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La PORTE Anytime Fitness is doing their part to help their local communities through these difficult times.

Due to the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local government agencies, the clubs recently voluntarily closed down temporarily amid the coronavirus pandemic in effort to prevent the spread of the virus.

To help the community stay active and stay positive, Anytime Fitness is offering free Virtual Team Workouts to all of the community via ZOOM.

This situation is changing daily and we have to continuously pivot what we are doing. We feel for our members that cant get into the gym, but we also feel for our community. The last few weeks have caused changes and disruptions in all of our lives. However, we recognize that there are certain actions that are necessary to help prevent the spread of this virus, said Anytime Fitness Director of Operations Kevin Scott.

The Free Virtual Workouts began April 6. Monday through Friday sessions will be offered at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturdays sessions will be offered at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Even Sundays, there will be a 10 a.m. session.

These sessions will be full body workouts geared towards all levels. One to two certified personal trainers will be hosting these sessions and will provide modifications for those who need it. All workouts will be done with body weight or minimal weight with household items such as milk jugs or gym bags.

On top of the team training sessions, Anytime Fitness will also host Nutrition Seminars, Stretching workouts, and even a Yoga class. The Nutrition and Stretching Seminars will be held in the Anytime Fitness Together We Rise Private Facebook Group. If you are interested, Anytime Fitness asks you request to join that group to few those sessions. Nutrition seminars will be held at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Also available in the Facebook group will be the Stretching sessions held at 11 a.m. Sunday and Tuesday at noon. To cap it off, on Sundays there will be a Yoga Session at 9 a.m.

The Free Virtual Workouts are being offered on ZOOM as well as on the Anytime Fitness Together We Rise Facebook Group. To sign up for a workout, join the Anytime Fitness TogetherWeRise Facebook group.

The Zoom Meeting ID for the sessions is 621.782.6079.

If you do not have a Facebook and would still like to utilize these options, email Kevin Scott at kevin.scott@anytimefitness.com

Read more from the original source:
Anytime Fitness offers free virtual workouts - The Herald Argus

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What happened

Yesterday's stock market rally ended up fading to red by day's-end. But today, the S&P 500 is making up for lost time, up close to 3% at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

Some of the stocks making the biggest gains today are the same kinds of stocks that got hit hardest early on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and consumers' related avoidance of large public gatherings. Cruise operators Carnival Corp (NYSE:CCL) and Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) for example, are up 5% and 10%, respectively. And gym operator Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT) is up 13.7%.

Believe it or not, you can probably thank Wall Street's stock analysts for this.

Image source: Getty Images.

Take Carnival and Royal Caribbean, for example. This morning, analysts at Nomura Instinet lowered their price targets on both of the major cruise operators' stocks, according toTheFly.com, cutting Carnival to a $16 price target (with a neutral rating), and Royal Caribbean to $62 (with a buy rating).

Ordinarily, you might think that a pair of price target cuts would be considered bad news for these stocks. But here's the thing: Currently, Carnival stock only costs about $11 and change -- 26% below what Nomura thinks it's worth. Royal Caribbean could be an even better deal. Assuming it avoids bankruptcy (and Nomura does),the analyst thinks Royal Caribbean shares, at $37 today, have the potential to go up as much as 68%, on top of the gains they've already notched today.

Planet Fitness, meanwhile, received two separate endorsements today. First,a "buy" rating from D.A. Davidson, which says COVID-19 is just a "blip" that does not detract from Planet Fitness' "superior unit economics". Second, positive commentary from Jefferies & Co., which predicts that many of Planet Fitness' rivals will close their doors permanently, leaving Planet Fitness with fewer rivals to compete against once this pandemic passes.

Granted, all three of these analyst opinions are partially predicated upon the businesses' abilities to survive the pandemic and the recession it is causing. The longer consumers remain averse to gathering in confined places, and to disposing of their discretionary income, the harder it's going to be for any of these companies to bounce back. The fact that they're all heading into this recession heavily burdened by debt -- $1.5 billion net of cash at Planet Fitness, $11.6 billion in net debt at Royal Caribbean, and a whopping $13 billion at Carnival -- isn't going to make their jobs any easier, or their futures any more secure.

For the time being, however, analysts seem optimistic that all three companies will make it through the recession intact -- and investors today seem to agree.

Continue reading here:
Why Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean, and Planet Fitness Stocks All Popped 5% (or More) This Morning - The Motley Fool

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DOYLETOWN >> The Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection is warning businesses that continue to operate in violation of Gov. Tom Wolfs directives that they could face enforcement actions.

During the past week, owners of a fitness business that persisted in remaining open, despite repeated warnings from Consumer Protection officials, were issued multiple non-traffic citations by police. Also cited were two customers who patronized the business despite warning notices placed on the doors.

Finally, after the owners vowed to stay open in spite of the citations, county Health Department officials placed chains and padlocks on the entrance doors, and the business is now closed.

On March 19, Wolf signed an order directing all non-life-sustaining businesses to close by March 21 or face sanctions, including possible fines. The order, designed to help limit the spread of COVID-19, was accompanied by a detailed list describing businesses that could and could not stay open.

Since then, Bucks County Consumer Protection has received many complaints, questions and other calls about whether specific businesses have complied with the governors order, sometimes requiring the county to investigate the circumstances.

Almost all of the business owners in Bucks County have done the right thing and complied with the governors order in this difficult time, said Consumer Protection Director Michael Bannon. It has been made obvious to all of us that, in order to beat this virus, everyone needs to comply. Not only is the fact that it is unfair to other hardworking business owners that this business remained open, it was a flat-out health hazard. Although we all would have liked this issue to be resolved amicably, public safety must come first.

Bannon stressed that county officials, after receiving complaints about a non-complaint business, often have learned that the business fell within the governors definition of a life-sustaining enterprise, or that it had applied successfully to the state for a waiver.

Most businesses that were found to be operating in violation of Wolfs order voluntarily shut down after being contacted, Bannon added. In other cases, if complaints persisted about a business, county officials would pay a visit and leave a notice for the owner to contact them about the complaints.

Most either shut down after calling back or closed on their own without calling, Bannon said.

Penalties for not complying can include forfeiture of the ability of the business to receive disaster relief, termination of state loans or grant funding, suspension or revocation of licensure, or prosecution resulting in fines and/or jail time. Anyone with questions about Wolfs order or about a business that may not be complying can call the countys Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-942-2669, or email consumerprotection@buckscounty.org .

Originally posted here:
Bucks County fitness business padlocked after failing to comply with shut down order - Bucks Local News

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Chuck Runyon, CEO & Cofounder of Self Esteem Brands

Over 4,000 people have tattoos of the Anytime Fitness running man logo.But as Chuck Runyon tells it, those tattoos arent about the Anytime Fitness brand but instead its a statement of the personal transformation that each individual has experienced.Chuck is the cofounder and CEO of Self Esteem Brands, one of the top 25 franchise systems in the world and the parent company of Anytime Fitness, Waxing the City, Basecamp Fitness, and The Bar Method.We sat down to talk about the history of Self Esteem Brands, how they have built a franchise platform, and why they ended up building a full-time tattoo studio in their headquarters.

Dave Knox:How did Self Esteem grow from your first Anytime Fitness to the breadth you have today?

Chuck Runyon:In 2002, we opened our first Anytime Fitness in a town called Cambridge, Minnesota about 45 minutes east of the Twin Cities.For the first six years, we were really a fitness company. We were fitness guys teaching people how to run fitness clubs. But as we're growing, we kept investing in these capabilities and we're becoming more franchise-centric, really learning the franchise industry. When we started in franchising, we had very little if any experience in franchising, and so over the course of 10 years as we're building Anytime Fitness, we're also building platforms in real estate, lending, construction, support, legal that now can be used with other franchise brands.

It is around 2012 that we came to the realization that we have a franchising platform that can be leveraged for other brands. That's when we made our first acquisition of Waxing the City, which was a small body waxing brand based out of Denver. In the last 18 months, we have acquired The Bar Method, which has about 123 units and Basecamp, which is a small high intensity interval training brand based out of California. Today we consider ourselves more of a franchise company than a fitness company. We've had to pay our dues over 10 years and still today learning the very best capabilities of franchising.We are on a mission here to make sure that we can provide accessibility and wellness to people all around the world.

Knox:When you acquired those new brands, what made them stand out as good fits for Self Esteem?

