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Shares of companies whose business is centered on large groups of people coming together -- including a concert organizer, theater owners, and a fitness-center operator -- are powering ahead in the final day of the trading week. As of 2 p.m. EDT Friday, gym operator Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT)was enjoying an 11% surge in its stock price, while Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV)was up a respectable 4%, and cinema chains Cinemark Holdings (NYSE:CNK) and AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) were up 13% and 32%, respectively.

Image source: Getty Images.

Preliminary results from a University of Chicago Medicine study of 125 COVID-19 patients treated with Gilead Sciences' (NASDAQ:GILD) antiviral medication remdesivirshowed rapid recovery, with most patients discharged from the hospital ahead of schedule.

Some investors are betting that Gilead's remdesivir will prove to be the silver bullet that cures the coronavirus, and the stock market in general is up strongly today -- about 1.5% -- on hope that social distancing and stay-at-home orders will soon be a thing of the past.

It's only natural that companies like AMC, Cinemark, Live Nation, and Planet Fitness would benefit from this optimism.

The next bit of good news pertains to movie theaters and explains why Cinemark and AMC are doing so much better than most other stocks today. In President Trump's plan to reopen the economy released Thursday, movie theaters are included among the types of employers that will be permitted to reopen in the earliest phase of the plan, albeit under strict physical distancing protocols. Over time, these restrictions can be rolled back to "moderate" (phase 2) and then "limited" (phase 3).

The plan does not lay out a clear timeline for when the economy might open up again, much less when it might emerge as a whole from recession. But the fact that a plan is in the works seems to have investors feeling optimistic that things might still work out for the four stocks here.

Only time will tell. In that regard, though, it's worth pointing out that on Thursday, AMC informed investors that it only has enough cash right now to keep itself solvent into July 2020.

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Well, that escalated quickly. With our everyday lives dramatically transformed almost overnight, self-care has gone from nice-to-have indulgence to must-have necessity. Of course, safeguarding your physical and mental health has alway been fairly vital, by its nature. But rarely has it been so universally pressing a concern or, thanks to restricted movement and rampant fear, as difficult even with a constant stream of at-home workout videos.

We dont want to give you more things to feel bad about not doing. You dont have to hammer yourself with HIIT, or bathe in CBD, or build a Fortress of Solitude from healing crystals. You dont have to personally optimise. You do, however, have to look after yourself, because well, because. And if you dont, then you cant look after anybody else. So here are 24 things that you can do for your wellbeing. Dont worry if you cant do them all. In fact...

You can't control the coronavirus. You can control exercise, diet, sleep, calling friends positive behaviours that we wish we did more of. And reward yourself for doing them by self-administering dopamine, a molecule released when you hit a goal, which in turn motivates you to repeat those behaviours and makes them easier to do. This can be as simple as telling yourself well done for going for that run or not eating that chocolate. It sounds a bit cringe, but it works our collaborator Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, says so. Charles Oxley, performance coach, Power Speed Endurance

Its not about pressuring yourself into having the perfect physique: its about engaging your mind and switching off from WFH for a second. Even more than your body, your brain needs this workout right now. Its your most important muscle take care of it. Sandy Macaskill, co-founder, Barrys Bootcamp UK

Physiology is psychology and the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other changes your internal chemistry to close the spiralling stress cycles. Remove your headphones, breath through your nose and let your brain process thoughts. It may be hard to slow down, but push through and you'll find solutions and clarity on the other side. Chevy Rough, wellbeing specialist and Campaign Against Living Miserably ambassador

Chances are you never learnt that skill, read that book or started that fitness regime because you didnt have the time. Not any more. It might seem silly to suggest learning to run when cooped up at home. However, some of the most basic and under-utilised components to running are strengthening the right areas and making sure that youre mobile enough. So spend some of that newfound time on calf raises, reverse lunges and hamstring stretches. And if you are lucky enough to get outside, start by alternating one minute running and one minute walking for a total of 20 minutes. Ollie McCarthy, PT and CALM coach

If Im working out with no equipment, Ill typically think of the movement patterns available to me: upper-body push (eg press-ups, narrow- or wide-hand press-ups, spider-man press-ups), squat (eg pistol, lateral), lunge (eg split squat, wide- or narrow-stance squat), core (planks, side planks, V-sits). Ill pick one exercise for each pattern and a number of reps per move per round, then set a timer for 20-40 minutes and do as many rounds as possible. Jonathan Dick, personal training manager, Equinox Kensington

We're trying to keep physical distance there's no reason why we cant still be socially close. And maintaining face-to-face interactions is paramount for mental wellbeing. So while you might be having Zoom calls with your colleagues or accountant, harness the power of telecommunications to stay in touch with your friends and family too. Pick back up with an old acquaintance, have a beer with your mates or play bridge with Grandma all through the wondrous HD cameras that we have at our fingertips. Seeing familiar faces in a lockdown can, like the virus, remind us that were all connected. Damian Soong, CEO and founder, Form Nutrition

We R Sports Kettlebell

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Golds Gym Kettlebell

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Escape Fitness USA Competition Kettlebell

103.00

Rubberised Kettlebell

55.48

If youre looking to be fit, functional and dynamic. the kettlebell is probably the most underrated and overlooked piece of equipment. It can be used for a wide variety of exercises at all levels of fitness, from deadlifts to hip thrusts, Turkish get-ups to farmers walks around your flat. Kristian Phillips, PT, Equinox Kensington

