Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 81«..1020..80818283..90100..»

Home » Fitness » Page 81

In 1982, workout guru Jane Fonda released a series of workout tapes, which would soon turn into one of the most popular workout routines for fitness enthusiasts of the 1980s and beyond. Since then, the concept of coaching via video has evolved greatly. 30 years later, Peloton rolled out what would soon become the next big thing in home workouts, giving athletes the chance to communicate and take live classes with their favorite instructors.

One big thing: While other modes of fitness from spin to boot camp have migrated online in the past few years to give athletes the chance to workout from the comfort of their own homes, the CrossFit industry has remained largely in person, with classes almost exclusively occurring in brick-and-mortar affiliates. That was until the pandemic of 2020.

Become an member and start enjoying full access to all our community and sports content, and an ad-free experience.

Already a member? Log In

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

Read the original post:
From Fonda To Functional Fitness: The Evolution of Virtual Coaching and a Global Pandemic - Morning Chalk Up

CEO Tim Cook says that Applehas things going on in our labs that are mind-blowing when it comes to fitness. Thecomment was part of an extended in-person interview at Apple Parkin Cupertino, California,thats featured in the latest episode of the Outside Podcast. Cook and podcast host Michael Roberts spent more than an hour walking the grounds of the companysheadquarters, discussing everything from Cooks need for daily exercise, to the new breed of health studies enabled by Apple Watch users, to the challenges of escaping screens in todays hyper-connected world.

In September, Apple introduced the Watch Series 6, with the slogan The future of health is on your wrist.Cook told Roberts that the device, which now has a blood-oxygen sensor as well as an electrocardiogram app, is allowing people to own their health in a way that they were not able to do before. Later this month, Apple willlaunchFitness+, inserting itself into the rapidly expanding online training space in a major way. Fitness+ willintegrateyour Watch data into guided workouts streamed to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV screen. Cook believes that the simple interface will encourage people to explore new kinds of exercise routinesand maybe expand their universe a bit. This kind of coaching isnt new for Apple, he argued, but a broadening of the relationship the company already has with customers through itsretail stores.

Outside Podcast: Play this episode. You can also subscribe to our podcast here.

An avowed nature lover, Cook spoke about his love of Americas national parkshe travels to one or more almost every yearand offered frank adviceto visitors who spend their time shooting selfies at scenic vistas: Leave your selfie stick behind and just soak in the beauty of the park itself, because that will stay with you a lot longer.

On the challenges of screens, Cook was emphatic that Apple doesnt want to own our attention. He admitted hes had to work on his personal device habits, and he promised that Apple would take the challenge to continue innovating in that space just as seriously as we take the challenge to keep innovating in each of the product categories were in.

Cook and Roberts also spoke about Apples environmental initiatives andresponse to the pandemic, as well as Cooks belief that the company has a higher purpose.

You can listen to their full conversation on the latest episode of the Outside Podcast, available wherever podcasts are found and on the Outside website at outsideonline.com/podcast.

Our mission to inspire readers to get outside has never been more critical. In recent years, Outside Online has reported on groundbreaking research linking time in nature to improved mental and physical health, and weve kept you informed about the unprecedented threats to Americas public lands. Our rigorous coverage helps spark important debates about wellness and travel and adventure, and it provides readers an accessible gateway to new outdoor passions. Time outside is essentialand we can help you make the most of it. Making a financial contribution to Outside Online only takes a few minutes and will ensure we can continue supplying the trailblazing, informative journalism that readers like you depend on. We hope youll support us. Thank you.

Originally posted here:
Apple's Tim Cook on the Future of Fitness | Outside Online - Outside

Design by Eric RosatiGetty Images

DESPITE THE LOOMING threat of the ongoing pandemic, Emily Collinson, a NASM-certified trainer and coach for the group-fitness chain Solidcore, was eager to get back to training clients when her studio reopened in Washington, D.C., this past summer. Then she reviewed Solidcores proposed health-and-safety precautions. There were all these glaring holes in terms of protections, she says. Specifically, she says that early guidance suggested coaches would be allowed to wear masks under their noses and clients would not be required to wear masks at all.

So Collinson shared her concerns with her studio manager and, after talking to fellow instructors, reshared a growing chorus of complaints with Solidcores director of operations. She was fired shortly afterward. (An email obtained by Mens Health shows that she was fired for the unprofessional nature of her conversations with other coaches. After a Districtwide health mandate was issued, Solidcore adopted stricter health and safety practices in markets across the country.)

In Seattle, Kate Troja, who had coached for six years at CorePower Yoga locations in both Southern California and the Pacific Northwest and had earned her 200-hour and 80-hour yoga sculpt certifications through Yoga Allianceapproved company programs, had a similarly disempowering experience. But it had started months before the pandemic. I was doing work on unpaid timeprepping classes, making playlistsand I had safety concerns as a young woman tasked with opening and closing early in the morning and late at night, she says.

.

These issues felt particularly galling considering that, in her estimation, the studio was making a ton of money while many instructors make around minimum wage. Once the pandemic hit, Troja learned via corporate-wide Zoom call that she and the rest of the companys staff (minus management) had been laid off. No severance. No guidance on what to expect next.

In New York, Jahkeen Washington, the NCCPT-certified co-owner of JTW Fit, a boutique fitness studio based in Harlem, faced his own challenges to keep things running this year. (Washington is participating in the Mens Health Next Top Trainer competition currently underway.) But after the tragic death of George Floyd in May, he also joined a rapidly growing WhatsApp group that now includes over 150 fitness professionals and learned more about the racial discrimination his peers faced within his field. There, trainers at big-name gyms shared their own stories about microaggressions at work and pay disparities. Yet many lacked the power to fight back. Were living in a time right now where, honestly, most people are afraid to bring these issues up because it could end up being the loss of their job, Washington says.

Working as a fitness trainer can look like a dream job. What other career allows you to wear athleisure to the office and work out for a living? In the group-training world, many instructors get free access to great facilities and the chance to showcase their talents in a way that might build their personal-training business. Some people do this full-time, others as a side gig.

The profession seems as fun and flexible as the people leading each session. Except many trainers now say that theyve been experiencing something very different: the feeling that theyre disposable, interchangeable, and often devalued by the larger companies they work for. That disconnect became especially apparent this year after the pandemic forced gyms across the country to close for months and then radically adjust their operations. For Black trainers especially, the death of Floyd drove home their own everyday experiences with racism, including bias, microaggressions, and appropriation at work. In gyms, that can come from management, peers, and even clients.

While Collinson, Troja, and Washington are all at different points in their fitness careers, each of their experiences led them to a similar conclusion: They work in an industry dedicated to promoting health and personal development, but workplace conditions make it difficult for trainers to be happy and healthy, too. Fitness is all about community, says Collinson, echoing the ethos that kept so many gym floors packed before COVID-19. If the best and brightest coaches feel demoralized or pushed out, who is left?

courtesy

In some cases, it may be a less experienced or increasingly apathetic trainer stuck enduring those indignities, one who is now in charge of helping you avoid injury and meet your goals. Some top trainers have spun out successful digital operations via tools like Zoom in this new normal, but thats not a viable choice for everyone, especially fitness pros who havent built up big followings online and work with groups instead of individuals. For some, theres still no clear path to making a comfortable, healthy living.

Yet one person alone cant force one company, let alone an entire industry, to correct course. So Collinson, Troja, and Washington have called on their communities and joined with their fellow workers to create change together. Each is working to reshape how the fitness industry operates through their own inventive ways of organizing labor. Theyve taken steps to build a new type of strength, which might have a chance to change problematic working conditions at gyms. Even if it takes more pain before the gain.

PLACES LIKE SOLIDCORE, CorePower Yoga, and even JTW Fit help power a $94 billion fitness industry that increasingly depends on highly skilled trainers to teach specialized classes to small groups of clients. The boutique gyms with communal classes have expanded rapidly over the last decade while larger gyms without that personal touch have experienced less growth and become stagnant, according to a recent report from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association.

On one hand, thats great for the estimated 374,000 full-time trainers pulling in a median income of $40,000 a year, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. On the other, it can make it tough for trainers trying to break in to get enough hours. Some companies dont necessarily have to pay people well because so many still want a shot at that dream-job ideal.

Part of the disconnect between what trainers hope to receive for their effort and the reality on the gym floor comes down to miscommunication, says David Otey, C.S.C.S., a Mens Health Advisory Board member and chief content officer for the Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification program, who has 14 years of industry experience. Hiring managers and brands can do a poor job of setting realistic expectations. When trainers come in, sometimes theyll get the fairy-tale response, Oh, well, youll have a full book in three, four weeks, and youll be able to work whatever hours you want, he says. And you learn as a trainer that thats not really the case. You have to say yes to as many things as possible in the beginning, because you know youve got to pay the bills.

.

For example, before she lost her job as a yoga instructor at CorePower, Troja felt that her pay didnt come close to matching her level of experience or what she considers a fair portion of the revenue. I was earning [just] above minimum wage per hour, which is despicable even for the fitness industry, and regularly teaching classes of 30 to 45 students who are paying $25 per class, she says.

Many trainers are classified as part-time employees or contractors. This can help them to keep a flexible schedulebut it can also preclude them from receiving any benefits, like health care, from their employer. Collinson fit that bill. And in some cases, like Collinsons experience at Solidcore, coaches are required to pay for specialized training provided by the company (on top of any other fitness certifications they might hold) before auditioning for a job by teaching trial classes.

When Collinson started teaching at Solidcore in 2019, she kept her day job as an administrative professional. Shed also been active around political and social issues since college and is a program director at a nonprofit group called Rising Organizers, so the idea of rallying group support came naturally. After being fired, she contacted a friend from that community, who advised her to file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. An early examination by an NLRB case investigator suggested that because of Collinsons job duties and level of control over how those duties were performed, she should have been protected by the National Labor Relations Act as an employee, despite Solidcore's classification of her as an independent contractor. That case is still ongoing.

But organizing at Solidcore didnt end with Collinsons role at the company. She and her collaborators (several of whom shared concerns directly with Men's Health) have since formed a public-facing group called Solidcore United to publicly address corporate neglect and impropriety. In June, 32 employees and independent contractors signed an anonymous letter of demands for COVID-related protections in their workplace. In August, some workers also helped inform a BuzzFeed investigation that alleged a culture of sexual harassment, racism, and body shaming at the company. The allegations surfaced under the leadership of founder and CEO Anne Mahlum. Solidcore United has since sponsored a petition calling for Mahlum to resign.

When asked for more clarification about these issues, the company emailed a general statement. We support our coaches and staff and take their feedback seriously," said Bryan Myers, Solidcore's president and chief operating officer. He added that the company has "always and will continue to provide a clean, safe space for clients, coaches, and staff" and welcomes feedback as it navigates how to deal with the coronavirus.

Kate Troja was part-time at CorePower Yoga, too, while keeping her day job as an epidemiologist. After being laid off, she thought a lot about how TSG Consumer Partners, which holds stakes in Planet Fitness, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and a chain of collision centers, had also invested in CorePower Yoga. When a private-equity firm owns a company like CorePower, what does it mean for students and staff? she asks.

Courtesy

After speaking to around 40 fellow workers in her network from San Diego to Seattle, she formed the CPY Coalition, an advocacy group that shares information about potentially unsafe working conditions, low wages, and unfair labor practices. In May, the group put up a website to let others anonymously share their own experiences at the company, and Troja says that more than 600 former employees have done so through the site and the groups Instagram account. The CPY Coalition now advocates for the equitable treatment of instructors, including fair compensation and benefits; role definition; and enhanced safety measures. It has also called for an increase in BIPOC representation across the company (the current executive staff is 100 percent white) and shares online testimonials from clients upset at how their favorite teachers are being treated.

We want to compel leadership to make CorePower a safer and more equitable place to work and practice, but they seem to only be financially motivated by the potential that people will cancel or freeze memberships when they hear this is how they treat their staff, Troja says. Students have been surprised to hear you can work full-time for CorePower in Seattle and be on food stamps.

For his part, Washington started JTW Fit in Harlem in 2013 hoping to create a space that his community was lacking. I didnt see anything that was fitness related or specific or prioritizing health and wellness in the neighborhood, he says. He also remembered how it felt to work and train at other gyms, where he saw few faces that looked like his, so representation became a major focus of the business. The goal, he says, is to get people that look like us in the gym giving them an outlet, and a space to feel confident and comfortable.

After hearing about other trainers troubling experiences on WhatsApp, Washington joined Fit For Us, an organization that evolved from the group chat to respond to systemic racial inequities across the industry. He didnt found it but was one of the early members. To hear those stories and hear [about] the inequities in pay and not having our voices amplified or heard, when decisions are being made when its our culture thats being used, it was just a lot, he says. The organization seemed like a good way to offer others who were struggling in the industry more support.

Fit For Us was started by Percell Dugger, a strength coach and founder of the wellness brand GOODWRK, and a former indoor cycling instructor turned entrepreneur named Mary Pryor. The organization now has over 100 members on a dedicated Slack channel, who come from all levels and vocations within the industry, from trainers and instructors to managers and gym owners. They advocate for a greater emphasis on inclusion, belonging, and support for Black and other marginalized fitness pros and for more transparency in hiring and employment practices through brand partnerships and industry initiatives.

NeriahMc

Members also want to empower professionals while serving their communities, particularly in regard to health and nutrition. To that end, the group held a three-day digital conference in October, which included a town hall and a series of member-led fitness and wellness workshops. Washington served as a panelist and offered his perspective as a gym owner and entrepreneur. Hes now a member of the Fit For Us leadership team, which determines strategies for how the group operates. Thats included programming alongside the nonprofit Color of Change, sharing free online sessions promoting fitness and wellness during election season.

Were going to be creative in how we present things, Washington says. I think the world is ours right now and that we have a really good chance to make some change sooner than later. Much sooner than we think.

THE NEXT BIG FLEX for some of these efforts might be forming a real unionthe type of collective organization that could pressure major companies to make systemic changes in how they operate, because employees have a seat directly at the bargaining table. Its worked for plenty of trades, from autoworkers to electricians and pipe fitters. But theres still no precedent for that in the fitness industry.

In fact, there have been a few recent setbacks. One unionizing effort among Golds Gym trainers stalled out in 2017, when trainers in Los Angeles voted against the idea. Another, started in 2019 by YogaWorks instructors in New York City, gained some recognition from the company but never had a chance to bargain for a contract because the company shut down all New York locations in April 2020.

Nationally, at least one new group has some traction. Group Fitness Instructors United was founded by Emily Stewarta Seattle-based fitness professional with certifications to teach barre, yoga, Pilates, indoor cycling, and moreand has aligned with a local machinists lodge, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 751, for more support. For now, Stewart is building connections with fitness instructors and coaches who work in disparate corners of the industry. Her contact list includes more than 600 people. Group Fitness Instructors United has no public-facing social media accounts, so that she can protect peoples privacy.

My big job right now is just to have what I call gut checks, which are conversations that I record with group fitness instructors who feel like they have a complaint or something really egregious has happened to them, Stewart says. Im talking sexual harassment, stalking, broken bones and body parts. Im talking unlawful noncompete agreements, hiding COVID-19 cases. Discrimination. You name it, Ive heard it.

The question that everyone is still grappling with is whats the most effective way to make lasting change. Stewart conducts anonymous surveys and interviews in hopes that the qualitative data she collects will show the reality of our industry in order to garner support from powers outside the fitness spacei.e., legislatorsfor reforms like standardizing training certifications and tightening labor laws to make employee benefits the norm. When things are desperate, you cant expect individuals to make good decisions, she says. You know, sometimes its gotta come from above.

Otey agrees that unions in fitness could lead to more rigid classifications for trainers, but that might not benefit everyone involved. I think if you start to unionize, then thats when businesses will say, Well, okay, in order to have this, you may have to have this certification or this license, he says. Depending on where the bar gets set in terms of experience, cost, and how much time it takes to achieve, that could be another barrier to entry. Unfortunately, for some people that would shoot them in the foot.

Paul Porter

Regardless, fitness companies should rethink how they communicate, according to Otey. Brands do a very bad job explaining how the trainer gets paid what they get paid. If they did a better job of explaining, whether its to group fitness instructors or to trainers, I think there would be a lot less questions and animosity in the air, he says.

For Collinson, who now coaches at F45 Training, one big step forward would be an NLRB ruling in her favor, so she could be reinstated at Solidcore and become even more active in organizing with Solidcore United. But theres some evidence that things are at least slowly shifting. After the BuzzFeed investigation broke, Mahlum, the company CEO, shared a video on Solidcores official Instagram account to outline a new set of protective and progressive HR initiatives and corporate training programs. She also defended her previous leadership of the company and denied the allegations of wrongdoing. Its unclear what additional steps Solidcore may take. (In late November, the mayor in Washington D.C. issued new guidance for gyms to temporarily stop indoor group fitness classes in the city. Solidcore defied the order to close, but after a visit from local authorities, the chain complied with regulations, suspending operations for the time being.)

Trojas CPY Coalition and other ongoing organizing efforts in the yoga world seem to have had some effect at CorePower Yoga, too, although the company declined to share specifics. In response to the changing environment, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of our business and have implemented a number of changes to our operations, a spokesman shared in a statement to Mens Health. That includes increasing the pay rate for all teachers and establishing a framework that provides greater transparency in career and wage progression. Fixing inclusion, diversity, and bias is also on the list. But Troja is still exploring the idea of unionizing as a unique opportunity for trainers there; the CPY Coalitions Instagram account links to a site sharing union cards for CorePower teachers to sign if theyre interested, an early step for rallying support.

At Fit for Us, the goal is still to create a major shift in industry representation within at least five years, with trainers feeling more in control of their careers while, as Dugger, the groups cofounder, puts it, knowing that the work within their industry is impacting their communities in a positive way. Since joining the movement, Washington only feels more inspired. You definitely like to have a little bit of feedback and people to let you know that youre not crazy, he says. And we know our mission is super important. Were going to continue to move together. As all these trainers have learned: Theres strength in numbers.

*Additional reporting from Lindsay Berra

Read the rest here:
Fitness Trainers Are Organizing to Flex More Muscle in Their Workplaces - menshealth.com

Jose Santa Cruz woke up early on a recent morning with a serendipitous thought. He wanted to do a sunrise workout. And he wanted to do it somewhere beautiful.

Just after 3 a.m., he left his Manitou Springs house and started the hour-plus drive to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. He had all he needed for a full-body workout: a custom-built piece of wood and some resistance bands.

Its a morning some Colorado adventurers might recall as epic.

Santa Cruz, who moved here in March, used a different word: Emotional.

The sight of the stars and the sunlight and the rock formations, he said, overwhelmed him. His surroundings had a lot to do with creating the beautiful moment.

So did that piece of wood. At just 8 pounds, it gave him the freedom to work out at Red Rocks or Garden of the Gods or his house or anywhere else. Thats why its etched with the words Workout Whenever Wherever.

Santa Cruz built the fitness board himself, after searching for ways to ditch traditional weightlifting while still maintaining muscle.

At 31, he had lifted weights since his high school years. For many of those years, every lift brought pain, left over from breaking both of his wrists. One break came from getting shot in the arm in 2012 while serving in Afghanistan.

From being in the military for so long, my body has been put through the ringer, he said.

He didnt want to end up more broken. By early 2020, Santa Cruz had already been researching ways of building muscle without lifting. Then, shortly after he moved to Colorado Springs, gyms closed down amid the coronavirus pandemic. He didnt really like going to the gym anyway, since the outdoors is his happy place. As an infantry officer with the Army, he still needed to find a way to stay in shape.

Guess what youre going to do, he said to himself. Youre going to figure this out.

He decided to give resistance bands, those colorful stretchy exercise ropes, a try. But while theres a long list of exercises people can do with just the bands, that wasnt working for Santa Cruz.

When I would try to do a full leg workout, my feet would move all over the place, he said.

He got the idea to build something to help keep his feet stable. Luckily, he had already turned his garage into a makeshift woodshop.

After some trial and error, he crafted a fitness board with four rectangular slots for tying the bands in different formations.

I was my own test dummy, Santa Cruz said.

Over time, his joints started to feel better. The wrist pain was gone. And, he loved being able to take his workout outside.

It was changing my body, he said. And it was working for me.

He thought it might work for others, too.

In September, he launched a business around the fitness boards called Fitmilia. The name borrows part of the Spanish word for family, honoring Santa Cruzs Paraguayan and Argentinian roots.

Santa Cruz teamed up with TimberWolf Design & Woodworking to manufacture the boards, so that the founder can focus on building other parts of the business.

For now, that means showing off the beauty of his fitness board via short videos with beautiful nature in the background.

Ive never felt so much joy being able to go on adventures while being able to work out, he said. I think it brings a lot of joy to my life.

Read the original here:
A man and his board: How one Colorado fitness junkie works out wherever, whenever - Colorado Springs Gazette

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

Fitness legend Emma Barry and leading global fitness sector experts Lucy and Matt Adey, the people behind Good Soul Hunting an executive search brand for purpose-led health and fitness companies have teamed up with global wellbeing platform, Juno. Together, they will provide individualised wellbeing support to employees, helping the worlds fit-tech, health-tech, and well-tech companies to thrive.

Wednesday 2nd December 2020 Good Soul Hunting, the executive search company specializing in the fitness and wellness tech markets, has partnered with on-demand wellness hub, Juno, to help create happier, healthier, more productive workforces and explosively grow their impact.

The pioneering, wellbeing-based support package will see those placed in new roles by Good Soul Hunting being offered access to Junos full range of workplace benefits. Good Soul Hunting will gift Juno points to each employee that it places. These will be deposited in an account for the employee to access, and the points can then be spent on benefits and experiences of their choice.

Junos global network of partners which includes the likes of Barrys Bootcamp, FitBit, 305F, Hello Fresh, and many more offers access to a wide range of tailored benefits, encompassing fitness, mind, health, nutrition, and entertainment.

Recognizing that starting a new job can be one of lifes most stressful events, Good Soul Hunting launched the new service wanting to ensure that each employee it places gets off to the best start possible.

Were lucky enough to work in one of the most exciting and dynamic sectors in the world and one which has captured the cash and attention of the tech giants from Silicon Valley and beyond," says fitness legend and Chief Creative Soul for Good Soul Hunting, Emma Barry, who has pioneered someof the sectors most groundbreaking companies and movements including Les Mills International and Equinox.

We understand that game-changing businesses need the very best talent within the global marketplace. By matching good souls with the right roles, and then providing the wellbeing tools employees need to be successful, both in and out of work, through our partnership with Juno, we feel we can do even more to help businesses within the fit-tech, health-tech, and well-tech industries to flourish, both now and in the longer-term.

The motivation for the partnership between the two trailblazing brands is also based on research by Oxford University's prestigious Sad Business School, which shows that happy employees are 13 percent more productive.

At Good Soul Hunting, we dont just place people in new roles. We stick around to build a framework in which theyll flourish, begins Lucy Adey, Co-founder and Chief Executive Soul for Good Soul Hunting.

We wanted to do something to congratulate a candidate on getting a new role, but we wanted to avoid the champagne bottles and run-of-the-mill gestures which have become commonplace within the recruitment industry.

Our whole philosophy, when it comes to executive search, is to help first, hunt second, so we wanted to do something that aligned with our brand values, supported both candidates and companies, and linked to the sectors we work in.

Verity Roach, Head of Marketing for Juno, said: Our mission at Juno is to educate and enable businesses to provide individualized wellbeing support to employees and to see the impact this has on the happiness, productivity, and engagement levels within their workforces.

In partnership with Good Soul Hunting, we are trying to change the way new starters and employees in general are supported with their wellbeing. We truly believe that, together, we can drive change and make a global impact.

Supporting the scaleups and trailblazers of today and the heroes of tomorrow, Good Soul Hunting partners seamlessly to attract, acquire, and retain the most gifted talent globally, enabling organizations to grow and flourish.With the expertise and experience to find these business transformers, Good Soul Hunting knows how to attract them, and isnt just another firm hiring from similar companies in the same sector.

What makes Good Soul Hunting unique is the desire and ability to draw on both data and human insight, or the good soul formula, which matches cipher and soul to purpose and goal. The team is currently creating meaningful connections and drawing upon previous partnerships and networks to accelerate the future, push and challenge boundaries, and collaborate to be a part of the future health solution. In Juno, Good Soul Hunting has a partner that can help further this vision.

For more information about Good Soul Hunting, visit:www.goodsoulhunting.com

Go here to see the original:
Pioneering wellbeing support to explosively grow the impact of fitness workforces - Club Industry

From April until August, Borja Fernandez couldnt play basketball. He couldnt find a hoop hed be allowed to use. With gyms, parks and every place to play sports closed, Fernandez was trapped.

Back in his home country for four months this offseason, the Bilbao, Spain, native had to deal not only with coronavirus-related restrictions from the government but also enforcement from police.

In Spain, we have like a real lockdown, Fernandez said. We couldnt go to the streets. After a month of full quarantine without going to the streets, it was like only some hours you could go outside.

Fernandez needed to be creative. He focused on body-weight exercises, his diet and eventually found a small weight room he could use. But it was far from what he was used to.

During the summer, Montana State players didnt know if theyd have a season this winter. Fernandez, a sophomore forward for the Bobcats, wasnt sure when hed return to Bozeman because borders were closed.

Fernandez was relieved he could finally make it back to campus by early August in the middle of his offseason transformation. Just two games into the MSU (1-1) season, hes gone from a role player coming off the bench to a key piece in a new-look offense. The Bobcats next scheduled game isnt until Dec. 18, and their plan is to capitalize on the two-week break with valuable practice time.

This year, I have been working really hard when I was back in Spain in quarantine, Fernandez said. I guess, just keep working. It doesnt matter if Im a starter or not.

After practices during his freshman year, Fernandez frequently ran extra sprints on his own. His fitness was an area he knew he needed to improve.

This offseason, Fernandez focused on eating healthier. He sent videos of his home workouts from Spain to MSUs coaches. He was in constant communication with them regardless of the eight-hour time difference. He dropped about 15-20 pounds and is now listed at 230 pounds on the Bobcats roster.

Hes in the best shape of his life right now, MSU head coach Danny Sprinkle said this summer.

Montana State forward Borja Fernandez dribbles the ball against Northern Colorado on March 7 at Worthington Arena.

In practice and in games, Fernandez feels he has more energy. As a 6-foot-7 power forward with some 3-point shooting ability, he gives MSU a dimension the team wouldnt otherwise have. Fernandez can move quicker, so hes more capable of rotating defensively and staying in front of ball-handlers in one-on-one situations. His progress on defense has coincided with more playing time.

Through Montana States first two games, Fernandez started twice and is averaging 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 27 minutes. Hes made 7 of 14 shots from the field, including 2 of 4 on 3-pointers.

Albeit a small sample size, its an uptick from a year ago, when Fernandez came off the bench to average 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.2 minutes.

His skill level brings a different level to our team, Sprinkle said. ... He makes the offense better when hes in the game.

Sprinkle has complimented Fernandezs passing and ability to complement junior center Jubrile Belo in the post. The sophomores craftiness around the rim has often led to layups. After shooting 37% from 3 last season, Fernandez continued working on his outside jumper and poses a threat behind the arc. That allows the Bobcats to open up more space.

With a minute and a half left against Pacific on Dec. 2, Fernandez hit a crucial 3-pointer that cut the Tigers lead to four points and helped force overtime.

