Monarch Athletic: Improving Health & Fitness With Wattbike

In the ever-evolving world of fitness and wellness, Monarch Athletic Club stands out as a game-changer. With state-of-the-art facilities in West Hollywood and Brentwood, Monarch takes a medically driven, fully integrated approach to improving health and fitness. This isn't just a gym - it's a comprehensive wellness ecosystem designed to support members in achieving their goals. 

We caught up to with Paul Freschi, Co-Founder & Direcctor of Performance. To find out why he set up Monarch and how he incorporates Wattbike into his members training to get the results they want. 

A Conversation with Paul Freschi, Co-Founder & Director of Performance

Q1 – What is the core philosophy of Monarch?

Monarch is in the business of health optimisation and performance. Really the idea spawned by looking at helathcare and seeing that it is a broken system. Designed to profit from people in a silo from health and fitness so at monarch we wanted to break the silos and do everything we can to help you develop your health and fitness by putting it under one roof.

Q2 – What do you think sets you apart from other gyms in the area?

The thing that sets us apart is that we’ve developed a really good system of communication. We have full time physcisians, nutritionists and trainers all working cohesively together with a high level of communication. We’re making sure we address the needs of anyone who walks through the door. And if I there’s a problem and I don’t have the answer I can go to anyone round the corner in our facility to answer that.

Q3 – What is the vision for the future at Monarch in 5 years?

The next five years looks like rapid growth and expansion for Monarch. We’ve seen a great uptake and momentum in the Los Angeles area. And we’re really onto something here, but we want to grow even more in California and even out of state. 

Q4 – How long had you been aware of Wattbike and what drew you to the brand?

I had been aware of Wattbike for a while as I was a poor amateur cyclist and was intrigued by the data the Wattbike provided. As we started to open Monarch facilities, we use a lot of data to inform our practice. We initially looked at Wattbike for all of the robust testing protocols, as it was a lower barrier to entry protocol, compared to some of the running protocol tests. We are able to better manage those members who are carrying some kind of injury or issues which means getting them on a bike was a fantastic alternative. Plus gathering the amount of data which you can get from any of the test on a Wattbike, whether that was a 3 minute aerobic test, RAMP test. Which gives us so much info when profiling a member and implementing training protocols to support their goal.

Q5 – What are the key metrics you monitor?

Some of the great metrics we will get are estimated VO2 Max, everyone wants to know where they’re stand and compare as it's such a well known test, and it helps us perform a needs analysis around a member and what are their performance anchors. Plus we can get specific numbers on power output and their FTP and be a little more precision based on conditioning protocols or interval-based training.

Q6 – Outside of testing how do you incorporate the Wattbike into somebodies’ program?

I think getting the zone data is very important for us and based off of the testing we've done a lot of our members need some of that low-level Z2 Aerobic work. And having that feedback in the form of numbers and having them stay within their numbers in a particular zone, I think that really helps the members get a little bit of buy in and understanding around the data.

Q7 – What benefits does Wattbike give to the everyday gym goer just looking to improve their general fitness and health?

I think the Wattbike can be a tool to get individuals to adhere to more consistent training, than what they were used to before. Based on the data we can prescribe specific interval-based protocols and getting on the Wattbike just makes it easier. We can build specific interval-based programs for them that’s in their profile. Ge them to jump on the bike hit their protocol collect the data and within our system record that data so we can see where improvements are made and how we can push on further. 

A Comprehensive Approach to Wellness

At the heart of Monarch’s philosophy is the seamless integration of multiple health services under one roof. Members gain access to unlimited personal training, preventive medicine, and physical therapy, ensuring a personalised and holistic fitness experience. Beyond workouts, the club offers cutting-edge amenities such as an infrared sauna, cold plunge pools, and specialised recovery spaces - helping members get the most out of their training and recover efficiently.

One of Monarch’s biggest strengths is its team of highly skilled professionals. The staff includes strength and conditioning specialists, medical practitioners, physical therapists, nutritionists, and mental wellness coaches. This multidisciplinary collaboration ensures that every member receives comprehensive, expert-backed guidance tailored to their individual goals.

The Future of Fitness

Monarch Athletic Club is more than just a gym - it’s a total health and fitness experience. By seamlessly integrating expert-led services, cutting-edge facilities and equipment plus a supportive community, Monarch empowers individuals to achieve sustainable, long-term health and fitness.

For gym owners or individuals looking to elevate their training, integrating Wattbike is a game-changer. With our advanced performance tracking, data driven training protocols, and low-impact technology, Wattbike allows for smarter, more effective training. With real-time data insights enabling coaches to tailor workouts, monitor progress, and refine programs with accuracy. Beyond improving individual results, this level of customisation fosters deeper member engagement. When members can see tangible improvements and follow a structured, data-driven plan, they’re more likely to stay committed - leading to increased retention and a stronger, results-driven fitness community.

Want to find out more about how Wattbike can improve your training? 

Visit us today at https://commercial.wattbike.com/pages/distro-uk and we can help you find the best bike for your facility or training.