The team at What’s New in Fitness first visited TotalFusion Chermside back in 2018, when it was Australia’s newest studio concept – a heat-controlled, premium health and fitness facility built on the ethos of ‘movement as a way of life’ and a completely holistic offering that nurtures the mind and the body.
The business has gone from strength to strength over the past 6 years with five locations across the Brisbane region and we thought it was time to touch base with the team as they have just announced an exciting expansion to their original Westfield Chermside location.
TotalFusion Chermside Announces Expansion Plans
Luxury fitness and wellness brand TotalFusion has announced exciting plans to expand its’ flagship location at Chermside Westfield. The new, 4,600 square metre facility will include a sixth group fitness studio dedicated to TotalFusion’s indoor Run Club, as well as a new, cutting edge gym floor with premium level equipment.
Members will be able to relax and rejuvenate in the luxurious rooftop wellness centre, offering both the opportunity to connect with friends in the café and smoothie bar, as well as the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of life, soaking up the sun on a daybed. Keeping with its’ ethos of offering a holistic approach to health and wellness, the upgraded facility’s features will include:
- Outdoor hot and cold plunge pools;
- Both infrared and traditional saunas;
- Steam rooms;
- Cryotherapy;
- Full-body red light therapy;
- Pulsed Electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF); and
- A suite of recovery tools.
TotalFusion are committed to being able to provide a safe haven for even the busiest of parents to prioritise their health and wellness by providing a dedicated creche and playground. The Chermside expansion will even include allied health services to support members’ overall well-being.
Interview with TotalFusion founder Leon McNiece
You can read our interview with creator of TotalFusion and serial entrepreneur, Leon McNiece here. The conversation took place in April 2018, after the dust settled on the pre-sale, but the core values of what embodies TotalFusion remains the same.
WNiF: From the very first moment you step into TotalFusion, there is a sense of calm from the open space, warmth from the décor, and community from the echo of laughter. Hand on heart, was that 100% intentional?
Leon McNiece: Absolutely! We really wanted to create a community, a space where people, both staff and members, really enjoyed spending time. We hope that the vibe people get when walking through the door, entices them to come back regularly and move their bodies.
WNiF: Westfield Chermside is the second largest shopping centre in the Australia. Historically, the lure as a tenant to a huge catchment of ‘passing trade’ does not always transfer to foundation memberships. What was the reaction from the local community during your pre-sale?
Leon: Even though the TotalFusion concept was quite foreign to most people, we had a very strong pre-sale, which shows how much there is a demand for mindful training.
WNiF: Your website describes the facility as a ‘movement studio’. What does that mean?
Leon: Our description of our facility as a ‘Movement Studio’ was thus because we created a hub for a multitude of styles of movement and types of exercise. Our belief is that it is important to expose yourself to a wide variety of exercise – different ways of moving and challenging the body. In doing so, you are able to stimulate your body to become more flexible, mobile, improve balance, agility and strength.
Having variety in the way you move / exercise helps you be more motivated. Our bodies need different types of movement depending on how we are feeling on any given day; we encourage our members to be mindful and to try and become aware of what their bodies need from day to day. For example, if you were feeling very energetic, you would be well suited to a high energy class such as a Hot Fusion Class, Afterburn, Battle Ropes and Kettlebells, or Cycle. If you were feeling less energetic, you might choose a Yin Yoga or Aerial Yoga gentle flow.
Our members are encouraged to come in every day, as we are designed to be moving far more than most of us do in our daily lives, and we need to promote movement in general, all types, not just high intensity exercise.
WNiF: What makes TotalFusion such a unique facility?
Leon: We thrive on the experiences we craft in each minute of every class and for each and every person we guide from the moment they walk through our doors. However, our uniqueness lies in the fact that we are a ‘one stop shop’. One membership with us takes care of all your movement needs.
Prior to this, people needed to obtain 3-4 different memberships to enjoy their gym / fitness facility, yoga classes and Pilates.
WNiF: This is studio number one, with Mt Gravatt and Newstead opening in March and May 2018 respectively. Is TotalFusion looking to operate as a franchise model and if so, are you actively seeking franchisees?
Leon We have already been approached by interested parties and are about to open this up to further investment shortly. Watch this space!
WNiF: There are currently over 130 group classes running every week. Have TotalFusion designed their own brand or style of class or do you employ third party choreographed routines that rotate every 12 weeks or so?
Leon: We have designed our own brand and style of class, and currently our talented instructors are enjoying creative freedom within guidelines, and creating their own classes. Moving forward we may move into creating choreographed versions to ensure quality control.
WNiF: There are many contributing factors to operating a successful business. The instructor-member relationship / connection is at the core of that. How do you approach successful recruitment for TotalFusion in order to deliver above and beyond member expectations and secure the next visit?
Leon: We recognise both the importance and value of having staff that share the same vision for TotalFusion as this translates from the experience of classes to the social vibe of each studio. We are very fortunate to have a great team who all contribute to ‘the next visit’.
WNiF: Health food bar with fresh meals on demand, a tonic bar, bone broth station and kombucha on tap, its plain to see that TotalFusion is not just about the five temperature-controlled studios and class offerings. What’s the mission?
Leon: At TotalFusion, we strive to change minds, move bodies, do things differently and keep it real. Fun, mindful movement and innovation is at our core. Our mission is to help more people use movement as a way of life, and improve health and well being through exercise as well as what they eat and drink.
In achieving this, our health bar offering makes up a huge part of this. The reason behind our total food and beverage offering is so our members can benefit from our years of exploring and researching the health and fitness space, while also saving them time sourcing all these healthy (and tasty) products of which many are not commonly found in shops.
WNiF: How do you structure your membership?
Leon: We offer a range of flexible membership options tailored to suit each member’s lifestyle goals, all of which include unlimited access to over 30 different class styles.
WNiF: What have been your two most successful marketing initiatives?
Leon: Word of mouth / referrals are very strong for TotalFusion, which we feel is a testament to our efforts as a team in creating and delivering an enjoyable experience every time you come to the studio. We are also proactive through targeted email campaigns to the local community and the workforce here at Westfield Chermside.
TotalFusion has stayed true to their mission to empower individuals with the resources they need to achieve their full potential. The Chermside expansion will provide an unparalleled environment where wellness and luxury meet. Visit their website to find out more and stay in the loop for updates.
Our interview with Leon McNiece originally appeared in the What’s New in Fitness Magazine – Autumn 2018 Edition.
Check out these articles:
The Wait Is Over For Xplor Gym Australia and New Zealand!
The wait is over for Australian and New Zealand fitness businesses as Xplor Technologies make gym management a whole lot easier with the launch of Xplor Gym. This software is an all-in-one platform that aims to streamline everything fitness businesses deal with daily – managing memberships, scheduling, payments, and even member engagement. It’s cloud-based, meaning
Boutique Fitness Studios and Viva Leisure Join Forces
In an exciting move for future franchisees, Viva Leisure – one of Australia’s biggest operators in the fitness and leisure industry – has made a strategic investment in Boutique Fitness Studios to grow some of the world’s most iconic fitness brands on home soil. What could this mean for the Aussie fitness industry having Boutique
Launch into Spring with Steptember
As the baggy hoodies and track pants get pushed to the back of the wardrobe and our white winter legs start to emerge, it’s a great time to commit to some increased exercise. STEPtember is a perfect challenge to kick start the transition to warmer months and this year, STEPtember and legendary underwear brand Step
Healthy Bones Action Week
12th – 18th August 2024 is Healthy Bones Action Week, which aims to highlight the painful and potentially crippling effects of osteoporosis, calling on Australians to make a commitment to bone-healthy food, activity and sunshine. The Importance of Bone Health Bone health is vastly underestimated by many of us and often falls under the radar
Preparing for HYROX with World Champs Qualifier Sammy Hankins
Once reserved for elite athletes only, endurance racing events are more accessible than ever for the fitness enthusiast who wants to challenge themselves without spending years on a professional level racing circuit. Maybe it’s that snowball effect of seeing more people you know and relate to doing it via social media, but it seems that
Search4Hurt 2024: Here’s What to Expect
The Olympics has that wonderful way of igniting our competitive spirit & letting us see some of the world’s most incredible athletes push themselves to the very best of their abilities. If you love watching humans pushing their physical boundaries as much as we do here at WNiF, we are excited to announce that there’s
Get Ready for the 2024 AusFitness Expo Sydney!
This article was updated September 2024. Thinking of attending the Sydney AusFitness Expo 2024? Excitement is reaching fever pitch as the dates draw closer. AusFitness Expo is a great event for anyone interested in fitness, health, and wellness. Whether you’re all about maintaining your physical fitness and the latest exercise routines and supplements, or you’re
Elite Performance Testing for the Everyday Athlete
In an Australian first, Elite NRL Strength & Conditioning Coach, Aaron Sculli is bringing performance testing to the masses. Whether you are training for a sport, looking to optimise your performance in the gym, or looking to understand your injury risk profile, this ground breaking lab will give you an insight to up your game.
BFT Franchise Of The Year… again!
It’s been a massive few years for fitness giant BFT. Most recently their efforts have been recognised by being awarded the 2024 APAC Franchise of the Year award at the Beyond Activ Summit, held in Singapore. BFT has taken out the title three times over the past four years, cementing its dominance as a business