Fernandez started three games last year as a freshman when Devin Kirby was out with an injury. Kirby, at 6-foot-11, is playing at his more natural center position this year backing up Belo. Kirby started 23 games last year at power forward largely because of what he brought defensively.

But now that Fernandez has worked on his fitness and is better suited to contribute on both ends, hes gained more minutes.

This year can be like my opportunity to take a step, Fernandez said.

To see what else is happening in Gallatin County subscribe to the online paper.

Excerpt from:
Fitness key in Borja Fernandezs offseason transformation - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the state, a gym in Monroe County is making sure its members have a way to stay healthy at home.

STROUDSBURG, Pa. There were only a few people working out inside the Pocono Family YMCA on Main Street in Stroudsburg when Newswatch 16 was there. Steve Houloose from East Stroudsburg was one of them.

"It's a little lonely here. It was always nice to have classes full and people coming in and out," Houloose said.

Because of the rise in COVID-19 cases, Pocono Family YMCA has decided to tweak its in-person group fitness classes. The workouts are being streamed online instead.

Fernanda Urgelles is a fitness instructor. She's teaching virtual Zumba classes.

"I think during the winter, and until the scale of the pandemic is controlled, this is the way to go. It's still fun. We are still seeing each other. I am able to see you guys dancing with me. We will have the music, and you'll get the workout and exercise that we all need," said Urgelles.

Steffanie Bush is co-director of operations at the facility. She says that while people can use workout machines and the pool individually, group workouts pose too high a risk for members. Virtual classes started just this week.

"With the rise in cases across the county, and even in New Jersey which is right next door, we made the decision to lead the way and try to protect our community, and kind of move everyone to virtual so that way you can safely exercise and get moving in the house and stay connected to the community," Bush said.

While members appreciate the virtual classes, they cannot wait for the day they can be back inside with all their friends.

"My biggest hope is that once this is over and they no longer need virtual classes, that all of those people come back," Houloose said.

Members can view classes online using Google Meet or Facebook Live.

You need to sign up for most classes in order to get a link to participate.

Continued here:
Sign up for online fitness classes in the Poconos - WNEP Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

The Air Force is cutting the much-loathed waist measurement portion of its annual physical fitness tests for airmen and Space Force members, the service announced.

The Air Force, which also said it will postpone the fitness tests for its service members until April due to the coronavirus pandemic, is the first military branch to eliminate the practice, which is also known as the tape test.

We trust that our Airmen understand the standard of good physical health practices and we are all finding innovative ways to stay fit, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown said in a statement on Monday. We also trust that leaders will take the appropriate steps to keep their Airmen safe while making every effort to provide fitness options during the pandemic.

The military uses the tape test as a method to estimate body fat, measuring the waist of an individual and then comparing that against the person's height to determine body fat percentage.

But service members complain that the test does not give an accurate reading, as it does not take muscle mass into consideration, and could negatively impact their careers unnecessarily.

In addition to throwing out the waist measurement segment, the Air Force is also exploring alternative strength and cardio components for its current fitness assessment, Brown said.

We believe these potential test structure changes will impact Airmen in a positive way and help with a holistic approach to health and fitness standards.

This is the fourth time the Air Force has delayed physical fitness testing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The service in March first suspended the tests until the end of May, but later pushed that pause until at least Oct. 1.

Officials hoped to resume testing by January, but Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass said that based on the number of coronavirus cases nationwide, the right thing to do is focus on keeping our airmen and their families safe."

"Delaying and reevaluating the PT test is the best option for our people, Bass added.

Commanders may delay the official fitness assessments again beyond April based on the recommendation of local public health officials, the continuation of closed fitness centers and extended state-wide restriction of movement and gathering, according to the statement.

While the waist measurement is permanently removed from the assessment, height and weight measurements will resume in October. The test will also still consist of a 1.5-mile run, one minute of push-ups and one minute of sit-ups.

--Updated at 1:56 p.m.

Read more:
Air Force becomes first military branch to remove fitness 'tape test' | TheHill - The Hill

Reading, PA The T.R.A.I.N. Station located at 1007 Hill Avenue Building 17, Wyomissing will open at the beginning of January, raising Berks Countys athletic training and fitness community level by joining the experience and expertise of Berks Elite Training, The CrossFit Crossing (formerly Corps Fitness), IM ABLE Foundation, and Phoenix Allstars under one roof.

By joining these services under one roof, a destination for all types of athletes will be created offering a community focused multi-faceted facility. Together the four groups will cross train and service their clientele with programing for performance training athletes, adults and the adaptive community. The new building provides the organizations with 13,000 square feet of a fully renovated iconic Wyomissing knitting mill. This facility will be divided into two suites with Phoenix Allstars on one side and the fitness facilities on the other.

