1. Club Pilates
3802 N Federal Hwy. and 1489 SE 17th St., 954.237.3737, clubpilates.com
Fort Lauderdale Club Pilates franchise owner Felipe Wance put together his three passions to build the business of his dreams: move to America, be involved in the fitness industry and help others. “That’s how I started my search for the best fitness concept and fell in love with Club Pilates,” he says.
Club Pilates is a boutique fitness concept that features nine different types of classes. In addition to an intro class, they offer Reformer Flow, Cardio Sculpt, Control, Suspend, Restore, Center + Balance, F.I.T. and Teen. Beginners are immediately welcomed to a level-one group class.
“We disrupted the industry by offering affordable options for a complete fitness routine, targeting strengthening, stretching and your cardio condition in one studio and in a very intimate setting, where we know your name and goals,” Wance says.
Wance’s background includes working in the investment banking and wealth management industry as well as owning his own travel agency in Brazil and Switzerland. While he was successful in both sectors, he still felt his true purpose wasn’t being fulfilled. “Six years later, I decided to take the biggest risk of my life.”
He moved to the U.S. in 2017 and opened his first Club Pilates franchise in Fort Lauderdale one year later; he now owns two in Fort Lauderdale and two elsewhere in South Florida. Club Pilates also has eastside Broward locations in Pompano Beach and Hollywood.
It may be a worldwide brand, but he believes a local and highly involved owner brings a community feel to the studios. “I am super involved in the studios, not just running them, but also taking classes, interacting with the members and staff, plus promoting and sponsoring local initiatives, businesses and schools.
“We are not a gym. We are a community and a lifestyle.”
2. F45 Training
3101 N Federal Hwy., Oakland Park, 954.707.0485, f45training.com
F45 Training is a high-intensity group workout facility specializing in innovative fitness methods that aim to be fun, fast and results-driven. While the brand is global, the Fort Lauderdale location is brought to you by local fitness trainers Scott Camoin and Scott Bennett.
If the first name sounds familiar, it’s because the former marine and 20-year fitness pro also owns local studio Intense Fitness. The one-on-one training facility has been around for years but Camoin wanted to expand to include those who prefer group training. “It’s a cliché term but ‘do what you love and you won’t have to work a day in your life’ – I literally live by it,” he says. “I’m not just an owner of F45, but I train classes too. I like to make friends and build relationships and that’s what really drew me to F45: the community.”
Classes offered include Functional HIIT, Team Training and 45 Minutes (aims to burn up to 750 calories per session). “Every four weeks, you get a brand new set of workouts. It’s really good because it never lets you adapt to what you’re doing.
“If you’re a beginner, no problem; come in and start easy and you’ll get stronger. If you’re advanced you’ll have two trainers on staff always progressing and make the classes as hard as you need them.”
3. Aspire Sports Lab
62 SW 5th Ct., Pompano Beach, 954.466.4392, aspiresportslab.com
If you struggle with motivation, accountability and nutrition, Aspire Sports Lab can help combat that. The fitness club specializes in strength and conditioning classes, personal training, individualized workout programs and nutrition counseling.
“We believe that movement and nutrition are the pillars of our health,” owner and trainer Sean Spire says. “The three C’s are at the forefront of our goals as a facility and we believe they are vital to get the results you are after. Coaching ensures you are trained properly and safely for your goals and your personal history. Community keeps you coming back day in and day out and gives you a purpose beyond your workout. And cleanliness is vital to have a fitness experience we truly enjoy.”
Aspire programs include CrossFit, one-on-one training, nutrition, online training, weight lifting and CrossFit kids. They want to make sure that whatever type of training you’re into, all fitness options are available to you to create the lifestyle you want. “I decided to become a fitness professional while I was an internationally ranked swimmer and I realized as much as my coaches knew about swimming, they didn’t know much about strength and conditioning,” Spire says. “I then switched my focus to the general population, working to unleash the athletes inside of the average Joe and Jane, achieving fat loss and muscle gain that they previously thought were unattainable.”
Creating a community means it’s work hard but also play hard. “We work out hard but also love to have fun through social events, competitions, adventures and more,” he says.
