Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Hunter-Swanson.
Hi Matt , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The way Aurelius Fitness came about actually started from a sad story, but with a happy ending. I grew up with my best friend and neighbor. We were on the wrestling team in high school together and trained martial arts for many years after that and always talked about one day opening a gym and how great itd be. In 2020 he unfortunately passed away from suicide and it destroyed me; I went into a really bad depression. I started drinking, I lost my job, my girlfriend broke up with me, I moved back in with my mom. It really Destroyed my life and just when I thought I’d hit rock bottom. I got into and near-death car accident when I was drunk. That’s when I truly hit rock bottom but at that same time I was just getting into a philosophy called stoicism from the ancient Greeks. I used their principles of courage, justice, wisdom, and temperance to completely change my life using fitness, boxing, and meditation and with that I started to dig myself out of the hole I built. After a while I became more confident and happy again. After a little bit I realized what I had created is what I call the stoic workout where you exercise your body, mind, and soul. Using fitness to work the body, boxing to work the mind, and meditation to work the soul. I thought if it could work for me, it could work for other people, so I started doing it with my friends helping them in my mom’s basement and they loved it and that turned into making a small gym in my sister’s garage and that led to getting the spot I’m at today, right off of university in St. Paul and I’ve been helping people build their confidence and get their life back on track. By helping them hit their fitness goals, learn how to box, and become calmer and more relaxed with guided meditations. I like to think that I am honoring my buddy with opening this gym and helping these people because that’s what he would want. And I’m really proud of myself for that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
ha ha it has not been a smooth road at all, but i think that’s the fun part. like me I’m horrible with all this new tech stuff. so, setting up all my social media website and bank stuff was a bit of a rough patch in the beginning, but really, it’s just a lot of learning on the go. they say the best way to learn is to do, and you really figure that out when you’re starting a new company. so, I’d say the toughest part has been just learning everything on the go, I mean I’ve gone to school for this but still that, nothing can prepare you for the challenges you’re going to face. but like I said that’s the fun part that’s where the love of it comes in facing new challenges every day, learning something new every day, and feeling humble and proud at the same time. I wouldn’t change it for anything
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
id say i run a small fitness studio, where im trying to revolutionize the fitness industry by combining the principles of stoicism with fitness, giving you not just a body workout but also your mind and soul. each class we will start with a tough fitness workout focusing on strength flexibility and balance for about 20 mins then move on to boxing for the second part with a about a 20 min lesson/workout and then we finish it up with about a 10-15 min meditation. i like to call it a true stoic workout, where you train the body, mind, and soul with each workout.
id say what I’m known for is running a pretty tough class. cuz i’m not gonna lie the classes can be pretty tough, but that’s what i think a workout should be, it should push you both mentally and physically. but this workout is just like any other where you can really push it or u can take it easy, the choice is up to you. but id say this one is a lil more for the people who really like to push themselves. i can promise you one thing though, you will leave the workout feeling amazing, especially after end the workout with a nice calm guided meditation.
id say what im most proud of is the fact the i created a workout that’s more than just going to the gym n lifting weights, yes we do that here but we do a lot more about coming to the gym and changing your life for the better whether it be by getting stronger or sliming down, or learning how to defend yourself and the confidence that comes with that, or its becoming a less stressed and calmer person with the meditation or if its all three. i cant tell ya how proud i am of my client and myself when they come to me and tell me how much this stoic workout has changed their lives. things like i finally asked that girl out or i asked for that raise or i stopped drinking. it makes me remember why i do this.
i think what really sets me apart from others is I’m offering three services in one class, doing a stoic workout consist of fitness, boxing , and meditation and i think you’ll be hard press to find a place that does even two of them together let alone all three. so what really sets aurelius apart is you’re going to truly get a workout for the body mind and soul
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
well i try to live by the principles and morals of the philosophy stoicism. which the main 4 are courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance, and one of the greatest books some would say thee book on stoicism is meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Anyone who reads this book, i swear it will change your life. the classic wisdom and ideas in this book are timeless. theres a reason this book has been around for almost 2000s years. if you want to learn more about stoicism or just how to live and happy and good life then id say you have to pick up meditations from marcus aurelius. i cant tell you how much its helped me in my professional and every day life. i truly dont think id be where im at without it.
Pricing:
- the its a lil pricey but its one-on-one or small group and its three services fitness, boxing, and meditation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aureliusfitness.com
- Facebook: aureliusfitness