I use floor-sitting positions to help maintain my athleticism and keep me grounded in my body. Whether youre working on your computer or bingeing on Netflix, put on some comfortable clothes that you can move in. Every 25 minutes, drop into a squat and spend some time switching between different ground-rest positions eg a double-leg kneel, single-leg kneel, shin box. These help to reinforce a strong superstructure and rewild your posture." - Tony Riddle, The Natural Lifestylist (who ran from Lands End to John OGroats, almost 900 miles, in 30 days and no shoes)

Evidence suggests that the more diverse the community of bacteria in your gut, the more robust youll be. But youre stuck indoors, youve been ordered to only go out for food when its essential and youre worried about your finances healthy food is expensive, isnt it? Well, shop from this varied, inexpensive, long-life list: frozen fruit such as dark-coloured berries; frozen veg such as spinach, peas and sweetcorn; fresh veg such as onions, leeks and garlic; starchy carbohydrates such as oats and tinned lentils. Ramp up your intake of real food and support your immune system. Matt Gardner, registered nutritionist and host of the Big Feed Up HQ podcast

Were all born with the ability to breathe well. As we get older, though, we often get into bad habits as we're exposed to more and more stress. We live too fast. We think too fast. We breathe too fast. But if you learn to breathe more slowly, in a controlled way, you can reduce the effect of stress and cope better. Breathe from your belly (which is 20 per cent more energy efficient), through your nose (which filters out particles in the air) and out a little more than in (which stimulates your relaxation response). Inhale for four seconds, exhale for six. Repeat until you feel better. Michael Townsend Williams, author and co-founder of Do Breathe

Without goals, we can quickly become listless, dissatisfied, even depressed. Writing a daily to-do list will give focus to your day, keep you on a constructive path and help you feel happier and more satisfied. You can put a mixture of things on the list: work, chores, exercising, reading, calling a friend and so on. The best thing about goals, however, is that you dont have to achieve them all. Its more about the direction than the accomplishment. - Daniel Fryer, psychotherapist and author of The Four Thoughts That F*ck You Up And How to Fix Them

Strength is the cornerstone of all forms of physical activity. It makes your body more resilient to HIIT and running, increases mobility, decreases injury risk, improves hormonal health, bolsters bone density and generally makes you better at life. You should still be strength training two to three times a week, and those sessions should consist of the fundamental movement patterns of squat, hinge, push, pull and lunge. If you cant add significant external load, ie the weights your gym has, work at a much slower tempos, focusing on range and technique: research supports isometric training contracting a muscle in a fixed position for preserving strength. As well as being the most important element of your fitness, strength is also one of the most resilient, and should stick around for around four weeks after you stop training. So dont panic and do what you can to keep pushing that four weeks further out in front of you. Flatten your own curve. Luke Worthington, PT to Hollywood A-listers and professional athletes

Focus intensely on supporting your circadian rhythms. Being cooped up inside means more time on electronic devices, stressed-out late nights and lack of light exposure. So getting some blue light during the day could help even looking out a window or sitting on a porch, if government regulations prohibit being out other than that. And setting a strict time to end computer, phone and tablet use can help improve sleep quality and melatonin secretion. Kamal Patel, co-founder, examine.com

The goal of this philosophy is to focus your technology use exclusively on activities that support your values. Digital minimalists might set up regular video conferences with family and friends, for example, or use local mailing lists to find ways to be helpful in their community. They wouldnt, however, obsessively browse headlines, or yell at public figures on Twitter. We have two choices in this trying period: use new technologies to amplify our efforts to live a life were proud of, or allow them to suck us into a vortex of distraction and anxiety. Cal Newport, professor of computer science and author of Digital Minimalism

Its all too easy to make lunch, go back to where youve been working all morning and eat while doing e-mails. Stress affects digestion: when youre in fight-or-flight mode, your body moves blood from the gut to working muscles and the brain. Eating in a relaxed environment helps to activate your parasympathetic, rest-and-digest nervous system. Take 15 minutes at meal times minus any distractions, chew your food and be mindful. Liam Holmes, performance nutritionist and founder, pH Nutrition

My go-to exercise to do every day. Building core strength and endurance, shaping your body as one whole, is not only great for your appearance and posture but also its health. Lie on your back with your arms by your side and legs bent. Press your lower back into the floor by drawing your belly button down and in. Lift your shoulders off the floor by elongating your spine and actively contracting your abs and also your feet, and then hold that position. It may not seem like much on paper (or screen), but see for yourself. Carl Martin, personal training manager, Equinox UK

With a pen and paper. Journaling calms racing thoughts, gives us a break from our screens, provides useful memory jogs for when this is all over and helps us connect to our feelings. A good way in is to ask yourself: How do I feel right now? And then ask: Why? This opens up a sort of inner conversation that throws light on whats really going on inside you. When I write my diary Im often surprised by what comes out. I keep it handy and whether I write two sentences or twenty pages doesnt matter. The frequency doesnt matter either. Its also reassuring to know its there and I can turn to it whenever I want. The end of the day is a good time to write I find it helps me sleep, particularly if I write down a problem or something causing me stress. David Waters, therapist and coach

Your new working-from-home set-up may be less than optimal biomechanically. But forcing an upright posture doesnt work. Instead, actively promote your joints ability to move try this spine exercise. Sit forward slightly on your chair, away from your back rest, and roll your pelvis forward. Keeping your head stacked on top of your ribcage, feel the gentle extension or arch in your back. Then reverse, feeling the pull on the bottom of your spine and slouching along the whole length. Repeat four or five times. By doing this, you'll find yourself more upright and balanced naturally, as your brain has become aware of a wider range of possibilities to align your body. As a bonus, youll promote fluid transfer to stagnant areas and, for a moment, disconnect from your devices while reconnecting with yourself. Dominik Koch, movement therapist, Decrypt Bodywork

We learned from living and working in Syria that fixating on survival can actually be suicidal. Rewiring your mindset becomes essential. Yes, times will become tougher. Yes, the negatives will become so much easier to dwell on. But that should never stop you from relentlessly pursuing opportunities, no matter what. If we found opportunities in Syria during its horrendous war, you probably can too, no matter where you are. Louai Al Roumani, former CFO and strategist at Syrias leading bank and author of Lessons From A Warzone: How To Be A Resilient Leader In Times Of Crisis

Meditation is not about banishing the trials and tribulations we practise so that when the bad days inevitably come, we have built some resilience. Returning our attention to the present shrinks the brains fear centre, the amygdala. And when we are present, often we will discover that many of our problems are imaginary, freeing up time and energy to deal with real issues that may be at hand. The breath is always arising in the present, so use it as an anchor. Each time you find your attention wandering, bring it back to the next breath. Don't be concerned if thoughts are persisting. Be patient. Remember, this is a practice. Michael McCaffrey, founder, Breathing Space Wellness

As a Royal Marines Commando, I found it imperative to seek clarity in a stressful or hostile situation immediately. This was done by following a simple strategy called ARA. First, you must Accept that the situation has happened. Second, try to Remove unwanted emotions such as stress, fear and worry. (Less TV and social media will help.) Lastly, adapt as quickly as you can and make a new norm. Youll find it far easier to process the situation, no matter how big the challenge. - Ben Williams, author of Commando Mindset: Find Your Motivation, Realise Your Potential, Achieve Your Goals

Gradually building up is a way to boost white blood cell production from cold exposure without the risk of overdoing it that potentially comes with intense immersion like an ice bath. And managing your stress response can be a useful tool for your mental stability. Week one, finish by washing cold (not lukewarm) water over your arms and legs for a total 30 seconds. Week two, over your arms, legs and chest for a minute. Week three, 30 seconds of cold at the start, in the middle and at the end. Week four, a minute at the start and end. Week five, cold shower easy. The objective is to calm yourself down when the cold water hits. Focus on inhaling through your nose and prolonging your exhale through your mouth, like blowing through a straw. If you can control your breathing, youre getting closer to controlling your mind. Artur Paulins, breathwork coach, founder of Breathwork Academy

Looking on the bright side is powerful preventative medicine. An optimistic outlook has been shown to boost the immune system and help recovery from illness. Studies indicate that there is a strong relationship between optimism and antibody responses to viruses, overall lower risk of disease and fighting the inflammatory effects of stress. Being told to be more positive right now might feel annoying, and impossible, but there are proven, no- or low-cost steps you can take: meditation and mindfulness, writing a journal about what youre grateful for, connecting often with positive people. (Both positivity and negativity are infectious.) Or the best possible self visualisation exercise: vividly envisage yourself at a future time point that is the rosiest possible (and feasible). - Beth McGroarty, research director, Global Wellness Institute

Churchill talked, as WWII was breaking out, of the solace of putting 1,000 years between him and the present moment. He was talking about reading ancient history. It's good advice for us today, I think. I find a lot of solace in reading the Stoics particularly Marcus Aurelius who went through plagues and wars and civil unrest, and worried and feared and were angry like us. But they got through it. They survived. It's somewhat easier and more reassuring to study history than it is to mainline breaking news. Ryan Holiday, author of Stillness Is The Key

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The sport of boxing has been a staple of the Rivera family for generations.

Along with his father, aunts and uncles, Joshua Rivera remembers watching the likes of fellow Puerto Ricans Flix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto rise the ranks of the boxing world to win numerous championships in multiple weight classes.

Born and raised in Sunset Park, in Brooklyn, New York to Puerto Rican parents, Rivera proudly carries the work ethic they instilled in him.

However, his passion for both the sport of boxing and his community would later become huge catalysts for his future business ventures.

At a young age, he became intrigued with the idea of becoming a business owner, stating that having a boxing gym with my father was a dream of mine.

After going to business school and learning the intricacies of running a business, Rivera tapped that hard work ethic and eventually decided to make the venture.

In September 2019, Rivera officially opened his own boxing and fitness studio, Fit 2 Box, in Industry City, just 10 blocks away from where he was raised.

I was fortunate enough to learn [boxing] with my father, who was incredibly knowledgeable in the sport, and I was able to tie in both of them, said Rivera, adding that opening the studio allows him to tap into both his love for boxing and interest in business.

Filling A Need

One of the other major motives for opening Fit 2 Box was due to the big fitness need Rivera wanted to fill in his community.

I think theres a lack of group fitness, he said.

At Fit 2 Box, members are able to learn how to get in shape in a community atmosphere, and in a manner that is more engaging than most traditional exercising techniques.

Boxing gives you that extra element where youre learning as you go, and its a sport where you can learn together, Rivera added.

Prior to opening his business, Rivera collaborated with after school programs across Sunset Park and Bedford Stuyvesant to help provide non-contact boxing programs for youth in those communities.

In those programs, the youth learned the principles of self-defense and exercise, as well as the mental health aspect of fitness training.

Fit 2 Box has also established a womens boxing class as a way to create a safe space for women to train, gain confidence, as well as encourage and motivate each other in a male-dominated profession.

