Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Houseman
Hi Josh, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My passion for fitness began as a gymnast at a young age. That early experience taught me discipline, perseverance, and the joy of movement, which shaped my career path. During college, I worked with the Southeast Missouri State women’s gymnastics team, where I gained valuable insights into coaching and athletic development.
In 2011, I moved to St. Louis and began my journey as a personal trainer at Club Fitness. A year later, I decided to take a leap of faith and started Relentless Fitness—initially out of my garage. I later joined with three other trainers to create a group training umbrella company called DNA. While the experience was invaluable, I left in 2017 to fully focus on building a company that aligned with my vision: to change the way personal training has always been done and to start focusing on supporting the growth of personal trainers.
In November 2019, we opened our current 8,000 sq. ft. facility in South City, St. Louis. Today, Relentless Fitness is home to 14 amazing trainers, and we just celebrated our 5-year anniversary at this location.
My mission from the beginning has been twofold: to provide a space where clients can transform their lives through fitness and to support trainers in building lifelong careers. By focusing on trainer development and giving them the tools to succeed, we ensure our clients receive the best possible care. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited to see what the future holds as we continue to grow and serve our community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has been anything but smooth, but every challenge has taught me something valuable. Starting a business from scratch is both terrifying and exhilarating, with a steep learning curve. It has included sleepless nights, fear of failure, periods of uncertainty, and a lot of sacrifice.
Early on, I learned the importance of aligning with the right people in partnerships and business. Partnerships are complex and can make or break a business. Those experiences taught me to approach them more thoughtfully and intentionally moving forward.
The COVID shutdown was another significant hurdle. As a newer version of Relentless Fitness at the time, we weren’t eligible for financial relief, forcing us to survive while closed for three months. It was an incredibly challenging period—just as we felt we were hitting our stride, everything came to a halt. However, the shutdown also revealed the incredible support of our community. It strengthened our resolve and reinforced the importance of perseverance—not just for ourselves, but for the people who rely on us.
These struggles, while difficult, have shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today. They’ve taught me to adapt, make conscious decisions, and never give up on my vision of what Relentless Fitness can and will become.
We’ve been impressed with Relentless Fitness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Relentless Fitness is a membership-free personal training facility with 8,000 sq. ft. designed exclusively for personal training. Our unique model ensures that every inch of our space is optimized to serve our clients, creating an environment that facilitates achieving goals and getting results.
What truly sets us apart is our team of expert trainers. Each personal trainer at Relentless Fitness is a business owner, running their own independent training business under our umbrella. Our mission is to support their growth and development by providing the tools, mentorship, and environment they need to succeed. By empowering our trainers, we ensure they can fully focus their time and attention on helping their clients.
We specialize in a wide range of fitness areas, including weight loss, powerlifting, bodybuilding, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. This diversity allows us to pair clients with the right trainer for their specific goals, making fitness truly personal.
Our brand is built on the foundation of service first. We’ve worked hard to create a supportive community that values excellence, inclusivity, and sustainable change. Whether through one-on-one personal training, small group workouts, online training, or seasonal challenges like our “Spring Lean” transformation program, we strive to make fitness enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
Relentless Fitness isn’t just a gym; it’s a community dedicated to elevating the standard of personal training while helping clients and trainers thrive. We invite you to experience the difference by setting up a consultation to seeing how we’re changing the game in personal training.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I find a lot of inspiration and actionable advice through podcasts and YouTube content. Some of my go-to podcasts include Gary Vee, Alex Hormozi, Bedros Keuilian, Andrew Huberman, Ed Mylett, Jocko Willink, and Andy Frisella. Each offers unique insights into business, health and fitness, personal growth, and entrepreneurship, which have been instrumental in shaping how I approach both life and work.
On YouTube, I regularly watch channels like Dr. Mike Israetel/Renaissance Periodization, Mind Pump, and Squat University. These are fantastic for staying up-to-date on the latest in fitness science, programming, and practical advice to help clients and trainers alike.
These resources provide not only knowledge but also motivation to continuously grow as an entrepreneur, leader, and trainer. They’ve helped me refine my approach to both personal development and running Relentless Fitness.
Pricing:
- At Relentless Fitness, our trainers set their own pricing, reflecting their experience and specialties. On average, semi-private training sessions are around $50/hour, while private one-on-one training typically costs about $80/hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RelentlessFitnessSTL.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relentlessfitnessllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relentlessfitnessllc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@relentlessfitness9617/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/relentless-fitness-saint-louis-2
