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KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Power Systems, a Knoxville-based fitness and sports accessory equipment industry leader, has been selected by New Zealand-based Les Mills as the exclusive United States distributor of the companys sports and fitness accessory products. Les Mills is the creator of the worlds leading group exercise programs.

Under the distributor agreement, Power Systems will exclusively market and distribute Les Mills products to fitness clubs and chains, college, university and high school athletic departments, professional personal trainers and fitness and sports training enthusiasts throughout the United States.

Power Systems is extremely proud that a world leader like Les Mills has selected our company as its partner in the United States, said Julie Pauletto, President of Power Systems. This new distributor agreement is one of several growth initiatives currently underway at Power Systems.

Commenting on the distributor agreement was Vaughan Schwass, CEO of Enterprises at Les Mills. We selected Power Systems as our exclusive U.S. distributor because it has an outstanding reputation, high-quality products and great customer service. The U.S. is a key focus area for us, so we are pleased to have the expertise of industry-leading Power Systems managing the distribution of our equipment in this key region.

About Power Systems: Power Systems is the fitness and sports accessory equipment industry leader committed to making a real difference in the health, fitness and performance needs of people at every level of experience. Since its founding in 1986, Power Systems has been recognized for its standards in customer service, product selection and on-time delivery. The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For additional information about Power Systems, visit their website at http://www.power-systems.com.

About Les Mills International: Les Mills International is the creator of 10 global group fitness programs, including BODYPUMP (weights), BODYCOMBAT (martial arts) and RPM (indoor cycling). Millions of participants every week build their fitness in a LES MILLS class, with 90,000 certified instructors teaching LES MILLS programs in 14,000 clubs around the world. From its base in Auckland, New Zealand, Les Mills International renews each exercise-to-music program every three months. For more information on Les Mills, visit http://www.lesmills.com.

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Power Systems and Les Mills International announce exclusive U.S. Distributor Agreement

CrossFit adds spirit of competition to strength and endurance activities to offer new ways to stay healthy.

While doing her warm-up, Sadee Hansen examines the posted workout and knows she is about to endure something grueling. She begins the scheduled routine, putting her body through extreme exercises to improve her score, hoping to earn a spot on the prized leader board. Hansen is one of thousands of CrossFit athletes who are combining high intensity functional exercises into a varied program that enhances strength and endurance in a competitive format.

CrossFit gives working out a purpose since you get to compete against other people, said Hansen, a senior nursing student at BYU. You also always have someone to work out with and so it keeps you going.

Athletes thrive on competition and work to be in peak physical condition. Combining jumping, climbing, weight-lifting, sprinting and other exercises into a condensed period of time has resulted in a workout on steroids. CrossFit, the sport of fitness, is a program where a workout is posted daily and athletes are timed as they complete a series of functional exercises. After your score is calculated, the athletes with the best scores are added to the leader board which motivates competition. Those who are in the top spots within their CrossFit facility qualify for local, regional and national competitions where athletes compete against one another by completing a CrossFit routine.

[CrossFit] is all based on intensity within a safe parameter, said Justin Dickson, a trainer and manager at Salt Lake City CrossFit. As long as you can move mechanically sound, the intensity of CrossFit provides a better workout.

Just seven years ago, there were only 13 CrossFit boxes, or gyms, in the United States. Today, there are more than 3,400 gyms specializing in the sport and those numbers continue to rise. What started out as a new way to work out has escalated into a popular sport from military personnel to police officers to professional athletes. This workout regime has literally turned fitness into a sport with thousands of people participating and competing in various competitions across the country. Many people find that CrossFit is the best exercise solution and are canceling their gym memberships to buy passes to CrossFit boxes.

Regular gyms just provide a facility, they do not encourage you to keep coming, said Dickson. The philosophy that we have is that we coach everybody. Everyone that comes in we put through the introductory program so they can learn the correct fundamentals. You come in and receive the coaching to get better, which separates us from regular gyms and keeps people coming.

Capturing the nation

The first group of CrossFit athletes, led by creator Gregg Glassman, began performing various weightlifting exercises in a short period of time maximizing workout efficiency. This angered traditional weightlifters and eventually caused Glassman to move to Santa Cruz, Calif., to open the first CrossFit gyms. The nature of CrossFit workouts sparked an interest in those who value physical health and resulted in a fitness crazy that has captured the attention of thousands across the country.

It is hard to describe when you havent tried it, said Brandy Wann, an owner, manager and trainer at Utah Valley CrossFit. You get hooked in a way because you are doing things and accomplishing things with other people. CrossFit is turning your workout into a sport and that is exciting.

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CrossFit offers new exercise option - CrossFit adds spirit of competition to strength and endurance activities to ...

Its boot camp season in the Hub, when gyms and exercise instructors roll out hard-core programs to whip winter bodies into shape.

April, May and June are my busiest months, said Aaron Washburn, an instructor at OutFit Boston, one of dozens of outdoor boot camp meet-up groups in and around Boston. Students meet two to three days a week in either the early morning (as early as 5:30 a.m.), lunchtime or in the evening and usually take advantage of parks by doing pushups on benches, jogging and everything in between. However, some gyms, such as Equinox of Boston, offer boot camp-like groups indoors.

If youre trying to unleash your inner G.I. Joe or Jane, Boston has a lot to offer.

BEANTOWN BOOTCAMP

beantownbootcamp.com

Beantown Bootcamp is one of the toughest get-in-shape programs in Boston. Were a mix of military-style fitness and things you would do if you were a post-college athlete, owner and instructor John Wayman said. Were definitely more hard-core.

At the Beantown Bootcamps headquarters at 90 Canal St., exercisers will do 10 to 15 minutes of dynamic stretching before setting out for Beacon Hill or the North End, where they combine running and sprinting with pushups, situps and other strength-building exercises, sometimes using kettle bells and other equipment. Annual membership: $140 per month for unlimited classes; month-to-month membership: $210. Most classes meet three days a week for four weeks. Current session began April 30; next session starts June 4.

EQUINOX

equinox.com

This high-end gym has been adding boot camp-like classes for its members. Kristy DiScipio teaches MetCon3 classes short for metabolic conditioning; the number 3 represents the amount of energy systems being worked. We nicknamed this class the Fat Incinerator, DiScipio said. Its the highest intensity class we have in our main studio.

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Get fit with intense Boston workouts

Time does not pass quickly when you're going nowhere fast. Suddenly, however, a new crop of stationary cardio exercise machines has livened up the indoor workout world, adding everything from Internet compatibility to ecology aids to creative new movement patterns. Here's some innovative aerobic body blasters worth working up a sweat for.

The iPad holder

True ES 900 recumbent: Solid, club-quality bike with comfy mesh seat and a console that holds an iPad.

Likes: Watch a movie! Email your friends! By safely and snugly holding an iPad in place with a built-in shelf, plug and small rubber grommets that raise it slightly off the surface of the bike's control panel, this becomes a multitasking exercise machine. The bike's functions are not impeded by the tablet; resistance-adjust buttons are located outside of the tablet footprint and on the handles. Other standout features: a superb, custom-fit, elastic-mesh seat with effortless reclining and length adjustability; a wide variety of programs; a self-generating motor for no-plug-in freedom; and a step-through design that aids safety for elderly or overweight users.

Dislikes: None.

Price: $2,799. (800) 426-6570; truefitness.com

It runs on you

Woodway EcoMill: Curve-shaped manual treadmill with no motor, no buttons and a running surface made of 60 tank-tread-like rubberized slats that travel around a track, rather than a conventional, continuous tread belt pulled over a hard deck by two rollers. Your steps spin an on-board generator that powers the control panel readouts and can charge your cellphone through its USB port.

Likes: You use no electricity in fact, you generate enough to power several 100-watt light bulbs; after-market products even allow you to hook it up to the grid. The running and walking experience is far more engaging, natural and joint-friendly than on a motorized treadmill. With the exception of the generator and a bit more resistance, the EcoMill is identical to the Curve model ($6,950; formerly the Speedboard) that got a rave review in this column two years ago. Woodway claims that both make you fitter than normal treadmills, burning 30% more energy at the same level of perceived exertion. For safety, the EcoMill allows you to set a maximum speed from 1 to 15 mph.

Dislikes: None (except the price).

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Gear: Cardio exercise machines add fun features

CONSUMERS' CORNER BY DIANA STONE

According to a 2011 study, Indiana is the 15th most obese state. Changing that statistic for the better means that Hoosiers need to make changes nutritionally and in the area of physical fitness.

How can we incorporate exercise into our daily schedules, when every minute seems to be already committed? Is there a simple way to make some necessary changes?

First, one has to make a commitment to make the change. Increasing the amount of daily physical activity has to become a priority. It can no longer occur only when you can squeeze it in or if you have any time leftover at the end of the day. From personal experience, I know that exercise will not happen, if that is the situation. However, it is not too late to make the change! Decide today that you are going to make exercising a priority.

Walking is only one way to incorporate exercise. Shelby County has several facilities that offer a wide variety of classes and fitness equipment. Classes are offered at many of the locations as well. Look at what is offered and how it can work with your schedule. Do some investigating and see what will meet your needs.

Another resource that is available is http://www.inshapeindiana.org. The INShape website has information on the following topics: nutrition and fitness log, reading food labels, healthy dining choices and a listing of how many calories can be burned in a 30-minute session of numerous physical activities. The website also has a listing of current opportunities for the community, such as health fairs, marathons and educational programs. This is just one of many Web resources. The American Heart Association also has a wealth of educational information in regards to nutrition and exercise.

