Latest news with #24HourFitness
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The CEO of Crunch shares his 4-step routine to feel younger as he ages — from Pilates to creatine supplements
The CEO of Crunch said a routine of weightlifting, walking, and Pilates keeps him healthy at 58. His supplement stack includes creatine, a hot trend for muscle-building, brain health, and longevity. He said long-term fitness is about functionality, with a balance of strength, mobility and cardio. Marine Corps. vet Jim Rowley has been lifting heavy weights for decades, but his first few Pilates classes left him frustrated, sweating, shaking — and eager to go back for more. Rowley is the CEO of worldwide gym franchise Crunch Fitness, and has more than three decades of experience in the fitness industry. After his military service, he rose through the ranks at 24 Hour Fitness, becoming division president before going on to help launch UFC Gym, later taking the lead at Crunch. He told Business Insider that the lengthening, strengthening effect of Pilates has helped him ease the achy joints and tight muscles from decades of hard work in the gym and at the office. "It changed my life, to be honest with you. I became much more limber," he said. Crowley, who recently turned 58, said Pilates is now one of the foundational building blocks in his four-part longevity routine. He also changed up his weightlifting routine, honed his supplement stack, and has a cardio routine rooted in his military experience. "As you're active and aging, why would you not want to have more strength, more muscle, and greater mobility?" he said. Rowley said starting Pilates about three and half years ago helped him focus on muscles that hadn't gotten much attention over the years, including stabilizers in the the hips. "Pilates was an opportunity for me to try to lengthen, strengthen, and activate some of the smaller muscles," he said. Now, he goes to class twice a week for an hour per session, often with his wife. The Pilates classes he takes are mostly attended by women, Rowley said. He expects to see the gender balance shift: the challenge and resistance training in the workouts offer a lot for men who want to work on building muscle and athleticism. "There's a strength component instead of just the mobility and the balance," he said. "The biggest benefit for me has been my core strength has gotten through the roof." The improved stability has helped relieve back pain, which can come from muscle imbalances. Rowley still lifts weights, but has tweaked his routine so that instead of focusing on a big bench press as a point of pride, he's working more with dumbbells and machine exercises. Dumbbells allow for a greater range of motion, which can help promote mobility and joint health. Exercise machines provide stability and a fixed range of motion, so you can focus on targeting specific muscle groups. Both types of exercise are good for building muscle, with less strain or injury risk than intense barbell work. "I don't lift for ego anymore," Rowley said. Rowley is a self-proclaimed "supplement freak" who takes an estimated 40 pills a day, from a multi-vitamin for nutritional balance to probiotics for a healthy gut. The list is carefully curated from his decades of experience in the fitness industry. At the top of his must-have list is creatine, a naturally-occurring compound in the body that provides energy to the muscles so you can push through a few more reps. It's also a hot trend for longevity thanks to recent research suggesting it helps support a healthy brain and heart as we age. "There's a lot of supplements out there that are pure garbage," Rowley said. "Creatine to me is like a life source. I can tell you that my muscles feel better, my muscles fill up, I have the ability to go longer in the gym." Rowley's supplement regimen also includes: Vitamin D, which supports energy and the immune system. Magnesium, linked to better sleep and muscle health. Glutamine, for improved muscle recovery. Fitness for a long, healthy life isn't just about lifting big weights, or even having sculpted and lean muscles. Good cardio health is a crucial part of longevity, and benchmarks of aerobic fitness like VO2 max are increasingly a source of bragging rights in the fitness world. For Rowley, it comes down to functionality, and whether you can keep up with the activities of your life. "We look at the aesthetic of lean muscle and muscle mass as, wow, that person spends time in the gym, but could they run a mile? Could they run two miles or three miles?" he said. His definition of peak fitness goes back to the Marine Corps. standard of military fitness: the ability to do 20 dead-hang pull-ups, rep out 100 crunches in a minute (or hold a plank for more than three minutes) and run three miles in 18 minutes. However, as we age, running can put stress on the joints, so Rowley said he focuses on walking as much as possible, aiming for 10,000 steps a day for low-impact cardio and to reduce his time sitting. Walking is cardiologist-approved exercise, and the benefits for a healthier heart start at as few as an extra 500 to 1000 daily steps. Hitting the full 10,000 steps a day is a big commitment to stick to consistently, but Rowley said the payoff is better resilience and functionality as you age. "It's not easy to do, but what's harder: making that decision now or dealing with negative health in your older years? So choose your hard," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
a day ago
- Health
- Business Insider
The CEO of Crunch shares his 4-step routine to feel younger as he ages — from Pilates to creatine supplements
