This Week In Fitness: Maxiom AI Launch, Strava x Breakaway, PHIT Act, UNITY x Stride

Welcome to This Week in Fitness — where we crunch the latest fitness business headlines all in under 5 minutes. Hosted by Krissy Vann, this weekly segment from All Things Fitness & Wellness delivers quick, credible insights for operators, executives, and decision-makers in the global fitness industry.

Here’s what’s making news this week:

1. Maxiom AI Launches with $2M Seed + $6M Series A
Maxiom Labs introduces SmartCoach AI, a digital platform using biometric data to deliver personalized training. A clinical trial is set to test its performance against traditional coaching.

2. UNITY Fitness and Stride Team Up
Launching in Toronto, UNITY360 memberships combine diagnostics, recovery, and personalized training in a data-driven wellness experience.

3. PHIT Act Advances in U.S. House
The long-awaited PHIT provision was included in a newly passed House tax package, potentially allowing Americans to use pre-tax dollars on fitness expenses.

4. The Commons Expands into Wellness
Australian coworking brand The Commons announces an all-in-one health club concept set to open in Melbourne, with coworking, fitness, and recovery in one space.

5. ISSA Launches GLP-1 Support Course
The International Sports Sciences Association rolls out new training to equip fitness professionals supporting clients on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

6. Strava Acquires The Breakaway
Strava adds a cycling training platform to its growing suite of tools, further investing in structured coaching experiences for subscribers.

7. ŌURA Rolls Out Movement Updates
ŌURA’s new features expand movement tracking, improve heart rate zone personalization, and integrate with partner platforms to offer deeper wellness insights.

8. YogaSix Introduces Y6 Mobility
YogaSix debuts a mobility-focused class format across select U.S. studios, catering to growing interest in recovery and sustainable movement.

#fitnessbusines #fitnessindustry #fitnessnews 

Transcript

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Chris Vann, welcome to This Week in fitness by atfw, where we crunch the latest fitness business headlines all in under five minutes. I'm your host, Krissy Vann, and here's what's making news, artificial intelligence is taking another bold step into the fitness world. Maxium Labs has launched its AI powered health and performance platform, backed by a $2 million oversubscribed seed round and a newly opened 6 million series. A its product, smart coach. AI uses real time data from wearables nutrition and biometrics to deliver personalized training and recovery recommendations. Maxium is positioning itself as a full service digital coach designed to adapt to individual behaviors and outcomes. A randomized clinical trial starts in June to compare its effectiveness against traditional coaching methods, in a move that blends diagnostics and gym floor experience, stride and unity fitness have teamed up, launching may 29 in Toronto, the new unity 360 membership combines genetic gut and VO two Max testing with personalized training and recovery support with over 4200 active members, unity is betting that bio individual programming is the next frontier for fitness businesses aiming to retain and engage results focused clients. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Fit act is gaining ground. The US House of Representatives passed its reconciliation tax package, and for the first time, it includes language from the Fit Act. The provision would allow Americans to use up to 500 in pre tax dollars, or 1000 for families for fitness related expenses like gym memberships and youth sports. The bill now heads to the Senate for further debate. Australian co working brand, the commons, is entering the wellness market with an all in one health club model set to open in Melbourne this September. The Richmond location will combine strength and recovery programming with co working community events and bathhouse amenities. A second site is planned for South Yarra in January with over 200 classes offered weekly. The Commons is targeting professionals looking for a one stop wellness solution that fits into their daily routine. The international sports sciences association is stepping in to support a growing segment of fitness clients. The organization has launched its GLP one weight loss support training course to help professionals work with individuals using medications like ozempic and wegovi. The curriculum developed in partnership with the health coach Institute blends physiological education with behavior change coaching. It comes as projections show over 24 million Americans could be using GLP ones by 2035 Strava continues expanding its training ecosystem. The company has acquired the breakaway, a Y Combinator backed cycling app that delivers personalized training and performance feedback. The deal follows its recent acquisition of Runa and signals a deeper investment in structured coaching tools for paid subscribers. Strava says breakaway users typically log twice as many activities as others on the platform. Aura is refining how users track movement and recovery. New updates now allow more accurate heart rate zone tracking, expanded workout logging and integrations with partner apps like corepower Yoga and techno gym, the wearables expanded detection capabilities now cover activity around the clock, reflecting a growing consumer expectation for continuous Health Insights, not just workout summaries. Yoga six has added a new format to meet the recovery first mindset y6 mobility, which launched this spring in select US studios, combines yoga with functional mobility, work designed to support hips, shoulders and lower back movement. The class is aimed at everyone from athletes to sedentary workers. The rollout continues through 2025 as part of the brand strategy under the exponential fitness umbrella. That's a wrap on this week in fitness by atfw. I'm your host, Krissy Vann, and remember, stay fit, Stay informed and keep your fitness business in shape. You