Transforming Fitness: Brick Bodies' Rise & Mental Health Mission | Victor and Lynne Brick

Discover the inspiring intersection of mental health and physical fitness with Victor and Lynne Brick, founders of the renowned health club chain, Brick Bodies. Beginning their journey with a humble aerobics class and a Simon and Garfunkel cassette tape, they have now emerged as the largest franchisees of the low-cost gym brand Planet Fitness. This episode dives deep into their personal experiences, particularly Victor's brother's battle with schizophrenia, which fueled their commitment to mental health advocacy.

Learn about the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, established by the Bricks to honor Victor's brother and to change the way the world treats mental health. Hear how their journey from fitness enthusiasts to mental health advocates is reshaping the approach to wellness, integrating the physical and mental aspects seamlessly.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the powerful synergy between mental wellness and physical fitness, and for those inspired by stories of resilience, dedication, and transformative impact.

🔔 Subscribe to our channel for more empowering stories and insights into the world of health, fitness, and mental well-being.

Connect with the John W. Brick Foundation:
https://www.johnwbrickfoundation.org 

Mental Well-being Certification for Fitness Professionals:
https://www.mentalwellbeingassociation.org

Move Your Mental Health Report: 
https://www.johnwbrickfoundation.org/move-your-mental-health-report/ 

#fitnesspodcast #fitnessbusiness #mentalhealth 

Transcript

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And I called my dad up. I said, Dad, you got to help me out. We're gonna lose this club. What are we going to do? My dad is in the office and he looks at me he goes, just work a little harder. And that's the mantra we've lived by through 100 clubs. In 40 years in the fitness industry, we just work a little harder. But here's the key. And we found this out in the mental health field for sure. The thing that fills the gap between the known and the unknown is fear. If you let it. this is All Things Fitness and Wellness hosted by Krissy Vann. Together we're uniting industry thought leaders and fit flew answers on the mission to inspire innovation and encourage people to live a life fit and well. Brought to you by the Personal Training Institute, learn how to train, gain and retain clients visit BC pti.ca. On today's episode, we welcome Victor and Lynne Brick of the John W brick Foundation. I had the opportunity to hear them speak at this year's fitness Technology Summit. Not only was I deeply moved by their personal motivations to amplify the importance of mental health, but I greatly enjoyed them taking several 100 Fitness executives out of their comfort zone to embrace some laughter therapy. In this episode, you'll learn about the bricks humble stumble into the fitness industry that has since translated to co founding Brick Bodies, a chain of health clubs in the Baltimore area, and becoming one of the largest franchisees of low cost gym brand Planet Fitness. amongst their tremendous success. They'll share how some deeply personal trials push them to answer their calling to give back with the mission to change how the world treats mental health. Before we get to this important conversation, be sure to hit like and subscribe. We have new podcast episodes every Wednesday featuring industry thought leaders and influencers. Plus, every other Monday, we have an episode of exercise snacks bite size science, where we explore the latest science and research directly with the scientists and researchers themselves. I'm your host Krissy Vann and this is at ATFW. Victor and Lynne Brick you're no strangers to those in the fitness industry. But how did you get started in the first place? So I was doing all kinds of odd jobs and at the end of the school year, everything ended the teaching ended basketball ended. So I need an extra income. I was teaching a phys ed and a community college and I saw an ad for an aerobics instructor and I thought they wanted aerobics like Kenneth Cooper aerobics, jogging, running swimming. I showed up. There was a bunch of women in leotards that wanted a Jane Fonda robic class, and it was in a racquetball court and I had no music. So I ran out to the car. I got a cassette tape, Simon and Garfunkel said, Are you going to score bro fair, great. Whole course the whole class to that one tape. And I realized they were gonna fire me that heck, my wife was a dancer who's a dance minor in college. And she was only working half day she would work 12 midnight to 12 noon, I'd let her sleep for hours, I'd wake her up, she'd go up and she teach these classes. And we started by working for this club where Lynn was just an instructor, but she built this course class these classes up to so many people that we started reading racquetball court space around Baltimore, and I'm telling you Krissy, no joke, we have three or $400 cash money at the end of every month. I mean, it didn't get any better. And that's how we initially got into the fitness industry. My favorite thing about you sharing that story is that I can tell that same spark that obviously happened inside of both of you at that time is still there. That little seed that was planted like hey, this is actually something that we're meant to do. So how do you go from stumbling into accidentally teaching an aerobics class with your Simon and Garfunkel tape, do all sudden owning Jim spaces and expanding in this massive way over the decades? Well, over the years? Well, especially in the beginning, Victor would watch me teach my class and he said, you know, you you put together movements in a very sequential pattern. So why don't you create something that is really used in the phys ed world, the park to whole method of instruction, if anyone wants to learn a new skill, like for example, playing tennis First, you start with the grip, and then you start with your footwork and blah, blah, blah, and then you work that so work your way up to build a complete sequence. So that's what we did with I would do with movement, and then I started taking that concept on the road. And then I thought, well, I can't be the only person teaching all these classes. Then I started teaching teachers how to teach and that's how we started we with videos with seminars and workshops and speaking engagements at different conventions. And I've been traveling around the world to teach the instructor so that's how I got to the Mr. Limbrick. Carry Get your bags. But the Steve a little mind always knew this was not sustainable. We just couldn't have these classes and run around the world really making a couple of $1,000 on a weekend and thinking we had a business. So we decided then then Lynn went and got pregnant I was pregnant with the second child with a second child. So now, necessity is the mother of invention. We have no business without men. I am not going to teach classes at Scarborough Fair. Are you going to matter how well the leotard we realized I realized we had a choice. We could follow our dream and go with this thing that did us like nothing else. Or we could go back to recreation director, Nurse maternity leave nice little income. And we obviously decided to follow our passion. But if we were going to follow our passion, again, it had to be sustainable. Well, back then 1985, what was the only real way to be into the fitness industry full time unless you were going to work for somebody that was the owner club. So we needed money to buy a club, there was this little tiny little club in Baltimore County, outside of Baltimore, that was for sale, we needed money when you really need money. And you're young, who do you always go to when you're a young kid, and you always need money? Mom and Dad gave us the money. We bought the club, we almost went out of business. The first month, I almost tried to get the club back to the guy I bought it from when I called him when I called him as a clerk, will he take the club back? He goes, Victor, I will take the club back. But I thought you had more guts than that. And you talked about how do you talk about a punched in the stomach. And it was from that moment, that very phone call. As you can tell, I remember to this day that we went from impossibility thinkers to possibility takers, and we started building opening clubs. And then we were pushing our brick bags, gloves, and we got them up to seven clubs. And it was a nice, this local business. But we realized it was very capital intensive and management intensive. So we were always again that weren't sustainable. We were always looking for bigger, faster, better, whatever, something that was sustainable, and could still let us have the lifestyle that we chose for their kids. And that's how we came across Planet Fitness. So we still have some Brick Bodies, clubs that we've cut that organization down to the most profitable. And the growth over the last 15 years, we've gone from seven Brick Bodies close to 100 planets and three Brick Bodies. So it's been pretty good. In the very beginning, you know, neither of us had any business experience at all. So we learned through the school of hard knocks literally. And then and then with meeting with other industry peers, and mentors and people that helped guide us in the very beginning and and to this day still do, which has been one of our secret sauces. You don't have time for us to thank everybody who has helped us along the way. But just a rule, he says it best. Success comes from good judgment, good judgment comes from experience experience comes from bad judgment. Suffice it to say I've got a lot of experience on your favor. And I think one of the most powerful things that you said in there was that impossibility to possibility mindset. And even because oftentimes I find when we're in the thick of those moments, your brain can pull you in two directions, it can either continue to pull you down, and it would have been very easy to go in that other direction and say, Hey, we tried, we've made this mistake. It's overwhelming. Everything's starting to so how did you make that mindset shift? I mean, I know that you mentioned there reaching out to mentors. But do you look back and can you recall how you were able to make that shift? Because it's not easy when you are trying to make a business run and you have that fear of failure and impostor syndrome? And simultaneously you have a growing family at the same time. There's some realities there. Keep in mind, I tried to get the club back. I really did. I just didn't think about it. Clark McKenzie punched me in the stomach. And what he said to me, not directly, not intentionally, but what he said to me was tough times don't build character. They reveal it. And I realized, I'm no baby. I'm gonna let tougher linen iron a lot tougher than than we realize. And I called my dad up. I said, Dad, you got to help me out. We're blue in this club. What are we going to do? My dad is in office and he looks at me he goes, just work a little harder. And that's the Montek mantra. We've lived by through 100 clubs. In 40 years in the fitness industry. We just work a little harder. But here's the key. And we found this out in the mental health field for sure. The thing that fills the gap between the known and the unknown is fear. If you and we fear fill that gap for me when I tried to get that club back declared, but he said no way, Jose, your jump. And so I changed fear to a plan. And we started employing self help techniques that we didn't even realize were self help techniques, it was just about a desperation. And today some of those techniques are pillars of treatment of mental well being, they're pillars of our mental well being, and how people handle stress. I mean, things like writing down your thoughts and getting stuff out of your head before you go to sleep, and just all kinds of breathing exercises and maintaining your exercise and Edie for all those things. So that's how we did it, we filled that gap with a plan. And here's the thing, you're talking about possibility thinkers and impossibly because it's easy to become a possibility thinker. You know, it's the hard part, implementing your plan, how many people you know that they're going to write a book, start their own business, leave their job, do what kinds of, and they don't do it, the difference was out of necessity. We did it. But we had it in us. And for some people, it's not in their chemical makeup, their nature, to assume the risk of running their own business, it is a very stressful lifestyle. And you have to really be have that certain constitution, where you can put it behind you, and enjoy life. And it's not always there. Now it's so true. And I think the point on something so true about us as humans, innately, everyone always thinks that motivation is something we're waiting for, to jump on to make it happen. But really, it's the doing that creates the motivation to keep on doing. And I think the pair of view, obviously Kismet and had that inertia together to power through. And especially when you do get a nudge that is a gut punch. The thing that's nice is you were seen in that moment, they saw you and knew the potential that was there underneath where sometimes we have those moments that we have to have an external force that reminds us of who we are, what we're capable of. I mean, being a human being is a wild look at these little avatars, as I almost like to call it that we live in. It's a very incredible experience on so many levels. But I know the two of you created this incredible success through that hard work. However, that's not where you stopped. And I think when it comes to passion, and purpose, another really important component is, you know, how are we giving back to the world? And what can be our impact? And I know it's through your personal experiences that you really aligned with something. So in 2015, you launched the John W brick Foundation, what was the catalyst to bring that to life? Well, the catalyst for the John W brick Foundation was my oldest brother John, who suffered from schizophrenia his entire life. And in all the years of treatment, sometimes in the best hospitals and institutions and available, never once was included in this fully integrated, holistic approach that included such things as exercise, nutrition, and mind body practices. Along with the big three, you know what the big three are in the medical profession for psychiatric treatment, the big three, medication, psychoanalysis, and institutionalization. That's it. That's all they've got some people, integrated, holistic lifestyles that I'm talking about, generally speaking in the larger institutions, medication, psychoanalysis, institutionalization, we saw that with John we saw destructive that was, he died from the complications of schizophrenia, but not schizophrenia itself. It's not a terminal disease, we firmly believe the medication wars body out, he was never put on that holistic program, that holistic approach. We were what the more we got into fitness, the more we realized there had to be a better way. And that fitness is not the answer. It's part of the treatment. It's, we look at it as integrated, not alternative and too many people think binary is all or nothing all movement, no medication, and are all medication has possession. Now, it's my brother needed medication, for sure. But his treatment could have been dramatically improved. With an integrated program. I sympathize on a very personal level, because we're going through a similar situation with my brother in law currently. And it's exactly that like no one if you've not experienced it, and been able to witness a lot of what those medications do when it comes to complications and side effects. It's so difficult to watch a human being kind of get lost in the system. And even being based in Canada, you know, generally were people that champion our healthcare system, but seeing somebody have to move through the steps post pandemic as well and even still in 2020 for exactly what you're speaking to. It's not the only answer doing fitness, nutrition and finding These wellbeing practices, but it certainly should be part of the wheelhouse. And we're still not there yet. So I'm appreciative to organizations like yours that are championing this message. And on top of it facilitating a lot of the research in the space, one that I think is helping educate the populace on the power of what movement can do on what these modalities can do. So