January is a time of new beginnings, resolutions and positive changes. Some of the most common goals fall under the umbrella of living a healthier lifestyle: lose weight, eat nutritiously, improve heart health, work out consistently and decrease stress. All of these and more can be achieved at Max Fitness Aiken. Mitch Hearne, regional director and partner, along with Justin Fouse, owner of training company Elevate Fitness Coaching, work together to make Max a family-oriented fitness center where members’ health and fitness goals are a top priority.
Originally from Nashville, TN, Hearne came to Aiken to play baseball at USC Aiken. After graduation, he started working for Gold’s Gym and soon became a manager using his passion for exercise and fitness. In December 2020, Hearne became a partner with majority owner Cliff Hall. They rebranded to Max Fitness in 2021. The gym has been a success ever since and continues to grow. As Hearne began to build the new Max, he saw the need for individualized training opportunities and reconnected with his long-time friend and business peer, Fouse. Fouse had years of training experience under his belt, and Hearne knew he’d be perfect to add personal training, small group sessions, and the PUSH class, a fun and dynamic hour-long class guided by heart rate technology. Together, these two are providing members with options for individualized workouts and goals for ultimate success.
Some people find gyms intimidating, but that’s not the case at Max Fitness Aiken. The facility offers so much more to members than weights and treadmills. There’s a large pool available for swimming laps or taking the water aerobics classes. There is also a women-only gym area that offers a bit more privacy. The large group classes are popular and include Body Pump, a weight and repetition-centered class set to music, along with yoga, line dancing, Zumba, Silver Sneakers, Body Flow, and various spin classes. Teens who are 13 and older can work out at Max and set up sessions with trainers. Childcare is also available for working parents. Max offers every opportunity for members to come in and achieve their fitness goals.
It’s also important at Max that members understand where they start physically and where they want to end up. Fouse says their goal is to “add value to new and existing memberships” by completing a biometric scan to combine the physical fitness level and an internal health assessment. This helps clients set and achieve goals and make exercise, nutrition and health a lifelong journey.
Hearne and Fouse are small business owners who are very involved in the Aiken community. Max Fitness sponsors community runs like the Palmetto Peach Run and Run United. They participate in Children’s Place events and Celebrity Waiter Night and run different fundraisers throughout the year. Max is more than working out to Hearne and Fouse. It is about creating lifelong relationships, helping people along their wellness journeys, and supporting the Aiken community.
When asked what sets Max Fitness apart from other gyms, Hearne says, “We have something for everyone- every fitness level and every age group.” Max isn’t another corporate, big-box gym; it's a place to focus on health and well-being while experiencing a family atmosphere and a sense of community.
Max Fitness Aiken is open 24 hours during the week and has weekend hours. Visit their website, maxfitnessaiken.com, for more information on hours, classes, becoming a member, or trying it out with a free pass. It’s a great place to start your journey!
We have something for everyone- every fitness level and every age group.
Max isn’t another corporate, big-box gym.