The OPEX Legacy
Three essential resources to understand the OPEX Method
Live A Larger Life.
In an industry constantly chasing the next trend, something remarkable is happening. Coaches are returning to fundamentals.
They're seeking wisdom from the original pioneers who built the foundation of professional fitness coaching before Instagram, before certification proliferation, before quick-fix solutions.
The legends of coaching are being rediscovered. And few have influenced modern coaching more profoundly than OPEX Founder James FitzGerald.
Professionalizing the Coaching Industry: The Original Mission
From day one, James's vision extended far beyond creating better workouts or building a business. His mission was nothing less than transforming how the industry viewed coaching itself—evolvoing it from a side hustle into a respected profession.
This mission to professionalize coaching has been our North Star for over two decades. While many focused solely on exercises or marketing tactics, James was building a comprehensive framework that addressed the full scope of what professional coaches truly need:
A systematic approach to assessment and program design
Clear principles for client relationship development
Sustainable business models that value coaching services appropriately
Educational pathways from technician to craftsperson to master coach
With James now happily living off the grid, we've created something special to preserve and share his 30 years of coaching wisdom with both our community and the next generation of fitness professionals.
“A professional coach is someone who can consistently deliver results while earning a sustainable living. It's not enough to know exercise science; you need systems, principles, and a methodology that honors both coach and client."
James FitzGerald
This mission to professionalize coaching has been our North Star for over two decades. While many focused solely on exercises or marketing tactics, James was building a comprehensive framework that addressed the full scope of what professional coaches truly need:
A systematic approach to assessment and program design
Clear principles for client relationship development
Sustainable business models that value coaching services appropriately
Educational pathways from technician to craftsperson to master coach
With James now happily living off the grid, we've created something special to preserve and share his 30 years of coaching wisdom with both our community and the next generation of fitness professionals.
Preserving the Core Principles of an OPEX Coach
At the heart of James's legacy are the fundamental principles that define what it means to be an OPEX coach:
Honor Individuality
Recognizing that each person has unique needs, goals, and capacities that demand personalized approaches.
Prioritize Assessment
"Assess, don't guess" isn't just a catchy phrase; it's the foundation of effective coaching that eliminates guesswork.
Teach, Learn, Move, Create
The daily practice of sharing knowledge, continuing education, experiencing fitness firsthand, and designing personalized solutions.
Champion the Long Game
Valuing sustainable progress over quick fixes by "rewarding the pacer" in both client development and coaching careers.
Relationship-First Coaching
Understanding that the coach-client relationship, built through systematic consultation and communication, is the primary vehicle for lasting change.
These principles remain as relevant today as when James first articulated them—perhaps even more so in an age of automated programs and artificial intelligence.
Introducing
The OPEX
Legacy
Collection.
Three interconnected resources that provide unprecedented access to James's methodology, story, and practical coaching wisdom:
1
“It Takes 30 Years...” – The Complete Story From OPEX To CoachRx
Experience James's journey from athlete to revolutionary coach in his own words. Understanding where OPEX came from provides crucial context for why our methodology evolved as it did.
WATCH & READ HERE2
The OPEX Method – The Original Individual Design Coaching Model
A comprehensive breakdown of what makes an OPEX Coach different, including core principles, frameworks, and the complete ecosystem that powers the methodology.
READ HERE3
The AMA with James FitzGerald Archive
Years of candid video responses where James tackles real-world coaching questions, searchable by topic and continuously updated with newly discovered content.
EXPLORE AMA ARCHIVETogether, these resources provide the most complete picture ever publicly assembled (there is way more inside OPEX CCP) of James's approach to coaching—the philosophy, methodology, and practical application that have helped thousands of coaches build thriving careers while delivering truly personalized fitness.
The Real Impact
of the OPEX Method
50,000+ Coaches Transformed
Over the past two decades, more than 50,000 fitness coaches have been educated in the OPEX methodology. These aren't just certification numbers—these are individual professionals who discovered a new way to approach coaching.
Hundreds of Thousands of Clients Served
Through these coaches, the OPEX methodology has touched hundreds of thousands of lives. From working professionals to competitive athletes, from teenagers to seniors, the personalized approach of OPEX has helped people worldwide achieve what other fitness approaches couldn't, fitness for life. OPEX clients report improvements in mental health, career performance, relationship quality, and overall life satisfaction—true examples of our mission to help people "live larger lives."
What James FitzGerald created wasn't just another fitness brand or certification. It was a fundamental shift in how fitness coaching could be delivered and valued.
Before OPEX, individual design programming was largely reserved for elite athletes with substantial resources. James democratized this approach, creating systems that allow coaches to deliver truly personalized fitness to everyday people while building sustainable businesses.
This legacy continues to grow as each new OPEX coach carries these principles forward, adapting them to new contexts while honoring the foundational methodologies that make them effective.
A Legacy of Professional Excellence
Your Role in the OPEX Story
Whether you're a seasoned OPEX coach or just discovering our methodology, you're now part of this continuing legacy. The resources we've shared over the past four days aren't just educational materials—they're invitations to participate in a movement that's elevating the standard of professional coaching worldwide.
We encourage you to:
Revisit these resources regularly as your coaching practice evolves
Share your insights with fellow coaches in our community
Apply these principles in your daily work with clients
Celebrate the impact you're making as a professional coach
The future of fitness coaching isn't in algorithms or one-size-fits-all templates—it's in the hands of professional coaches who understand how to blend science, art, and human connection to create truly personalized fitness experiences.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
To professional coaching excellence,