Rich Lauro is the founder and owner of Beyond Limits Training in the center of Columbus, Ohio. Rich also organizes the INBF Natural Buckeye Classic, an annual natural bodybuilding and figure competition. In today’s competitive marketplace fitness facility owners are challenged daily to attract clients in a tough economy. In the heart of a capital city it pays to be progressive, trendy, chic and exclusive.
Columbus is also home to one of the most well known and important bodybuilding events in the nation – the Arnold Classic. So, this town maintains high standards and assumptions for physique competitions.
With such a level of expectation for how a gym and bodybuilding event should look, feel, be and what it should deliver; you would think that factoring God into the mix might be … well at the very least unnecessary. AND- by most gym owner’s or event producer’s estimations introducing “Jesus” into the mix is outright borderline questionable and almost certainly a bad business decision.
So, we asked Rich to tell us about his gym and the annual INBF Natural Buckeye Classic that he produces. Then we asked him to tell us, “Where is God in all of this”?
Beyond Limits Training is located at 294 E. Long Street in downtown Columbus, Ohio and are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and 365 days per year due to our keycard management system and security. We have 140 members and about half do some type of personal training or classes. We also offer supplements, drinks, apparel and towel service. Additional amenities and features include adjacent parking, lockers, showers and a lounge in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.
The brands of equipment vary largely since each piece of equipment is handpicked for performance. Free weights and functional fitness equipment serve as the foundation of our programming with machines used as ancillary work, which is quite contrary to the trends of larger fitness facilities today. We have 4 trainers on staff and an intern with programming ranging from introductory general fitness and weight loss to competitive bodybuilding, strongman and athletic preparation. We offer a wide array of classes including Zumba, boot camps and circuit training from beginners to advanced athletes.
From the very moment that opening a gym in Columbus, Ohio seemed like it would be a possibility, God was there with guidance. One of my clients with a strong foundation of faith, Carol Woellhof, came to me with news that a nearby gym who had excellent equipment closed it’s doors. God had been dealing with me about the uncertainty of the gym where I previously trained, so this opened the door to perhaps do my own thing. Three years ago the economy was in a downturn, my wife had just given birth and generating start-up capital seemed impossible. I wanted to provide for my family and my wife believed in my potential as a trainer and businessman. However, the odds were stacked against us. I can remember praying in my kitchen during the morning we were supposed to pick up equipment uncertain of how to pay for it and asking God to guide the endeavor if it was supposed to be.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In the beginning of Beyond Limits Training, faith was all that we had to start the journey of opening a gym. And the same can be true for the Natural Buckeye Classic. My partner on the event Jeff Fluegeman pushed me on the idea of a bodybuilding competition and we worked very hard for a year heading into our inaugural event in 2009. We couldn’t have imagined then that we would have to move the event to a bigger venue three consecutive years becoming one of the largest drug-tested shows in the United States. During each step there were tremendous leaps of faith. I have to give God glory for these amazing ventures, because I know all that has been stacked against us and the many prayers that we have all said to do the impossible. To take God out of the picture or to downplay the hundreds of answered prayers would be unwise.
One of the first times I set foot in church with an open heart, God hit me hard when a song was being sung to give Him the glory. Shortly after that I began dating my wife Angie at that time and was preparing for a very large bodybuilding competition in New York City. I didn’t know much as a newly saved Christian, but I knew that God needed to be at that center of those two things that were pivotal to my future. Soon thereafter I proposed to my wife and earned professional status in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation. I know that God must be at the center of all things that are important to my family.
My faith is everything. Unfortunately, I’ve had to learn the hard way in many aspects. From a business perspective, I’ve grinded away at a dull axe slaving away with very little return. With my own personal competitions, I’ve done the same. I’ve put my priority on my own training and not enough priority on God. The moment I spend more time reading, praying and getting my mind right, the better off everything goes including work, family, my own training and the show. When you focus on God and family first the rest falls into place as it’s supposed to. God does not want us out of balance. And we’ve had our fair share of obstacles that make prioritization difficult due to workload. Most folks would have packed up camp and left, but my family and friends dug in with prayer. God has given me the opportunity and He has sustained it.