That kind of aspect of the business is really whats driving the success, said Rivera. The women boxers are currently the best that we have at the studio now [and] thats something that Im really proud of.

Beyond the physical aspects of the studio, Rivera also puts an emphasis on the mental component that going to the gym can have on an individual.

I focus heavily on the environment thats established in the gym, he said, noting that one of the most valuable and important times people endure at a gym are the few minutes before and after class.

Those conversations and relationships that are being built, whether by me or other members of the gym, are fostered by that energy, Rivera added. Building those relationships before and after class is really what keeps people coming back, knowing they have kind of like a family and friends that they can train with, encourage and hold accountable.

Valuing His Community

Being born and raised in Sunset Park, Rivera has seen the changes that have occurred in the community, both good and bad.

His understanding of that dynamic, added with the employment jump in Industry City - which has seen the number of jobs increase from 1,900 jobs in 2013 to nearly 8,000 jobs today - made the decision to open his business there an easy one.

As a young kid, I wanted to see myself in different spaces and I never really had that example, Rivera said. So, I want to encourage the next [generation of] youth and adults [so] that we can occupy spaces that are not necessarily traditional to what wed been accustomed to in the past.

That has been a goal of Riveras even before opening Fit 2 Box. Prior to that, Rivera and a friend formed an organization called THREAD, which connects the Sunset Park community to the new developments in Industry City.

We want it to be that bridge where we could establish networks, establish connections and ultimately try to connect jobs with the community, said Rivera.

Riveras endeavors go far beyond the teachings that occur within the confines of a class. At Fit 2 Box, Rivera encourages members to build confidence within themselves.

His belief is that the sport of boxing lends itself to do so, given its self-defense factor and the opportunity to learn a great deal about yourself in the process.

As Sunset Park and Industry City continue to evolve, Rivera wants to leave his imprint in the community in a way that allows others to follow their dreams in the same way he is doing so.

Hes created a space for men, women and youth to aspire to be what they choose through hard work, dedication and confidence.

Sunset Park means the world to me. Its all I really know and I just want to see more people who look like me following in that path, as well, he said.

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The Fitbit Charge 4 has everything you need in a fitness tracker for under $200. It finally includes built-in GPS to track outdoor workouts independently, it has better training tools for athletes, and it fits most of the same smartwatch features into a slimmer package than the more expensive Fitbit Versa. It's my favorite Fitbit yet. If you're looking for a fitness tracker than behaves a lot like a smartwatch without the extra bulk, the Fitbit Charge 4 might be the perfect fit.

Keep reading for how exactly this fitness tracker won me over.

Now playing: Watch this: The Fitbit Charge 4 won me over

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There are plenty of great wearables for athletes, like the Garmin Forerunner 945 and Suunto 3, that have way more fitness chops than the Charge 4, but they're not the most fashionable. The $150 Charge 4 (130, AU$230) is a tracker I will happily wear 24/7 thanks to its sleek, understated design. If you're familiar with the Charge 3, the new version doesn't look much different -- it's just the tiniest bit bulkier on your wrist.

The screen can only display in black and white, but I like that it's nearly half the size of a traditional smartwatch, such as the Apple Watch, and it also does away with physical buttons. Instead, you control the Charge 4 with a combination of the touchscreen and by pressing the left side of the tracker to navigate settings. The touchscreen isn't as responsive and it takes a few seconds to light up when you raise your arm to wake the screen, but I eventually got where I wanted to go. The only time the lag really bothered me was while I was running and wanted to quickly glance at my stats without taking my eyes off the road. Like the Charge 3, it's also hard to see the screen in direct sunlight.

The regular Charge 4 comes in three different colors with silicone sports bands, but the Special Edition, or SE, version that I tested out also comes with a woven band option for $20 more. Straps are easy to swap out (unlike the Versa 2, which has tricky toggles) and if you're upgrading from the Charge 3 you'll be able to use those bands on the newer tracker. There are also a bunch of third-party strap options available to customize your look.

The Charge 4 is comfortable to wear throughout the day and doesn't dig into my skin when I tighten it up during a run. You can also wear it to bed. Like other Fitbits, it also tracks your sleep. I won't go as far as to say that it's comfortable to wear in bed, but at least I didn't want to rip it off in the middle of the night like other trackers.

As a basic fitness tracker, the previous Charge models already checked most of the boxes: measuring steps, calories, floors climbed, heart rate and distance (using your phone's GPS). But that wasn't enough for more serious runners like me. I'm by no means an elite athlete, but I do run on a regular basis, so having a built-in GPS is high on my wish list. The GPS allows the Charge 4 to map your route during an outdoor walk, run, bike ride or hike without having to rely on your phone.

I've gone on a few runs and the Charge 4 has given consistent distance readings on the same route with and without my phone. You can also see a heat map of your route on the Fitbit app, which also indicates the intensity at which you were running based on your heart rate.

The only other Fitbit device that offers built-in GPS feature is the Ionic watch, but it's now over two years old and I found it too big and bulky to wear on a regular basis.

The Charge 4 tracks over 20 different activities, from cycling to yoga. It's also water resistant up to 50 meters like the Charge 3, so you can use it for swimming. You can program up to six exercise shortcuts on the Charge 4, but you do have to choose them and sync from the phone app. You can also set it to track your runs automatically, and set goals for things like pace, distance or calories burned before you start each activity.

GPS is not the only tool for athletes. The Charge 4 has added a new metric called Active Zone Minutes, which uses your heart rate zones to determine the intensity of your workout. The goal is to have 150 active minutes logged by the end of each week, but you can increase or decrease the target based on your fitness level.

