The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd

HCM People

Dr Jonathan Leary

It was as though the whole world woke up at the same time


You’re launching a new education platform – The Framework – tell us more
The Framework – a free-to-use platform – is our way of giving back as a luxury brand and is part of our mission to deliver education for all.

The human body doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but these trainings, which are based on my own lived-experience, offer a road map to show people how to feel better in every aspect of their lives.

The Framework is composed of seven pillars: human connection, which is at the core of everything we do; intentional environments that put our body in a better state to regenerate and raise its energetic frequencies; time training – time is a limiter, but when used properly is an expander, so this will coach people on how to maximise their time to unlock their potential.

Also stress training to harness stress as ‘resistance training’ to strengthen the mind; growth and development – offering tangible pathways for people to identify who they want to be and give them the tools to get there; appearance training – how to address external imbalances that are affecting us internally; and conventional health – speaking to the obvious and not-so-obvious metrics and methods that can enhance a health-minded lifestyle.

Looking at your journey, you launched at the start of the pandemic. What was the impact?
We never expected to close right after opening, so the first couple of months were obviously traumatic, but one positive by-product of the pandemic has been the mass awareness of health and the trajectory of self-care.

It was as though the whole world woke up at the same time. The self-care industry is going to blow up. Just as there's a gym on every corner, soon enough there will be some type of self-care facility on every corner.

As a social wellness club, your mission is to redefine social occasions, so people can celebrate with an ice bath, as opposed to a bottle of wine. How is this playing out?
People are really connecting with the social side of our offering and with each club we develop, we’re putting more emphasis on this pillar of our identity.

More members and guests are having meetings at Remedy Place and using it as an after-work hangout in place of other social options, such as happy hour. This inspired us to launch Remedy After Hours, where people can rent the club at night and work with our events team to design a bespoke experience for their needs and budget.

Have you seen social wellness percolating through the rest of the industry?
One hundred per cent and not only in our industry. Everyone is trying to identify their unique wellness edge. When we first launched Remedy Place the premise was a hypothesis, based on my experience in medical practice. Yet since 2019, with no paid advertising, we’ve enjoyed widespread enthusiasm and adoption, creating buzz in the cultural conversation, attention from industry giants and recognition from The Global Wellness Summit as a top 2023 trend.

Who are your customers turning out to be?
Pro-active people who prioritise their health and seek happiness. Although we host a range of guests from 18-year-olds up to octogenarians, our core is people in their 30s. It's an almost even split (51 per cent female) showing men are now just as invested in the self-care category.

We're inclusive, so we allow anyone to make a reservation and we cap the amount of members per club, so we have less member visits than non-members. The split is around 35/65. Although we cater to an affluent demographic, we’re seeing many people who have shifted their spending to prioritise wellness with us.

What are your expansion plans?
We’re aiming to get to 15 locations in total.

We have two clubs in construction and plan to open two a year going forward. Our third club will be in New York City’s SoHo neighbourhood. We haven’t disclosed the location of our fourth property yet, but it will be outside New York and will have the biggest footprint with the most amenities to date, setting a whole new standard for the brand.

Why did you decide to go after the home market with your Tech-Remedy Collection?
Guests asked for it over and over again. There's a growing market for creating the type of experiences we offer in the convenience of one’s own home and as we continue to lead and innovate this new self-care industry, we also want to supply it, continuing to educate and inspire.
The Tech-Remedy Collection represents a new arm of the business in product design and is a really cool vertical which may end up bigger than our brick and mortar presence. However, clubs will always be our foundation, because that’s where we create the authentic connections and communities with our guests.

Why did you choose the Remedy Roller as your first product and how does it work?
Pain is a major issue in America, which has resulted in an opioid crisis. Everyone is tight and in order to restore motion in the muscles you need to release the fascia and break down the scar tissue. The Remedy Roller is a great way of restoring movement and blood flow to the muscles, fascia and joints – it can get into every crevice of the body, like the backs of the knees, which frequently get overlooked in treatments.

It works by pushing the parts of the body against it, for example sitting on the bench and putting the feet on it and then moving up the legs. You can sit against it for your back and lean over it for abs and side muscles, or even straddle it to do the adductors.

