Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
Pierluigi Alessandri, Co-Founder and VP of Technogym - On wellness, innovation, and the spirit of Technogym
Before the sun rises, while most of the world is still asleep, Pierluigi Alessandri is already in motion. For him, early-morning training isn’t a chore – in his words, it’s a sacred ritual, guarded jealously. Three times a week, he steps into a space of quiet discipline, where he follows a personalised programme that aligns with the rhythm of the seasons: preparing in spring for the slopes of winter, and in winter for the bike rides and golf rounds of summer.
Mr. Alessandri is the co-founder and vice-president of Technogym, one of Italy’s most iconic companies. Technogym has shaped biomechanics in equipment designed for specific training, introducing the world’s first workout management software, the first fitness machines with integrated TV screens, the first internet connected equipment, and the first cloud platform dedicated to fitness and wellness; it was even a pioneer in wearable technology – well before the mobile revolution.
Without visionaries like Mr. Alessandri’s brother Nerio, companies like Technogym wouldn’t exist. What started in their family garage became one of Italy’s greatest entrepreneurial success stories and a global pioneer in the wellness and fitness industry. What we now take for granted in gyms around the world first took shape thanks to passion, precision, and a relentless commitment to innovation.
In this exclusive conversation, Mr. Alessandri shares how, for him, wellness is both a personal ritual and a global mission. From early-morning workouts to pioneering innovations at Technogym, his approach blends discipline with a deep love of Italian culture and design. We speak about the meaning of ‘made in Italy’, the company’s role in the upcoming Milano–Cortina Olympics, and how even something as simple as coffee can reflect a philosophy of living well – with purpose, balance, and beauty.
Wellness is a lifestyle that Technogym coined in 1993, which is built on the cornerstone of regular exercise, the pleasure associated with a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet – elements that enable people to live better; businesses, to be more efficient; and our country, to reduce public spending. Over the years, wellness has proved to be an opportunity for many players: businesses, governments, and citizens – and today it is recognised as a powerful social value.
Q: Technogym is one of Italy's great success stories. What does ‘Made in Italy’ mean to you beyond just quality? Does it carry a cultural or emotional significance?
A: ‘Made in Italy’ is a great legacy that has been handed down to us. So, the work that was done by our ancestors, through their emphasis on design, quality, beauty, good taste, and the spirit of la dolce vita, is an inheritance that, if properly appreciated, promoted by each entrepreneur in their own business, can be of great benefit. But like all legacies, if neglected, they risk being lost.
Q: Technogym has a long standing connection with the Olympic games. As the world turns its attention to Milano - Cortina 2026, how does it feel to support such a historic moment for Italy?
A: Technogym has been an official supplier for the last Olympics, and we are very proud now to support the Milan–Cortina edition, which will be held in our country. The Olympics are definitely a great opportunity to continue to promote the values of sport, teamwork, sacrifice in the pursuit of a goal, and the importance of physical activity for health.
Q: You won the seventh edition of the Antognolla Open. What does golf mean to you personally, and how does it fit into your vision of a balanced lifestyle?
A: There are several elements in golf that resonate with me personally: the pleasure of being outdoors, sharing a passion with friends, athletic movement, and competition. Four elements that suit my character very well and that align perfectly with the wellness lifestyle pyramid – which we promoted back in 1983 – which has three main components: healthy nutrition, movement, and a positive mental approach.
Q: What does your daily wellness routine look like? Is there a wellness philosophy you live by?
A: I train three times a week early in the morning! It’s a sacred ritual that I guard jealously. I follow a wellness programme in preparation for the sports I enjoy in my free time. In the spring, I usually start preparing myself to be in good shape for skiing in the winter. Conversely, in the winter I prepare myself for summer bike rides or days out on the golf course.
Q: As an Italian, coffee is likely a daily ritual. What’s your relationship with coffee, and do you see it as part of your wellness routine or more as a cultural pleasure?
A: Unfortunately, I am one of those Italians who is in love with coffee, and I often overdo it a little. I must say that I think it is such a pleasure that I often prepare it myself. It reminds me of a few days I spent in Naples, at a very famous café in Piazza del Plebiscito. The person in front of me at the till not only paid for his own breakfast but also left a ‘suspended coffee’. I asked out of curiosity what this meant and was amazed to discover this genuine ritual, so ingrained as to be an integral part of the local culture, where some people pay in advance for a coffee for someone who can’t afford it.