co-founder, MINDSET

Tell us about Mindset
Mindset is a new boutique fitness club located in the heart of Waterloo, London. We want to encourage people to develop their mental and emotional health, as well as honing their physical fitness.
The environment at Mindset means users can focus on, and improve their mental wellbeing, as this is the source of any good workout.

How did you decide on this concept for the new business?
As I’ve worked as a personal trainer and I’ve seen how much a positive mindset can improve an individual’s fitness journey,

I wanted to create a facility that encompassed this approach; where the body is challenged, but a person’s mind is tested too.

Our mantra is based around the concept of ‘total fitness’, which comprises five main elements – mental, physical, social, emotional and nutritional.

It was important for me to create a place that helps people target all these areas and empowers them to strive for total fitness and wellbeing.

What’s your professional background? How did that influence the idea for the club?
I’ve worked as a personal trainer in London for 10 years. In this time, I’ve trained people of all shapes and sizes, each with their own individual goals.

Understanding the different requirements of people influenced the thinking behind the launch of Mindset. Even if two people have the same goal, they’re likely to have their own mental and emotional obstacles to overcome before embarking on physical training.

Taking this into account also helps create healthy habits that ensure their workouts and nutrition are sustained successfully. This is where Mindset is unique: all these factors are taken into consideration to achieve the end goal.

How do the classes actually develop mental and emotional health? What do you do that’s different?
One of the main differences between Mindset and other studios in the market, is that we keep the classes small so that each individual can be properly catered for on 1:1 level, rather than the instructor treating the whole room as one.

Our Asset class is female-only, which overcomes a huge emotional barrier that some women face when going to the gym. Keeping a female-led class for females only can make the whole experience feel less pressured for those taking part.

We also offer a Reset class; a hybrid of yoga, meditation, core strength and calisthenics which are intertwined to help members moving more fluidly and functionally like we all naturally should.

This is a place to reset your mind and prepare for whatever life has to throw at you next.

On the other end of the scale, we have a Sets and Reps class which is high energy, to get the blood pumping, and to keep participants engaged so that their minds are constantly thinking about what piece of equipment or exercise is next.

The fact that we cover the full spectrum of emotional boundaries is what makes us different.

Is mental health built into every class or just specific classes?
We’ve incorporated mental health and wellbeing aspects into the whole Mindset experience, from the moment you step in the doors of the studio. Some classes have more of a focus than others, but our whole mentality is that the road to attaining your peak physical fitness begins with having a strong mind.

Do you have plans to open more clubs? Or future plans for the current club?
Future plans for Mindset are to establish ourselves as a leader in the industry and to help as many people as possible achieve total fitness and wellbeing.

We believe our brand values are unique when it comes to the everyday boutique studio. We aim to open a second Mindset studio in London next year.