A few years ago, Fitbit started breaking out heart rate data into training zones for each activity, based on age and weight. After a workout you can log into the mobile app and see how long you were in fat burn, cardio or peak. The Charge 4 adds real-time heart rate zone notifications so you can take action during your workout.

I had to push myself much harder than usual to get my peak heart rate alert to pop up on the screen (you also get a buzz on your wrist when you reach each zone). I realized I'd been overestimating my effort and it was helpful to have the Charge nudging me to get out of my comfort zone. I can see this being a good training tool if you're looking to break your personal record in a race.

The only downside about having GPS on the Charge is that it'll gobble up your battery a lot faster than on the Charge 3. Fitbit says the Charge 4 can last up to seven days on a charge, but I barely made it to day four before having to plug it in.

I didn't mind having to recharge after four days, but if you're looking to get the most out of your battery life (and are planning to use it at night) I would recommend turning off the GPS when it's not in use. You'll just have to remember to do this after your workout. You can do this from the exercise shortcuts on the Charge. Just swipe up from an activity that uses GPS, like running or cycling, and toggle it off.

I've never gotten much out of tracking my sleep in the past. With a 6-month-old baby and a toddler waking me up at odd hours of the night I was scared to even see my stats the next morning, let alone get graded on my sleep. Each morning, the Fitbit app gives you a Sleep Score based on everything from sleep duration to sleep stages, heart rate and variations in blood oxygen levels, aka SPO2.

After a few nights of testing, it's actually provided some useful data about my sleep habits. For starters, I've gotten a passing grade (above a 60) every single night, despite waking up to nurse my little one. The app told me it's normal to spend up to 45 minutes awake each night, which was comforting. It also gives you advice on how to improve your score, like keeping your bedtime consistent, regardless of how late (or early) it is.

Everyone can see basic information in the app, like how much sleep you get and its quality, but Fitbit Premium subscribers get access to heart rate and blood oxygen data. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary in my chart, but I can see this feature being extremely helpful for people who suspect they might have a more serious sleep-related condition like sleep apnea. In that case it might be worth the extra $9.99 (8.99, AU$15.49) a month for a premium account.

There is one foreseeable downside: With all this sleep data I worry that I might become dependent on the Sleep Score to feel energized during the day. That is, a low Sleep Score may subconsciously make me feel tired, even though I felt like I got a good night's rest.

The Charge 4 goes beyond health and fitness tracking with a few smart features up its sleeve. It mirrors every notification you can get on your phone whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone, but only Android users will be able to reply to messages with preprogrammed quick replies.

You still can't store music onboard to take with you on a run, but if you're a Spotify Premium subscriber, you will be able to use the Charge 4 as a basic wrist remote to pause and skip tracks. There's no volume control though.

It now also includes a new agenda app along with the existing timer, alarm and weather apps.

You'll be able to set up Fitbit Pay on your wrist and use the Charge 4 on any tap-to-pay payment terminal as the tracker now comes with built-in NFC (previously, you had to buy the special edition Charge to get Fitbit Pay). Sadly it still doesn't have as many bank partners as Google or Apple Pay and was not compatible with my primary bank (US Bank), so I couldn't test it out. I'm also quarantined at home, so most of my payments are made online anyways, not at brick-and-mortar stores.

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Fitbit Charge 4 review: This fitness tracker finally has GPS built in - CNET

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Six years ago, I was in the midst of the worst circumstance of my lifethe death of my husband. Now, as we are collectively experiencing the worst thing our country has experienced in our lifetime, I have been constantly reminded of my grief journey.

Perhaps you can relate to what I am feeling. Heartache. Anger. Disbelief. Isolation. Discomfort. Sadness. Loss. Stress. Uncertainty. Devastation. Fear. Anxiety. Lack of control. Everything irrevocably changed in an instant. No timeline or end date. All of these are normal emotions in the crisis mode in which we find ourselves.

The emotional toll of these unprecedented circumstances feels like I am grieving all over again. Theres no point in elaborating on how distraught I am, how worried I am for all of us. You feel it too. But I have been surprised to find myself exhibiting remarkable resilience in my overall mood, spirit and energy levels on a daily basis. There is a direct connection to my grief experience, where I learned so much (and am still learning.)

Here are five of the lessons from my grief process that are helping me to cope right now:

The very first time I spoke with my grief counselor about my loss, she specifically told me that its a crazy-making situation. My normal life coping skills that had served me so well until then were not up to the trauma of dealing with the death of my husband. Yet I was blaming myself for not being able to stay strong and tough it out. Ive never been through a pandemic before, have you? Were challenged and devastated because our world has fallen out from underneath us. If you feel like you are struggling to handle it, well, you probably are, but its not because you are incapable. Quite the contrary!

I dont know how I found the willpower, but every day of the first year I grieved, I applied make-up daily, something I rarely had the energy for and definitely did not feel like doing. My entire day was anchored by that small gesture and helped me establish and maintain a schedule. Since self-isolation started, Im still struggling with a consistent daily routine (its definitely not applying make-up) so I consider it successful if I start it with coffee, a workout and making a reasonably healthy breakfast. After that, some days are more productive than others, but my small morning routine helps keep me grounded.

Death is the ultimate reminder of how little control we really have in our lives. I feel cancer is a close second. Apparently, coronavirus overwhelming the globe is a close third. Grief didnt just drain my energy; it diminished my world. I only regained confidence and perspective by concentrating on my immediate environment every dayclients, gym, house, myself. The coronavirus crisis has literally reduced my controllable environment to only my home, so thats what I am focused onstaying organized, taking care of the yard, taking pride in preparing meals as best I can. Day after day, it helps.

I thought I could get through my grief by being strong and tough, but as it turned out, I had to allow myself to feel all the feelings. This was not an easy process and I caved in many times to the depth of a wide range of emotion (see the above list)feeling all of it fully was the only way to move through it. I know a lot of people who are in relatively stable circumstances right now but feel guilty and selfish about some of their emotions because they are better off than so many others. Whatever you feel is totally legitimate and please honor that for as long as you need to regain your perspective. All of our feelings need to be acknowledgedeven if it is frustration that your vacation was canceled when so many people are losing their jobs.

There are good moments in the midst of grieving, I was surprised to find, moments where I felt so normal that I judged myself for it. Eventually I learned to savor them, because the grief would always come back with a vengeance. If you are enjoying some aspects of how your life has changed because of this crisis, thats excellent! If you can find a silver lining, please do! Enjoy those times because all of your worries will return eventually or another circumstance will change, trust me. This is far from over and the consequences will reverberate for a long time.

Finally, I keep remembering how in the midst of my terrible grief, I never thought I would make it a year. But one year after Dans death, I came back to write This too shall pass about how I had survived so far. I was damaged, but ultimately strengthened, by my terrible grief. We, individually and collectively, as a society and country, will be damaged by this terrible disaster, but we will be ultimately strengthened, in ways we cannot yet comprehend.

This, too, shall pass.

By Pritam Potts

Coach Pritam Potts is a writer and strength coach. After 16+ years of training athletes and clients of all ages as co-owner of Edmonds-based Advanced Athlete LLC, she now lives in Dallas, Texas. She writes about health & fitness, grief & loss, love & life at http://www.advancedathlete.com.

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Fitness Corner: Grieving and the COVID-19 crisis - My Edmonds News

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Stay at home doesnt mean stay on the couch.

From rediscovering the outdoors to online exercise classes, Vermonters are taking a number of approaches to keeping fit amidst the isolation measures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health officials have advocated using Vermonts outdoor resources for both physical and mental well-being during the ongoing pandemic. Outdoor options are limited, though. Earlier this month, state officials closed several trails, citing mud season conditions and unnecessary risk of injury at a time when our sole focus should be on supporting Vermonts efforts to combat the COVID-19 crisis with all available medical resources and not diverting them to emergency response actions. Closures included the entire Long Trail, the VAST and VASA trail systems, and numerous local trail networks.

One set of trails still open is Rutlands Pine Hill Park, which organizer Shelly Lutz said is seeing one of its busiest springs.

If you go on a nice day, sit in the parking lot from 11 to about 3 or 4, youre going to see a lot of cars, Lutz said. Youre going to see a lot of first-time users, and youre going to see a lot of families. Were going through trail maps at the end of March and in April at an unbelievable rate.

Fortunately, Lutz said its been the sort of winter and spring that the trails are up for the added traffic.

If wed had last spring this year, wed be in a world of hurt, she said. The parks in great shape. If you go out on the Carriage Trail, the Redfield Trails, there are some wet spots, but the park itself is great.

She urged everyone not to do something stupid that might prompt the parks closure, such as an incident after Pico closed were a skier tried to hike up one of the steeper trails in his ski boots, failed miserably, was badly injured and had to be retrieved by rescue workers.

Prior to that incident hardcore skiers had been able to snowshoe up and ski down if, perhaps, unofficially.

The combination of that idiot and the people in the parking lots were hanging out, not doing social distancing the ski areas put the kibosh on it, she said.

Lutz said in addition to Pine Hill Park, the rail trail in Castleton is seeing a lot of use.

I know people are hiking Bald Mountain because Im seeing pictures on Facebook, she said. You definitely dont want to go up in elevation too much because there is still snow up there.

Both the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the Green Mountain National Forest have issued guidelines for using the outdoors during the pandemic. These include staying at least 6 feet apart from others, keeping dogs not just leashed but close by, exercising caution by choosing low-risk activities, staying out of closed areas and taking trash with you when you go. Restroom facilities are closed and people are asked to prepare accordingly.

Runners already are accustomed to using the outdoors to get in shape, but some have had to change how they do it. Marble Valley Runners in Rutland no longer does weekly group runs, but founder Joel Flewelling said theyve been using Strava, an app that tracks mileage and lets groups of athletes challenge one another.

Right now we have a challenge 100 miles in April on the Strava group, he said. Were trying to motivate each other to stay active even though we cant do our group run.

April Rogers Farnham, of Plainfield, a marathoner who has had several events canceled due to the pandemic, said she was quarantined for about six days in March.

I noticed people were quoting things about being depressed, not moving, jokes about gaining weight, she said. I was on a run, and while I was running, I thought, this is magical. What can I do to get people outside?

Farnham created a Facebook group called Magic Miles, which encourages people not just to get outside, but to pay attention to the outside while there. It includes ways to incorporate childrens education into outdoor time, such as noting what sort of plants you see and encourages people to post pictures from their excursions.

Its about accountability, perseverance and coming together without being together, she said.

Of course, you dont have to go outdoors to keep fit. Inspiration and guidance are just a click away.

Kellie Ettori taught yoga classes at Rutland Free Library before it closed. This week, she started offering them online through the librarys website. Ettori said she originally wanted to do the classes over Zoom, but the library determined they would be more accessible if patrons could watch them at any time rather than a scheduled event on software that might raise privacy concerns.

