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ST. LOUIS, Nov. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ClubReadyand iKizmetare excited to announce a new partnership to bring a predictive approach to fitness studio growth.

Fitness studios collect data from hundreds of members and prospective members, across multiple channels, over several years, representing thousands of transactions. Studio owners work to derive insights from that data and then draw on those insights to shape business decisions and, ultimately, improve business performance. But many owners struggle to consolidate all of this information into a report that actually means something and that can be used going forward.

Partnering with iKizmet, ClubReady customers can now easily develop dashboards that visually demonstrate performance against revenue, recruitment, and member acquisition KPIs. Additionally, owners can easily analyze member utilization and spend behavior.

"We love ClubReady and iKizmet integration,"says Joe Demarco, owner of several CycleBar studios in New York. "It's great to have visibility into our studios and we are really seeing the impact it has on our areas of focus."

With the data easily accessible on a mobile device, and reporting pushed via email sends, ClubReady customers can begin to pivot their business in real-time by adjusting marketing strategy, staffing, and class scheduling. Studio owners can own their data, access performance KPIs from anywhere, and respond to their business at all times.

"iKizmet is the equivalent of a FitBit for your business,"explains Founder, Andres Moran. "Setting goals, tracking your progress, and making your business healthier has never been so easy."

The ClubReady and iKizmet partnership is allowing studios to more accurately goal-set and forecast their business performance. ClubReady customers can analyze their revenue but they can now also factor in conversion and churn metrics in order to establish the KPIs needed throughout the entire member relationship lifecycle.

"Simply put, iKizmet connects you to your data. IKizmet is a data visualization and analytics platform, which connects your ClubReady data to provide real-time, actionable, synced information,"says ClubReady's Vice President of Business Development, Fred Elias. "Their numerous dashboards provided the insight necessary for your studio to improve member acquisition and retention, revenue growth and marketing ROI."

On Dec. 12, ClubReady will host a webinar with iKizmet to discuss the changing landscape in fitness studio analytics. Additional details and registration can be found here.

iKizmet

iKizmet is an analytics software enabling fitness and wellness businesses to track towards their goals with a comprehensive and customizable view of their day-to-day operations. Founded in 2014 by former MINDBODY founding member Andres Moran, iKizmet modernizes data reporting by providing a highly-intuitive and visual reporting solution for fitness business owners. Learn more at ikizmet.com.

ClubReady

ClubReady is the leading provider of full-suite studio fitness and wellness club management software and services. Founded in 2009, ClubReady has been committed to building the studio fitness business of the future. The ClubReady Fitness Management Platform provides clients a full membership management and engagement experience to attract, retain and better serve their members. ClubReady's Performance IQ enhances this platform with fitness tracking software that delivers high quality, real-time, individual and group fitness results leading to higher member engagement, retention, and loyalty. ClubReady's GYM HQ supports the mission by providing bundled club services, like customer service agents, payroll, accounting, and operations support.

Clubessential Holdings LLC

Clubessential Holdings is a Battery Ventures company, fulfilling their global mission of investing in and creating cutting-edge, category-defining businesses by providing a full suite of membership and club management Software as a Service solutions to private clubs, health & fitness clubs, and college athletic programs. Across three brands - Clubessential, ClubReady, and PrestoSports - the company offers a variety of forward-thinking technology and services which help more than 6,000 customers attract, engage, and retain members and fans for life. For more information, visit the following websites: Clubessential http://www.clubessential.com; ClubReady http://www.clubready.com; PrestoSports http://www.prestosports.com; and Battery Ventures https://www.battery.com

Media Contact:Marilyn CoxPhone: 513-322-4194Email: mcox@clubessential.com

SOURCE ClubReady, LLC

https://www.clubready.club

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ClubReady and iKizmet Bring a Predictive Approach to Fitness Studio Growth - PRNewswire

Fit Stop husband-and-wife duo Rob and Kaleigh KryslRob and Kaleigh Krysl

One of the first times I met Rob and Kaleigh Krysl I stumbled out of a brutal workout at my gym and puked my guts out directly in front of their food truck.

The bad news is, I was absolutely humiliated in front of dozens of other gym members and smoothie drinkers. The good news is, a cute guy from the gym came to check on me and afterwards, Rob and Kaleigh husband and wife owners of the Fit Stop smoothie truck were totally cool about the ejection. Former personal trainers who met at a supplement store, Rob and Kaleigh have been passionate about health and fitness for most of their lives. My little incident was not the first time theyve seen someone work out until they puked.

After moving to Tampa in 2017 from Kansas City, the Fit Stop has been trucking it across bridges all over the Bay area to visit gyms and attend athletic events, slinging protein shakes for athletes and gym bunnies alike. The Fit Stop offers a wide variety of flavors and easily modifiable ingredients to cater to many popular diets and nutrition plans. Paleo? Low Carb? Vegan? Counting macros? Theyve got you covered.

Rob and Kaleigh Krysl

The Fit Stop also recently opened up a brick and mortar storefront in Seminole to broaden their business. I got the chance to speak with Kaleigh Krysl and hear what she had to say about how she and Rob got started, how it is to work in a cramped space with your spouse and where the Fit Stop is headed in the future.

Visit the Fit Stops new location at 10763 Park Blvd N. in Seminole, or peep their social media for updates on where theyll be posting up around town.

Where did you get the idea for Fit Stop?

Being in the fitness industry and working as a manager and personal trainer of a gym, we wanted to create a unique combination of on-the-go healthy items. While dieting many times, we found comfort in watching the Great Food Truck Race. Pairing the love of the show with our limited culinary experience, we formed the Fit Stop: bringing convenient, nutritionally-focused foods to the local fitness community.

How did you and Rob meet?

I was working at a supplement store back in Kansas City called Complete Nutrition. He came in one day, asked my boss who I was, and he will tell you after some Facebook creeping he found me. A few messages later the rest is history; we actually ended up working together there shortly after we met.

How is it working with your spouse, especially in a small space? Do you ever just want to strangle one another?!

Absolutely! Mostly when there is a line of 100 people at your truck (like at Wod Wars Fitness Festival) wanting shakes!! Haha. But seriously, for us its what makes us tick. Ever since we met we have worked alongside each other. We keep business about business, and focus on our marriage when we are not working. Truthfully though, the hot summer days and long hours are always made better by working together. If you have ever seen us inside our truck you know the shenanigans are often and the seriousness is minimal.

What does the future of the Fit Stop look like?

Shakes, Shibas, and St. Petersburg. This is home to us now. We are so unbelievably thankful for the support of this community, we want to be able to expand our locations to be readily accessible to all those who live from Clearwater to DTSP. From CrossFit to running clubs to the everyday gym goer, we want to become the gathering spot for the fitness-minded community.

Are you going to continue with the food truck and shake shack, or is your primary focus going to be your storefront?

We absolutely plan on continuing the trucks, at our local spots as well as the food truck rallies and big fitness events. Right now our brick-and-mortar takes up most of our time; mostly because its our first time and it has been a very big learning curve. Being open 70 hours a week keeps us pretty busy, however this week we did hire our first employee which should allow us to be out in the community more often.

What do you love the most about your job? What do you love the least?

Most: Having life-changing conversations and helping people take a step closer to their fitness goals. Sounds clich, but at the root of our business is caring for people who are trying to better themselves. Every nutritional talk every chat about life/ diet balance seriously makes us feel so fortunate at the end of the day.

Least: In the trucks: not having AC. Lets get real, when you look like you just jumped in a pool, its summer in Florida. In the store: not having Katniss our puppy (separation anxiety hurts real bad). Real answer though, like most business owners, when shit breaks you got to pay for it.

Do you ever make any crazy shake combos?

One time when it was very hot Rob didnt want to eat his chicken rice and broccoli so he blended it all into a shake and drank it. Worst idea ever.

Whats the weirdest question youve been asked?

Can I pay you $20 to go to your apartment and pet your Maine coon cats? (Keep St. Pete weird?)

Rob and Kaleigh Krysl

Originally posted here:
New food truck Fit Stop finds a home among St. Pete's fitness crowd - Creative Loafing Tampa

Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Images

Smartphones are too big to fit womens hands comfortably. Virtual reality headsets, billed as the future of gaming and workplace training, are too large for womens heads. Googles speech recognition software struggles to understand women speaking. These biases are frustrating in everyday life, but they quickly become dangerous when they filter into technology designed to improve our health.

But from fitness trackers to smart watches, devices designed to help us live happier, healthier lives still rely on data that is biased towards men. And its not a new issue.

Treadmills, for example, often use calorie counters skewed towards mens weight, while fitness trackers can be wildly inaccurate because a womans resting heart beat changes throughout her menstrual cycle. No recognition of this may push women to over-exert themselves in an attempt to correct it.

This bad data can give women a warped view of reality: technology is trying to tell them how they are performing but the results are wildly inaccurate because it assumes they are men.

For fitness and health companies looking to grow their businesses, its a huge missed opportunity to tap into an industry that could be worth up to $50 billion (38.8bn) by 2025. But the big players have a lot of work to do. It wasnt until 2018 that Fitbit introduced a period tracking function. Apple didnt do so until earlier this year.

The current major players in the femtech industry - period apps - have demonstrated that it is profitable to target women and gather their data. The Android and iOS app stores have dozens of period tracking apps, the majority of which still centre around wanting to get pregnant (or avoiding it entirely).

Among this wave of period app companies, there is an obvious gap. They have so far ignored the fact that hormone cycles also cause womens bodies to function differently throughout the month. A study by University College London demonstrated that womens menstrual cycle directly impacts upon their training and performance.

Where most have failed, others are now trying to succeed. Founded in 2017, San Francisco-based WILD.AI lets women track other aspects of their physiology in order to create a personalised training programme. Instead of focusing on periods, which only affect women during a specific part of their lives, the app, which is currently in closed testing, takes into account women of all ages and backgrounds.

Looking at how you can optimise nutrition, sleep and extension of muscles, thats the key to driving women, says founder Hlne Guillaume. You would have incredible improvements in health as well.

She says that women could perform much better if given the right tools for the job. She uses the example of Eliud Kipchoge, who recently became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours. Every aspect of his performance was considered and perfected, and he managed to break a limit if women had additional consideration for their needs, they could streamline their abilities too.

Tracking issues that have previously been ignored could be the solution to a multitude of other health issues faced by women. In the UK up to 40 per cent of women experience incontinence in their lives as a result of having children, or because of menopause or ageing. In 2018 the disposable incontinence products market was worth $9.5bn, and it is estimated it will rise to $15bn by 2025.

Yet the industry has changed little in the past 50 years and it is desperate for new ideas, says Julia Vanzanten, co-founder of Lifesense, a company that created smart underwear to stop urine loss. While in other countries women are given physiotherapy to restore their pelvic floor after childbirth, in the UK many just accept it.

Women that Ive spoken to say that the way they manage it was to stop doing the thing that they love doing, like running, says Vanzanten. That mentality is wrong actually, because the way to solve it is to stop doing something you like, rather than actually solving the problem of the loss.

Menopause is another area that remains off limits for technology firms. Period tracking apps are fine for those who have them, but for those whose menstrual cycles are ending theyre not particularly helpful. Many can track menopause symptons, but often leave out issues such as hot flushes, which are a key element that women would benefit from tracking.

The technology used in clinical studies is recording a diary. It works but its not this-century technology, says Mary Kerr, CEO of KaNDy Therapeutics, which is in the process of creating a new compound for menopausal women.

Less well known apps are specifically designed to track symptoms of menopause so that women can work out how their bodies are changing. On My Luna, women can track when hot flushes occur and for how long, along with wellbeing, mood and food intake. Another service, Clio provides meal plans and audio courses to help manage wellbeing.

These new companies show that there are so many opportunities to use technology to help women in areas where they have traditionally been ignored.

If youre innovating for women, its absolutely critical that you have women supporting and driving that innovation, says Jazz Rehal, who works on innovation at RB, a healthcare company.

But its important that it is done right. AI has the potential to be a game-changer, but previous uses of it have been found to be sexist and racist. Tracking tools and wearables can help with health conditions, but only if all aspects of female physiology are considered - and only if women are involved in designing it.

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Fitness trackers and wearables are ignoring a $50bn market: women - Wired.co.uk

Are gyms open on Thanksgiving 2019? While it may be a holiday to indulge and enjoy a Turkey dinner, a day off work is a great opportunity to head to the gym. Thanksgiving doesn't need to get in the way of a workout schedule, as many gyms are open on the holiday.

Read on for a list of gym chains that are either open or closed on Thanksgiving Day 2019. However, please note that hours may vary by location, so it is worth checking with your local gym for its exact hours.

Based on last year's hours, 24 Hour Fitness will likely be open on Thanksgiving Day 2019 but will close around 2 p.m. Last year, 24 Hour Fitness opened at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving. However, hours will vary by location so check with your local branch.

Anytime Fitness says it is generally open 24/7 including on major holidays. Most Anytime Fitness gyms will be open on Thanksgiving, but check your local branch for exact hours.

According to its website, Crunch Fitness locations will generally be closed on Thanksgiving 2019, but opening hours vary by location. Check to see if your local gym will be open.

Equinox Fitness' holiday hours will vary by location so please check your local gym for opening times. Some Equinox Fitness locations may be open on Thanksgiving.

Opening hours vary at Gold's Gym locations so check your local Gold's Gym for its Thanksgiving holiday hours.

While LA Fitness is generally open on holidays, the chain will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Orangetheory Fitness will be open on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, with classes scheduled throughout both days.

Planet Fitness is typically open 24/7 and is only closed on Christmas Day. Most Planet Fitness locations should be open on Thanksgiving but check with your local gym for exact hours.

Hours vary by location, and some New York Sports Clubs locations will be closed on Thanksgiving, while some will operate with modified hours. Check your local branch for its exact holiday hours.

Other independent gyms may or may not be open on Thanksgiving Day. As it's a federal holiday, stores, restaurants, and gyms may choose to close.

Originally posted here:
Which Gyms Are Open on Thanksgiving 2019? Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, Holiday Opening Hours - Newsweek

CLERMONT, Ky With the holidays just around the corner, the Bernheim calendar is full of events to celebrate with nature this December. Except for Christmas Day, Bernheim is open the entire month with activities for every age.

Bernheims Holiday Open House takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. at the Visitor Center. Kick off the holiday season with shopping, live music and refreshments. Visitors can find a special gift for the nature lover in their life from beautiful handmade birdhouses to nature books and many more unique items from the Gift Shop. Bring a friend and enjoy a delightful lunch at Isaacs Caf. There is no fee for this event, but there is a $10 per car recommended donation at the front gate for non-members.

Work off those holiday meals with a brisk run through the beautiful hills of Bernheim in The Hillside Hustle on Dec. 7 starting at 8 a.m. The Hillside Hustle is a 5k, 10k and trail half marathon with proceeds benefiting The Home of the Innocents. Flex Appeal and Bernheim Forest host the race. Registration is $85 for the half marathon trail race, $45 for the 10K and $35 for the 5K. All distance races will begin at 8 a.m. Register online at HillsideHustle.com.

Decorating for the holidays can be fun, easy, and inexpensive when using found objects in nature. Visitors can make their own wreath on Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. 12 p.m. with Holiday Wreath Making. All materials will be collected from Bernheim, and supplies and tools will be provided.

The cost for Bernheim Members is $40 and $50 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. the day before. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org to register.

Continue the festivities on Dec. 7, with the Sip N Hike from 11 a.m. 2 p.m. Join a Volunteer Naturalist for a relaxed two-mile guided hike while sipping a refreshing beer.

Hikers will enjoy three beer stops along the trail compliments of West Sixth Brewing, and food will be available at the end of the hike. Sippers and hikers will have the opportunity to receive special offers and shop with outdoor retailers such as KEEN and Quest Outdoors. All minors must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. The Sip N Hike event will happen rain or shine, and pets are not allowed. The cost for Bernheim members is $35, and for non-members is $45. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org for more information and to register.

There are many more ways to celebrate the season at Bernheim during December.

Meet a Volunteer Naturalist at the Visitor Center on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 2 3 p.m. for an engaging 45 to 60-minute nature walk. Registration is not required for this free event, and all ages are welcome. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.

Meet Volunteer Naturalist Corinne Mastey from 10:30 a.m. 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Visitor Center and celebrate the holiday season with a visit to Bernheim's renowned holly collection. Participants will learn of the legends and lore growing inside Bernheims hollies.

Bernheim Lunch & Learn programs are designed for those who enjoy spending time outdoors in the company of other adults who love learning about nature. Each program includes group introductions, a short themed hike, and a fabulous lunch from Isaacs Caf.

Registration and payment are due the day before the event at 4 p.m., and the cost is $15 for Bernheim members and $20 for non-members. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org for more information and to register.

The E-C-O stands for Every Child Outside, and thats exactly where kids can be found during ECO Kids Discovery Days. Discovery Days take place the first and third Saturday of each month at Bernheims Visitor Center and include:

On Your Own Challenge from 9 a.m. 4:30 p.m.

Discovery Stations from 1 4 p.m.

Hike of the Day led by a Bernheim guide, starts at the Visitor Center at 2 p.m. and runs 45 60 minutes.

Nature Ornament Making

Children and their families are invited to Nature Ornament Making on Saturday, Dec. 7. Use the days On Your Own Challenge to transform nuts, seedpods, pinecones and other nature treasures into holiday ornaments.

The fun continues on Saturday, Dec. 21 when families are invited to Bernheim for a Hot Chocolate Hike. Participants can earn a free cup of hot chocolate by completing the On Your Own Challenge and then turning it in at Isaacs Caf. During the afternoon, kids will enjoy exploring hands-on Discovery Stations and the guided Hike of the Day.

Brrr! How do people and animals keep warm during the cold months? Pollywogs (infants to five-year-olds) are invited to the Education Center on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10:30 a.m. Noon to find out and enjoy a morning of great fun. Early learners will participate in Keeping Cozy for Winter, where they will explore winter survival strategies by comparing fur and feathers, snoozing in the hibernation cave, making bird feeders and more. Pollywog Play Parties combine music, art, language and outside play to encourage infants and children through the age of five to learn about nature.

Registration for the Pollywog Play Party is required by 4 p.m. on the day prior to program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org. The cost is $10 per child for Bernheim members and $15 per child for non-members. There is no fee for children under 18 months, but they must be registered. There is no fee for adults but they must accompany children.

Bernheim takes school to the forest on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 1 2 p.m. On this hike, families and co-ops join educators for an afternoon of learning, exercising and adventure. Appropriate for grades K-5, each months Forest Homeschool Hike includes a short lesson followed by a hike that brings the lesson to life. Decembers theme is Survival Strategies because to survive cold weather, animals must migrate, hibernate or stay active.

The cost for Bernheim members is $5 per student and for non-members is $7 per student.

There is no fee for adults, but they must accompany children. Registration is required by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org. Space is limited.

Join Bernheim on Friday, Dec. 21, from 5:30 7:30 p.m. and be enchanted with the stars in a special Winter Star Stories and Sky Watch. Join Volunteer Naturalists and the Louisville Astronomical Society (LAS) to see brilliant stars and constellations of winter through the telescopes provided by LAS. If overcast, a virtual astronomy program will be presented inside the Garden Pavilion. This program is for ages 8 and up. No pets allowed.

Bernheim at Night programs are $10 for Bernheim members and $12 for non-members. Registration for Bernheim at Night programs is required by 4 p.m. on the day prior to program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org.Call (502) 955-8512 before 5 p.m. on the day of program for last-minute updates and changes due to weather.

Please note that Bernheim will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday, and will close at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Originally posted here:
Holiday fun, fitness, and festivities at Bernheim - KYStandard.com

Theres this man (checks Google)...yes, hes still running, okay. Theres this man, John Delaney, who is running for president. He was in Congress and now he gets dragged on a national stage, a tale as old as time. But above all this, the guy does box jumps.

He posted this video on Twitter a few days and yikes. Kind of embarrassing. Now look, his box jumps are fine. Form is fine, not scraping up his shins is fine. The problem is just that, though. They are fine. Nothing to brag about. Any Crossfit bro with a chip on his pulled shoulder will tell you that a 30-inch box jump is novice-level shit. Its like running an eight-and-a-half-minute mile, solid good-for-you-now-leave-me-to-my-cleans territory. And he only did 10 of them? He might as well have live-streamed a brisk mall-walk.

Im not saying, by the way, that he should be doing more. Everyone should workout at their own fitness level. Pick up a 5 lb., weight, put it down, break a sweat, hit the showers, if thats what gets and keeps your blood flowing. Set your own pace and dont injure yourself. Be okay, boomer. But dont brag about it. Social media is for scaling perilous box jump heights that serve no purpose but to impress people. Impress me! You wanna hang with the fitness thots? You gotta act like one.

But hes 56, you say, Surely that counts for something. No, sorry. You gotta do more than exist to impress me. He deadlifts 350 lbs., supposedly, which puts him just below an advanced level, according to Kilgore Academy, a personal training institution in Texas, according to a September profile of Delaneys fitness in Washington Examiner. Wow. A deadlift thats below advanced, I just got wet. Also, He eschews the bench press and squats, fearful of getting injured, which give me a fuckin break. Put yourself in harms way or get out of my feed. Theres a picture of him in that article at one of those incline chest press machines. A machine! Thats basically one fitness level up from sitting on the couch and thinking, I should get into pushups. I should add that hes wearing jeans and a polo in that picture, the noobiest gym attire there is. Were it not for his meaty triceps, Id suspect the entire Delaney-works-out thing was invented expressly for this Delaney-works-out profile.

It is nice for the man that the man exercises (even if its only when cameras are present), but Im sorry, it is no achievement that this man is 56 and upright in a gym. That this is his thing is embarrassing. Give me someone who is at least 75 running around in a tight, Jack LaLanne jumpsuit with a wild look in his eye and a leg gone permanently stanky from too many burpees. Delaney is just giving us mediocre here, which what else is new, I guess.

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Am I Supposed to be Impressed by John Delaney's Fitness? - Jezebel

One would be hard-pressed to find a person who enjoys a personal challenge more than Jen Ayala.

On Nov. 15, the 33-year-old Nevada County fitness trainer set a new deadlifting world record for her age and weight division at The World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters competition in Las Vegas. Far surpassing the previous world record of 270 pounds, Ayala lifted a whopping 340 pounds nearly two and a half times her body weight.

The deadlift is a weight training exercise in which a loaded barbell or bar is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground.

THE EARLY YEARS

A 2004 graduate of Nevada Union High School, Ayala studied forensic anthropology at Sonoma State and went on to work in the Sonoma County coroners office. She later went on to pursue a career in law enforcement and landed a job as a peace officer, working for California State Parks in Lake County.

There wasnt much to do in Lake County, said Ayala, with a laugh. I was bored and felt isolated I needed a hobby.

Thats when, in 2015, she joined a gym, and consequently found her passion.

I had always been athletic, she said. Fitness and strength development quickly became a focus of mine. I wanted to push myself.

Bodybuilding became a fun challenge for Ayala, who discovered that her body adapted quickly. After just two years, she was ready to compete in shows sponsored by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, and the National Physique Committee.

By that time I realized that I absolutely loved the fitness world, she said. Its such a supportive and kind environment and there is new research emerging all the time on the benefits of keeping your body healthy. I decided to change directions professionally and pursue a job in the field of health and nutrition.

Ayala got her first job as a personal trainer two years ago and has never looked back. Today, she teaches strength and conditioning at Best Life Fitness Academy in Grass Valley, as well as kick boxing and personal training. She is also the on-staff nutrition coach.

Her personal love of setting a goal and holding herself accountable is what started her down the path of obtaining a world record.

SETTING GOALS

Setting goals helps me feel disciplined it comes from always wanting to do my best, she said. It gives me confidence when I prove that I can do whatever I put my mind to. If theres no goal, I feel a little lost.

Ayala mentioned that the support she received from friends and family while on the road to setting a world record was a humbling experience.

It was very exciting, she said. It felt like everyone went along with me, cheering me on. The community here at Best Life Fitness is very kind and supportive theyre part of my family. I love it here. This is the best work environment Ive ever been in.

PERKS OF THE JOB

One of the most rewarding aspects of working as a personal trainer, said Ayala, is hearing clients talk about how much better they feel as they get into shape as well as seeing them accomplish physical milestones they never thought they would reach.

To the person who feels like theyll never get off the couch, I want to say this: Time has not passed you by, she said. Its never too late never feel lost and hopeless. You just have to show up. People are surprised by their own progress. If you want it enough, its within your grasp.

THE ROAD AHEAD

So whats next for Ayala?

I guess Ive got to find a new way to push myself, she said with a smile. The challenge is to find a new goal that is challenging enough for me.

To contact Staff Writer Cory Fisher, email cory@theunion.com or call 530-477-4203.

Go here to see the original:
A 33-year-old Nevada County fitness trainer has set a new deadlifting world record for her age and weight division. - The Union of Grass Valley

Students and faculty pushed their bodies to the limit by taking part in a Marine fitness challenge at the Aiken High School football field Tuesday morning.

Members of the Aiken and Augusta Marine Recruiting Stationcreated and led a modified Marine Corps combat fitness course.

Teams of 10 pushed themselves to compete in the physically tense course, which included a -mile relay race followed by a maneuver-under-fire drill.

The drill represented an under-fire military situation.

Participants had to sprint and crawl, as well as move a person representing a casualty, carrying them on their back, and carry ammo boxes to simulate resupplying a firing line with ammo.

Sgt. Cameron Barry, with the Aiken and Augusta Marine Recruiting Station, said the physical challenge was a positive experience for all students, not just those who are considering going into the military.

"For them to start to learn what their limits are, what they can do with those limits and how to push beyond, I think that will help not just in the physical part of the world but also in their educational experiences and the kind of career choices they go on in life," Barry said.

Barry was also happy to see AHS faculty were competing.

Aiken High Principal Jason Holt was excited to participate alongside students from both Aiken High and South Aiken High School.

Aiken High School Principal Jason Holt carries ammo boxes through the Marine's maneuver-under-fire obstacle course.

Holt said he was hoping to breaksome personal records on the course.

"I'm glad to have an opportunity to participate in something with the kids, specifically things that help us be exposed to the great things our armed forces do, but educational as well," Holt said. "The military not only does things that keep our country safe, but they also advocate for our student's educational process."

Although competition was apparent, camaraderie was shown when teams and students in the stands would continue to cheer on each other.

In the end, one team stood out among the rest.

A team of Aiken High's baseball players won first place with the best time in completing each course.

"We all just came out here and gave it our all," Aiken High senior and baseball player Jake Hibbitts said. "I love these guys. We always work hard, and that's why we're the best team in Aiken County."

Aiken High senior and baseball player Jake Hibbitts carries a "casualty" on his back through an obstacle course.

Although the faculty came in second, Holt was honored to experience the camaraderie the event created.

"What a wonderful energy from both schools and one city to come together to bring some competition but also some camaraderie amongst the city," Holt said. "I really feel fortunate to have both schools participating in an event to bring us together. Especially after seeing this, I hope this is an annual event."

Matthew Enfinger is a general assignment reporter with theAiken Standard.Follow him on Twitter: @matt_enfinger

More:
Marine fitness challenge pushes Aiken, South Aiken students and faculty to their limits - Aiken Standard

Physician and journalist James Hamblin is calling for a system that would evaluate the cognitive abilities of elected officials in order to ensure that they are fit for public office.

Though a president's physical exam does typically include a cognitive assessment, Hamblinargued Monday thatthese tests have not been standardized.

"Its certainly relevant to know whether someone has a terminal diagnosis that would really suggest that its unlikely that they would live through their term, but beyond that what youre really asking is does this person have the ability to do the job cognitively," Hamlin, who is a staff writer at left-leaning magazine The Atlantic, told Hill.TV.

He went on tosuggest that testing mental fitness couldplay an even more important role than physical exams, noting that physical impediments to the job are "less relevant today than it might have been back decades ago."

Hamlin first floated theideafor standardizing cognitive testsin a feature for TheAtlantic. Though the idea hasn't been completed fleshed out, he said a potential systemcould include a standardized test that would, for example, include telling a candidate a story and then asking them to synthesize the information and repeat it back.

If a person has significant cognitive decline to the point of Alzheimer's Disease, theyll get almost none of those questions right, he said. And early cognitive decline, theyll start to forget questions.

Throughout his presidency, Trumps mental fitness has been repeatedly questioned by critics and pundits alike.Some Democratic lawmakers, includingRep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarDoctor calls for standardizing mental fitness tests for elected officials Warren adds Ayanna Pressley as campaign co-chair Poll: Biden and Sanders tied nationally, followed by Warren MORE (D-Minn.), have evencalled president "deranged" in response to his behavior on Twitter.

There is nothing stable or genius about these public rants from a president, Omar tweeted earlier this year. Deranged, bizarre, incoherent, sad ... come to mind.

Omar's comments at the time came after Trump once again referred to himself as a "stable genius" in an effort to defend his trade policies.

Former Vice President Biden, a leading 2020 Democratic presidential contender, has faced similar criticism about his mental fitness following some of his debate performances. Throughout several of the debates, Biden has made anumber of gaffes, often stumbling at times when trying to get a point across.

For instance, during the fifth Democratic debate, Biden misstated that he was endorsed by the only African American woman ever elected to the Senate, overlooking fellow contender Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisSaagar Enjeti laments use of identity politics in 2020 Democratic race Buttigieg surges to second place behind Biden as Warren sinks: poll Bloomberg ties with Harris, Klobuchar in new national poll MORE (D-Calif.). Bidenquickly corrected himself, stating, I said the first.

Tess Bonn

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Doctor calls for standardizing mental fitness tests for elected officials | TheHill - The Hill

Spanish superstar Elsa Pataky is an honorary Aussie.

She's embraced the laid back lifestyle with husband Chris Hemsworth, calling Byron Bay home - and she's also known for her passion for exercise and wellbeing.

Watch the full story above.

In her new book Strong, the fitness fanatic shares her tips on being active and eating well.

More on 7NEWS.com.au

"Feeling great is the most important thing, and feeling happy," Pataky said.

"It's about changing your philosophy on life and eating healthy and being strong-minded.

"The best anti-ageing tip for your body is to build muscle - because when you get older, everything starts to lose volume.

"I think women are really scared about doing weights - but you have to do so much to look very muscle-y. It's better to use the word 'tone' - and for that, you need to use some weights, even if it's just your own body weight with push-ups and squats."

Elsa encourages people to work out with their partners or other friends and family - explaining that she and Chris also bonded over their love of fitness.

While Elsa has taught him how to ride a horse, he's also taught her how to surf.

"It's easier to do that first step if you do it with somebody else, and also you can challenge each other," Pataky said.

"I know mums say they don't have any time and can't do it - but there's no excuses if you really want it and really want to make the change.

"Start with just 15 minutes - do little squats or ab exercises. If you're going for a walk on the beach, just do some lunges. Or if you catch the bus to work, stop a few stations before and walk to work.

"Use your moments in life to do some exercise - it helps you to feel good about life and start your day in a different way."

"We're very competitive, both of us," Pataky said.

"We both try to keep ourselves informed about health, so he'll be like, I'm taking these pills, and I'll go, I hate pills, I'm not getting pills.

"We try to convince each other about our ideas. And it's good that we keep the competition to exercise."

Elsa began drinking smoothies when she was pregnant with her daughter India as a way to increase her vegetable intake - and she's been hooked ever since.

"You want to eat more vegetables, but sometimes it's so difficult," Pataky said.

"So I decided to put them all into a blender and drink it in the morning - and I convinced myself that it tasted amazing because it was good for me and good for my baby.

"I put everything in it - lettuce, spinach, celery, cucumber, cauliflower - and I'll put some banana in just to make it tasty. And she loves vegetables now."

Elsa and Chris are currently building their forever home in Byron Bay, and she credits the location for inspiring her outlook on life and fitness.

"Being in a place where you can do things outside makes it so easy," Pataky said.

"I feel in the city, when you want to work out you have to go to a gym or do a class in an enclosed place - but being able to go to the beach to exercise or run does make things easier, I'm not going to lie about that.

"And also finding hobbies that you like, it's so much easier when you're outside."

But it's not all fun and games - as the home was still under construction, Elsa expressed her frustration over the drones that were hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple and their family.

"I get so angry about these drones," Pataky said.

"What am I gonna do when my kids are naked in the pool and then these drones are taking photos?

"It's something that we are actually really scared about, because it's really invading our privacy. It's unfair.

"We spend a lot of time outside, so there's a lot of terraces. It's our dream house, and we've waited for this for a long time."

Elsa Pataky's new book Strong is out now.

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Elsa Pataky reveals she and Chris Hemsworth get very competitive over fitness - 7NEWS.com.au

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