We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alisa McGlothlin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alisa below.

Alisa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The decision to start our business was deeply personal for both my husband and me. It all began with my husband’s passion for sports and fitness, which ultimately led him to successfully manage his diabetes through lifestyle changes. Despite the lack of support from his doctor, who only seemed to recommend more insulin, he was able to eliminate the need for insulin entirely through exercise and diet. On the other hand, I was facing the prospect of sinus surgery due to a persistent blockage that severely impacted my ability to breathe. Desperate for a solution, I discovered halotherapy and decided to give it a try. After just a few sessions in our Halo Sauna, I experienced significant relief and was able to avoid surgery altogether.

Our frustration with the traditional medical system’s overreliance on medication and lack of exploration of alternative options inspired us to create a space where people could pursue natural and holistic methods for improving their health. Our business offers a range of services, including personal training, red light therapy, halotherapy, cryotherapy, compression therapy, and infrared sauna, to help individuals achieve their wellness goals. More than just a gym or wellness center, our business is a place for those seeking natural ways to enhance their overall well-being.

We provide a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals can discover the benefits of natural wellness practices. Our mission is simple: to empower others to feel, look, move, and breathe better without relying on pharmaceuticals.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At Ageless Fitness and Vitality Booth Wellness Center, we take pride in offering a wide range of fitness, wellness, and aesthetics services all conveniently located under one roof. Our goal is to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for our clients, with private exercise rooms for personalized one-on-one training using resistance bands and weights that simulate a home workout setting.

We cater to a variety of client needs, including pain relief, inflammation reduction, increased energy levels, functional fitness for continued activity, and beauty enhancements. Our thorough intake process, which includes an InBody scan and PNOE resting metabolic test, allows us to create a customized fitness program tailored specifically to clients’ needs.

In addition to personal training services, we also offer a variety of wellness and recovery modalities such as whole body cryotherapy, infrared sauna sessions, compression therapy, and cutting-edge Vitality Booths featuring patented red light therapy and halotherapy technology.

For targeted pain relief and aesthetic treatments, we provide localized cryotherapy sessions, cryo facial treatments, and cryo sculpting for stubborn areas.

Our staff, comprised of experts in exercise science who are dedicated to ongoing education, also host educational workshops to keep clients informed about the latest research and advancements in our field.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As new business owners, we have faced many obstacles since opening our doors. One significant challenge was Hurricane Ian, which hit just three days after our grand opening. While our property and business were minimally affected, the local community in Southwest Florida faced extensive damage, leading to prolonged cleanup and recovery efforts. Understandably, many people in our area were more focused on rebuilding their homes, finding new employment, and securing basic necessities, and putting fitness and wellness on the back burner.

In addition to the aftermath of the hurricane, we have encountered unexpected issues such as temporary closures due to a leak from a neighboring tenant, employee turnover, inappropriate customer behavior, and the general challenges of being new to business ownership. Some days it feels like we are barely keeping our heads above water. However, I am learning to lean on my faith in God to alleviate stress and remind myself that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I am also making a conscious effort to prioritize my own wellness by utilizing our services. As the saying goes, “the shoemaker’s children have no shoes,” and I believe many business owners do not take advantage of their own services. By practicing what I preach and being a customer of my own services, I hope to set a positive example for both our staff and clients, showing that I believe in the value of what we offer.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As someone who has always struggled with change, I have had to make significant pivots in my life. One of the biggest changes I faced was when I unexpectedly became pregnant at a young age. This forced me to shift my priorities from being selfish to focusing on my daughter, who is now 33 years old. After years of being single, I got married a decade ago and had to make another pivot when I left my job in insurance to move to a new city with my husband. Despite the challenges, I was fortunate to pursue my passion for helping women facing unplanned pregnancies by volunteering and going back to school. The COVID shutdowns also forced me to pivot once again, as my husband began working from home. We made the decision to move to Florida, where we knew no one, and I started over again. While change is never easy, I have learned that most, if not all of the time, it leads to something better. I think it’s a great lesson to always look ahead, rather than dwelling on current circumstances. Something great could be just around the corner!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agelessfitnessfl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agelessfitnessfl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgelessFitnessFL/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@agelessfitnessandvitalitybooth
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agelessfitnessestero

Image Credits

Elizabeth Yarnell