In this exclusive feature with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Terrence Francis, Managing Director of Functional Mind and Body Inc. (FMB), shares his inspiring journey from professional boxer and industrial business leader to wellness entrepreneur. With over 35 years of experience and 28 years in management, Terrence brings leadership, discipline, and resilience to his work.
Today, FMB is transforming wellness in underserved communities by combining brain exercises, non-contact boxing, mobility training, Zumba, music, and social connection for seniors, youth, adults, and people with disabilities. Through its innovative approach, FMB is on a mission to Ignite Minds and Engage Bodies, making wellness more inclusive, engaging, and accessible.
What inspired you to create Functional Mind and Body, and why was a mobile wellness model so important?
Functional Mind and Body grew from a family vision initiated by my daughter, Shekia, a certified Kinesiologist and Cardiovascular Technologist. When she first introduced the concept of combining brain and body wellness, I immediately became intrigued. From the onset, I saw its potential. My other daughter, Meeka, was also developing her career in wellness through psychology and Disability Studies. I began to envision the three of us building a sustainable, generational business together—one grounded in service to communities that are often underserved.
My own background also shaped the vision. As a former professional boxer, I had experienced firsthand the physical demands of the sport and developed a particular interest in brain health and healthy aging. The opportunity to bring brain and body wellness together felt both meaningful and personally aligned.
The mobile model was initially driven by necessity. We struggled to find affordable, suitable space close to home in Pickering, Ontario, and we were concerned that a fixed location might limit our ability to consistently reach underserved communities. Over time, we came to see mobility not as a constraint, but as an important part of how we could bring wellness directly to the people and communities who need them.
How can non-contact boxing support brain and body wellness for seniors and other underserved communities?
Non-contact boxing provides a unique and engaging way to support both brain and body wellness. We initially introduced boxing because we believed it would appeal to the communities we serve, and after five years, its ability to engage participants continues to surprise and encourage us.
The program combines movement with cognitive stimulation. Drawing on my boxing experience, we incorporate sequences of the six fundamental punches that require participants to focus, remember patterns, respond to visual and audible cues, and adjust their movements. Activities can be performed standing or seated and adapted to individual age, ability and comfort level, allowing participants to participate at their own pace.
We also emphasize balance/fall prevention, gait, posture, footwork and lower-body movement. For older adults, we discuss the importance of weight-bearing movement and bone health as part of an overall approach to healthy aging.
Perhaps most importantly, we make the experience enjoyable. We have found that when people are genuinely interested and engaged, they are more willing to move and participate consistently.
For younger participants, we also use boxing as a practical way to explore concepts such as force, torque, gravity, speed and acceleration, connecting wellness with learning.
Why do music, laughter, movement, knowledge sharing and social connection all belong in the same wellness program?
To us, wellness is a holistic concept. It is difficult to achieve a sense of overall well-being when we focus on only one aspect of a person’s health. In today’s fast-paced society, we recognize that creating that sense of balance is not always easy, so we bring music, laughter, movement, knowledge sharing and social connection together in one program.
Each element complements the others. Music can create a positive atmosphere and help participants feel more comfortable and engaged. Our oral cognitive activities, including riddles, language and mathematics, provide opportunities for mental stimulation while often generating laughter and conversation. These activities can also allow participants to recognize their strengths and identify areas where they may want to grow.
Knowledge-sharing is equally important. We believe that learning should be mutual, and our team aims to build trust by sharing knowledge while remaining open to learning from participants.
Ultimately, these five components help create an environment where people feel connected, challenged and encouraged. We do not claim to achieve complete wellness in every session, but by combining purposeful movement with positive social and cognitive experiences, we hope to make participation enjoyable and reduce the resistance people can sometimes feel toward exercise.
What does inclusive wellness look like in practice for people with different ages, abilities, and access to traditional fitness spaces?
For FMB, inclusion is not simply about offering the same program to everyone; it is about creating the conditions that allow each person to participate meaningfully. We recognize that this is an ongoing learning process, and we continue to refine how we serve people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds.
We begin by listening and trying to understand our participants and their environment rather than making assumptions based solely on physical or developmental observations. When entering a new environment, we also rely on the knowledge of staff and caregivers who understand the participants and their needs.
In practice, this can mean providing chairs for those who cannot stand for extended periods, modifying movements to focus on upper or lower extremities, and adjusting the pace, volume and tone of our instructions. We also use positive verbal and visual reinforcement to encourage participation and build confidence.
Our mobile model further supports inclusion by allowing us to bring programs into community settings rather than expecting everyone to access traditional fitness facilities.
Ultimately, we believe inclusive wellness requires flexibility, patience and an open mind. We listen, adapt and continue learning so that more people can benefit from purposeful movement, cognitive stimulation and connection.
What is your vision for FMB’s expansion into long-term care homes over the next few years?
Our vision for FMB’s expansion into long-term care is rooted in our longstanding commitment to underserved populations. We see this as a natural extension of our work, while recognizing that we still have much to learn as we grow.
In long-term care, we aim to deliver a well-rounded program that connects movement to practical daily activities. Programs would incorporate mobility, resistance and cardiovascular exercise alongside cognitive routines, with the goal of building resilience, maintaining independence where possible and supporting the dignity of residents.
We also believe Personal Support Workers (PSWs) deserve greater attention as an often-overlooked part of the wellness equation. We envision workplace sessions focused on career sustainability, including body mechanics, physical resilience, safe use of equipment and strategies participants can apply both at work and at home.
Importantly, we hope to work collaboratively with care teams. By helping staff recognize and document changes in residents’ abilities and Activities of Daily Living (ADL), we believe our programs can contribute to better alignment between residents’ capabilities, care plans and overall well-being.
Our goal is not simply to expand FMB, but to build meaningful partnerships that create practical, measurable value for residents, staff and the organizations that serve them.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