tell me a little bit about some of the findings. I know in 2022, I believe was the last move your mental health report. So what were some of the most notable takeaways out of that? Well, first of all, the movie mental health report can be found on the John Duffy brick foundation.org website as one of our drop down menus for resources. And that is a compilation of 30 years worth of over 1400 research articles. And the compelling findings are that in the executive summary, that movement is really critical. It one exercise bout at a moderate to high intensity is the equivalent to an entry level dose of Zoloft. So it's just a compelling and there's more and more research that's being published now, as well, that's following the same similar pattern. So this is something that is really important to for people to understand in the executive summary which consists of what 10 or 11 pages versus over 100 pages of the entire report. We have also found and we summarize that, for depressive symptoms, heightened moderate to high intensity cardiovascular exercise is best and for anxiety, symptoms, symptoms of anxiety. What has been research has shown is that more of a mind body practice or or slowing down which is counterintuitive, sometimes what we think sometimes we think that, oh gosh, people are having a hard time with anxiety that they need to move more, but maybe perhaps no deep breathing, meditation, Tai Chi Chi Gong, those types of types of restorative activities are is what the executive summary clearly states is very beneficial to those suffering from anxiety. And for depressive symptoms. Like I said, the moderate to high intensity is best. And also a combination of cardiovascular and strength training at moderate to high intensity is also best too. It's so it's the combination of all these things specific to a person's individual needs. And one of the keys there is moderate to intense, moderate to intense for each individual. It's dramatically different a faster walk is moderate to intense for some people, but the point is many people do not get themselves in the positive stress and positive stress. Think of the typical bell shaped curve. And you everybody says stress is a killer and stress is bad that nothing can be further from the truth. You need stress every day needs to be stressed. In order to walk you need to be stressed in order to play an instrument better need to be stressed in order to become a better athlete. Stress is important for improvement. However, too little stress, no improvement. Too much stress, burnout, frustration to tea, anger and that can happen at the highest levels. The greatest gymnasts in the world. Simone Biles suffered from what? Too much stress? What did you get burnout. The ideal is that positive stress, you get the right amount of stress, you'll get the best result and some people overdo it and then they don't get results or they under do it and don't get results. So specifically, this bell curve that Victor's referring to is called the Yerkes Dodson law of positive stress. And again, it's on the website. And what another thing of findings found is that what was it Lin? 345 minutes? Yes, what was 330 to 45 minute bouts per week are most beneficial as well. So the combination as I mentioned, cardio and strength together, but here's the problem, here's the issue. It's not just what people like to do, it's being consistent with their movement pattern, their movement, their daily movement, activity, so it's that because this thing really is the key right and so the final word on what exercise should they do? What is best whatever they'll do better to do something for a year then the perfect program for six weeks, which is what too many people do solutions correct. Because they like doing something like it we might be walking their dog and so how are they getting positive stress walking their dog just walk a little faster. You know, jog with the dog we used to run with our dog, you too many people that the dog were walking the dog, I've got one of those. You find something that you like doing and stick to it? Well, and I think you bring up such an excellent point there and I think what's been so refreshing in the fitness industry is that they are now really working to get this message out. Like even when you look at the advertisements that we just saw heading into the new year, it's a lot less of lose 30 in 30 days, which I mean, that's not a goal or motivator for anybody anyways, it's not about getting shredded abs, a lot of the narratives and even these advertising campaigns have more pointed to this essence of well being because this is the tool we need in our toolkit. I find most people argue if it's not part of their consistent lifestyle, oh, I don't have time for this. And I really think that it's the matter that we need to prioritize time and space for this. And there are ways we can integrate it in your lives. How is it for you to personally because I know like this is an ideal example, we heard how many businesses you have grown and brought to life plus, you have this foundation Plus, I'm sure you have many other obligations and your speaker's circuit. So how do you to prioritize your well being because obviously you live and breathe what you preach? Well, first and foremost, we schedule it, just like we would an important meeting. We purposely put it in into our schedule. And we do things such as I've mentioned in the past, for different podcasts is all walking and walking on the beach and doing restorative activities where we can just