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(Photo from fodesep.gov).

This is a press release from the Cortland County Health Department.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently released guidance allowing gyms and fitness centers to reopen. The guidance applies to fitness activities and facilities, including, but not limited to, standalone, hotel, residential, and office gyms and fitness centers, gyms and fitness centers in higher education institutions, yoga/Pilates/barre studios, boxing/kickboxing gyms, fitness boot camps, CrossFit or other plyometric box classes, and other group fitness classes. The guidance documents can be accessed at the NY Forward website under Phase 4 industries.

Gyms and fitness centers can reopen in Cortland County starting August 24, 2020, if the following requirements are met:

Please refer to the detailed guidance for more information as well as these requirements that are specific to gyms and fitness facilities:

After the Cortland County Health Department (CCHD) has received your plan and HVAC certification, the CCHD will contact you to schedule an inspection or request additional information.

Continue to monitor the NY Forward website for information. Please call the Cortland County Health Department @ 607-758-5526 with any additional questions.

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Cortland County Health Department addresses the reopening of gyms & fitness centers - Cortland Voice

TwentyBN founders (L-R): Ingo Bax (CTO), Roland Memisevic (CEO), Moritz Mueller-Freitag (COO).

TwentyBN

In 2016, Roland Memisevic, Ingo Bax and Moritz Mueller-Freitag the three entrepreneurs behind a start-up called TwentyBN set out to create a platform that businesses could use to add a form of artificial intelligence to their products known as computer vision.

Built off the back of research carried out at Toronto University and Mila (a Quebec AI Institute), TwentyBN's platform is relatively technical and complex. But at a fundamental level, it allowed companies to build computer vision features into their products so that machines can "see" and understand what's around them. The main use case has been with virtual assistants.

The founders, who oversee a team of 30 employees spread across Toronto and Berlin,started out by licensing their platform to companies in automotive, health care, retail, and manufacturing.TwentyBN said a leading consumer device manufacturer, who cannot be named for contractual reasons, used its technology in one of their product lines.

"We thought the technology was sufficiently mature that you could give lots of Fortune 500 companies access to it and then they could make their products more interactive," Moritz Mueller-Freitag, co-founder and chief operations officer at TwentyBN, told CNBC.

But TwentyBN, which stands for Twenty Billion Neurons, was mistaken.

"The non-tech companies that we worked with don't have the in-house talent and the resources to work with this platform in a self-service way," said Mueller-Freitag.

"We realized the market didn't understand the new kinds of applications you can build (with computer vision technology)," he said. "That's when we started searching for our own products."

The trio, who have raised $12.5 million from investors including Microsoft's venture arm, M-12, decided to create a fitness app after concluding that such software could benefit from a more visual experience. The decision was also inspired by the fact that they believe that not everyone wants to pay over $1,000 for clever fitness hardware developed by companies like Tonal, Mirror and Peloton.

As the world went into lockdown, TwentyBN rolled out a fitness app on May 8 called Fitness Ally on Apple's App Store, making it instantly accessible to hundreds of millions of iPhone and iPad owners. The company ultimately hopes that Fitness Ally will end up being as popular as fitness apps like MyFitnessPal, Nike Training Club, and Strava.

The app contains a virtual fitness trainer called Allie who is there to guide the user through a series of workouts. The computer vision software within the app means Allie can "watch" the workout. Despite being little more than a virtual avatar, she'll correct poor form and pull you up for slacking if she doesn't think you're working hard enough.

"We wanted to create a product experience that was fun and that could hold them accountable," said Mueller-Freitag, adding that it can really measure performance and how you improve over time.

The app, due to be launched on Android at a later date, has been downloaded by thousands of people and two well-known tech companies have made Fitness Ally part of their employee benefits offering, but they can't be named as the deals haven't been officially announced.

The app's biggest public win is arguably a distribution partnership with GymPass, which allows people to access more than 40,000 gyms and studios around the world with one GymPass membership.

Through the partnership, Fitness Ally is offered to all of GymPass's members for free.

Fitness Ally could face some very stiff competition from Apple soon.

The iPhone-maker is working on a new app with the codename "Seymour." A person familiar with the plans told CNBC that Seymour will guide users through workouts via the iPhone and the Apple Watch.

The app is being spearheaded by Jay Blahnik, a fitness instructor and author who joined Apple in 2013, the person added.

In addition to the fitness app, TwentyBN is still licensing its platform to other companies but it's being much more selective, according to Mueller-Freitag.

TwentyBN has also created datasets that AI researchers use.AI researchers at big tech firms including Apple, Amazon and Microsoft have used TwentyBN's datasets for publishing academic papers. TwentyBN charges a small fee for access to the datasets.

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Why a Microsoft-backed start-up pivoted to a fitness app after helping Fortune 500 firms to build machines that can 'see' - CNBC

Le'Veon Bell was admittingly not himself in 2019. After sitting out the entire 2018 season, he rushed for a career low 789 yards during his first season with the Jets. But Bell, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro during his five seasons with the Steelers, is motivated to show that he is still one of the NFL's elite running backs.

Bell, 28, says he is in the best shape of his career heading into the 2020 season. He is currently at 210 pounds, about 12 pounds below his usual playing weight. Bell's hard work was recognized by Jets coach Adam Gase on Thursday. Gase, who is entering his second season in New York, said that Bell is in "phenomenal shape."

"He's probably in the best shape of anyone on our team," Gase said, via ESPN's Rich Cimini.

Bell attributes his time in the boxing ring to his vastly improved conditioning.

"Boxing is a mentality thing," Bell said, via the team's Twitter account earlier this week. "When you're boxing, you don't know how far you have to go Even when you're tired, your body is still performing. So when people are slowing down, you're still at the same speed. That's what boxing helps provide."

Bell said that his weight, speed and strength are where they are supposed to be entering his second season with the Jets. That is a far cry from where Bell said his fitness was this time a year ago.

"I had the itch to get back to playing football last year, (but) I didn't have my body ready how I needed to have my body ready to be special," said Bell, who added that his weight, speed and strength is where it is supposed to be. "This is going to be the first opportunity (with the Jets) where I get show that I can be special."

This is the third time Bell has shed significant amount of weight since coming into the NFL in 2013. Following his rookie season with the Steelers, the 6-foot-1 running back lost around 20 pounds in order to be more of a threat on the outside and in the passing game. The result was a breakout season for Bell, who amassed 2,215 all-purpose yards while earning All-Pro honors for the first time. Two years later, following a serious knee injury that prematurely ended his 2015 season, an even leaner Bell averaged a career-high 106 rushing yards per game that included a Steelers franchise record 236 yards against the Bills. He then rushed for a franchise playoff record 167 yards and two scores against Gase's Dolphins in Pittsburgh's wild card playoff win over Miami.

Despite his exceptional physical condition, the Jets are currently sharing the workload between Bell and Frank Gore, as the team is mindful to not overwork the starter. The hope is that Bell is able to reclaim his place as one of the NFL's best running backs while helping the Jets post their first winning record in five years.

"I love how nobody is really giving me a chance," Bell said. "You have to use that for fuel. This is the best I've ever felt, so I'm eager to see what I'm able to do this year."

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Adam Gase raves about Le'Veon Bell's fitness after former All-Pro says he's in the best shape of his career - CBS Sports

CrossFits new CEO and owner Eric Roza has taken on a massive task.

He has assumed responsibility of one of the worlds largest fitness brands in the midst of a global pandemic and shortly after CrossFit was rocked by a controversy involving allegations of racism and sexism within the company that alienated CrossFit gyms, athletes and sponsors.

I think Ive got a heavy masochistic streak, Roza, 52, joked, before adding that leading CrossFit has actually been a longtime ambition.

When I started doing CrossFit about 10 years ago, I very quickly wanted to get more immersed in it, I think a lot of people feel that way about CrossFit, he told CNN Business. Because I had this part of me that was also a kind of business builder, within a year or so of starting, I formed this crazy idea that one day I wanted to buy and lead CrossFit The current challenges that existed within CrossFit allowed that opportunity to materialize.

The crisis CrossFit was facing encouraged him to jump on the chance: I felt a calling. I felt this was my time to step in.

Roza, a tech entrepreneur and owner of a CrossFit gym in Colorado, became the new chief executive last month, after buying the company from founder Greg Glassman. Glassman resigned in June in the wake of intense backlash over his response to the death of George Floyd and the anti-racism movement sweeping the country.

In early June, CrossFit gyms which pay an annual fee to license the brand began dropping their affiliations after, they said, requests for the company to speak up in support of the Black Lives Matter movement went unanswered. On a June 6 call with gym owners, Glassman said CrossFit leadership was not mourning for George Floyd, according to a recording obtained by CNN Business. Glassman later posted a string of controversial tweets, sparking online outrage and prompting hundreds more gyms to cut ties with the company, along with major corporate sponsors.

Roza is already striking a markedly different tone than Glassman did in his final days with CrossFit. And he is in the process of taking steps aimed at evolving the organization and rebuilding trust with the CrossFit community.

Black lives matter, absolutely. Brown lives matter, absolutely, Roza said. Its core to everything I believe as a person. Racism, sexism are absolutely abhorrent. Were not going to tolerate them within CrossFit.

He said Glassmans comments about George Floyd created a sense of cognitive dissonance for himself and other CrossFitters between what they were hearing from the companys top leadership and their own experiences in CrossFit gyms.

We knew that CrossFit, at its best, was about as inclusive as anything wed seen, Roza said. We knew that hierarchies get stripped away in the gym and everyone is accepted there.

Roza is set to publicly address the CrossFit community for the first time since the acquisition on Wednesday in a virtual town hall.

It wont be Rozas first time leading a company.

The Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus was CEO of Datalogix, a digital marketing data and analytics firm, when it sold to Oracle in 2014. He then spent several years heading Oracles data cloud business. Roza started his gym, CrossFit Sanitas, in 2012. And more recently, hes served as an executive in residence at General Catalyst, a venture capital firm with investments in the likes of Snapchat, Airbnb and Kayak.

At CrossFit, Roza is in the process of building a more diverse leadership team and establishing the companys first-ever board of directors. He hired a leader for the companys culture and inclusion efforts, and is creating a diversity, equity and inclusion council that will be tasked with ensuring the companys continued progress.

Things that have been top of mind for me, have been having an inclusive and diverse group of folks around me, Roza said. Thats really whats going to really help us not only think about these things in the right way, but its also going to help us model and be walking the talk that were putting out there.

Roza has plenty of feedback to work with. Since the acquisition was announced, Roza said hes received thousands of emails and social media messages from CrossFit members and has had conversations with hundreds of them. Suggestions on the companys website alone ranged from fixing CrossFits culture to figuring out how to help at-risk teens get access to the sport.

Ultimately, Roza wants CrossFit to be the worlds leading platform for health, happiness and performance.

The company currently boasts 14,000 affiliate gyms in 150 countries. Roza estimates that 2 million to 3 million people around the world have tried CrossFit, but hed like that number to be 100 million. To do that, he plans to produce marketing and outreach information in multiple languages (currently, the companys materials are largely in English) and to find other ways to connect with potential customers, such as through a mobile app that facilitates at-home workouts.

In the midst of its cultural reckoning, CrossFit has also had to grapple with coronavirus. In many places, gyms were shuttered for months, and some states are still not allowing fitness centers to open.

If youre one of these 14,000 small business owners or one of the 50+ thousand trainers who coach in these gyms, youre worried about your livelihood; and if youre a member, youve lost kind of some of the meaning and purpose in your day, Roza said.

He said the company is currently working to advocate on behalf of its gyms (or boxes as CrossFit calls them) stressing the difference between other, large gyms with lots of equipment and CrossFit gyms, which offer small group fitness classes with minimal equipment. Roza added that the boxes are typically large, airy spaces, and that the company is recommending safety protocols such as increased sanitation and mask-wearing.

Roza brought in a Harvard-trained infectious disease expert to develop best practices for CrossFit gyms, as well as CrossFits first-ever chief analytics and research officer, who will monitor the companys progress as gyms reopen.

The company is also adjusting its annual world championships for the Covid-19 era.

This year, the first round of the CrossFit Games will take place virtually the top 30 men and women from 16 countries will compete from their homes or local gyms. The top five men and women will then advance to the in-person finals in California, and the whole thing will be livestreamed, since fans cant gather to watch in person.

There has always been this perception of CrossFit that its scary or its not for me, Roza said. When you find a great CrossFit gym, its none of those things that you think its going to be. For most people that walk through that door, a little magic starts to happen So Im just excited for more people to try it as a result of this and for us to earn peoples trust where weve lost it because when were not at our best, thats not good enough.