Marine Corps. vet Jim Rowley has been lifting heavy weights for decades, but his first few Pilates classes left him frustrated, sweating, shaking — and eager to go back for more. Rowley is the CEO of worldwide gym franchise Crunch Fitness, and has more than three decades of experience in the fitness industry. After his military service, he rose through the ranks at 24 Hour Fitness, becoming division president before going on to help launch UFC Gym, later taking the lead at Crunch. He told Business Insider that the lengthening, strengthening effect of Pilates has helped him ease the achy joints and tight muscles from decades of hard work in the gym and at the office. "It changed my life, to be honest with you. I became much more limber," he said. Crowley, who recently turned 58, said Pilates is now one of the foundational building blocks in his four-part longevity routine. He also changed up his weightlifting routine, honed his supplement stack, and has a cardio routine rooted in his military experience. "As you're active and aging, why would you not want to have more strength, more muscle, and greater mobility?" he said. Pilates classes: to build muscle and mobility Rowley said starting Pilates about three and half years ago helped him focus on muscles that hadn't gotten much attention over the years, including stabilizers in the the hips. "Pilates was an opportunity for me to try to lengthen, strengthen, and activate some of the smaller muscles," he said. Now, he goes to class twice a week for an hour per session, often with his wife. The Pilates classes he takes are mostly attended by women, Rowley said. He expects to see the gender balance shift: the challenge and resistance training in the workouts offer a lot for men who want to work on building muscle and athleticism. "There's a strength component instead of just the mobility and the balance," he said. "The biggest benefit for me has been my core strength has gotten through the roof." The improved stability has helped relieve back pain, which can come from muscle imbalances. Dumbbells: for better range of motion during strength training Rowley still lifts weights, but has tweaked his routine so that instead of focusing on a big bench press as a point of pride, he's working more with dumbbells and machine exercises. Dumbbells allow for a greater range of motion, which can help promote mobility and joint health. Exercise machines provide stability and a fixed range of motion, so you can focus on targeting specific muscle groups. Both types of exercise are good for building muscle, with less strain or injury risk than intense barbell work. "I don't lift for ego anymore," Rowley said. Creatine supplements: for a healthy brain and body Rowley is a self-proclaimed "supplement freak" who takes an estimated 40 pills a day, from a multi-vitamin for nutritional balance to probiotics for a healthy gut. The list is carefully curated from his decades of experience in the fitness industry. At the top of his must-have list is creatine, a naturally-occurring compound in the body that provides energy to the muscles so you can push through a few more reps. It's also a hot trend for longevity thanks to recent research suggesting it helps support a healthy brain and heart as we age. "There's a lot of supplements out there that are pure garbage," Rowley said. "Creatine to me is like a life source. I can tell you that my muscles feel better, my muscles fill up, I have the ability to go longer in the gym." Rowley's supplement regimen also includes: Vitamin D, which supports energy and the immune system. Magnesium, linked to better sleep and muscle health. Glutamine, for improved muscle recovery. 10,000 steps a day: for cardio without joint pain Fitness for a long, healthy life isn't just about lifting big weights, or even having sculpted and lean muscles. Good cardio health is a crucial part of longevity, and benchmarks of aerobic fitness like VO2 max are increasingly a source of bragging rights in the fitness world. For Rowley, it comes down to functionality, and whether you can keep up with the activities of your life. "We look at the aesthetic of lean muscle and muscle mass as, wow, that person spends time in the gym, but could they run a mile? Could they run two miles or three miles?" he said. His definition of peak fitness goes back to the Marine Corps. standard of military fitness: the ability to do 20 dead-hang pull-ups, rep out 100 crunches in a minute (or hold a plank for more than three minutes) and run three miles in 18 minutes. However, as we age, running can put stress on the joints, so Rowley said he focuses on walking as much as possible, aiming for 10,000 steps a day for low-impact cardio and to reduce his time sitting. Walking is cardiologist-approved exercise, and the benefits for a healthier heart start at as few as an extra 500 to 1000 daily steps. Hitting the full 10,000 steps a day is a big commitment to stick to consistently, but Rowley said the payoff is better resilience and functionality as you age. "It's not easy to do, but what's harder: making that decision now or dealing with negative health in your older years? So choose your hard," he said.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
24 Hour Fitness Awards $8,000 for Excellence in Coaching with San Diego Wave
In their continued support of women's sports and the next generation of professional athletes, 24 Hour Fitness will be on pitch to present $1,000 to outstanding school coaches in the San Diego area. SAN DIEGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 24 Hour Fitness, the leader in the health and fitness industry, proudly announced the recognition of two exceptional San Diego coaches and youth mentors, all during the soccer match Saturday between the San Diego Wave and the Portland Thorns. During the event, 24 Hour Fitness CEO and President Karl Sanft presented a $1,000 check for the Excellence in Coaching Award, bringing the total donated to $8,000 for local coaches, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the next generation of soccer players. The presentation took place live on the pitch during halftime, recognizing the outstanding contributions of coaches who inspire and cultivate talent, fostering both athletic and personal growth. 'The EIC award is something we've supported year after year and it's never seemed more important than now,' said Karl Sanft, CEO and President of 24 Hour Fitness. 'At 24 Hour Fitness, we know that investing early in the development of young people puts them on a path towards a more active and healthy life. There's no one better suited to influence that investment positively than a coach. By supporting coaches who are dedicated to developing young talent, we hope to contribute to the growth and success of future soccer stars as well as active adults.' For more information about 24 Hour Fitness, please visit Fans wishing to purchase tickets for any San Diego Wave game can do so at About 24 Hour Fitness For more than 40 years, 24 Hour Fitness has been dedicated to creating a healthier, happier world through fitness. 24 Hour Fitness offers welcoming and inclusive environments with thousands of square feet of premium strength and cardio equipment, turf zones, free weights, functional training areas, and more. Members can choose from a variety of options such as studio and cycle classes, personal training, and innovative digital and virtual offerings to help them keep their minds and bodies fit. For more information about 24 Hour Fitness and its programs, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE 24 Hour Fitness USA, LLC