pause, slow down the pace, and focus on breath work, focus on being present, and focus on Joy enjoying Mother Nature at her best, you really need to have a rhythm and a routine. And in your rhythm and your routine. It's just like I was a track guy. And with track, you have heavy workouts, media workouts and light workouts, nobody did heavy workouts every day, nobody did medium, nobody did light if you wanted to get any improvement. So you should have your heavy days, medium days and light days, your light days might be they are walking on the beach, but you can get something out of that not just mentally, but physically are walking for speed. And there's a lot of things you do. So you plan your work and work your plan basically, and it's got to be in your calendar. For any of you that have elderly parents, you know, if you don't schedule to go see them, you don't see. And you feel really bad because life get in the way. But if it's in there, you work around it. So your your workouts need to be in there. And they should be in a regular time, we'd be things like, in the morning, before we get out of that we have a stretching routine that takes five minutes we used to do some are breathing in there for five or so when we get out of bed, we've already done something positive for ourselves. We both too, as you get older and older, believe it or not, you start losing flexibility and your ankles and your feet. And so we do stretching exercises for feet, we got these little balls, you might have seen them half rubber balls with the spikes, and we're brushing our teeth when we incorporating all these things because you have to maximize your time, multitasking is not always the best thing. And at times, you know, you will be multitasking when you're trying to help your kid with his homework or trying to be a kid sporting event. But when you're doing something is is routine as brushing your teeth, you can be doing something else that helps you a little bit, just a little bit but every day, so So the important thing is to have on a regular basis at least 30 to 45 minutes a day. And know weeks in advance what you're doing. You see the guys in the gym, they have all those things. And the other thing is that your program should be developed in such a way like for me, as far as it used to be everybody in the fitness industry work that for two main reasons get bigger, get smaller. That's not true anymore. Most people most people are working out for either fiscal wellbeing or mental wellbeing. So for me again, as I'm aging, cardiovascular becomes more important than strength. So the first thing I'm getting into my workout every day, no matter what is a half hour of cardio, if that's all I've got, it's a win. I've done my cardio. Most people can crap cram in a half hour. If I have another half hour then I get in my strength and my spreadsheet the first half hour there's a cardio because that's the centerpiece of my training at the moment. And to add on to that what I'm hearing you say is also incorporating simple movements into your routine activities. Anyway, like for example, if you're vacuuming your living room rug, do some lunges when you're loading your dishwasher, do some squats, when you're brushing your teeth focus on balance training. So there's all kinds of ways you can incorporate into your normal activities of daily living. But and then the other thing of course, going along with the JW is make sure every day every day you do some form of mental wellbeing exercise even if it's nothing more than Five minutes of box breathing. Eating them is nothing more than journaling. Even if it's a smoothie more nothing, nothing more than 10 minute total body stretch lying flat on a mat. And not even moving, just lying there and feeling how good it feels to just totally it's called Shavasana. We talk about, like a dead man's pose. You probably take yoga, Chris, because it looked like to do a lot of stuff. And a yogi will tell you, one of the hardest things to do is dead man's pose, because I can say, Yes, I thought I had so much trouble integrating a yoga practice, I was a lifter, etc. And I like made my mantra flexibility of body and mind. And by far, that was the most difficult to become an observer of thoughts, let them move past. And at somebody said it to me so well, they're like, if you never have given your brain an opportunity to speak in regards to like sitting back and being the listener, of course, everybody's going to try and talk at once. That's exactly, I get fine. I think it's just so refreshing to hear from two professionals. And obviously, we speak to so many professionals in the industry. And I know people practice what they preach, but it is so easy, especially if you're running a business etc. And you feel like you get up at the you talked about you wake up in the morning and you have that mindful moment. Most people get up in the morning and they grab their phone. And that's where the distractions begin and your brain almost starts to crave that essence of distraction. So I really appreciate you sharing a bit about your routine there. And I will tell you, if you just do that 10 minute breathing and stretching before you get out of it. One, you think you've done something and two, it'll, it'll be amazing how much more energy you'll have when you get out of bed, and you'll just feel centered. And when you miss it, I don't know about you. But like I said, it's obvious you work out a lot. I'm sure when you don't do it, you are off, you'll be where you're at your best when you do that. So you're more efficient, you get more done, you enjoy life better. So it's not in addition to it's to make everything better, right? Yeah, it's a partnership in life. You know, you're providing so many resources to people through the John W brick foundation. But obviously, because of your tremendous success in this industry, and I know your involvement with different organizations, you do have a voice and you do have a platform. What would be your hopes that these resources that you're creating be used for when it comes to shaping public policy, especially how we look at mental health and mental illness? Well, we hope that many people, many industries are embrace the things that we embrace as well and believe what we believe and understand the resources such as the duel continuum, for example, that's on the tundra rubric Foundation, which includes a pathogenic are or illness, wellness, horizontal continuum, and then the vertical continuum, which is more salutogenic, or self care oriented. And this is where most of us, not only the fitness industry, but many other industries can really focus on helping not only themselves, but the people that they say that they care for, if we are to be taken seriously, as an integral part of the health care delivery system, we must get everybody, both in the fitness industry, and in the medical community. Familiar with an agreement with the dog continue. And the dog can tell you and there's always a medical component with mental well D, mental health. However, most people are not clinically mentally ill even people that commit suicide, a lot of times it's life events that have driven them to that point. And if these people are constantly doing the right self care programs, they're more resilient, to be able to handle life events. Now, sometimes no matter what, as I said, you have to rely on the treatments in the medical profession. But that's where this integrative approach comes into. We want the health care and the self care communities to understand they're like yin and yang. And there's some health care with self care and some health care with self care, self care with self care with healthcare, but their interplay, and they've worked together. It's not either or there's too much of that binary. So they want to understand the yin and yang concept and the dual continuum, because even that person that has a pathogenic mental health condition can flourish under the right set of circumstances. He has a good partner. He has a steady job. He has a good support system, he has a hobby that he likes. As opposed to somebody that has no clinical mental health issue, they don't have a history of it. It's not physiological, the part of their makeup, that they've lost their job, they've lost their part partner, their kids, they don't speak into their kids, they're, they're in debt, they're just all of these that that person could be floor languishing. And the person with a mental health condition, there's plenty people that can have Abraham Lincoln, that have clinical depression, they even have like a clinical depression, and look what he accomplished. And he was able to manage that. So it's this combination of health care and self care working together, to manage and to answer your question specifically about policy and advocacy is to what we can do in each of our industries is to educate those that make those important decisions for our industries, when we explain to politicians and we do a lot with politicians, and that was on the reasons there was FinTech was in DC, it was a visit to the Hill, when we explained to the congressman about the self care health care model and how they work to go. They're all nodding their heads, because they read that what a stressful job being a politician and most committed to their self health and well being they have to be, and they understand it. Yeah, more people understanding it more policymakers. Well, and I think you speak to something when when you talk about the intersection as well, oftentimes, I find, and this is changing, but people would seek out, you know, if they weren't feeling of sound, body and mind because of one of those unexpected circumstances, you lose your job, then all of a sudden, you're scrambling to find the tools like what can help me feel better. Whereas really, we should be integrating these practices within our lives regularly, as you spoke, building those habits day by day, because when we do face those adversities, and they will come, you know, most of the things we stress about in life are not the things that actually knock the wind out of ourselves, sails, the things that knock the wind are generally the unexpected, out of nowhere moments, but you have so many more tools and resources to actually move through that. And I know that you're amplifying this to a lot of industries. But of course, the fitness industry being where you've spent decades is really where you're focusing. So the mental well being certification for fitness professionals, I know this was something that was announced through last year. So explain to people what that is and where the grassroots of putting that together came from? Well, we've always been very focused on scientific evidence based research. And that is the basic foundation of the John W. Reagan Mental Health Foundation. But we the intention was to provide tools based on this scientific evidence based research for fitness professionals, and that we're not just talking about group X instructors and personal trainers, but managers and