The Club Health Physio

With an athlete’s background, Luis Ribeiro pivoted his career, thanks to knowledge and understanding of the human body, to launch London’s hottest fitness spaces in Notting Hill and Chelsea. His expertise? Physiotherapy, prevention, treatment and training.

Why London?

I moved to London determined to fulfil my ambition of working in the health and fitness industry and helping people change their lives. London is Europe’s capital of opportunities. I was convinced that it was the right place to develop my career and offer my services to the right audience that would appreciate it. And I was right!

Was it a childhood dream to work in the fitness arena?

I have always had a deep interest in sports and health. Coming from the professional football industry I was able to pinpoint gaps in the healthcare, physio and fitness fields, that we are now bridging. I wanted to make elite recovery and body maintenance accessible.

Club Health. What I was missing at the time was the ability to offer a 360º approach as we now do.

Any advice to those wanting to start out in your field?

Always be hungry to work and learn, and always listen to your client’s needs. It’s your responsibility when they put their trust in you. Especially in healthcare, their trust in you equals putting their life and well-being in your hands. Do not take that lightly. Embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and never be afraid to fail or ask for help. And put in the work!

Any plans to expand to Portugal? Not yet, but I am always open to any opportunities. I have my eye on expanding out of Europe first to serve our growing US & Middle East clients.

How was starting this business abroad for you?

It was both daunting and exciting, and I faced it with courage and perseverancestep by step. Working with other professionals helped me understand the UK market and find my niche to launch and develop Club Health. I first launched 88Physio in Knightsbridge, the seed for

Any key turning points in your life When I decided to move to London, it gave me the space to grow into the entrepreneur I aimed to be. It gave me the fertile ground to help more and more people every year to become the best version of themselves.

Words of wisdom?

I always ask my patients: Who are you at 100%? Ask yourself this question when trying to define your goals without thinking of limitations. Dream and define that 100% so you can get there.

Do you have any tips for a ‘happy’ fit body?

• Cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness.

By practising mindfulness and being present in the moment, you can tune into your body’s signals and make better decisions about exercise, nutrition, and self-care;

• Cultivate inner peace through meditation.

By regularly practising meditation, you can develop a sense of inner calm, which can help reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall well-being. It will help you to deal with the challenges in your life with more ease and grace.

• Embrace physical challenges with equanimity.

The key to a happy life is accepting what you can’t change. This applies to fitness/ wellness as well.

• Always keep moving. A still body is prone to injuries and illnesses. Find a sport, a hobby or a training regime that you enjoy so you can stick to it. Find what speaks to your soul and your body will follow.

Life motto?

“The only way to make a change is to take action.” I believe that every obstacle is an opportunity to grow and learn.

What’s the latest ’thing’ in London?

The emergence of high-intensity training studios. It is also directly linked to the rise in injuries we see from new patients turning to us after injuries occurring in HIIT or CrossFit classes. We even have injured patients from generic Pilates group classes!

Expat or local?

I am a Londoner now, but my heart will always be with my family in Portugal.

Mimi Nicklin