The fitness industry has come a long way—from pullout certification cards in magazines to fully accredited degree programs shaping the future of health and performance.
In this episode of The Training Room, we sat down with Josh Lehman, CEO of Lionel University, to explore his journey through the fitness industry, the evolution of education, and what the future holds for aspiring professionals.
Josh’s journey into fitness didn’t begin as a career move—it started as a childhood choice.
“The choice was either a Nintendo or a Joe Weider bench press set… I chose the bench press.”
From hosting a makeshift powerlifting meet in his bedroom to playing college football, fitness was always part of his life. But like many in the industry, there wasn’t a clear roadmap to turn that passion into a profession.
That would come later.
Josh’s first real entry into the fitness world came through a front desk job at a gym while finishing his degree at Weber State University.
That opportunity led to:
Eventually, he landed at Gold’s Gym, where he moved from sales into leadership—but something didn’t sit right.
“You’ve got to believe in your product… and I didn’t fully believe in what was happening with members.”
He saw a system focused on volume, not results—members coming in the front door and leaving just as quickly.
A turning point came through a mentor—bodybuilder and trainer Sylvia Rivera—who encouraged Josh to become a personal trainer.
At the time, there was no clear path:
Just a pullout card in a fitness magazine.
“I let that card sit on my desk for two weeks before I finally called.”
That call led to his first certification through ISSA and a seminar with legendary bodybuilder Tom Platz—marking the true beginning of his career as a coach.
If you’re just starting your journey today, the pathway is much clearer. Programs like the Lionel Certified Personal Trainer and the advanced Master Trainer program provide structured entry points into the industry.
Josh didn’t stop at coaching. He went on to:
But it was during this phase that something bigger started to take shape.
While running facilities, Josh began hosting workshops and seminars, bringing in top minds from across the industry.
That exposure sparked a realization:
Education—not just training—was the key to elevating the industry.
This insight would eventually lead him into leadership roles with organizations like NASM, WebPT, and ISSA, before joining what would become Lionel University.
Lionel University evolved from the ISSA College of Exercise Science, with a bold mission:
To professionalize the fitness industry through higher education.
You can learn more about the university’s foundation and mission on the About Lionel University page.
Historically, fitness lacked:
Lionel changed that by creating a complete educational ecosystem, which you can explore in the Programs Overview.
Compared to professions like medicine, law, or accounting, fitness is still in its infancy.
And that creates risk.
“If the profession doesn’t evolve, it’s going to get replaced.”
Josh highlights several major shifts happening right now:
The takeaway?
👉 Trainers can no longer rely on basic programming knowledge alone.
Today’s successful professionals need more than just workout knowledge. They need to understand:
“The value isn’t in writing a workout anymore—it’s in understanding what the data means.”
One of the biggest gaps in the industry has been the lack of clear educational pathways. Lionel University addresses this through stackable, accredited programs:
This structure allows students to grow their expertise while building a long-term, sustainable career.
One of Lionel University’s core strengths is its connection to the real world.
Students don’t just learn theory—they gain exposure to:
“Why should you have to learn from the best minds outside your degree program?”
At Lionel, that learning is built into the experience.
Despite massive investment in gyms and facilities, the industry faces a growing challenge:
👉 There aren’t enough qualified professionals.
At the same time:
Josh believes this must change.
“If you invest in your trainers, they stay. They grow. And your business grows with them.”
To truly evolve, the fitness industry must:
Because ultimately:
Better education leads to better outcomes—for clients, professionals, and the industry as a whole.
If there’s one message that stood out, it’s this:
“If you hang your hat on your past education, you’ll get left in the dust.”
Fitness is a rapidly evolving field. The professionals who succeed will be the ones who:
This conversation wasn’t just about one career—it was about the transformation of an entire industry.
From informal beginnings to accredited education pathways, the future of fitness is being built right now.
And at the center of it all is a simple idea:
👉 Elevate the profession, and everything else follows.
Whether you're just starting or looking to advance your career, Lionel University offers pathways to help you grow.