Its strange, she said of recording the lesson. Part of the whole beauty of yoga at the library is its a community thing. ... I did something larger than I usually do. It was longer. I talked more. ... I had to clear out space in my house. ... Im not that tall, but I had to have the computer far away so you could see my whole body as I was standing.

An upside to the isolation, she said, has come in different area of health.

Ive been cooking a lot more, she said. Ive been cooking more healthy foods. Its easier to do when youre at home.

gordon.dritschilo

@rutlandherald.com

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Vermonters get fitness creative | Pandemic 2020 - Rutland Herald

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BOISE Exercise is essential, especially to the seniors at Touchmark Retirement Community, but with their regular fitness classes canceled, they are bringing workouts to the resident's driveways.

Every day at 2 p.m., Touchmark's health and fitness team, along with their mascot, Spuddy, choose a street in their single resident homes for social distancing exercise.

"It's a really cool way for them to exercise with us like they normally would in an aerobic setting, and to engage with their neighbors, obviously while still physically distancing themselves," said Touchmark's Resident Services Director, Aaron Kidder.

The residents stand in their driveways as an instructor leads them through a workout. Spuddy and the rest of the staff cheer them on, which has Touchmark resident, Judy Brown, very grateful.

"Just being able to get out in the fresh air and sunshine, and you're not putting anyone else in danger or yourself in danger," said Brown. "I thoroughly enjoy being outdoors anyway, so it is kind of icing on the cake to be able to exercise in those conditions."

It's not only an opportunity for exercise, but with social distancing having some people feeling isolated, it's also a time for these residents to interact socially, something Brown misses a lot.

"I love just being able to see other people and laughing and talking with them," said Brown. "It's fun things like that that make you feel a part of a whole even though you're feeling very isolated during this time."

However, exercise isn't the only thing Touchmark is using to make sure its residents are staying connected and healthy. Brown said they also had a live jazz band perform in their streets for residents to sing and dance to in their driveways, as well as many other activities.

"It's really important for us to keep coming up with creative and fun ways to keep everyone socially engaged while remaining physically distant," said Kidder. "Our team members have a great time with it, and it's a really neat experience to be able to change our operations and still be able to enrich these people's lives every day."

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Touchmark Retirement Community finds a new way to bring fitness to their residents - 6 On Your Side

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The Fitbit Charge 4 landed this week, the latest update in a line of Fitbits advanced activity band range that started with the Charge back in 2014.

And as we concluded in our review, the Charge 4 is still the best fitness tracker money can buy today but its hard to ignore that the form factor has been largely abandoned, and that Fitbit had an open goal to shoot into.

But the success of the Charge 4 draws a line under the era of fitness trackers in wearable tech, and also lays bare challenges in terms of the smartwatch market that Fitbit seems incapable of overcoming.

Read our verdict: Fitbit Charge 4 review

Just a quick check around the market, and youll see theres barely competition for something as powerful as the Fitbit Charge 4.

We're not here to bash the Charge 4 or Fitbit. What other device offers VO2 Max, SpO2 blood oxygen tracking, GPS tracking, top-class sleep analysis, auto-workout detection, swim tracking with customisable pool lengths and a fantastic app ecosystem?

But if there was any significant competition at this price point, Fitbit would have improved any number of aspects of the Charge 3s design namely the terrible screen, lack of always-on display and made a better fist of features like Spotify controls and workout tracking.

In the world of the fitness band its now alone so advanced that it seems unlikely anyone would complete against it.

The Vivosmart 4 is probably the closest in terms of data, but it has no GPS. The Vivosport tracker does have GPS, but was released in 2017 (!) and is no-where near as advanced. The Huawei Band Pro 3 just doesnt have the platform to compete and is also dead in the US until that saga is resolved.

The Samsung Galaxy Fit2 Pro is obsolete, and none of the current Samsung bands offer advanced metrics.

The biggest competitors are the likes of Xiaomi Mi Band 4, simply by way of being cheap.

So in this period of uncertainty, the Charge 4 represents Fitbit essentially settling the account it opened completing the unfinished business of adding GPS into the Charge case something it should have done years ago.

But it's the smartwatch is currently undergoing a huge period of innovation and this is what Google is interested in with its Fitbit buyout should its deal ever past the Department for Justice.

But bafflingly, the Fitbit Charge 4 is now more complete and powerful than the Fitbit Versa, which has neither GPS or the new Active Zone Minutes.

The Apple Watch Series 5 has ECG, detects dangerous heart rate variations, detects dangerous falls and even noise that could damage your hearing and theres rumors it will start to track panic attacks.

Fitbit's entire DNA is around the fitness tracker, and still in 2020, it pushes its best features to a segment that's declining to such a degree.

But now the real work has to start. The fitness tracker market has likely reached its high watermark years ago in terms of interest, and here with the Charge 4 in terms of innovation. But if Fitbit can't aggressively dominate the smartwatch like it has the fitness tracker, it's going to really struggle with Google money or without.

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The Fitbit Charge 4 killed the fitness tracker now it needs to up its smartwatch game - Wareable

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Liams List: Your guide to fitness, food & fun & staying connected while social distancing by KCBS FOODIE CHAP LIAM MAYCLEM.

FITNESS : FRANSGARAGE WORK OUT

FOOD: ORDER415

Support & save our restaurants. Our culinary community needs you NOW more than ever.