We wanted a layout that created some energy in the building and felt it best to share space with The CrossFit Crossing and IM ABLE. We all use the same vehicle to create impact; fitness. By sharing space, we will create a synergy of high-level performance training at all ages that is also mindful of community impact. Whether you are trying to lose weight, increase your self-confidence, recover from a nagging injury or get a D1 Scholarship, the T.R.A.I.N. Station will have a program and a trainer specific for you, says Pete Rowley, Owner Berks Elite Training.

The facility will be fully equipped with Rogue Performance Equipment, with a focus on explosive strength training, athletic foundation and injury prevention. It will have state-of-the-art testing equipment for performance, weight loss and underline medical deficiencies. The Phoenix Allstars will not only have brand new floor but equipment, strength training and injury prevention will also be added to their regimen to enhance their curriculum and continue to compete at the highest levels.

The name The T.R.A.I.N. Station is symbolic as the building sits on the former Conrail Railroad System which is now operated by CSX Corporation. T.R.A.I.N. represents Train, Regenerate, Adapt, Inspire, and Nourish. The idea was to incorporate the mission of all by creating a destination for all.

The T.R.A.I.N. Station felt appropriate given Readings iconic reputation and the presence of our own terminal. The symbolism was too much to ignore. You begin your journey here, with a goal and purpose in mind. Our hope is to join this journey with you and see to it that you arrive at your destination, said Rachel Rowley, Owner Building 17 LLC.

The T.R.A.I.N. Station brings the vision of creating an all-inclusive fitness community to reality. The combination of Berks Elite Training, IM ABLE and The CrossFit Crossing (formerly CorpsFitness) and Phoenix Allstars under one roof creates a unique fitness and training facility. Together we can serve the needs of everyone out there, from group classes to small groups, personal training and adaptive fitness, said Kevin Kodz, Owner The CrossFit Crossing.

I am excited about bringing together three community organizations, Corps Fitness, IM ABLE Foundation and Berks Elite Training that have each been synonymous with health and wellness for all abilities, under one roof with a central location in Wyomissing for more ways to serve Berks County and beyond, said Chris Kaag, Founder/CEO IM ABLE Foundation.

Phoenix Allstars is a non-profit organization specializing in allstar cheerleading, tumbling instruction and a variety of other cheer related activities. We are excited to form new relationships with like-minded business allowing us to provide additional positive opportunities for our athletes and enable them to grow and develop their skills and abilities, says Amber Murray, Phoenix Allstars.

The T.R.A.I.N. Station will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines in early January and a grand opening event after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

For additional information: Berks Elite Training berkselitetraining.com; The CrossFit Crossing crossfitcrossing.com; IM ABLE imablefoundation.org; Phoenix Allstars phoenixallstars.net

Visit link:
The TRAIN Station Set to Open Raising Berks Training and Fitness Level - bctv.org

The Orem City Council received an update on the construction status of the fitness center and the new library auditorium Tuesday.

The two projects have been in the works since spring of 2019. According to Ryan Clark, community development director, both projects are on budget and on time or early.

Library

The auditorium is nearly completed, according to Clark.

There are a few areas still needing to be addressed, Clark said. The final cleaning needs to be done.

The seats in the auditorium have all been unwrapped and this week they are balancing the sound system and the HVAC system, Clark said.

There is a delay on the curtains as they are coming out of California and the state is in lockdown because of COVID-19.

Clark is waiting for a certificate of occupancy and expects a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the end of January. It was originally scheduled for November of this year.

The auditorium is expected to absorb programs and productions already sponsored by the library and other city groups. It will seat approximately 450 people.

Fitness center

Various areas of the center are getting closer to completion, according to Clark. Some areas have paint on the walls and floors installed while other areas are waiting for larger items to be installed.

This fitness center will have two full basketball courts, whereas the former center has only one full court. The gym area also can host a pickleball court. Racquetball courts are nearly complete.

Thanks to money from the CARES Act, automatic non-touch sliding doors have replaced all regular hand-open doors. This is an item that has changed because of COVID-19.

The childrens indoor play area has had a major redo, according to Clark.

The playground was going to look like a restaurant play area, Clark said. We had to up the quality.

That included an increase in the costs for the play area to the tune of $350,000. The city already has $200,000.

There has been a special fundraiser for the additional money and, according to Karl Hirst, director of Parks and Recreation, they are about two-thirds of the way there.

Once people feel its real, we will have a ramp up in small donations, said Brenn Bybee, assistant city manager.

Other than the landscaping, which will be done in the spring, it appears the fitness center will be ready to open by the end of February.

See the rest here:
Orem gets status update on fitness center and library hall - Daily Herald

Page 81«..1020..80818283..90100..»

Home » Fitness » Page 81