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Exclusive: He's taking over one of the world's largest fitness brands after it was rocked by scandal - KVIA El Paso

Fossil has released a new update for its Gen 5 Wear OS smartwatches that add a variety of features to the watches that arent part of standard Wear OS, including sleep and VO2 max tracking.

The bulk of the new features Fossil is adding here can be categorized as improvements for activity tracking, with the update promising better real-time fitness tracking (like heart rate, pace, distance, steps, and calories) at half the power consumption by offloading those tasks from the main processor to the QCC1110 co-processor. Fossil is also adding sleep tracking a missing feature so prominent the company had an FAQ page about it and VO2 max tracking for your overall cardio fitness level.

Fossil is also updating its battery-saving modes, allowing users to create custom profiles for specific tasks and automatically prompting them to enable extended mode to help ensure a full 24 hours of battery life per charge. The improved battery mode settings are also a key part of how Fossil is enabling sleep tracking on these year-old watches.

Lastly, Fossil is adding an updated Phone app, which adds a new tile for quick access.

While many of these features are offered on competitors like the Apple Watch or Fitbits smartwatches, whats most notable here is that Fossil has been left to add them itself, rather than Google encouraging these updates across the entire Wear OS ecosystem. In fact, compared to Wear OS planned fall update which includes moderately faster app launching and a new weather app Fossils update feels far more ambitious in its scope, especially given that its working on older hardware.

The new features should be rolling out now on Fossils Gen 5 smartwatches.

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Fossil updates its Gen 5 smartwatches with sleep tracking and more fitness features - The Verge

Photo credit: apple

From Bicycling

Apple is looking to launch a fitness subscription service, according to Bloomberg.

The fitness subscription service will likely come in the fall, along with other Apple One bundles, such as Apple TV and Apple Music.

The virtual fitness classes will be featured in an app that will work with iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV, according to Forbes.

Apple is poised to be the next brand joining in on the at-home workout boom. The coronavirus pandemic has spurred many gyms and trainers to get creative with their workout platforms, and Apple appears to be no exception.

Alongside the new iPhone release in October, Apple is reportedly releasing a series of bundles internally called Apple One. The bundles will likely include options to combine subscriptions for Apple services such as Apple TV, Apple News, and Apple Music. Additionally, as most of us continue to work out from home because of COVID-19, Apple is expected to launch a subscription-based fitness service, according to Bloomberg.

The virtual fitness classes will be featured in an app that will work with the iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV, according to Forbes. Also, Apple recently previewed watchOS 7, which will include sleep tracking and a handwashing detection feature, along with allowing users to track core training, dance, functional strength training, and cooldowns.

[Download the All Out Studio App for more amazing at-home workouts!]

While no official information has been released from Apple yet, the service may offer activity types, such as indoor running, cycling, rowing, stretching, core training, and strength training. The app will give users access to download guided fitness videos, and track your workouts, which can already be done through the Apple Watch or Activity app, according to MacRumors. Runners World reached out to Apple for comment, but has not received a response.

Apples fitness streaming services may be similar to the Nike Training Club or Peloton App, according to Forbes. The Nike Training Club app offers multi-week training programs created by Nike Master Trainers including yoga, cardio and HIIT, strength training, and mobility. Additionally, users can access nutrition strategies, and learn training and recovery strategies.

Story continues

Similarly, the Peloton app provides users with thousands of classes such as guided outdoor and treadmill running, yoga, stretching, and strength training.

Additionally, the iPhone Activity app, which links to the Apple Watch, will be renamed Fitness in iOS 14, which will launch in the fall, according to Forbes.

Bicycling will update this story as more information becomes available.

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Original post:
Apple Is Reportedly Starting a Fitness Service. Will You Sign Up? - Yahoo Lifestyle

Image via Senada Greca.

Welcome toBusy Bodies, where we ask busy Washingtonians how they balance health and fitness while working crazy hours, raising a family, and meeting the demands of the daily hustle. Knowsomeone whos killing the fitness game while getting it done (maybe its you)? Email[emailprotected]washingtonian.com.

Senada Greca is a fitness influencer with over 1.7 million Instagram followers who also runs her own business providing workout programs. Greca was born in Albania, moved to New York as a teenager, and now lives in Navy Yard.

The business school grad originally began her career in finance and sales while filming workouts for Instagram and building her fitness business on the side. Shes recently dedicated herself full-time to her fitness groupaka the Crush It programs and meal plans she creates.