FOOD: BOX OF LOVE

FUNDRAISER: ALL IN CHALLENGE

From a music date with Justin Bieber, a movie date with Matthew McConaughay and a cooking classes with top chefs. Its a great way to give and connect with your favorite celebrity. Drop the hash tag on Twitter to find out what your fave star is doing for good.

Proceeds to:

MUSIC: SONG FOR THE WORLD

GIMME SHELTER

EVENT: ONE WORLD CONCERT

THE GRAMMY & OSCAR WINNING Lady Gaga will be joined byAlanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billy Joe Armstrong, Eddie Vedder, Sirs Elton John & Paul McCartneyand Stevie Wonder and many more.

Saturday 8pmon all major networks including CBS.

FUN: SHEEP THERAPY

LEARN: VICTORY GARDENING

HASHTAG: MEET THIS MOMENTMy #hashtag of the week comes by way of a T-shirt by Plumpjack Foundation supporting employees.

#meetthismoment says all we need to know in these challenging times. Order your T-shirt or cap here.

Enjoy your weekend - stay home & stay connected.

Cheers, Liam

KCBS FOODIE CHAP & LIAMs LIST

Fridays on KPIX AM NEWSFacebook @liammayclemInstagram@liammayclemTwitter @liammayclem

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Liam's List: Your Guide To Fitness, Food, Fun & Staying Connected In Social Distancing - KCBS

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iStock.

When Chris Perrin made the decision March 15 to temporarily close Cut Seven, the Logan Circle fitness studio he owns with his wife Alex, it was a struggle. I kind of had a breakdown, and my wife talked me off the ledge, he says. To think that this might be the last time I coach in this roomit was overwhelming.

The duo saved for years before opening the studio in 2017. It wasnt an easy process: they ran out of money during construction and discovered they were pregnant just as the business launched. But finally, the Perrins felt as if Cut Seven was hitting its stride, and they were about to put down the deposit for a second studio location on U Street. Then the Covid-19 pandemic happened.

Its a situation faced by many owners of small boutique fitness studios, which Mayor Bowsers March 24 stay-at-home order deemed nonessential. Suddenly, fewer folks are buying classes; some are freezing their memberships altogether. During a health and financial crisis, how do you sustain a business thats built on entering crowded, sweaty rooms and interacting with dozens of people?

Many spots are now offering virtual programming, but it may not be enough to sustain them long-term, say local studio owners. Cut Seven, for instance, hosts several free online classes a day, as well as live Zoom classes for those with memberships. The latter, combined with selling workout equipment, has brought some income to the studio, but not nearly enough, says Perrin.

The couple is using the deposit theyd saved for their second location to sustain the business and pay their trainers (as of now, Cut Seven has not let anyone go). By the end of the month, the studio will probably be out around $100,000 total, Perrin estimates.

Its really just eating business money. Its turning our business, our savings, into an ATM, which I hate, but theres just no way around it, says Perrin. Its a double negative when youre not bringing money in and youre putting money out. Perrin, like many other local fitness studio owners, has applied for small business grants from the government, but hes still waiting to see if Cut Seven will qualify.

Candice Geller, 30, a federal attorney who owns the H Street cycling studio Election Cycle, is in a similar situation. She closed her doors March 15, froze all studio memberships, and is streaming her classes online for free. The studios sole income now comes from renting out bikes to take home. Thats been successful, but its not nearly as lucrative as being open, says Geller. We have a loan payment, we have utilities, we have payroll, insurance. We still have all those things that dont stop just because our business stopped.

Luckily, the DC government has allowed Election Cycle to repurpose a small business grant it was awarded last year, originally to be used for improvements. Instead of making those necessary updates, Geller will use the grant to pay rent, expenses, and payroll, a development which she estimates buys her another three to four months.

But if this continues, is Geller worried about having to close Election Cycle? Absolutely, yeah, she says. Thats a real concern and a real fear. While she knows shes lucky to have a full-time job outside of owning Election Cycle, she does depend on the studio for extra income, and she invested a significant amount of her own money to get it started. If it folds, she estimates shed lose up to $80,000.

While the pandemic may have been the push many local studios needed to embrace virtual programming, some say theyll continue offering it even when things are back to normaljust to be safe. We are committing ourselves to building out that program in case something like this ever does happen again, says Cut Sevens Perrin.

Thats not an easy pivot for everyone, though, says Rachel Snider, 35, who owns the line of boxing studios Nuboxx. While the group has found some success with its online workouts, says Snider, she doesnt see it as a sustainable, long-term model, especially if the pandemic drags on for months.

Boxing you cant really do online, she says. Were not the same as a strength and conditioning HIIT class that you can really do anywhere.

Snider just opened Nuboxxs second location on U Street. The new space was only open for a week in March before Snider had to shut its doors. Shes currently trying to negotiate rent with her landlord.

Everythings just day-by-day for me right now, especially with the second location, she says. If we [reopened] by early May or June, we would be okay. But after that, I dont know.

Its a question all small business owners, not just those in the fitness world, are askinghow long can we survive like this?

Im like, up at 2 AM consumed by this news on the Washington Post or whatever, says Perrin. Im trying to figure out the freaking pattern so I can solve when this is going to be over.

The one saving grace, local fitness studio owners say, is that theyre all in this together. Everyones in the same boat, so I try not to go down that rabbit hole of woe is me, says Snider. Were doing the best that we can with what we have.

Join the conversation!

Associate Editor

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

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The Fitness World Has Pivoted to Online Workouts During the Pandemic. But Is That Sustainable for Small Boutique Studios? - Washingtonian

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