In today's episode I talk about the risk and return spectrum behind programming for health and longevity. In functional fitness, there is an endless supply of movements we can choose, progress, and load. The question becomes what movements are going to provide the most bang for your buck and which movements don't make sense in terms of risk and return for the general population. It is our belief that we shouldn't be doing certain movements just for the sake of doing them. Ask the question of what health and fitness is meant to serve in your life and focus on programming and movements that speak to that "why." Everything else just becomes entertainment and novelty. Enjoy!

Today I delve into our staff development process and why it means so much to me that we have the very best coaches at District H. It is not enough to just have passion for coaching. In order to succeed as a coach at District H, there needs to be accelerated development of technical and personal skills. We do that by providing mentorship, continuing education, and a continuous feedback loop. Our members deserve the very best so we are proactive about creating the very best. Enjoy!

Today I dig into our rebranding process and how we are wanting to evolve. Over the last 3 years, Dustin and I have moved heavily away from CrossFit and towards functional fitness for longevity and vitality. Our tagline "Real Training. Better Living," represents not only our approach to meaningful and intentional fitness, but also our philosophy that everything we do inside the gym is meant to enhance your life outside the gym. That means we need to address 4 specific pillars of your lifestyle that will ultimately make your efforts inside District H that much better. This includes intentional movement, holistic nutrition, personal accountability, and a thriving mindset to life. We want the Houston Community to think of District H as the place that can help create a meaningful difference in their life, not just another place to get a hard workout. Enjoy!

Today I hop on the podcast with District H General Manager Miranda DeMark. She has put in work in developing her own 30-Day eBook that is now available for purchase. We talk about her evolution as a coach, the type of impact she wants to make in the community and industry, and her own personal brand. The Ferocious Female eBook speaks to the women out there who have been told their entire lives that they had to look a certain way in order to be beautiful. Miranda goes in with a sledgehammer to dispel the common myth that you shouldn't lift weights and you shouldn't fuel yourself for performance. She hopes to inspire more women to adopt strength training as a way to feel empowered about what you are capable for accomplishing. Her motto is "Strong is Beautiful" and I couldn't be more excited to see her personal brand take off. Enjoy!

If you are interested in purchasing Miranda's Ferocious Female eBook, you can purchase it here: https://districthstrengthandfitness.pushpress.com/open/subscribe/4ppf

In a follow-up to the previous 30,000 foot view episode, I discuss why group class doesn't meet my staff's long term needs as well. From basic economics to wanting to leave deep meaningful impact, my staff will continue to evolve and get more specific with the types of people they want to work with and the type of medium they want to deliver their coaching through. As I have no long term expectation that my members will continue with group sessions, I have the same expectation for my professional staff. But the best news is that if you are at that part in your own fitness journey, then you can have a more personalized experience with the coach that inspires you to be your very best. Enjoy!

Today I discuss the topic of group classes and why I don't think they are the best solution for most people over time. This comes off of a discussion I had with one of our members about changing their prescription at District H from group to individual design and them feeling somewhat bad communicating this decision to me...almost like they were letting me down. In fact, I expect most people to rotate out of group sessions over time. Why? Because it truly is no longer the vehicle that is going to continue to provide you progress. There is always a place and time for group classes, but it isn't going to move the needle forward in terms of providing you the results you may be looking for. Enjoy!

Today I sit down with the newest member of the District H staff, Adam Holman. Adam has been in the industry for 15 years. For 10 years of his life, he was owner and operating of CrossFit Iron in the Fire. He has coached everyone from competitive athletes to the everyday person who is wanting to thrive well into their later years. Adam's passion for coaching is undeniable. Learn more about his background and what inspires him to be a professional coach. Enjoy!

A few days ago I shared a post from the #ActiveLifeProfessional that basically said that leading with the best programming and community is not going to keep the lights on in your business. It's a sensitive topic that I wanted to unpack because I think that great programming and a great community are byproducts of a great culture within a gym. It isn't our purpose to create the very best programming or community for our gym. But by fostering a culture of professionalism, growth mindset, and intentional decision making, we can have a gym with amazing programming and a amazing community. I love my community. You bring me a level of happiness that is hard to find elsewhere in my life. But that means I wake up every day and put in the hard work to protect it. Value has to be reciprocal. Enjoy!

The background for this episode came from a conversation I had with a member during Open Gym. We were talking about the rebranding and changes in programming that had been made when Dustin and I took over 3 years ago. He mentioned that he felt like it was programming that allowed him to be sustainable and enhanced his life rather than take away from it. I wanted to delve into our evolution and how we have changed our programming over the years to better serve our members. Yes, we no longer identify with CrossFit and I explain why from a methodology and business standpoint.

Enjoy!

Today I discuss staff transitions and development. I have been diving head first into thinking about the "business of fitness" and what creating opportunity looks like for my people. I wanted to bring you into the fold on my thought process behind staff and what the next 12-24 months looks like in terms of where my head is at and what I am planning for. Enjoy!