Conscious Leadership: Science-Backed Strategies to Respond, Build Trust, and Lead Fitness Teams with Rachel Russo | Episode 549
Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit
Release Date: 10/02/2025
Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit
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info_outlineDiscover the surprising science behind conscious leadership with Rachel Russo, who reveals how a simple pause and breath can activate your brain’s logic center and shift your leadership style from reactive to responsive. Fitness leaders will learn how journaling daily not only calms the mind but improves immune function and creativity. Plus, explore how self-awareness builds trust and collaboration in fitness teams where knowing your body meets leading your people. Ready to transform your leadership muscle and tackle your blind spots? This episode is packed with powerful insights and practical tools to help you lead with clarity and compassion.
Key highlights from the episode:
- Conscious leadership is about responding (not reacting) by engaging your prefrontal cortex through mindful pauses and breathing.
-Journaling daily enhances creativity, reduces stress, improves immune function, and helps leaders get into their subconscious for better self-awareness.
- Building trust starts with knowing yourself deeply and extends to creating a psychologically safe environment that fosters collaboration and courageous conversations.
Curious about the future host of Fitness Business Podcast? That's Zoe, the host JT's daughter!
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Quotes:
"Conscious leadership is learning how to respond, not react." - Rachel Russo
"When you breathe, you signal to your body that you’re safe and you turn on your prefrontal cortex." - Rachel Russo
"Many of your reactions as a leader are literally you as a child responding as an adult." - Rachel Russo
Resources:
- Become an FBP Insider on Patreon: https://patreon.com/FitnessBusinessPodcast
- Fitness Business Podcast’s LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9878228/
- Mystery Shopping for Fitness Businesses: https://mysteryshoppingforfitnessbusinesses.com.au/
Our Guest:
Rachel Russo, Founder of Conscious Arc Co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-russo-4315b140/
Instagram:https//www.instagram/rachelrusso1
Website: https://consciousarcco.com
The Art of Awareness Journal: https://amzn.to/47vo6My
Merch Sponsor:
Be a Merch Sponsor - https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/merch/
REX Roundtables:
Website: www.REXRoundtables.com
Email: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com
REX Roundtables Trusted Suppliers:
- Power Systems: your one stop shop for equipment, functional training, recovery and storage https://www.power-systems.com/shop
- Les Mills: offering group fitness classes and solutions. https://www.lesmills.com/
- Instinctive Insights: Profit driven marketing using data science. https://www.instinctiveinsights.com/
- HireBob.Ai: Sell memberships, service existing customers and provide motivational fitness support. https://www.hirebob.ai/
- Eleiko: supplying premium strength training equipment https://eleiko.com/en
Skip to the good part:
00:00 Introduction to the Future of Fitness Podcast
02:55 The Role of AI in Fitness
06:01 Personalization and Member Engagement
08:46 Challenges in the Fitness Industry
12:05 Skills for Gym Owners and Managers
14:59 The Trainer's Perspective on AI
17:51 AI Tools and Technologies in Fitness
21:02 Future Predictions for AI in Fitness
23:42 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
About Our Guest: Rachel is a conscious leadership coach, culture strategist, author, and founder of Conscious Arc Co. She supports leaders and seekers in raising their awareness, reconnecting with their true selves, and leading from the inside out. With a background in psychology, education, Reiki, and over a decade in corporate strategy and leadership, Rachel created the Conscious ArcTM, a holistic method guiding transformation through awareness, responsibility, and choice. Her mission is to help create a more connected, compassionate, and conscious world.
About Your Host: Justin "JT" Tamsett is a fitness industry veteran with over 30 years of experience who aims to reduce global healthcare costs by promoting physical activity. Through his company Active Management, he provides business coaching to fitness entrepreneurs, leads 8 REX Roundtables in the US and Australia, and has spoken at over 40 conferences across 23 countries. His ultimate goal is to create a world of opportunity for his daughter Zoe by helping more people move and stay healthy, while empowering gym owners to build successful businesses that contribute to a healthier society
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