Yotam Israeli is bringing fitness outdoors with LuxFit

Born in Israel, raised in the Midwest, and now calling San Francisco home, Yotam Israeli realized his passion for fitness early on. After transitioning from a finance career, Yotam successfully helped lead multiple gyms, including nearby Fitness SF during his run as Fitness Director and at Equinox as one of their top Personal Trainers. During the pandemic, with traditional gyms closed, Yotam noticed how trainers were left on their own to provide a stable income while our community members were left without a place to train.  After spending 10+ years in the fitness industry, he vowed to create a facility where Fitness Professionals can come together to create an incredible tailored experience for all clients. Having noticed the resurgence of outdoor training during the pandemic and experiencing first-hand the benefits of being outdoors regularly, Yotam decided to continue with this safe, superior alternative to big box gyms.  He launched the first gym in Hayes Valley on December 1, 2020 followed by the second location a year later, with a third location coming in early 2024. Yotam spoke with the SHACK15 Journal about his story, and the future of fitness.

SHACK15: What is your background and how did you end up in the fitness industry?

Yotam Israeli: Originally from Israel, I moved to the United States as a young child. After studying business finance at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, I started my professional career as a wealth analyst at Northwestern Mutual. After realizing that was not my true passion, I switched careers to fitness. A big reason why I switched was because I wanted to help others overcome self doubt, which I struggled with as a young immigrant to this country. After being in the fitness industry for 12+ years, I launched LuxFit in December of 2020.

SHACK15: What is the concept of LuxFit and what inspired you to launch it?

Israeli: The concept of LuxFit is to bring a full service training facility to our community. During the early stages of COVID, all the traditional gyms were closed. Our community (both fitness professionals and our members) were unable to access any gyms or workouts. Most of us struggle to create our own workouts and can really benefit from professional training. LuxFit was launched as a solution to COVID for our community!

SHACK15: Your gyms are all outdoors, why?

Israeli: The benefits of outdoor activities are endless. Fresh air, Vitamin D exposure, and a germ free space are just some of the benefits of being outdoors. We have noticed that a lot of our members tend to have sedentary careers and now that many of them work remotely, they don’t find themselves out of the house often. A lot of our members only leave their house when they are coming to LuxFit. Being outdoors allows our members to experience all the amazing benefits that come with being in the outdoors while still seeing that they can have an amazing fully equipped fitness facility! 

SHACK15: Our community has a lot of founders and entrepreneurs who work very hard and many experience a lot of stress on a daily basis. Why is fitness important for them and how can it play a part in improving their lifestyle?

Israeli: Numerous studies have shown how actively improving your fitness aids in your ability to be a productive worker. On top of movement helping in cognitive performance, we know that most founders and entrepreneurs spend many hours in front of a computer.  It does not matter how long we live if we are unable to use our bodies correctly. By actively working on their own health & wellness, those who are active live a longer, healthier, and significantly more productive life.

SHACK15: What are some of the most popular classes you offer at LuxFit?

Israeli: LuxFit really focuses on specialized strength and conditioning classes. As a training facility, you will not find the typical BodyPump or Zumba class that most chains offer. Instead, we focus on strength based classes that will teach you how to properly workout, ensure you are lifting correctly, progress towards your goals (whether they are to move better, look better, or feel better), and create a strong sense of community. Some of our most popular classes include FullBodyFit, StrongFit, Outdoor DRIIP, and SuperStrength.

SHACK15: What is the future of the fitness industry? What are you excited about?

Israeli: We believe that the future of the fitness industry has greatly changed due to the global pandemic. People now realize that they do not need to go to a traditional large chain gym to get their workouts in. Fitness is a proven way to live longer and be able to do the things we love to do, be more productive, and create a sense of community.  We are excited to continue showing professionals that the true way to a healthy lifestyle is by the correct training approach - focusing on movement, nutrition, and recovery.