Werner Kieser

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Werner Kieser at a lecture in Vienna , 2017

Werner Kieser (born October 18, 1940 in Bergdietikon ; † May 19, 2021 in Zurich ) was a Swiss entrepreneur and founder of a franchise chain with over 150 fitness studios , mainly in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. His wife, Gabriela Kieser, is a co-developer of the Kieser training program named after him .

Life

Kieser was trained as a carpenter . At the age of 18 he contracted a pleura while boxing and then learned about strength training through a colleague . Inspired by the first German fitness studio in Berlin and by an encounter with Arthur A. Jones , who was the first to develop training machines with adaptive resistance and who came to the conclusion that short, intensive training leads to the best results, Kieser founded sein in 1966 first strength studio in Zurich (originally on Grüngasse). In 1981 further Swiss studios followed on a franchise basis. Its first operation in Germany was opened in 1990 in Frankfurt a. M. founded, further studios were opened in 1994 in Hamburg , Cologne and Munich . In mid-2007 there were 118 Kieser Training companies in Germany and 19 in Switzerland. Kieser Training is also represented in other countries. In 2017, he and his wife sold the company to long-time managing director Michael Antonopoulos and to the board member Nils Planzer.

From 2000 to 2006 he was honorary president of the F + F School for Art and Design . Kieser completed a distance learning Master of Philosophy from the British Open University in Milton Keynes in 2011 . He described himself as an “individual anarchist” and often quoted the philosopher Max Stirner in interviews .

Werner Kieser was married to the doctor Gabriela Kieser, they lived in Zurich and in Val Müstair . He died of heart failure on May 19, 2021 at his home in Zurich at the age of 80 .

Documentation

Works (selection)

  • The soul of the muscles: strength training beyond sport and show. Walter Verlag, 1997.
  • A strong body knows no pain: health-oriented strength training according to the Kieser method. Heyne Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3453868994 .
  • The discovery of iron: stations in my life. Econ, 2008, ISBN 978-3430200479 ( autobiography ).
  • Kieser training for women: Put an end to back pain - Targeted exercises for healthy muscles - strength for everyday life. Trias, 2010, ISBN 978-3830438496 .
  • Franchising - Growth Opportunities for SMEs: A Guide for Franchisors. Gabler, 2010, ISBN 978-3834925084 .
  • Kieser training for beginners. Heyne Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3453650176 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Weaklings and the Muscle Pope: How Werner makes gravel with the sweat of others. Video in: Reporter from April 13, 2011 at 14:43 min.
  2. ↑ a b c Werner Kieser, October 18, 1940 - May 19, 2021. In: Kieser-Training.com , May 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ a b Johannes Ritter: The pioneer of strength training is dead. Obituary in: FAZ.net, May 20, 2021
  4. ↑ Muscle Pope Werner Kieser denies God, spirit and soul in: Tages-Anzeiger from April 20, 2010
  5. ↑ Fitness entrepreneur Werner Kieser: "Those who train are unattractive". In: Weltwoche 2005/49. Archived from the original ; Retrieved August 9, 2014 .
  6. ↑ Natalie Gratwohl: The fitness pioneer Werner Kieser has passed away. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , May 21, 2021.
personal data
SURNAME Kieser, Werner
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss entrepreneur
DATE OF BIRTH October 18, 1940
PLACE OF BIRTH Bergdietikon
DATE OF DEATH May 19, 2021
PLACE OF DEATH Zurich