Runyon:We are founder-conscious and all three of the brands had a strong founder influence.We loved the passion and the belief system of the founders of those three businesses, but they were looking to grow and scale, which is where Self Esteem Brands came in.From a value prop, they have distinctive offerings. Basecamp is the best workout in the shortest amount of time in the HIIT world today. Bar Method is absolutely the highest consumer rating when it comes to those bar classes. Then Waxing the City had a wonderful approach with their approach to waxing and their technique is second to none. In addition to founder passion, we want these differentiating experiences for the consumer.When we find that, it's a wonderful partnership between a founder's passion and our platform.

Knox:In addition to being one of the top 25 franchise systems in the world, you are also the only one with a presence on all seven continents.How did Anytime Fitness end up with a presence on a luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica?

Runyon: Five years ago, Anytime Fitness had just opened our fifth continent and I knew that Africa was going to be inevitable after that.So we just set the goal to get to all seven. Thanks to the ingenuity of one of our team members we found a shipbuilder based out of Chile that was building a new 300-foot expedition ship. We pitched them the idea of having an Anytime Fitness club on the ship and they loved it.As a result, during the six summer months, we have an Anytime Fitness roaming around Antarctica. Only a few months prior to that first ship voyage, our Anytime Fitness club had opened in Morocco in North Africa. As a result, in 2019, we were the first and only franchise brand in history to have operating units on all seven continents. That club in Antarctica may not provide much ROI financially but it does provide a great signature brand statement that says anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Knox: On that brand statement, one of the cool things about the brand is that 4,000 Anytime Fitness members have the symbolic running man logo tattooed on their bodies. How did that start and why do you think Anytime Fitness has cultivated such a strong commitment from your members?

Runyon: We built our new headquarters about four years ago and we have a full-time tattoo room. I think we might be the only corporate headquarters in the world that has its own tattoo room. If someone around the world gets a tattoo in their community and it has to do it Anytime Fitness, our owner sends us a picture, they send a reason why, and they send a receipt. We reimburse for it.

Quite honestly, it's really not so much about our brand, even though they have that symbol on their skin. It is all about their personal transformation, like, "I love the new me, and I don't want to go back to being the old me. I've lost a hundred pounds," or, "I've run my first triathlon," or, "I just love who I am." It's always a sign of self-love and self-respect and because they love this new version of themselves.

We're a part of it because maybe our coach, our club helped them locally transform their life, but it's always a profoundly personal story. Oftentimes, our owners or our coaches who get the tattoo say two things, either, "I helped this person achieve something they could never do before and I'm very proud of that," or, "The values of this organization align so deeply with my values that I want to put this on my skin."

In all the stories I've heard, I want you to think about this. I've never heard a franchisee saying that, "I did this because I made so much money," or, "I did this because you have the best treadmills." It's always a profound transformation story and something about self-love and self-respect and them really liking the new person that they are. It's really less about us and more about their work and their achievement and the value that they believe in. We're very proud of that.The more work we do, the more people change their lives. It just feels good to know that at the end of the day, we're bringing help to communities and help to people. Your health is either an asset or liability, and once you turn it into an asset, it can propel you forward in so many ways.

Knox: How are you working to grow the size of the fitness and wellness industry as a whole?

Runyon: If you think about people who are active members in the fitness space, it is really only about 20% of the U.S. adults, so one out of five people who are members of some type of club or studio. There's this incredible white space opportunity with those who are at home, maybe sitting on the couch, maybe intimidated or just lack that motivation. I think what those people need is a gym or a studio that cares about them, that will take the time to understand them, personalize the experience, provides them education, motivation, welcome them, meet them where they are at, and then introduce them to a healthier lifestyle.

Our brands are trying to get far better at making sure we are very welcoming. We're warm. We're inclusive. We can have the emotional intelligence, the people skills to help understand people unlock where they want to go and meet them where they are. Sure, we have technology, we have apps, we have operating systems, we have all that stuff that we want to continue to get better at, but we're also trying to place a great deal of importance on emotional intelligence and just caring for people, understanding them, helping them see that this, although it may appear intimidating, they can do this, they have the capability to do this.

We use the terms coaching and connection quite a bit and so much of that is based on emotional intelligence and skills. We're doubling down on more of those soft skills because, in the behavior change business, you need someone who can hold you accountable, you need someone who cares, you need someone who's willing to listen. I don't think that's ever going to go out of style here for the next 10 years. In fact, people are so consumed with information, they're looking for someone they can trust, and I think at our local units, we have passionate franchisees who care for them and are going to guide them on their journey.