At US$11,000 it’s still an expensive product, but it’s something which can be used every single day and will make a huge impact for anyone who’s trying to move better, eliminate pain, or alleviate any tightness in their body.

What are your distribution plans for your new fit-tech launches?
We have a long list of contacts I’ve built over the years and we’re establishing initial connections directly that way. It’s the first time we've ever done a release outside of a club, but I've consulted with our entire database of customers from gyms and hotels to country clubs and recovery centres to ensure it’s fit for purpose and is what they and their customers need.

We’re currently working on six more new Tech-Remedy products to add to the range, with the next product launch planned for later in 2024, so watch this space.

FACT FILE

Remedy Place is the brainchild of Dr Jonathan Leary, who has a doctorate in chiropractic medicine and came up with the concept while working in private practice. There are currently two clubs: the first launched in West Hollywood in 2019 and Flatiron, New York followed in 2022.

Because good design has a direct positive effect on internal physiology, all the clubs are designed down to the smallest detail, so people feel at ease as soon as they enter.

Ancient medicine is blended with modern technology to create a holistic approach to better health and to put the body into the optimal state to heal.

Offerings include breathwork ice bath classes, cryotherapy chambers, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, infrared saunas, lymphatic drainage massage, contrast suites (infrared sauna and cold plunge) and sound baths, as well as healthy food and beverage options.

Read HCM’s previous interview with Jonathan Leary at HCMmag.com/Leary1

Gallery
Click on an image to open the image gallery
company profile
Company profile: Global Project & Spa Advisory
We focus as much on profitability as we do on customer experience, in the definition of global wellness services. Daily wellness is a trend we support. We define personalised services, integrating health prevention and all experiences that enhance the sustainability of one’s wellbeing.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
Peninsula Place’s 80ft-high Galleria will feature a range of pavement cafés, shops and restaurants
I want to use engineering to push the limits of expression
"We want to impress a child with this design and find elements that excite them. I want them to think, ‘Wow, this is where the Meridian Line passes through!’"

The controversial Spanish architect opens up about his critics, what inspires him and his £1bn vision for London

The JG SkyHigh bar and lounge, with interiors by Foster + Partners and flowers by Jeff Leatham
Dana Kalczak
"If we had focused entirely on high tech in the hotel, the artistry we normally strive for would have been compromised"

Four Seasons’ vice president of design speaks to CLAD about working with Norman Foster and creating magical moments

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
The three cultural organisations are set around a flexible public space
Jakob Sand
"Maybe a project ends up looking like a BIG building, but there’s no blueprint. If you have a good idea, we will look at it, whether you’re an intern or a partner."

On BIG's French adventure

The BIG U high water barrier is 16km long, and incorporates community facilities
Kai-Uwe Bergmann
"BIG U is us starting the foundation work for a future resilient city."

The 'BIG culture ambassador' on the BIG U

features
Peter Irmscher, senior architect, Zaha Hadid
"The brief said you had to be able to walk through it with ski boots on"

A year on from the opening of Zaha Hadid’s Messner Mountain Museum, project architect Peter Irmscher talks us through the highs and lows of the development

Manuelle Gautrand
"The cities where you have good cultural buildings and facilities – it’s a way for people to mix, to share the city in a much deeper way"

The French architect and winner of the 2017 European Prize for Architecture tells us why she is determined to surprise

Two Roaming Beds (Grey) an all-night experience on roaming robot beds
Carsten Höller artist
"It’s impossible to travel down a slide without smiling"

Playful installations from the Belgian artist

cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
Ojmar introduces battery-free electronic locker to cut carbon footprints in health clubs and spas
Ojmar says the batteryless lock is easy to install and features a user-friendly interface
Megan Whitby
Smart lock manufacturer Ojmar has released the OTS20 Batteryless – the first battery-free electronic locker lock on the market. The ...
cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
cladkit product news
CSI Design Expo Americas 2024 announces new Attractions & Entertainment Technology Zone
The event will allow buyers and suppliers to meet
Magali Robathan
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters, and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd