IM=X + Mindbody

CEO Elyse McNergney, who founded IM=X (Integrated Movement Xercize), developed its fitness formula in the late ’90s. 

Armed with a Master of Education in exercise physiology from Columbia University in New York City, McNergney created the IM=X method. It includes an array of updated Pilates workouts aimed at building “strong hips, legs, and an extremely tough core.” 

The method paid McNergney’s own education forward, as she not only instructed clients but also taught instructors how to teach it. 

With such rigor and distinct differentiation in workout instruction, it’s no surprise that IM=X wanted to begin franchising. 

However, McNergney and other experienced instructors wanted to make a point of providing continuing education to franchisees in order to ensure the brand would maintain this level of rigor across all locations and continue to grow. 

“It was born as a program,” said IM=X President Lauren Fakete. “It’s a method Elyse created, that worked, and was backed by science. We needed to take it to the masses.” 

In order to scale, it was important IM=X had a reliable infrastructure to build a scalable foundation on. IM=X recognized Mindbody could be a partner early on to help with its reporting, and it began using the software in 1999.