people working at the service desk and, and childcare and that anyone that's serving other people in their clubs in an entire or their studios in the industry, to have the tools to help other people. And to it's not intended to be a recognition of an urgent or crisis situation is focusing on prevention. Prevention really is the key to not only longevity, but also to help build that resilience, resilience we just talked about, and and being consistent with it. So having the trainer and the WebEx instructors really talk about these things, and then make sure that there is compelling understanding of how to integrate these tools into their treatment plans or their prescriptive plans. And of course, this is also collaborative, focusing on what each client or member wants to do or likes to do. So it's it's very collaborative, but yet very effective. And it's not just the programs and exercises, it's something as simple as how to talk to someone that is obviously struggling with mental well be something as simple as Christie, how are you doing? And you say, great, and I go no, Chrissy, really? How are you really, though? They don't think you can tell they're not doing great. Oh, we mask it very, we think we mask it well as human. But I think especially if you're sharing space with someone, you can like innately know with the energy when it's all correct. And there's just so much in the certification above and beyond practical application of movements and the program. So what are some of the other Yes, so some of the other module modules that we have 10 modules that are correct, and some of the other modules include not just movement and and how that is beneficial, but also nutrition. What we eat can when it helps the body also helps the brain and our mental well being also mindfulness and meditation and how that is effective. It In addition to what Victor just mentioned, coaching and communication skills, coaching communication, you know, if you're not, if you're not coaching, you know what you're doing, you can make worse with anything, especially well, the overcoming stigma and biases, that that's really critical in today's world, as well as ethics and collaboration, knowing when to refer out, as well as all the other resources that we have, that are available that many, many people may not be aware of. So we want everybody, we're not training psychologists and psychiatrists, we're training. We're educating fitness professionals, on how to help people basically build up their resilience. That's really the best way looking at it. And when you think about it, when you're training physically, you're building up resilience for colds or flus for healthiness. And then then there's the mental wellbeing perspective, which has never been addressed before, even though it's always been there. It's never been addressed before. And it's never been approached for the scientific method is just kind of like, well, it makes me feel better. And to your point, I mean, when you exactly that it has always been there. But I think this is where there's so much value in driving the point home and elevating the message. Because even you spoke about box breathing earlier, you know, I live in Vancouver, and now and we've always been quite a wellness focused area of Canada, especially compared to where I grew up, where we had the highest obesity rates per capita, a very sedentary city. So it was a huge shift when I came out here, but when you talk a breathwork now, I mean, the sober, curious movement is enhancing so a lot of people are giving up drinking, and we've had a lot of areas that instead on a Friday night, they're actually doing late night socials where you get together and do breathwork exercises together. And that's now such an accepted practice where I feel like even a couple of years ago, people would be like, you've gone to go and do what you went got together with a bunch of people to go breathe in a room, what is that all about? And so the stigmas can be smashed. But it does take time for people to kind of step out and be like, Hey, this is actually an advantage. So as you look forward, when we do have more fitness professionals that are more educated in these resources, what is your hope, when it comes to how we are viewed as an industry when it comes to I mean, everybody knows that personal training, etc, gym spaces help with physical health, but what is your hope? When we look, you know, at a planet fitness, brick gym, you know, what are you hope people see, where our hope is that we are essential were an essential component to this mental health crisis at this become the longer tail of the pandemic. And that it's not just something that's based on post pandemic. But it's sustainable, sustainable for all time it to really, we know that there's been a mental health crisis. But what many people may not realize or understand that we're in the beginning of a mental health Renaissance. So we hope that this is a sustainable renaissance that completely shifts and change how we are viewed as an industry for especially the fitness industry, and that were essential as part of the solution. Keep in mind that the program is an educational program, our main focuses was to help people understand their own bodies, there are too many people that advocate their health and well being whether it be physical or mental, to somebody else. Usually in the medical community. There are so many people that go in, did a diagnosis have a major operation, a major operation, and never consider all the things they could