should have a minimum 3 months, preferably 6, of your operating budget in the bank before you open," states Julian Barnes, Co-Founder of the Boutique Fitness Summit ("BFS") which organizes 1-day summits in DC, NYC, and Chicago. Julian has been around the industry since playing competitive tennis as a child. He's run over 100 networking events in NYC from 2012-2017 & his passion for the boutique fitness space (and helping the Owner/Operators with best business practices) is contagious! If you're an Owner or General Manager of a boutique facility, this is event is a must.

Focused on the place where "entertainment meets fitness," Crunch Fitness was a huge game changer when they first started. Cyrus, an 18+ year industry veteran & the Senior Vice President of Group Fitness Programming, discusses complex issues such as which type of programming to use in your facility. Top things you need to know to retain top talent. Pros and cons of pre-packaged programming. Her thoughts on streaming, the issues around health insurance for group exercise instructors and more!

Wayne Strobel's ambitious goal is to have Beachbox become, "The Disney of health and wellness, creating cohesive brand experiences in our studios, at home, on our mobile devices, and online." Beachbox is "more than just a gym" and Wayne's extensive in the retail sector helped shape their mantra, "Build, Burn, Become!" Listen now to learn more about their unique gamification of their workouts through "Beach Bucks" and much more!