4-16-2024 4:20am

TIMONIUM FITNESS PIONEER

The Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA) has honored internationally acclaimed fitness expert, Lynne Brick B.S.N., M.A., with one of three awards bestowed at its 2024 Health and Fitness Association Convention & Trade Show.

“IHRSA celebrates the legacy of Julie Main by presenting the 2024 Woman Leader Award to a woman who exemplifies what Julie Main stood for: courage, perseverance, excellence and professionalism. This year’s honoree, Lynne Brick, embodies the award not only through the entrepreneurial spirit that she exemplifies in the years of work at Brick Bodies, which she co-founded with her husband, Victor, but also through their efforts at one of the largest Planet Fitness franchisees.

Most recently, Lynne co-founded the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, with Victor, named in honor of Victor’s brother, who battled schizophrenia. His battle with this condition led to their desire to advocate for others with mental health conditions, especially as mounting research shows that physical exercise can help improve certain mental health conditions. The foundation incorporates healthy lifestyle practices into mental health care.

Lynne, who entered the health club and fitness industry in 1982, said she was “honored to receive the Health & Fitness Association’s Woman Leader of the Year Award in honor of Julie Main,” noting that she has “always been inspired by Julie and so many other women leaders who have had crosses to bear and yet persevere in spite of adversity.”

Considered one of the world’s leading group exercise instructors, Lynne earned the 1990 IDEA (The Association for Fitness Professionals) International Instructor of the Year and 1994 BodyLife International Presenter of the Year awards, and has been featured in over a dozen exercise videos (including the highly acclaimed Buns of Steel series).

In addition to being the author of Fitness Aerobics (published by Human Kinetics) and a contributing author for Fitness Theory & Practice (a comprehensive resource for fitness instruction published by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), Lynne was the technical advisor for BodyVive™ (a group exercise program distributed by Les Mills International).

After co-founding the Brick Bodies health club chain in the Greater Baltimore area, she and Victor founded and remain partners in Ohana Growth Partners, which operates 78Planet Fitness clubs in multiple states in the U.S. and 20 clubs in Australia. Having previously served on the Franchise Advisory Council, chaired the PE@PF committee and the Member Experience committee, she currently sits on the Planet Fitness Independent Franchisee Council’s Government Relations committee.

In addition to her efforts with the John W. Brick Foundation to integrate exercise, nutrition and mind-body practices into the treatment of mental illness and the promotion of mental well-being, Brick continues to speak regularly to women’s groups, businesses, schools, hospitals, civic groups, universities and nonprofit organizations about the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle.

About the Health & Fitness Association
The Health & Fitness Association, a global community of industry leaders, is the only worldwide trade association providing a unified voice for the community of leaders who operate health and fitness facilities, offer professional guidance on physical activity, and provide the tools and equipment to do so to the millions of fitness facility members who understand that exercise improves their physical and mental health. Through advocacy, education, and research, the association speaks to opportunities, challenges, and changes that are moving the industry into a new era. Founded in 1981, the association publishes a monthly magazine, Club Business International, and operates its Convention & Trade Show. Follow the Health & Fitness Association on Facebook,Instagram,LinkedIn and X.

About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the world by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2023, Planet Fitness had approximately 18.7 million members and 2,575 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company’s mission is to enhance people’s lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women. For more information or to join online, please visit www.PlanetFitness.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/planetfitness) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@planetfitness).

About Ohana Growth Partners
Ohana Growth Partners, LLC owns and operates 78 Planet Fitness health clubs with more than 550,000 members in Maryland, District of Columbia, Tennessee, Florida, Washington State and California. It also is a joint venture partner with 20Planet Fitness clubs in Australia. In 2013, OGP was named The Inaugural Franchise of the Year by Planet Fitness Corporate. In 2014, the group was named Planet Fitness Developer of the Year for opening 11 clubs in 12 months as well as receiving the award for Highest BER (Brand Excellence Review) awarded by Planet Fitness Corporate. In 2015, the group was again named Planet Fitness Developer of the Year awarded by Planet Fitness Corporate. The following year, the group was given the Judgement Free Generation award for their exceptional work with the local boys and girls clubs in Tennessee by Planet Fitness Corporate. For more information, follow on LinkedIn.

About the John W Brick Foundation
The John W Brick Mental Health Foundation (501c3) founded by Victor and Lynne Brick, was established in honor of Victor’s brother who passed due to complications of schizophrenia. The mission of the John W Brick Mental Health Foundation is to change the way the world treats mental health by integrating salutogenic self-care approaches such as exercise, nutrition and mindfulness practices into the treatment of mental health and promotion of mental well-being. Focused on evidence-based research, the JWB Foundation’s recent initiative is the Mental Well-being Association’s Certification for Fitness Professionals. For more information, visit www.johnwbrickfoundation.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

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