The fitness commitment -- why the traditional fitness industry model has faltered

GUEST SPEAKER:  Tony Nguyen -- Fitness Coach & Registered Kinesiologist (of F.R.E.E. Fitness Inc.)

While growing up in Whitehorse, Yukon, Tony was an avid athlete. After high school, he was recruited to play on the Augustana men’s basketball team. As a member of the Vikings, he learned skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and time-management—skills which would serve him well later when he started up his personal training business.

Tony, a Registered Kinesiologist, has co-founded the Edmonton-based company F.R.E.E. Fitness Inc. He learned that many people really want to get in shape, but often they do not have the knowledge, support, or finances to succeed.

His company’s innovative model allows a client free coaching during what Tony calls the “commitment phase.” The trainer helps with a physical training program and a review of eating habits. Tony holds clients accountable for meeting their commitments and helps them eliminate unhealthy habits preventing them from reaching their fitness goals.

If the client has followed through during the commitment phase, the client earns the privilege to ‘pay how you feel’ for personal training session. Every client chooses the dollar amount per training session based on the value they receive from their trainer. We show we care about our clients’ health without putting a price on our service. The company also offers free fitness camps, stair runs or yoga classes with the goal of giving people a positive experience and the confidence to become more active, whether at home, outdoors, or at a gym. 

Tony encourages his clients to eat healthfully, to exercise for fun, to live balanced lifestyles, and to love themselves. This is harder than it sounds, in a society that bombards us with weight-loss advertisements and photo shopped images of models. The traditional fitness industry thrives on making people feel dissatisfied with how they look. We can lose sight of what being healthy feels like because we are chasing an unrealistic image of what fitness looks like.”
 

I love meeting new people, helping clients, promoting fitness, and giving back to the community. While living in Edmonton, I've been fortunate to have had great mentors and role models. I want to offer that same experience to Edmonton's fitness community and to have a positive impact on people's lives.