Meet Bret Huotari | Gym Owner & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bret Huotari and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Bret, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
There have been many habits that I have developed that helped me succeed in business, but one I could highlight is the genuine belief in myself. The relationship that I have developed over time with failure has helped shape my passion and love for self improvement. I think it’s so easy to look at failure as a negative thing and as something to be avoided in life and business. When I was beginning my fitness career and music career, I approached shows and sessions as a collection of failures and successes and would break them apart into pieces I thought I did really well, and area where I could improve. Taking this perspective gave me the opportunity to accept failure as part of the learning process and a chance to identify areas where I could grow. There are a lot of areas for growth along the path of reflection and betterment, and learning to get along with failure is one the most important aspects of being good to yourself as you improve, both in business and in life. Mark Twain said ” The two greatest days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why”. If you are blessed enough to find your meaning, and you start living it, failure becomes a teacher.
What should our readers know about your business?
Ascend Performance Training is a personal training studio that focuses on the entire person rather than just the physical improvements. We take a complete approach to self improvement by not only improving physical health, and appearance but also addressing the mental aspects of recovery and betterment. We do this by using the latest bio-metric data available as well as a simple approach to healthy eating habits. We work with a collection of the best fitness professionals in the industry. We have our own supplement line as well as the very first DNA based program design certification. We will be looking to break into the equipment design industry and make a difference with our own unique devices. It excites me to have the opportunity to work with so many great, passionate individuals and have the opportunity to learn and grow together! The path along the way to making this idea come true has been one that has had so many great memories. It has been difficult and worth every step and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first thing that is a must do when coming to Denver is to get into the mountains! We would hike into the front range mountains with Mount Falcon Castle Trail or Independence Trail at Pence Park and get a view of the entire city and landscape. On the way back out of the mountains it’s essential to get a coffee or food and drinks and enjoy the sun on a patio. You could stop by The Fort in Morrison or The Rooftop Tavern. Wash park is an essential stop during the day to see what Denver’s active life is all about. If you’re in Wash Park you might as well swing by Homegrown Tap & Dough for a snack. After getting some rest and relaxation if you’re looking for a great nightlife experience head on out to the brand-new Jaguar Lounge and ask for Adam, tell him Bret sent you! The other essential stops for the week would include Coors Field for a Rockies game as well as a stop by The Viewhouse in Centennial for their huge rooftop or outdoor patio. We’d close our week-long trip with a friendly golfing match at Fossil Trace, in beautiful, scenic Golden or Arrowhead Golf Course in Littleton. I almost forgot, Don’t forget to save an afternoon to stop by bar 404 on Broadway for some of the best live music in town!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe so much gratitude to my parents and the sacrifices they have made to give me these opportunities. A lot of the lessons I apply today and the person I am, and strive to be, is a combination of their successes and the lessons I learned and made my own.
I’d like to recognize some of my clients and business partners along the way, Matt & Kate Vopal, David Caruso, George Thomas, Matt Meyer, Michael Gieron, Olivia Szozda, Brian & Laurie Barmore, Tyler & Victoria Schielke, Pierre Westbrook, Joelle Horn, Tripp Parks.
I am so grateful to have had these incredible people above as friends, mentors, business partners, to learn from and to inspire me along my own personal journey of life. They have made a significant impact in my perspective and the person I am and for that I’m so thankful.
Website: https://www.ascendperformancetraining.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascend_performancetraining/
Other: https://www.thebash.com/acoustic-guitar/bret-huotari and https://sites.libsyn.com/470022/site