Lou Hopwood - LouFit Personal Training (Part Two)

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 39 (Part Two)

 

Guest: Lou Hopwood, Owner

Business Name: Lou Fit Personal Training

Website: https://www.loufitpersonaltraining.com.au/

 

Topics Covered:

 

/ Staying in the Game for 15+ Years

In an industry where most personal trainers last just 3–5 years, Louise shares what it has taken to build and maintain a thriving regional gym in Mansfield for more than 15 years – and why sustainability matters just as much as growth.

 

/ Avoiding Burnout When You Are the Business

Early mornings, late nights, family life and her own training – Louise breaks down how she manages it all. She talks about the role of recovery, sleep and having a support team around her (myo, massage, mentors) so she can keep showing up for her clients.

 

/ From “I Can Do Everything” to Zone of Genius

Louise explains how she shifted from trying to do everything herself – bookkeeping, marketing, cleaning and more – to focusing on her zone of genius: being in the room with clients. She shares how bringing in help has allowed her to better serve her community and scale sustainably.

 

/ Client Wins That Really Matter

From being able to hold a new grandchild for an hour to living independently at 81 and feeling less socially isolated, Louise reflects on the everyday wins that define success for her and why she cares more about real life outcomes than personal bests on a barbell.

 

/ Collaboration, Community and Reading People

Louise talks about collaboration over competition in regional towns, how partnerships strengthen community, and the skill of reading people – knowing when to push, when to pull back and how to create a genuinely safe space in the gym.

 

/ Lifelong Learning and What’s Next for Lou Fit

From business mentoring to dropping in on other trainers’ classes while on holidays, Louise explains why ongoing learning is non-negotiable. She also shares what’s next for Lou Fit as her kids grow and she continues to reshape the business to work for her life, not the other way around.

 

Connect with Louise: Train with Lou from anywhere via her live virtual and in-studio classes, and get a feel for the community on Instagram: @loufitpt

 

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