On yet another soggy Saturday, I ventured out to attend the grand opening of Montecito’s newest fitness facility, Longevity Training Club.
Located at 140 Hot Springs Road, the former home of Physical Focus and just up the hill from Montecito Country Mart, the club is the creation of owner Matthew Anderson and Evan Howe.
Anderson, a strength and conditioning specialist, and Howe, a doctor of physical therapy, met two years ago when Howe opened a clinic inside another Anderson-owned gym, Titan Sports Performance.
The Longevity Training Club combines their passion for health, wellness, performance and longevity with a plan and place to help clients reach their fitness goals and optimum vitality.
The two men dreamed of a gym that gave people a holistic plan of action to combat the most common causes of mortality.
“Longevity Training Club can specifically design an individualized plan to optimize performance and longevity through a comprehensive research-based evaluation,” Howe told Noozhawk.
Getting in some reps at the new Longevity Training Club, at 140 Hot Springs Road next door to Montecito Country Mart. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo 
Longevity Training Club owner Matt Anderson, right, with his wife, Sarai, and clients Sheela and Mark Hunt at his new fitness facility at 140 Hot Springs Road in Montecito. Credit: Jenny Sims photo 
Ahhhhhh. Yes, that’s the spot. Credit: Jenny Sims photo 
One of them may be a novice. Credit: Jenny Sims photo 
No matter how frigid it’s been lately in Montecito, the cold plunge bath is still colder. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo 
Leg recovery day. Credit: Jenny Sims photo 
Need a vitamin shot in the arm? Credit: Jenny Sims photo 
Sauna time. Credit: Jenny Sims photo 
Longevity Training Club partners Matt Anderson, left, and Evan Howe. Credit: Judy Foreman / Noozhawk photo
“Our evaluation process will identify risk factors for heart disease, cancer, neurogenic disease, metabolic dysfunction and accidental fall risks through improving strength, mobility and balance deficit.”
He added that his and Anderson’s individual skill sets and expertise set them apart — for the young as well as the not-so young, the latter category of which I am reluctantly acknowledging as my own.
More than 100 people crammed into the two-story building for the open house, with both floors open to view the equipment, meet the staff, sample massage therapy and IV supplements.
Guests also snacked on healthy refreshments provided by the Santa Barbara Chef Collective, a group of private chefs serving the community with home deliveries. The organization services and maintains an on-site gym fridge at Longevity, and can prepare individual meals or for families.
Anderson and Howe’s mission is to integrate research into the crafting of therapy and interventions to combat stress, increase vitality and optimize longevity from an early age — slowing the downward slope of biological function as much as possible.
And how do we bend the curve for cognitive function, physical activity and emotional health? Get a plan and show up!
“Live long and strong!” Anderson exclaimed.
The Longevity Training Club is open 24/7 with a keypad entry for members. Services include one-on-one personal training, functional medicine, DNA/Inner Age blood screening, nutrition, physical therapy, infrared sauna, cold plunge and Normatec recovery gear, IV and vitamin shots, compression therapy, massage, body composition testing, and movement assessment.