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Two years ago, Jeffrey Scott left a 25-year career in financial services to open a gym on Minneapolis' North Side, where he went to high school.

Now, after a second state-ordered shutdown of fitness centers to fight coronavirus, Scott's gym is facing grim prospects. "It's once again devolving to the point where I honestly don't know whether we'll survive it," he said.

With Minnesota's 800 gyms closed at least through next week and Gov. Tim Walz expected on Monday to say whether they will stay closed into January many other fitness club owners and operators fear long-term damage.

When the coronavirus arrived this spring, Walz ordered businesses that draw large groups of people, like restaurants and fitness centers, to close from mid-March through early June. As virus cases surged last month, Walz on Nov. 18 ordered another closure for at least four weeks.

The Minnesota Department of Health's contact tracers in September began asking Minnesotans who tested positive for COVID-19 about their use of fitness centers. That research identified 48 outbreaks of coronavirus involving 734 gym members and three employees. The most cases, 80, were tied to a fitness center at the University of Minnesota, one of six college campus gyms with an outbreak.

While the numbers are small compared with the 242,000 Minnesotans who tested positive through Nov. 18, state health officials say they set a high bar for pegging a gym's involvement in spread of the virus. They believe the virus spreads through fitness centers at a greater rate than data captures.

"The longer you are near someone in a smaller space and if you're doing things that make you breathe harder, the chance of infections go up," Walz said on Dec. 1 as he acknowledged the inconsistency of closing health clubs while big retailers and liquor stores are open.

With executives from Minnesota-based chains Life Time, Anytime and Snap Fitness leading the way, the state's fitness executives and owners have waged a campaign to pressure Walz to let them reopen. They offered to adopt more stringent safety measures, including reducing occupancy to 10 from 25% and requiring people to wear masks as they work out.

They dispute the Health Department's view of the data and portrayal of the risks people face in gyms. And they note they're in the business of helping people fight obesity, diabetes and other risk factors for severe cases of COVID-19.

"There is gross negligence in the decisionmaking process," said Bahram Akradi, founder and chief executive of Chanhassen-based Life Time, which has 152 clubs nationwide and 23 in Minnesota. The firm filed a data practices request with the state about the spread or transmission of COVID-19 at fitness centers.

"We're in the health business," said Chuck Runyon, chief executive of Self-Esteem Brands, which operates Anytime Fitness. "This isn't just 'come work out and let's charge money.' We all have to take health seriously as club owners. We're taking COVID seriously."

John and Kelsey Schultz believe they've been responsible gym owners. They sold 13 pieces of equipment to make it easier to social distance at their Anytime Fitness gyms in Sartell and Sauk Rapids. They hired someone specifically to clean those two facilities and their yoga business in Sartell, called KPower Yoga.

Since reopening, three people have called the gym to say they'd tested positive for COVID. Because the clubs now require registration for classes, Kelsey Schultz said she could easily notify everyone in the class to get tested, even identifying those standing next to the infected member.

"In every case we quarantined them from the gym until they got tested and could wait some time out. None of those led to additional positive cases," she said. "You can say there's three cases, but it didn't come from the gym."

Brandon Reiter, owner of Plainview Wellness Center in Plainview, kept it open after the Nov. 18 closure order, which he called "a massive overreach that will harm a lot of small businesses." Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Reiter and, last week, a judge ruled in the state's favor.

"I respect the judge's decision, although I don't agree with it," Reiter said. "I knew it was going to be an uphill battle."

There's scant data about how the coronavirus spreads in gyms. Studies from the British journal Nature and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that working out at gyms may be less risky than other activities, though researchers in both studies acknowledged limitations.

The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), a trade group, sponsored a study that found a "virus-to-visit" ratio of 0.002% out of 49.4 million gym visits between June and August. Some experts questioned the research, but the figures have been cited often by Minnesota's fitness leaders and the IHRSA, which stands by them.

"We understand that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is not and can never be zero for any business," IHRSA spokesperson Sami Smith said in an e-mail. "Overall, health and fitness clubs are not hot spots."

Minnesota health officials identified outbreaks at 10 Life Time locations, with two clubs tied to separate outbreaks. The clubs were linked to 198 confirmed coronavirus cases.

Life Time's corporate figures show an infection rate of less than 1% among 3.17 million visits to its Minnesota gyms since reopening. Mitigation efforts such as sophisticated air purification systems and massive cleaning protocols are working, Akradi said.

Akradi said his larger concern is the beating the industry has suffered at the hands of public officials who give the impression that clubs aren't safe.

In a video posted on Life Time clubs' social media pages and elsewhere, Akradi said the latest closings were "massively damaging" and leading to "consumer confusion."

"Health clubs are not the problem," he said in the video. "They are the solution to maintaining public health."

But even with Life Time operating at 25% capacity, the company is losing money, Akradi said in an interview. The company permanently laid off 300 people this summer.

"This is not about making money," he said. "Anybody who thinks I'm some business guy worrying about the financial damage and not making money, that's just so wrong. I have committed myself and this company to the health and well-being of our entire community."

Congress and the Legislature are debating whether to provide special financial relief to health clubs. A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress in early October would provide $30 billion in grants to club owners, capped at 10% of losses of the 2019 revenue, or $10 million.

For Scott, owner of the small gym in north Minneapolis, access to financial support will be key. This summer he considered selling off his equipment at ME & I Fitness and throwing in the towel.

As he built the business, Scott developed classes for seniors, worked with student-athletes and offered a diabetes prevention program. He lacks the deep pockets of corporate gyms and didn't apply for a federal forgivable loan because his seven personal trainers are independent contractors. He raised $2,000 on a GoFundMe page.

As lawmakers develop grants and loans to help small businesses, Scott fears a one-size-fits-all approach.

"They're making unilateral decisions and treating every business the same," said Scott, who has joined a coalition of small-gym operators called SWEAT Minnesota. "We're not all the same size."

Scott's elderly mother lives with him, so he understands measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate risks to his business and loved ones. It frustrates him to see people out shopping or gathering in large groups, not wearing masks or not seeming to take the risk seriously.

"Change won't happen until the unaffected care," he said.

Staff writers Jessie Van Berkel and Jim Walsh contributed to this report.

Originally posted here:
Minnesota's fitness industry pushes state officials to let them reopen gyms - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Getting back in shape is no easy feat, but having help from Allie ... well, helps a lot.

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This AI technology is powered by world-renowned fitness trainers that develop dynamic, customizable workouts for real results. Don't worry, the app guarantees that it doesn't record, share, or store any user videos, audio, or health data whatsoever. To make things even better, you won't need extra equipment to participate in these workouts.

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Home Workouts Just Got a Whole Lot Easier Thanks to Fitness Ally - TMZ

Brooke Wells Announces Shift to PRVN Fitness and Coach Shane Orr | Morning Chalk Up

When Brooke Wells made the announcement that she was leaving CompTrain after over four years of success under the tutelage of Ben Bergeron, speculation as to where she would end up was rampant throughout the CrossFit community. On Wednesday afternoon Wells put those speculations to rest in an Instagram post when she announced she would start following the PRVN Fitness training program with Shane Orr as her coach.

One big thing: Over the past few seasons, Shane Orr has amassed a significant record as a coach of elite CrossFit athletes. He has coached his wife, Tia-Clair Toomey to four-straight Fittest Woman on Earth titles and Mathew Fraser to two of his five Fittest Man on Earth titles. For Wells, this move might be the thing that gets her over the hump and onto the podium for the first time.

Remind me: Since bursting onto the CrossFit scene as a 19-year old at the 2015 Games, Wells has been considered one of the top stars in the sport, but her lack of a podium finish has been frustrating to the now 25-year old and six-time Games qualifier.

The bottom line: As stated when she left CompTrain, Wells coaching change appears to be part of a natural evolution that is not uncommon for many top CrossFit athletes. Variation and change is oftentimes good in a sport that calls for both to be successful. If any coach can maximize the potential that Wells has shown in her career it is Orr who has helped shape Toomey into the champion she is today. His biggest accomplishment could be this season as he has to now coach two elite athletes in the same division who have the same goals.

For a daily digest of all things CrossFit. Community, Competitions, Athletes, Tips, Recipes, Deals and more.

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Brooke Wells Announces Shift to PRVN Fitness and Coach Shane Orr - Morning Chalk Up

Although gyms were allowed to reopen on Aug. 24 following a months-long shutdown, smaller facilities like fitness studios and boutique gyms are still feeling the weight of state-mandated restrictions intended to limit the spread of coronavirus.

In New York, gyms can operate at 33 percent capacity while meeting certain criteria, such as ventilation and social distancing rules. Masks are also mandatory. Additionally, on Nov. 12, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that gyms, along with restaurants or bars with a state liquor license, must close by 10 p.m.

North Merrick resident Stuart Schneiderman, who owns Steel Fitness, in Bellmore, said the curfew does not affect his business. He reopened the Grand Avenue studio at the end of August. Since then, his trainers have conducted close to 1,200 personal training sessions not one has resulted in a positive Covid-19 case, he said.

The mandates lumped us in with bars, restaurants, movie theaters and bowling alleys using a broad stroke brush, and they made it sound like if you step foot in to a training facility, you'll get Covid, Schneiderman said. People started getting scared, and this is one of the things that we're fighting against.

Steel Fitness opened in 2008, offering clients personalized, one-on-one sessions in its 2,300-square-foot studio. To comply with state mandates, Schneiderman bought a MERV 13 air filter, installed three hand-sanitizing stations and wipes down all the equipment with a specialized cleaning solution every two hours and after each session. He has disposal face masks and rubber gloves available at the front desk, which is where clients must also complete a Covid-19 health screening survey before working out. (see box)

While outfitting the space only cost about $1,500, Steel Fitness lost almost $200,000 in income because of the shutdown. Before the pandemic, the studio typically saw 200 clients per week. Now, were lucky if we do 80 sessions, Schneiderman said.

Sandi Vega has been a trainer at Steel Fitness for more than three years. Although her clients have become accustomed to the new restrictions, she said, she believes smaller fitness studios should operate under a different set of rules.

Were quite different than the big, corporate gyms since we dont have hundreds of people coming in and out of the door, said Vega, of Wantagh. I work early mornings doing one-on-one sessions and I have one person in the whole place with me. They should be personalizing restrictions, especially for a place thats not an actual gym.

Over the summer, the New York Fitness Coalition brought a class-action lawsuit against Cuomo to pressure the state to allow gyms to reopen. More than 1,500 gym owners from across the state signed on, including Schneiderman, but the case was tossed out after the state failed to provide data that proved gyms were superspreaders, he said.

NYFC President Charlie Cassara told the Herald that until gyms can operate at 100 percent capacity, owners will still be at a loss financially. The best question is who can survive it?, he said of the restrictions. Big box gyms have money behind them, but the little guys cant afford to claim bankruptcy were just mom and pop places making a living.

Vega encouraged residents to take a tour of Steel Fitness if theyre skeptical about breaking a sweat during the pandemic. Were keeping our distance, wearing our masks and following the rules to keep everybody safe, she said. If they could see what were doing, it might give them a little peace of mind.

Steel Fitness is at 2742 Grand Ave. in Bellmore. For more information or to book a personal training session, call (516) 344-5730.

Continued here:
Small fitness studios feel the weight of the pandemic - liherald.com

Club Industry was not involved in the creation of this content.

Enabling individuals to keep their health and wellness a priority.

MIAMI, F.L. (December, 2020) Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing global franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, welcomes gym patrons of nearby gyms in South Florida to Make the Switch to Planet Fitness. Beginning on December 7, those in need of a gym can join the Judgment Free Zone for $1 down and pay nothing until January 17 available for Classic or Black Card* memberships when presenting proof of their previous fitness membership, such as a key tag, or using the designated promo code online.

Planet Fitness continues to grow in South Florida while serving its members with a clean and spacious environment; as well as non-members, by providing workouts through the United We Move initiative which is live-streamed on Facebook Monday-Friday at 7pm.

We are fortunate to continue to provide our Judgement Free experience to South Florida, and we welcome members from nearby gyms that have had to close their doors due to COVID-19, said David Bidwell, CEO ofPF Atlantic Holdings, a franchise group of Planet Fitness. Physical activity is crucial, especially during these stressful times, which is why were here to help our community members keep their health and wellness a priority, and to provide a clean, safe and affordable gym.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), chronic conditions like obesity1, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease increase the risk of complications from COVID-19, and studies have proven that physical activity has tremendous physical and mental health benefits. Still, only 23 percent of adults2 are reaching the federal recommended amount of physical activity 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week.

At Planet Fitness, members can expect the high standards that the leading fitness center continues to uphold for its members, including: the commitment to cleanliness and strict safety protocols and the continued investments in new equipment, training and facilities, in addition to the mask policy that requires all team members and members to mask up all at times while in club (except while actively working out, following county guidelines).

Planet Fitness has taken several steps to enhance cleanliness policies and procedures to protect the health and wellness of members, employees, and the local community by implementing the following safety precautions:

Planet Fitness offers extremely low prices and a variety of benefits, including a hassle-free environment, brand name cardio and strength equipment, fully equipped locker rooms and flat screen televisions, all in a clean and spacious environment.

Gym members from nearby fitness centers can Make the Switch and take advantage of the special offer now until December 25, to join for just $1 down and pay nothing until January 17.

For more information or to join online, please visit http://www.planetfitness.com/promos/maketheswitchmiami and enter promo code: MAKETHESWITCH for the $10 a month Classic membership or MAKETHESWITCHBC for the PF Black Card*., which includes access to any Planet Fitness location, unlimited guest privileges, access to the Black Card Spa, and more!

*PF Black Card amenities may vary by location

About Planet FitnessFounded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of September 30, 2020, Planet Fitness had more than 14.1 million members and 2,086 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

About PF Atlantic HoldingsFounded by David Bidwell and Scott Linsky in 2010, PF Atlantic Holdings partnered with Monogram Capital Partners in 2017, a Los Angeles based private equity firm, to support strategic growth through operational and financial expertise in the coming years. PF Atlantic Holdings is one of the fastest growing franchisees in the Planet Fitness system, operating 41 Planet Fitness health clubs with the rights to continue to develop the areas of South Florida, Central California, and New Jersey.

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Planet Fitness In South Florida Welcomes Gym Members Of Nearby Fitness Centers To The Judgment Free Zone - Club Industry

When his career as a fitness instructor and plans to open a workout studio were suddenly upended by a global pandemic, Jarred Gaines (pictured) needed a restart. He found it this year through an Amazon Web Services Inc. retraining program.

A few months ago, Gaines enrolled in Per Scholas, an East Coast non-profitthat trains people for careers in technology. That led him to the AWS re/Start program, where he learned new skills in Linux, Python, security, networks and relational databases.

Today, Gaines has a new job in the IT world as a customer service analyst for IDBS Ltd. It is about as far from where Gaines ever expected to be a year ago, but he is not complaining.

COVID and quarantine presented so many challenges, and you had to adapt quickly, Gaines said. The most tech experience I had was upgrading my iPhone. The re/Start name fits perfectly for the opportunity that it gives people. Im that IT guy now, Im it.

Gaines spoke with Lisa Martin, host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Medias livestreaming studio, during AWS re:Invent. He was joined by Maureen Lonergan, director of worldwide training and certification at AWS, and they discussed a recently announced initiative by AWS to retrain millions of people and taking a different attitude toward adversity in a time of crisis. (* Disclosure below.)

The AWS re/Start program is designed to address one of the most significant issues facing the technology industry today: a tech talent shortage in the U.S. that isnt going away. CompTIA has estimated that the country had over 1 million open IT positions last year, while schools turn out a paltry 60,000 computer science degree graduates annually.

On Thursday, Amazon Inc. announced a commitment to help retrain 29 million people globally by 2025, after committing $700 million last year to re-skill 100,00 of its own U.S. workforce.

We want to provide training to anybody who wants it, and we do that through delivering it ourselves and through partnerships, Lonergan said. We can create pathways and jobs with more opportunity, higher wages, accelerated growth and less vulnerability in sudden disruptions like COVID.

Gaines, who homeschooled his 9-year-old son while participating in the AWS program, had simple advice for those who might seek to follow his path into the tech industry.

Empty your cup and disarm the ego, Gaines said. When youre pivoting into a new career, its going to require some changes. Its going to have a lot of challenges. When you come to it with an open mind and are willing to grind it out, its worth it in the end.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLEs and theCUBEs coverage of AWS re:Invent. (* Disclosure: Amazon Web Services Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither AWS nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Show your support for our mission with our one-click subscription to our YouTube channel (below). The more subscribers we have, the more YouTube will suggest relevant enterprise and emerging technology content to you. Thanks!

Support our mission: >>>>>> SUBSCRIBE NOW >>>>>> to our YouTube channel.

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Fitness instructor pivots to job in tech industry through retraining program led by AWS - SiliconANGLE News

In August, Pilgrims announced a $380,000 investment in Marshville, N.C., to support the communitys future through the companysHometown Strongprogram. Pilgrims worked with local leaders to determine where the funds could best help meet immediate and longer-term community needs.

The company announced it is contributing $50,000 to the Town of Marshville to build an outdoor fitness area that will be free for the community. The outdoor fitness center will be linked to the Carolina Thread Trail and is expected to be complete in March 2021.

Additionally, Pilgrims is donating $35,000 to Marshville Elementary School to support access to technology tools and digital learning, including Interactive Smart Board panels for classrooms to improve digital learning capabilities.

Lastly, the company is contributing $35,000 to East Union Middle School to support access to technology tools and digital learning, including portable monitors for teachers and access to Sora, an online digital library that provides students access to audio and e-books from school or home.

We are excited to announce these important investments that we believe will provide critical support to our local schools and improve the quality of life in Marshville, said Micah Abernathy, Pilgrims Marshville Complex Manager. The fitness center will also allow community members to enjoy a new outdoor recreation area. We are grateful for our partners in bringing these projects to fruition.

The Town of Marshville is excited to partner with Pilgrims in bringing this outdoor fitness center to our citizens, said Franklin Deese, Marshville town manager. We believe that this fitness center will encourage more of our citizens to exercise and lead to a happier, healthier, and more productive community. There is a great need for these types of public/private partnerships in this part of the County, and we applaud Pilgrims for stepping up to the plate and taking a proactive position in helping the students and citizens in Eastern Union County. In August, the company announced a $250,000 partnership with the Anson County school district to provide digital learning capabilities 500 laptops and hotspots for school kids in need to help ensure resources were available for remote online and digital learning.

The Pilgrims Marshville production facility employs nearly 800 people with an annual payroll of more than $28 million. The facility supports 150 growers, paying them more than $17 million per year for their livestock. Consistent with its long-term commitment to the local economy, Pilgrims Marshville has invested nearly than $35 million in capital improvements over the last six years.

Pilgrims anchors dozens of rural communities operating more than 30 meat poultry and prepared foods plants and employing 31,000-plus people in the United States. Nationally, the Hometown Strong initiative is a $20 million investment from Pilgrims, which is part of a $50 million nationwide contribution from JBS USA. Visithometownstrong.jbssa.comto learn more.

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Pilgrim's to invest in local school and fitness center - WATTAgNet Industry News & Trends

Peter Hartman's home gym was set up before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Hartman doesn't have a crystal ball. He also doesn't sell used fitness equipment, an industry that's booming now with gyms and fitness centers forced to shut down twice since April in Minnesota.

Hartman is a social studies teacher and assistant football coach at Prior Lake High School. He's also a coach for Laker Performance, a weight and fitness training program for Prior Lake athletes.

"I got lucky with the timing of COVID-19," Hartman said. "We moved over a year ago (to Lakeville), and outfitting a home gym was part of the negotiation with my wife about the move. In other words, the home gym was setup before COVID-19.

Hartman said the home gym has become "invaluable" for his family. His wife Heather was a regular Life Time Fitness class-goer before the pandemic and has still not returned to her usual routine. She gets in workouts via online classes with friends in each other's garages and has started using her husband's home gym equipment.

"Ive used COVID-19 as an excuse to get some additional equipment recently," Hartman said.

Rising sales

Hartman is not the only one bulking up their basement gyms. The used fitness equipment industry has benefited from the pandemic, even more so now that the winter months are coming.

Jay Fotso, manager at the Johnson Fitness & Wellness in Burnsville said there's been a lot of foot traffic in his store and sales have been way up since the summer. Johnson Fitness & Wellness is one of the largest specialty fitness retailers in the U.S. with 12 stores in Minnesota, including locations in Chanhassen and Edina.

"There's definitely been more demand," Fotso said. "Winter sales are usually good and could be even better this year."

According to the NDP Group, a market research company, sales of fitness equipment has risen by 130% since the pandemic began compared to last year. Stackline, an e-commerce data company, recorded a 307% jump in online sales of weight-training equipment back in the spring.

"It's been a good time for people to try something new," Fotso said.

According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, the health club industry lost roughly $14 billion in revenue since the pandemic began, and an estimated one-fourth of the country's 40,000 fitness facilities could close without financial relief by the end of the year.

For Hartman, the home gym has also allowed his two young children to stay active during the pandemic.

"Fitness has truly been a saving grace for me and my family throughout this pandemic," he said. "It provides a healthy outlet that I can control. So much going on throughout the world recently has been out of our control. It's comforting to know that I can head down to my basement and get a solid workout in anytime my schedule allows.

Hartman said he regularly sets up routines for his kids and others in the neighborhood.

Laker Performance

Staying fit has also been a challenge for high school athletes. Spring sports in the Minnesota State High School League were canceled last April.

Summer activities were played but were limited, and this fall the MSHSL had abbreviated seasons for high school teams. Winter sports have also been paused.

Hartman said the Prior Lake football and track coaches got together to give athletes some direction with their fitness needs and goals, as well to bring a sense of community.

The coaches posted CrossFit-style workouts for all teams. There was video direction and workout strategies on the team's Schoology pages. Athletes could post their results along with doing a video and share ideas on the discussion board.

And many of these workouts were done in home gyms.

"Our athletes are pretty self-motivated and dedicated," Hartman said. "This was a fantastic way for athletes to compete with one another, hold each other accountable, and most importantly, connect with one another."

Read the original post:
With fitness centers shut down due to COVID-19, home gyms are on the rise - SW News Media

December9, 20206 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Many of todays leaders understand that improving their employees mental health is good both for their peoples well-being and their business. Unfortunately, while they get the importance of mental health right, all too often they get the definition of mental health wrong.

Traditionally, mental health has been defined by what its not. If youre not mentally ill, you must be mentally healthy. But mental health means much more than living without pain or disability. It is also about building strength and improving your well-being.

We already think about physical health this way. When it comes to our bodies we recognize there are different degrees of health, and that it is in our power to take action to increase our fitness and health even if were not currently suffering from any particular ailment.

Leaders should view mental health through the same lens, starting with a new definition of mental health that incorporates the idea that people can be more or less mentally fit. Proactive action to increase mental health not only helps us weather storms like the current pandemic better, but it also enables us to perform better at work. Mental health is just another muscle we can strengthen with effort.

Related: 3 Reasons Investing in Employee Resilience Pays Off

Once you look at mental fitness through that lens, the next question that emerges is: How can leaders help their teams build mental fitness? Decades of science suggests a handful of simple interventions can have a real impact.

Many people think burnout is about overwork, but we know from the scientific literature thats not entirely true. One of the biggest drivers of burnout isnt having too much to do, but rather not knowing why you do what you do. Giving employees clarity on their role and how their specific work contributes to your overall business strategy and goals can help protect against burnout.

One of the best things leaders can do to build the mental fitness of their teams is to make sure that managers are communicating the reasoning behind decisions. Roger Martin of the Rotterdam School of Management at University of Toronto calls this making strategy a conversation. Author Simon Sinek famously talks about knowing your why.

Whatever way you frame the idea, the essential lesson is the same: Expecting employees to be thoughtless doers creates feelings of helplessness that make them vulnerable to burnout. Equipping them with context and a deep understanding of how their work fits into your overall mission builds mental fitness.

A key part of any managers job is defining, delegatingand ensuring their teams get work done. That is not the same as making sure employees are working all the time. Neuroscience tells us that people are more creative and effective when they build whitespace into their days for reflection and rejuvenation. I call this inner work: Mental acts or activities focused in your inner world to achieve a purpose or result. Rather than discouraging these slack periods, leaders should normalize and role model utilizing them thoughtfully.

Help your people understand that part of their jobs as knowledge workers is to take time to work on themselves, and you will build their mental fitness. Actions like giving people space between meetings and encouraging mindfulness and contemplation can have a significant impact on performance.

Decades ago psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi discovered that one of the best ways to improve someone's mental fitness and performance is to help facilitate the creation and maintenance of flow states. This feeling of being so fully engrossed in whatever youre doing that time seems to stand still is deeply satisfying and incredibly productive. Yet many modern workplaces are actively hostile to the experience of deep, pleasurable concentration.

Constant meetings and interruptions disrupt flow. Protecting your people from the need to constantly context switch promotes it. Leaders interested in building mental fitness in their teams should therefore constantly ask themselves: Am I increasing the propensity of my people to slip into flow states or not? How can I design a work environment that facilitates flow?

The prevalence of remote work offers leaders a chance to craft new routines and procedures that promote focus. Seize that opportunity to consciously design opportunities for flow into your workplace.

Related: 3 Strategies for Finding Flow in Chaotic Times

Former surgeon general Vivek Murthy has long called loneliness an epidemic in America. Given the social isolation of the pandemic, the situation is certainly even worse now. Thats not just unpleasant. Loneliness is one of the biggest risk factors we know of for any kind of mental illness. Being lonely makes you more vulnerable to stress, anxietyand depression.

Leaders can help reduce social isolation and build mental fitness by thinking of the workplace as an opportunity to construct community. Meaningful interventions need not be complicated. Managers can simply start meetings with brief check-ins where participants share whatever state of mind theyre bringing into the office with them.

This simple grounding practice builds social support and camaraderie and only takes a few minutes. If you do it once a day, people feel more connected, more loyaland more satisfied with their work, boosting mental fitness and with it performance.

Related: How to Lessen Loneliness and Boost Belonging at Work

If you want to get more physically fit, you can go to the gym and work out by yourself. Thats a perfectly reasonable and healthy thing to do. But working with a personal trainer will get you to your goals faster. The same is true for mental fitness. Coaching is the fastest way to build mental strength and resilience.

Executives know this. That's why very few CEOs try to do their job without a coach. That would be like LeBron James trying to be LeBron James without a team of personal trainers and coaches. The U.S. army also knows this. Together positive psychologist Martin Seligman and Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum created the largest mental fitness intervention in the world;it trains every recruit at boot camp on preventative strength and human resilience.

Leaders should consider following suit and arming employees with similar strength-based interventions through coaching.

Simple interventions like these really can make a difference for a happier, healthierand more productive workforce. The choice isnt between illness and basic functioning. With proactive effort to build mental fitness, we can thrive, during the pandemic and beyond.

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5 Tips to Build Mental Fitness Within Your Teams - Entrepreneur

Eren Legend

[Toronto, ON] Eren Legendis anIFBB(International Federation of Bodybuilders) CanadianGold Medalist,sought after celebrity trainer, World Champion, guest speaker & entrepreneur.

Training actors such as Harley Morenstein (Epic Meal Time), Pablo Schreiber (Halo TV series) & Ricky Whittle (American Gods TV show) has madeLegenda go to fitness expert.

Serious dedication to his success and the best way of getting there has madeLegenda respected member of the fitness community.Winner of many championship awards in bodybuilding has put the body building champion at the top of his game and kept his entrepreneurial spirit alive.

Legendis the founder ofLegend Nation,a platform to create more opportunities for Canadian athletes & Social Media influencers.Appearing on shows such as television Breakfast Television, high profile interviews and sitting on panels around the world keeps Legend and his vision in the public eye.

A regular guest speaker at the University of Toronto (U of T), fitness events and competitions around the world, the popular fitness guru continues to educate.

Legendaddresses questions on thehowof his bodybuilding achievements, but over time noticed many questions coming from people outside the bodybuilding community. People simply wanting to be healthier and have a more fit body.A sign of the times we find ourselves in.Spending years working on his own body, using only clean methods (no drugs)Legendhas decided to use his expertise to help others achieve their goals.

With his business partnerSteven J Wong,Legendwill open aState-of-the-Art Performance CenterinToronto, Summer 2021.

Together with his urban clothing lineLegend Apparel,that includes fans, UFC Light Weight Champion, Jon Bones and UFC fighter, Anthony Rumble Johnson, one thing for sure.Eren Legend is on the move.

Originally posted here:
Celebrity Fitness Trainer Eren Legend On the Move! - South Florida Caribbean News

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