A publication by the Health & Fitness Association

SEPTEMBER 2025

The Entrepreneur Issue

Every fitness brand has a unique origin story, but every successful entrepreneur shares the same qualities: resilience, leadership, an appetite for risk-taking, and an unyielding commitment to a vision. This issue brings you the lessons learned from those who have made it work.

Table of Contents

Features

Q&A: Phillip Mills, Founder, Les Mills International

One of the most consequential figures in the industry, Mills created a class exercise system that’s found in 22,000 facilities across 120 countries. In this interview, a preview of his keynote address at the 2025 HFA European Congress, Mills tells us how it all came together.

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Smart Scaling Navigating the Growing Pains of Building a Chain

Entrepreneurs need to adapt quickly to market changes, but maybe the biggest challenge is the mindset shift required to scale the business.

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Making It!

Two successful studio entrepreneurs, Chyna Willman from Grit City Fitness and Jennifer Maanavi of Physique 57, tell us how they took an idea and turned it into a phenomenon.

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Departments

A message from Jim Schmaltz

Entrepreneurs are made, not born.

Editor's Welcome

• Liz Clark highlights a packed calendar of global events

• Luke Carlson shares how learning fuels passion and performance

Leadership

Music Licensing

REX Academy

• Dr. Kenneth Cooper drops by Shorts With Liz Clark

• Global ambassadors

HFA Insider

2025 ChinaFit/HFA China Management Forum

SPORTEC 2025

HFA partners with MEFIT Summit in Dubai

Global Voices

Nate Welch takes the helm of Cross Gates Family Fitness

Membership

HFA advocacy wins in New York and Illinois

Advocacy

HFA Pledges Support for White House Youth Fitness Initiative

Presidential Fitness Test

A sneak peek at the 2025 Global Report

Research

HFA Introduces Fit Tracker Report

5 steps to take when opening a gym

Best Practices

Updates from our industry partners

Partner News

Sponsored Content

Life Fitness discusses why simplicity is a critical design philosophy for plate-loaded machines.

Read Trade Secrets

Hammer Strength's Super Squat Press

Read Spotlight

Health & Fitness Business is a publication of

Health & Fitness Business (HFB) is the leading Health & Fitness industry publication. Published monthly by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) and distributed free to the industry, HFB offers analysis of the opportunities, challenges, issues and news that impact the industry.

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