The Club Insider Archives: December 2025

2025 In Review
By: Justin Cates

Justin CatesIn many ways, this year has been surreal and seemingly unreal. Some things remained the same, but in that "sameness," many things have changed and in very large ways. Personally, this year has been very difficult for me, accented by the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Prior to this year, knowing what was on the horizon for me, personally, and to relieve some pressure, professionally, I created the idea of our Cover Story Classics series. The goal of the series was for those new to or even veterans of this industry to experience the stories of the greats and learn from them. Little did I know what an emotional roller coaster that would be. Read More

Fit for the Future
The Fitness Trends Defining 2026
By: Nancy Trent

Nancy TrentAs we look ahead to 2026, fitness is evolving faster than ever, shifting from a purely physical pursuit to a holistic, convenient and personalized lifestyle. Gyms, studios and home setups alike are embracing innovations that go beyond traditional workouts, from cutting-edge pelvic-floor training to micro-workouts that fit into any schedule. Social connection, wellness technology and sensory experiences are redefining what it means to be active. Whether you're chasing strength, speed or balance, these trends signal that the future of fitness is smarter, more inclusive and more fun than ever. Read More

Wellness Continues to Evolve
By: Frank Guengerich

Frank GuengerichI can recall the days not too long ago when, as an industry, we began to use the word "wellness." The interesting thing is that, at that time, if you asked ten different club operators what that word meant to them, you'd get back ten different answers. Now, I think we've got a consensus of what wellness means and how it can be holistically approached. Read More

One of the Most Important Skills in Life
The Ability to Move On to the Next Point
By: Herb Lipsman

Herb LipsmanWhen I was a young, competitive tennis player, I had a terrible temper. A single bad loss could ruin my week. I would sulk for days, angry at myself, replaying every missed shot and wrong decision. I did not realize then that my real opponent was not across the net. It was my inability to move on from what had already happened. No one ever taught me that lesson. I didn't have a coach or mentor to explain that success in tennis, and in life, depends less on avoiding mistakes and more on how quickly you recover from them. I wish someone had told me: You can't change the point you just lost, but you can change the outcome of the next point. Read More

AOM Fitness Programming
The Future of Inclusive, Revenue-Boosting Training
By: Sara Kooperman, JD

Sara Kooperman, JDThe fitness industry is buzzing with excitement over Active Older Movement (AOM) Fitness Programming, a revolutionary approach designed to enhance accessibility, engagement and profitability for fitness facilities. This innovative system, rooted in Active Older Adult (AOA) fitness methodologies, ensures that clubs cater to a broader demographic while unlocking new revenue opportunities. Read More

Steak Done Well
Sell What Sells
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton

Jeffrey PinkertonWe were going out to dinner in New Orleans and decided to head to a neighborhood favorite, Charlie's Steakhouse. My brother and his wife live in New Orleans, so the waiter recognized them as soon as we walked in. If Charlie's even has menus, the waiter knew that we wouldn't be needing them. After a quick welcome and a confirmed order of old-fashioneds for the table, he was ready to take our orders. Or rather, he was ready to confirm our orders. Everything was going great... until I ordered, because, as I learned, at Charlie's Steakhouse, there is a right way and a wrong way to enjoy a steak. Read More

Fitness Ventures Accelerates National Expansion with Acquisition of Three Crunch Locations
ORLANDO, FL - Fitness Ventures LLC, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisees in the Crunch Fitness system, has announced the acquisition of Crunch Brownsville, Crunch North Brownsville and Crunch Edinburg, marking another major step in the company's aggressive national growth strategy. Read More

World Gym Reports Robust November Revenue Growth and Unveils Ambitious 2026 Strategic Roadmap
TAIPEI - World Gym Corporation, owner and operator of the iconic World Gym brand, announces consolidated revenue of NT$959,696 thousand for November 2025, representing a robust year-over-year increase of 14.24% compared to November 2024. YTD Revenue surpassed the NT$10 billion mark to reach NT$10.015 billion, an increase of 11.95% over the same period last year. Read More

Norm's Notes for December 2025
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 384th monthly edition of this 30+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club business news, so please read on! Read More

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