If you choose walking, our community has several locations that make good walking courses. A few of your options are: Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department's main facility, Intelliplex park, neighborhoods and school track. If you walk 30 minutes at 3.5 miles per hour, a person weighing 154 pounds will burn 140 calories. Adults are encouraged to have at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity weekly. Schedule it!

Intelliplex was the location Sunday for the Associated Country Women of the World and the Purdue Extension Homemakers walk to raise funds to support women and children locally and worldwide. All funds were donated to programs which help with leadership skills, educational material, clean water and sanitation projects, subsistence food production and small business initiatives. Take advantage of community activities like these to exercise and help others at the same time.

Exercise for a healthier you!

Stone is the consumer and family sciences educator at the Purdue University Cooperative Extension office in Shelby County. Contact her at the Extension office at (317) 392-6460 or (888) 671-2367. E-mail stoned@purdue.edu.

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Stone: Make exercise a priority

May 3, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Extreme workouts have become all the rage but they're also raising concerns.

One U.S. military base has banned these programs over injury concerns. It's not just military personnel. Even the average person is jumping on the extreme bandwagon with some unexpected injuries.

The names say it all: Insanity, Extreme, Get Ripped in 30. The workouts aren't for the faint at heart. Today's consumer wants the maximum amount of exertion in the shortest amount of time

"I stuck with the program for almost 90 days as they advertised, and I lost almost 25 pounds in 90 days," said Scott Walton, 35.

Walton's workout of choice was P90X. Now he's graduated to P90X2. He is riding the extreme workout craze with success.

With so many home video's to choose from, many consumers are gaining muscle, losing weight, and some are also getting unexpected results.

"I thought no pain, no gain so I pushed," said patient Kathleen Quillin. "I really pushed and pushed too much and I hurt myself."

"A lot of times when they jump into it they jump too fast too much too soon, and that's when some possible injuries can occur," said Jason Hafner.

Hafner is a physical therapist at ATI Phyisical Therapy. It's where Kathleen Quillin eventually came after breaking her foot doing an extreme workout video. He says he sees a lot of patients coming in with similar stories.

It happened to ABC7's Ryan Chiaverini, a former college football athlete who still loves to play hockey as an adult. Ryan would seem the perfect candidate for any extreme workout but it even became too much for him. After seeing several doctors for a pain in his leg that left him barely able to walk, a third doctor gave him the surprise diagnoses.

Excerpt from:
Healthbeat Report: Exercise to the Extreme

By ERICA ESTEP 6 News Education Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - AKnoxCountyhigh school known for exercising the mind is also getting creative to exercise the body.

The L&N STEMAcademy was created to boost the study of science, engineering, technology and math andpreparing students for careersin those disciplines.

The school doesn't even have a gym, but that's not keeping students from getting fit. They have a one-of-a-kind physical fitness program that's getting someinterested in exercise for the first time.

"Going to STEM, that's the last thing I expected was getting fit," said freshman Josh Smith. The 15-year-old said exercise and sports weren't even on his radar. "At a typical high school, I was that one kid that you didn't want to pick for your basketball team."

But Josh has had a transformationsincethe beginning of the school year. We found him working outon resistance training equipment like a pro in on of the school's studio rooms. "I like that you can choose what you want to do," he said.

It was like a beehive of activity in one of the small rooms.Some students were dancing. Some wereboxing. Others were working on resistance bands suspended from the ceiling.

"We didn't have a whole lot of space here at the school so we were challenged with, what's the most we could do with the smallest amount of space," explained Dr. Jeff Knox, STEM and PE teacher.

Students were exercising wall to wall, allchoosing the activities they prefer. And of course, technology plays a big role, even in exercise.

"It's really neat having the Xbox Kinect," said 14-year-old freshman Deanna Rickerman. "It's activelearning, but a teacher doesn't really need to be active in it."

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Unique PE program prompts some high schoolers to enjoy exercise for 1st time

May 1, 2012

Connie K. Ho for RedOrbit.com

Getting around town has never been easier. Theres public transportation, like buses and metros. There are individual modes of transportation, such as cars and bikes. In particular, bike share programs have grown in popularity in urban centers as they allow people to exercise and help the environment by emitting less pollution. For those bike enthusiasts, its important to remember to wear a helmet while riding. However, a new study found that only 1 in 5 bikers wear their helmets.

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discovered that more than 80 percent of bike riders put themselves in life-threatening danger when they ride without a helmet. The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is affiliated with the Harvard Medical School, providing patient care, research, and teaching. It also currently ranks third in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among independent hospitals in the U.S, working on projects such as the bike share study.

