According to a Harvard University study in April 2020, “just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system. It may contribute even more directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.” It is critical that children have a safe and fun way to engage in physical activity. The benefits are well documented and the absence of a sound way to engage in physical activity has profound negative effects on physical and mental health. This is a primary reason why elementary, middle and high schools have offered physical fitness and kinetic wellness classes for decades. The negative results of stripping this from the curriculum cannot be overstated.
Q: What are some common misconceptions parents have about providing kids with safe physical activities that give them the fitness and socialization they need?
Matt Kuschert and Ricardo Lamas: We feel most parents are aligned with the notion that physical fitness coupled with a healthy diet are important to the health and wellness of their children. Rather than misconceptions about the benefits, they may not know the specific value and outcomes that a strong program will provide. Again, the American Academy of Pediatrics is very firm on the fact that children must engage in physical activities, games, sports, and the like to develop cardiovascular health, muscle strength and endurance, mental and emotional well-being and the corresponding socialization that comes with group activities.
Q: What are some common fears parents have about providing kids with safe physical activities that give them the fitness and socialization they need?
Matt Kuschert and Ricardo Lamas: The parents and children that we serve quickly see that safety is our top priority. Whether it be the cleanliness of the facility, quality of our coaches and instruction, or the serious approach we take to the development of our curricula, their fears are quickly quelled. While nobody can absolutely guarantee anybody will be 100% safe, we take every step we can to ensure our environment is as safe and fruitful as possible.
Q: What inspired you to make the decision that you were going to become a(n) owner and coach?
Matt Kuschert and Ricardo Lamas: We have been coaches at a variety of levels for over 20 years. We have coached small children, youth, adolescents, college athletes and adults. We were both student athletes, and have been positively influenced by a number of coaches throughout the years. I (Matt) believe it is critical to have people outside of your family pushing you and driving expectations for achieving excellence in your life. There are few other things that motivate us more than watching someone try something difficult, overcome obstacles, persevere, and succeed. As long as you keep improving, you will NEVER fail. We have been fortunate to learn from some of the best coaches in the world and we are constantly nourishing our minds with trainings, books, and podcasts of some of the world’s foremost experts in the field of health and wellness. We both studied the natural sciences in our undergraduate degrees and I (Matt) studied the psychological/social sciences in my graduate work. The marriage between the body and the mind cannot be overstated. A sound body and sound mind go hand in hand!
Q: What were the circumstances surrounding the day you crossed over from “I’m going to be” to “I am” a(n) owner and coach”?
Matt Kuschert: I have been a coach for most of my adult life and even as a high school and college athlete, I was coaching youth sports. In regards to owning the gym, Ricardo and I always knew we would do it. The conversation started in college, but it was ongoing into our adult lives as he was climbing the world rankings in mixed martial arts and I was climbing the ranks in the professional world. Rick is one of the best coaches in the world and we always knew we wanted to create a special place where all walks of life and ability levels were welcome to learn from such a decorated and accomplished athlete. We did NOT want a bunch of meatheads and jerks walking around trying to intimidate people, like we had seen in so many other gyms over the years. We have plenty of accomplished warriors, but they all exhibit kindness and humility, and that starts at the top of the house with a humble warrior like Rick. Today, our gym boasts exactly that; people of all ages, ability levels, shapes and sizes, and backgrounds coming together to better themselves. I cannot think of anything more amazing than the eclectic nature of our gym and the church-like, welcoming, and supportive feel of the culture. We all care about each other, and the gym is much, much bigger than Ricardo and me now.
Q: Tell us about your first experiences as owners and coaches.
Matt Kuschert and Ricardo Lamas: Owning the gym has been a dream come true. Being a small catalyst for someone to achieve something they may have doubted was possible is a very moving experience. We have worked with people that thought they’d never walk again, never lift weights, never learn something new, or never accomplish their lofty goals, just to name a few. Self-defeating mindsets and speech are completely destructive to improving one’s life. Providing a supportive environment where they could be pushed and encouraged to improve is the most incredible feeling. Folks will often thank us, but we remind them that THEY did it, not us. It brings us near tears thinking about all the folks that have accomplished things they never thought were possible. We have yet to meet a single person that doesn’t respond to encouragement and have always found it to be sad that many folks do not have that type of support in their lives. We like to encourage people because the positive ripple effect of them accomplishing their goals and achieving challenging things is virtually immeasurable.
