Why Muscle Mass Is The Key To Aging Well with Alexia Brue

What if the most important predictor of how well you age is not your bloodwork, but your skeletal muscle mass? In this episode of StarrCast, Lisa Starr sits down with Alexia Brue, Founder and CEO of The Practice, to explore the rise of healthspan based fitness and why strength training may be the most powerful intervention for long term vitality. In this conversation Alexia shares how her journey from co-founding Well+Good to launching The Practice led her to build Greenwich's first personal training studio centered on healthspan, VO2 max, body composition, and measurable fitness biomarkers. Together, they unpack how wellness is evolving from lifestyle aspiration to outcomes driven performance and why proactive strength training is essential for aging well. What You'll Learn: Why healthspan, not just lifespan, should guide your fitness strategy How skeletal muscle mass impacts insulin sensitivity, bone density, brain health, and metabolic resilience What VO2 max and zone training reveal about cardiovascular longevity How undulating periodization improves strength gains and long term muscle development Why reassessment and fitness biomarker tracking are the next evolution of personal training Episode Highlights: 03:18 – How global bathhouse research shaped Alexia's entry into the wellness industry 10:42 – The rise of Well+Good and how digital media legitimized wellness as a business category 18:27 – What healthspan really means and how to "square the curve" of aging 26:55 – Why most midlife women are under muscled and what that means for long term vitality 33:40 – Inside The Practice: one method, five systems, and outcomes driven training 41:12 – VO2 max, zone 2 cardio, and the Norwegian 4x4 protocol explained 47:06 – Why reassessment and accountability redefine modern personal training Meet the Guest: Alexia Brue is the Founder and CEO of The Practice, a personal training studio built around healthspan and measurable fitness outcomes. She is also the co-founder and former CEO of Well+Good, one of the first major digital media platforms dedicated to the business of wellness. Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned: Healthspan based training model One Method, Five Systems framework Undulating periodization VO2 max testing and anaerobic power assessment Zone 2 steady state cardio and Zone 4 and 5 metabolic training Norwegian 4x4 cardiovascular protocol Healthspan reporting and reassessment every 24 sessions Closing Insight: As Alexia explains, "Building skeletal muscle mass is upstream of almost everything." When we focus on strength, capability, and measurable fitness biomarkers, we are not chasing optimization for its own sake. We are investing in vibrant years, independence, and resilience. If you care about aging well and living fully into your 80s and 90s, this episode offers a practical roadmap grounded in science and experience. Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning? Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses Other Links: Connect with Alexia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexia-brue-1670618/ Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness, Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness