Lumin Fitness, known for its “world’s smartest fitness studio” concept, is expanding its reach by rolling out its AI personal training technology, “Lumin Solo,” in a groundbreaking partnership with Fitness Connection’s Carrollton, Texas location. This collaboration marks the first time Lumin’s AI innovations will be available outside its branded studios, making personalized, AI-driven workouts accessible to a broader audience.
The strategic alliance aims to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into traditional gym settings, offering Fitness Connection members an engaging and adaptive workout experience.
Lumin Solo: Personalized AI Training Beyond Boutique Studios
The new Lumin Solo offering provides Fitness Connection members with access to an on-demand AI trainer and a library of classes. Key features of Lumin Solo include real-time guidance that adjusts to the user’s pace, energy, and goals, built-in challenges and rewards to gamify fitness, and automatic tracking of reps and body mechanics without the need for a wearable device. Members can choose from over 500 sessions, ranging from 15 to 60 minutes in length.
Omeed Shams, co-founder and CEO of Lumin Fitness, highlighted the shift from discipline to design in personal fitness with Lumin Solo, aiming to make workouts more engaging, adaptive, and accessible. Phil Howard, CEO of Fitness Connection, expressed excitement about providing members with a workout that meets them at their individual fitness levels, emphasizing the fun, effectiveness, and personalized nature of every session.
The Core of Lumin’s AI-Powered Fitness Ecosystem
Lumin Fitness has garnered attention for its proprietary operating system, Lumin OS, which integrates artificial intelligence, spatial augmented reality, gamification, motion tracking, and personalized audio to create an immersive fitness environment. In Lumin’s own studios, this technology is manifested through wall-to-wall LED screens, motion tracking, and AI-driven coaching that offers real-time feedback on form, motivation, and workout modifications.
The system tracks personal performance metrics, suggests optimal weights and equipment, and provides in-ear coaching tailored to individual preferences. Workouts are often structured as 45-minute High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) group classes, with constantly changing routines to prevent plateaus. Members can also preview and modify their sessions based on personal needs and choose from different AI trainer personalities.
Founded in 2019 by fitness, franchising, and gaming industry veterans, including former Gold’s Gym CEO Brandon Bean and mixed-reality gaming pioneer Omeed Shams, Lumin Fitness emphasizes a gamified and hyper-personalized workout experience. This approach is designed to make fitness more accessible, engaging, and effective by providing personalized feedback and motivation without the intimidation often associated with traditional personal trainers or group classes.
Evolution and Expansion of Lumin Fitness
Lumin Fitness first launched its flagship studio in Irving-Las Colinas, Texas, in September 2023. Following this, the company rapidly pursued a franchise model to accelerate its expansion. In January 2024, Lumin Fitness signed a significant 13-unit development deal with Verge Fit Holdings, planning to open locations across key Texas markets including Austin, Houston, and Dallas over the next three years. Verge Fit Holdings expressed intentions to expand its footprint to over 100 Lumin units.
In March 2025, Lumin Fitness Cinco Ranch opened, marking the brand’s second studio. Further demonstrating its growth, Lumin finalized a second franchise agreement in June 2024, an 8-unit deal with Louisiana Fit, led by Kevin Moody, who has extensive experience with major franchise brands like Planet Fitness and Popeyes.
The partnership with Fitness Connection signifies a new phase in Lumin’s strategy, extending its innovative AI technology beyond its dedicated studios and into existing gym infrastructures. Fitness Connection has also indicated plans to expand Lumin Solo technology to its other locations in the future.
The Future of AI in the Fitness Industry
Lumin Fitness’s foray into partnering with established gym chains through Lumin Solo highlights a growing trend of integrating artificial intelligence into mainstream fitness. This move could redefine personal training, making highly individualized workout guidance more scalable and affordable. By combining cutting-edge technology with expert guidance, Lumin aims to make fitness smarter, more efficient, and more enjoyable, addressing common barriers to exercise such as uncertainty about proper form and lack of motivation.
The brand’s low-labor, high-tech model also suggests a potential shift in gym operations, allowing for greater automation and operational efficiencies, including the ability to run classes all day, even during off-peak hours. As AI continues to advance, partnerships like that between Lumin Fitness and Fitness Connection are paving the way for a more interactive, personalized, and gamified future for health and wellness.