Greca fell in love with health and exercise as a child in Albania, climbing trees and playing outside, and then transitioned to sports and marathons as she got older. These days, shes all about strength-training, with some yoga thrown in for active recovery.

Health and fitness have played a huge role in Grecas life and helped her find her path: I used to be a shy girl, always afraid of others opinions and impressions, she says.I have come to consciously appreciate what eating healthy and exercising can do for my body and my mind, my self-esteem, and my confidence.

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Abs / Core Sunday SAVE + LIKE + SHARE + CRUSH IT w My Crush It Crew in my BIO Does anyone else out there love climbing trees or am I the only one? Theres a special connection I have with nature and movement. As a child, I spent as much time as I could outside, and to this day, I do the same. Its so important, especially during times like these, to make sure we (safely) maintain that connection with nature. Workout deets 8-16reps for 3-4 sets. (Please use common sense and caution ) 1. Alt knee raise to leg extension 2. Hanging hello dollies 3. Hanging hollow bodies 4. Knee tucks 5. Hanging body knee tucks ***Have you checked out my programs (link in my bio) and joined the Crush It Crew??? Programs: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced & Expert. Meal plans INCLUDED. Do them anywhere with ONLY BANDS and DUMBBELLS. Also check out CrusHIIT, unlimited access to my bodyweight HIIT style, The Senada Way , workouts Remember, mind-muscle connection +. Its not how much you lift, but HOW you lift Tag me on your posts of my workouts and you might end up on my story Last, but not least, Have Fun #abworkout #coreworkout #quadsworkout #legworkout #gluteworkout #workoutvideos #gymmotivation #bodybuilding #fitnessmotivation #homeworkout #fullbodyworkout #bodyweightworkout

A post shared by Senada Greca, MBA (@senada.greca) on Aug 16, 2020 at 11:58am PDT

Heres how the full-time fitness professional gets it done:

I wake up at 5:45 AM, drink a large glass of water with half of a lemon, and start my workout at 6 AM. Currently I strength-train six-to-seven days a week, with one of the days being an active rest day. I sincerely believe that a body in motion stays in motion. By 7:30 AM, I am ready for coffee [and] a bit of nature time while walking my dog, Bud. Weather permitting, Ill sit outside in gratitude and gear up for the day. The rest of the day involves checking in on my Crush It Crew over our private Facebook group, filming the daily workout, responding to emails and DMs, and working on my two additional businesses that will soon launch. Creative workouts have always been my signature, so once the pandemic hit, it was fairly easy to reconfigure and create home workouts with limited or no equipment. The work day at times doesnt end until 9 or 10 PM, as I also work with companies that are Australia-based, so the time difference makes for a bit of an added challenge.

Of course, proper nourishment is a critical part of staying healthy. My breakfast consists of either eggs or protein-loaded oatmeal. Lunch is a protein, such as eggs, turkey, or fish, [as well as] greens. I prepare [the protein] ahead of time so as not to interrupt the flow of the day. For dinner, my partner and I enjoy cooking together on most nights. Occasionally, we do enjoy walking downstairs and hitting some of our favorite restaurants [in Navy Yard to support] local businesses, especially during these challenging times.

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EPIC Core & Upper Body exercises Straight OUTTA my CRUSH IT EXPERT program in My BIO SAVE + LIKE + SHARE + CRUSH IT Todays workout Im really, REALLY excited to see what you all think In my book, this one was EPIC. What do you think? Which exercise are you like: Dang I gotta try that one? Workout deets 8-16 reps for 3-4 sets: 1. Static V up DB press forward 2. Swimmers w pseudo planche push up 3. DB rows arms out 4. Rear delt raise w reverse fly combo 5. Alt side rows (elbows at 45 degrees) 6. Alt side DB presses w opposite side 90 degree hold 7. Sit Charles delt raises 8. Underhand DB front raises to around the world 9. DB press up to tricep extensions ***Check our my site in Bio. Programs: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced & Expert. Meal plans INCLUDED. Do them anywhere with ONLY BANDS and DUMBBELLS. Also check out CrusHIIT, unlimited access to my bodyweight HIIT style, The Senada Way , workouts Wearing @ryderwear Geo Seamless leggings and basic top, both in XS. Use code SG10 for discount #abworkout #quadsworkout #legworkout #gluteworkout #workoutvideos #gymmotivation #fitnessmotivation #hiitworkout #workoutathome #homeworkout #fullbodyworkout #bodyweightworkout

A post shared by Senada Greca, MBA (@senada.greca) on Aug 12, 2020 at 11:39am PDT

Being a business owner doesnt allow for a set schedule. The concept of a 9-to-5 and a weekend is foreign, with the work day [often] lasting for 12-plus hours. Having said that, I am mindful of incorporating pause and rest during the week and enjoying time with friends and family. I am a big believer in also including mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation. Yoga is where my body and mind connect.

It is during these times that ones own ability to overcome disease comes into question. My father battled COVID for five weeks in the ICU, and is slowly recovering. So controlling the controllable [and] prioritizing our health while our physical and mental health are in jeopardy have been [goals] for myself and my online and offline community.

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Daily Yoga Mindfulness Saturday this shouldnt take more than 15 minutes SAVE + LIKE + SHARE + CRUSH IT Who joined the LIVE CrusHIIT session this AM??? I loved so much training with you all and well do it more often. It came straight out of CrusHIIT link in my BIO After todays HIIT session live with you, I needed a bit of yoga and these poses were just right. 1. Tripod DO this second to last, and only if you have the experience and this is in your practice 2. Standing side bend 3. Cow 4. Cat 5. Upward facing dog 6. Downward facing dog 7. High lunge 8. Twisted lunge 9. Deep squat 10. Reclined spinal twist Get stronger, mentally and physically. Check out my programs (link in my bio) and join the Crush It Crew! Workouts you can do anywhere with just SHORT bands and dumbbells. Meal plans included. Or check out CrusHIIT, unlimited access to my bodyweight HIIT style, the Senada Way , workouts Dropping on Monday, this NEW @ryderwear Seamless Collection . Use code SG10 for a discount Remember, mind-muscle connection +. Its not how much you lift, but HOW you lift Tag me on your posts of my workouts and you might end up on my story Last, but not least, Have Fun #abworkout #coreworkout #quadsworkout #legworkout #gluteworkout #workoutvideos #gymmotivation #bodybuilding #fitnessmotivation #homeworkout #fullbodyworkout #bodyweightworkout #weekendvibes

A post shared by Senada Greca, MBA (@senada.greca) on Jul 11, 2020 at 11:09am PDT

I have learned over the years to not rely on a fleeting feeling such as motivation, which a lot of the time can be dictated by someones mood. I have created a daily habit of working out, which ensures I stick to an exercise regimen. I know that working out is my daily therapy. It keeps my body healthy and my mind sharp and clear. Working out has helped me overcome things like anxiety and depression, so I make sure that I [do it] whether I feel like it or not. Becauselets face itwe all have those days [where] we just dont feel like lifting a finger.

I can unwaveringly state that exercise and eating healthily has changed my life. On a very personal note, as a teenager, I suffered from eating disorders, followed by depression and anxiety. Food was my enemy, and cardio was the weapon to combat that enemy. Once I understood that food and exercise can live happily together and support a healthy life, body, and mind, not only did I free myself from these burdens, but [I also] gained a newfound strength, determination, and love for life.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Join the conversation!

Associate Editor

Mimi Montgomery joined Washingtonian in 2018. She previously was the editorial assistant at Walter Magazine in Raleigh, North Carolina, and her work has appeared in Outside Magazine, Washington City Paper, DCist, and PoPVille. Originally from North Carolina, she now lives in Adams Morgan.

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How This Fitness Influencer Balances Filming Instagram Workouts for a Million Followers With Running a Business and Practicing Mindfulness -...

The places and communities that we live in play an important role in our physical health. What we have access to on our doorstep is important to motivating or preventing our physical activity levels. This is especially the case for young people, who are less able to travel outside the community in which they live. Given that being active during our childhood and teenage years can affect our health even in adulthood, its important that teens are able to exercise near where they live.

We wanted to understand how where teenagers live influences their activity levels and fitness. We used mapping via Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and compared it against baseline data on teenage activity levels to understand how active teens are in different communities.

We also collected data on physical activity with accelerometers (which showed us how many minutes teenagers spent active either at low, medium or high intensities, or being sedentary), fitness levels with the Cooper Run Test (a 12-minute walk/run test when teenagers try and complete as many laps of their school sports hall), and blood pressure levels. We also monitored exercise motivation with a questionnaire.

We explored how the distance from a young persons home and school to leisure centres or active travel infrastructure (such as footpaths and cycle paths), as well as distance from public transport and natural spaces (including parks and woods) affect activity and fitness levels. We found that teenagers often need to travel from home to be active and that green space near schools increases activity levels. We also discovered that teens from more deprived neighbourhoods are fitter.

Our research showed that teenagers (especially girls) were more active if their homes were closer to public transport. This might be because those living near transport links may not have a car. It might also indicate teens are willing to travel to do things they like, or that they get more activity while travelling to school or to see friends.

But being able to travel to physical activities doesnt lessen the importance of local opportunities. Creating opportunities to be active within a community can improve fitness levels, and may be more accessible to people who might not be able to afford public transport.

We also found that teenagers performed better on the Cooper Run Test if their school was closer to green spaces. Schools near green spaces may be able to provide better, more active PE classes and outdoor breaks for students. Green space may also facilitate outdoor, active learning. All of these may improve overall fitness.

Green spaces near schools may also provide a safe place for young people to cycle, or spend time with friends after school. Schools with better access to natural spaces may also be in less urban areas, thus further away from high traffic areas. Having a safe area to be active is likely to allow young people to be more independent in their community.

Our findings also show that improving activity and improving fitness are not intrinsically linked, in that time spent sitting or lying down increases as physical activity does. This is especially the case with boys. It might be that teens who take part in structured, competitive sports may also have high periods of inactivity outside formal training periods. They perhaps feel they need to rest in between. So being active in this way may not mean that teenagers are fitter.

This would suggest that we should promote different types of activity (such as walking and yoga), which benefit both cardiovascular health and fitness, and may get teens moving outside of structured activities. Improving access to a variety of activities within the community will promote physical activity and improve health.

Another finding from our study was that teenagers from more deprived areas are more fit especially teenage girls. Despite being less likely to participate in structured activities, such as competitive sports, it may be that teens from less afluent areas are active out of necessity such as needing to walk or cycle to school.

With this in mind, communities should focus on promoting and maintaining active travel and infrastructure, such as cycle paths, pavements and car-free zones. Creating affordable opportunities for activity and giving teens a space to spend time with their friends locally may also continue to improve fitness levels.

The key findings of our research are important to consider. Our research shows which activities teens use to keep fit, and which factors influence their fitness levels. These findings might inform communities and help them create more opportunities to be active other than through travel. Creating more places locally for young people to live, play, and connect with friends and family might be one way communities can create more opportunities for teens to be active.

Our research also revealed the extent to which the school setting affects teenagers activity levels. What we found suggests that schools should be used as a hub for the community in order to improve fitness. Currently, school grounds are underused for play and physical activity when the teaching day ends. For teenagers, who are often less physically active, having a space for after-school activities is essential for improving fitness levels.

Being physically active from a young age can create lifelong habits that can prevent against poor health later in life. Creating more opportunities for activity within our communities will improve health for all.

Continued here:
Fitness levels in teenagers linked to where they grow up new research - The Conversation UK

(Editor's Note: For more on Club Industry's series on diversity, equity and inclusion, read our introduction storyhere.)

As a psychology professor for close to 20 years now, I have always been curious about how the mind works. But more importantly, I have always been fascinated by the impact that context, culture and socialization have on our behaviors as humans. Ironically, it wasnt until about five years ago when I started teaching sports psychology at Long Island University-Brooklyn and started collaborating with the amazing Dr. Leeja Carter that I started to dive into the world of microaggressions. These are described as everyday slights, indignities, put downs and insults that people of color, women, LGBT populations or those who are marginalized experience in their day-to-day interactions with people," according to a May-June 2007 article in American Psychologist.

It was during this time that a lightbulb went off. It was at that moment I realized that there was a name for the various slights that I had experienced in my many years as a fitness professional. And, as is the case with many microaggressions, I didnt think that deeply about them or simply brushed them off because, of course, my clients who take my classes and listen to me tell them to do burpees would not say or do anything to make me feel less than, to make me feel unseen or to be surprised at my competence. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

I quickly began to reframe a lot of my previous experiences, especially as a recurring comment I was hearing at that time forced me to assess the larger impact that microaggressions were having on my day-to-day experience. To keep this story short: I was working with someone at the time who looked enough like me that we could have been cousins, but we had enough significant physical differencesthat you could not confuse one of us for the other. My coworker was on a popular fitness-related TV show and did relatively well. Unfortunately, I was congratulated at least seven times for being on the show. Oh, wait, I almost forgot to shareI have had dreadlocks for 20 years while my coworker had a short afro at the time.

At first, I laughed it off, but then I started to come to the uncomfortable realization that these individuals did not see me. They saw an amalgamation of features and a context within which they expected to see me, but they didnt really see me.

This awkward and unnerving realization led to me paying more attention to not only how I was being perceived and responded to within the space but also how others that look and sound like me were treated. Eventually, I began facilitating focus groups to get a better grasp of the fitness milieu and the role that microaggressions had within that space. One of the issues I noticed was the dearth of women of color in these spaces, so I interviewed women of color on both ends of the spectrum (both as facilitators and clients). It became increasingly clear that these women did not feel safe in boutique fitness, and they felt unseen. They were often the only representation in the room (or within the organization). They shared various stories about being ignored and made to feel unwanted. A lot of this information would lead to my chapter in Dr. Carters book Feminist Applied Sports Psychology (2020).

As these conversations continued, I was public in my disdain for how the fitness industry seemed to ignore Black History Month when COVID-19, quarantine and a resurgence of police violence against BIPOC were at the forefront of our thoughts. This captive space that we were all in due to quarantine not only forced us to have to witness this movement and figure out how to engage in it, but it also forced the fitness industry to take a stand and publicly advocate for the lives of BIPOC. Some got it right, but most got it wrong and simply checked off the anti-racism box, posted a black square and that was the end of the allyship.

For real, sustainable and genuine changes to occur within health, wellness and fitness spaces, there have to be uncomfortable, honest and judgment-free conversations about the deleterious impact these spaces have had on BIPOC. Until these microaggressions, where they come from and the impact that they have are addressed and understood, there cant be a united and truly open path forward.

BIO

Carlos Davila is an adjunct professor at Long Island University-Brooklyn (where he teaches sports psychology at the undergraduate and graduate level) and John Jay College and Baruch (where he teaches Intro to Psychology). He also is a group exercise instructor at the Fhitting Room (a boutique HIIT studio) and a coach at 5th Ave Gym. He has an M.A. in developmental psychology. Davila has been a part of both fitness and psychology focused spaces for more than 20 years. As a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, professor of psychology, athlete and avid exerciser, Davila is acutely aware of the intersection of these spaces. As both athlete and coach, specifically within the Crossfit/HIIT space for more than 10 years, he has a dearth of insight into the culture within these spaces. His previous research into microaggresions within sporting spaces and his understanding of intersectionality allow for an analysis of fitness spaces from a varied and multi-layered perspective.

More:
Microaggressions And Me: The Realizations Of A Black Fitness Professional - Club Industry

MIAMI (CBSMiami) While many Americans have put on weight during the pandemic, for others, its inspiring them to get healthy.

Robin Foroutan is a registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She says now is a great time to jump start a health and fitness plan. The best way to stay on track is to set a schedule and stick to it.

Its not just about weight. Its really about establishing the kinds of routines and habits that promote health, Foroutan says.

For a routine to work, Foroutan says it has to be doable. Her top tips are:

Another tip from dietitians is to reduce stress as much as possible. Stress causes an increase in cortisol levels which can cause inflammation and weight gain.

Foroutan says, Just a quiet walk around the block, some kind of stress relief that really works is going to help you manage weight loss and maintain your normal weight.

Keith Morlinos two-year long weight loss journey hit a major bump back in March.

I got panicked because I couldnt go to the gym anymore, and literally overnight it closed, he says.

But he refused to lose his momentum. 230 pounds at his heaviest, Morlino is now down to 180, dropping more than 20 pounds during the pandemic.

This is the very best shape Ive ever been in in my entire life. I think, I can honestly say that, he says.

With the gym closed, Morlino started small. Morning walks turned into 90-minute workout sessions in his basement every morning. Then, he bought a bike which he now rides about 20 miles a day.

You get your clothes on, you get your mindset that morning, and once you start doing it, just be consistent with it. Just be consistent with it, he says.

Morlinos advice is to find what works for you and keep moving.

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Its Not Just About Weight: Pandemic Fitness Plans And Tips - CBS Miami

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