Head injury accounts for about a third of all bicycle injuries and about three-quarters of bicycle related deaths, so these are some pretty shocking numbers, related lead author and emergency medicine physician, Dr. Christopher Fischer.

The findings, published in a recent issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine, were part of a study that examined bike share programs in Boston and Washington D.C.

Helmet use is associated with decreased rates of head injury and mortality in riders of all ages, with bicycle helmets decreasing the risk of head and brain injury by 65 to 88 percent, described the authors in the report.

The interest in bike share programs was first seen seen in European cities like Barcelona and Paris. There are currently 15 bike share programs in the U.S., and 30 more programs in development. The Capital Bikeshare program in Washington D.C. was the first of its kind in the nation. SmartBike D.C. offered 120 bikes at stations in Downtown and the City Center, with 1,600 subscribing for the service. Since then, the organization has over 140 stations through D.C. and Arlington.

The team of researchers collected data in Boston and Washington D.C. with the help of trained observers. They had more than 43 observation periods done over 50 hours. They gathered information near bike share sites regarding helmet usage by adult cyclists, with more than 3,000 bikers observed in the study.

We were surprised to find that of all bicyclists, more than half rode without helmets, commented Fischer in a prepared statement. But it was even more concerning to learn that four out of five bike share riders were out there without helmets.

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Bike Sharing? Stay Safe By Wearing A Helmet

Dear Colin: I'm 67 years old and would like to start an exercise program to help my arthritis and Type 2 diabetes. The problem is that I don't know where to start. My doctor fully supports my health goals but says he "isn't comfortable" giving exercise advice (beyond walking) due to "lack of exercise training in medical school." What can I do? I'm afraid of doing the exercises wrong and hurting myself.

-- Luise, Tigard

Your attitude is admirable and is the first step in effectively dealing with chronic conditions such as arthritis and Type 2 diabetes.

Millions of people hear about the impressive medicinal effects of exercise for chronic conditions through their doctors, but usually aren't given starting tools because of doctors' hectic schedules and lack of exercise prescription courses in most medical schools (Journal of the American Medical Association 2001).

Consequently, most people are told only to walk, which research shows is inadequate if you want all the incredible benefits of exercise (Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2003, 2005; Physical Therapy 2008). Strengthening exercise and stretching are crucial components of exercise programs, particularly if you're older or have conditions such as arthritis and/or diabetes (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2002, 2006).

Providing appropriate and complete exercise guidance to patients can be inconvenient for most health care providers, given how much additional time (already in short supply) and training it consumes. Nevertheless, here are a few steps to getting going on a program to fight arthritis and diabetes:

1. Decide where you're going to exercise. This will dictate the exercises for your strengthening program. You don't need to join a health club; simply having an adjustable bench and dumbbells at home will enable you to perform more than 160 exercises. A perk of health clubs is the social aspect, which some people enjoy. If you're going to join a health club, insist on a month-to-month contract so you're not locked into something long-term that you could eventually not use.

2. If possible, get professional help. I recommend getting a licensed physical therapist who has additional training in exercise therapy above and beyond physical therapy school. This not only makes the most of your time, but it's likely your insurance will cover most or all of the cost. Look for a physical therapist online or ask your doctor for a recommendation.

3. Establish the time of day you will exercise. Workouts should run 30-60 minutes and don't deviate, because getting in the habit of exercise is key to long-term adherence.

4. Outline your strengthening exercises. To ensure you're safely strengthening the right muscles, choose an exercise for your entire back, chest and thighs to simultaneously stimulate other "smaller" muscles (shoulders, abdominals, low back, hips and calves).

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Exercise programs are key to treating chronic conditions

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, Jan Knight, 73, heads to the Beech Street Center with one thought in mind: its time to exercise. While she enjoys the social interaction offered at the centerthrives on it, evenKnight is focused on proactively improving her health when her gentle aerobics class begins.

I just think it makes all the difference in the world to me if I get out and do something, Knight said. Part of it is the interaction with other people, which I thoroughly enjoy, but part of it is just knowing that I am making a positive impact on my own health.

Knight suspects if the Beech Street Center did not exist, she might spend more time sitting at home than she does exercising and interacting with her peers now.

Its not like going to the gym where everybody there is 40 years younger than you, Knight said.

She first became involved with the Council on Agings (COA) exercise programs when the organization was operating out of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in 2009.

According to Nava Niv-Vogel, COA director, the $6 million center was a necessary upgrade from when the COA was operating out of the church from 1999 to March 2009.

History of the center

The center was mostly funded by a debt exclusion passed in November 2005. The Friends of the Beech Street Center funded $1 million in project costs.

It took two years to build and opened in October 2009. The center is built on the site of the former Kendall School. Vogel said some seniors who utilize the center were students at the school as children before it burned down.

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New fitness facility benefits seniors

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