have done, once they got the diagnosis, all the things they could have done, to see if that surgery was necessary. And sometimes that surgery will change your life for the worse forever. We want people to take control of their mental health and well being along with their physical health and well being which is well fitness in the suit and trying to do forevers. So that's really what we hope is that the individual, whether it be the fitness professional or whether it be the member is exposed to all these options. Besides, as I said, the big three, how can people access the certification? How can they get involved because I'm sure there's a lot of people listening that are like yes, I would love to learn more about this before Lim gives that information. I want to make sure everybody understands. The reason we did this certification was not for the fitness profession just for the fitness professional to be able to be better modified to work with their members. It's for the members. It's for that fit that fitness professional wherever he or she might be. It's for his or her loved ones. And her entire support system. That will be sometime when everybody on this podcast and anybody that listens to this podcast, and everybody in the fitness industry will need to employ some of those techniques. And maybe all and nobody knows better than us. Two years ago, our daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, our daughter was a major college basketball player and tennis player and play professional basketball overseas. And she has cancer at the age of 40. And it came out of nowhere. And one of the things that's helped us get by is employing all of these activity, these these practices for our mental well being at the same time with her care, we just didn't rely on traditional medicine. Functional Medicine, we have another biologist, we have MD Anderson, which is you know, traditional world class, and we have a team and we're utilizing every advantage we can to fight this thing. And so far, we're doing a pretty good job of it. So the point is one you never know, when you will need to employ these techniques. And two, you should the time to employ them is before you need them. Well, and before you share where to find it because I just want to speak to that. First of all, thank you for sharing that. I think you nail it completely. There is no one that is immune from life. I remember it not being that many years ago where, you know, yes, we have a mental health day every year and we have a mental health month every year. But there still was such a stigma and people sitting in the shadows with their pain. And I know that there are still many people that still feel confined by that. And that's why just because the momentum has really started to take hold of this message going out. It's not time to stop, it's time to amplify and gather and for those that understand it to share that knowledge and that's exactly what this can help accomplish. So how can people take part in this certification? Thank you, Christiane, very well said by the way of so through the John W brick foundation.org. website, there is the mental wellbeing Association is a subdivision of J WB. And that is where you can find the information specific to the certification. And we are actually pre enrolling folks right now on to take the certification, it will be ready by March I believe, of q1 this year. So we're very excited, we really would love for many people to explore everything that we have to offer through the mental wellbeing Association. But that will halls how's the certification, which will be a digital certification and will also include didactic and practical application as well as written information. So it's a full fledged 20 hour course for fitness professionals. And then you give them the website here. Yes, John W brick foundation.org. And as soon as you click on that, you'll see mental wellbeing association.com. And where would they find the executive the mental health report, the movie mental health report is found on the drop down menu called resources on John W brick mental health foundation.org website. Brilliant, I'll make sure to include all of that in the show notes in case you're joining us on the road today and didn't get a chance to write it down. No fret, we'll make sure that that's all there for you, Victor and Lynn brick, I know that you lead very busy schedules. So truly, I just want to say thank you so much for sharing the time and space with me. You really sparked that inspiration in the room when I had the chance to experience your talk. And the ripple effect is so real. And the fact that the two of you have the bravery to share the vulnerability is why it resonates so well. So thank you for being so open because that is where the change happens. Thank you. Yeah, I just want to close with thank you for that I just want to close with our mission is to put a dent in the universe from mental health. And we can appreciate and would appreciate and welcome all the help we can get. So anybody listening wants to become a part of this movement and help us put a dent in the universe of mental well being. Please reach out to us we'd love to hear you've just listened to the All Things fitness and wellness podcast hosted by Krissy Vann This episode was brought to you by fitness a world your fitness your way. Be sure to hit like and subscribe. We have new podcast episodes weekly featuring industry insiders and influencers together we're on a mission for everyone to live a life fit and well