The second greatest commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself. What better way to serve people, than with the love of Christ. Even people who don’t know anything about God or Jesus need a warm welcome, enthusiasm and sincerity. They in fact need it the most. It makes good sense to treat people with that same love and encouragement who walk into Beyond Limits Training and compete in the Natural Buckeye Classic. I often take extra time with people and short my own workout or time for business. God rewards us for taking time to help others and our trainers are instructed to do the same.
We’ve received tremendous reviews and praise for the way we treat people. We have dozens upon dozens of client and competition testimonies. We don’t push our beliefs on people, but simply create a warm, family-friendly environment. I don’t bring my Bible onto the gym floor; instead I try to live it. The goal is to provide everyone with an awesome place to train in Beyond Limits Training and to provide a competition experience like none other at the Natural Buckeye Classic. I want people of faith or those just starting to open their eyes to God to feel comfortable talking about Christ and others to feel accepted. Life is tough and people need positivity. Most people I know would prefer to go to a place with such a warm atmosphere of peace, a focus on family and strong core values regardless of their beliefs.
The impact on people is incredible. I chose the field of personal training to help people well before I knew God. I had only been personal training for a few years and was strongly compelled to hang up my finance and banking background to help others. Sure we help people achieve fitness goals better than any other large or small gym that I’ve ever known. But more importantly we teach people to be strong mentally, have a balanced life and allow the opportunity to talk about God if the situation is right.
Business owners in general could really use more of a client-focused approach. A quality over quantity approach will lead to better retention and allow you to focus on driving new business instead of retaining it. We need to focus on strengthening our clients in every possible way otherwise they will fall short of their true potential.
I also find it absolutely essential to look to God to guide every possible aspect of our business. Opportunities will always present themselves to grow your business if you are doing a decent job. But, will it grow your business in such a way that is of the utmost respect? When it comes to growth, is it your agenda or is it God’s? We can’t get ahead of ourselves with pride or the competitive landscape will eat us alive.
Yes, fitness is nothing without strength from the inside out. It’s all about encouragement and coaching. So many people just don’t have faith in themselves to achieve a goal. Others put too much stock in their outward appearance. With ten years of experience in competitive bodybuilding and fitness, I can tell you that just because you look great and are in shape does not mean you have your act together. To be successful in life you have to be well rounded mentally, spiritually and physically.
I first began personal training in 2003 and opened Beyond Limits Training in 2010 after three years of full-time training in Columbus, Ohio. We started as an 1,800 square foot studio and were forced to move after just nine months due to facility issues. The move was a blessing in disguise as we grew into a gym with a new 4,800 square foot facility. We are now continually growing in every aspect.
As for the Buckeye Classic, Jeff Fluegeman of Nutrition X started the event in 2009. We began with 32 competitors the first year and grew to 138 competitors in 2011, which now includes the WNBF Pro Tournament of Champions and Drug Free Wheelchair Nationals. This year’s event is shaping up to be even larger. The culture and environment of this event is different from other events. We truly cater to the competitor. It’s all about providing an excellent competition experience and a great show for the spectator. We work really hard year round to continually make changes for the better and to promote the sport of natural bodybuilding and fitness.
We bring a Christian faith influence to this event in many ways. God is given glory for this event publicly in many ways. As Christians, Jeff and I pray over this event to be done in the right manner. We strive to showcase bodybuilding and fitness without the use of performance enhancing drugs and done tastefully for the whole family to attend. Many have commented that this event is just so much different than other competitions and it’s because of God. He has grown the show exponentially; many of our volunteers are Christians or people committed to hosting a warm, inviting event and even careful thought goes into the music.
I feel an increased faith influence in the gym and at this event make them even better. God wants us to carefully plan and consider the many factors of our business and events. Such endeavors can be used as a testament to what he is capable of creating when you put your faith in Him. When you prioritize God then the rest falls into place. There is less stress and struggle. God wants us to be blessed!