Knox: Self Esteem Brands recently unveiled new digital offerings to bring fitness and wellness content into peoples homes can you tell me more about it?

Runyon: Yes Anytime Fitness, Basecamp Fitness, and The Bar Method now all have new content series available online to access free at anytime, anywhere by anyone. We know that Americans and people around the world depend on our brands to keep them healthy. We believe now is the time to respond to the needs of people around the globe who are self-isolating as a result of the spread of COVID-19. Each of our fitness brands has developed a new series of free online coaching, training and content that will allow people stay home and still access the workouts as well as fitness, nutrition and wellness advice that they crave. The digital offerings have been a part of the evolution of our business that had to be accelerated due to the current global pandemic. Our franchisees are independent, small business owners who care deeply about their communities.

Our new virtual offering for Anytime Fitness is a series of content that includes quick and easy-to-access workouts, training, coaching, and health and wellness advicefrom certified health coaches, accessible every weekday. You can watch the workouts live weekdays at 8:30 a.m. CT onFacebookand can also find them on the Anytime Fitness YouTube channel. For anyone who wants curated workout playlists they can access our Anytime Fitness Spotifychannel. Additionally, Basecamp Fitness is providing a series of high intensity workouts that anyone can enjoy at home and on-the-go, accessible onInstagram. Lastly, The Bar Method is offering a taste of signature technique from expertly trained instructors meant to deliver a challenging yet graceful workout that will build long, lean, sculpted muscles and a feeling of personal strength, confidence and poise. These techniques are available onFacebook. Coaching members virtually and this content series are ways for our franchisees to keep supporting their friends and neighbors.

See original here:
Why 4,000 People Have A Tattoo Of The Anytime Fitness Running Man Logo - Forbes

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The COVID-19 outbreak has forced gyms and other fitness providers to temporarily close their doors, keeping many Minnesotans from staying fit with regular workouts.

But many in the fitness industry have been quick to adapt and find ways to continue what they love: helping people strengthen their bodies and calm their minds.

Providers are stepping up: offering virtual workouts, making libraries of videos available for free or on a pay-what-you-can basis, showing you creative ways to work out at home, and much more.

This article will be a regularly updated summary of gyms, fitness studios and fitness leaders the ones we know about so far in and around the Twin Cities working overtime to keep community members healthy, mentally and physically.

Note: If you know of a fitness leader or fitness business that should be included here, have the business owner e-mail the Star Tribune's Rich Gordon, at rich.gordon@startribune.com.

612 Yoga

What they do: Teach Vinyasa flow yoga.

What they are doing now: Owner Diane Afrioz is streaming lunchtime classes on a donation basis via Zoom on Mondays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m.

Contact: https://www.facebook.com/612yoga; 612-440-9727.

Alchemy 365

What they do: The company, which has five locations in Minnesota and two in Colorado, combines yoga, strength, conditioning and mobility into one workout.

What they are doing now: Streaming four live workouts for free each day via its Instagram and YouTube channels and updating its catalog of on-demand workouts.

What they said: "A large number of our recurring members have gone out on a limb for us and opted to keep their memberships so far. We felt we didn't want to put our services behind a paywall and exclude people at a time when everyone needs a way to work out and blow off some steam. We feel if we work together, maybe we can survive this." Tyler Quinn, co-founder and chief talent officer.

Contact: https://www.alchemy365.com; 246 Ninth Ave. N., Minneapolis; 120 SE Third Ave., Minneapolis; 2910 Fremont Ave. S., Minneapolis; 747 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul; 6729 York Ave. S., Edina. Main number: 612-444-6287.

Ali Holman/CoreCamper

What they do: WCCO-TV's local fitness professional is also a national on-air fitness and health expert.

What they are doing now: Offering 50% off the first month of her at-home CoreCamper program, a series of 20-minute online workouts. She is also sharing free workouts on her Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts that incorporate everyday items such as paper towels and laundry baskets.

What they said: "We've been doing online workout videos for more than a decade, so our business naturally caters to people who have never thought about working out online. We try to keep things fun and keep people motivated." Ali Holman.

Contact: https://www.corecamper.com.

Balance for Life Fitness and Wellness

What they do: This center in Arden Hills, now in its 20th year, provides Pilates, yoga, and fitness classes for individuals and small groups, and also offers massage therapy.

What they are doing now: Offering free online fitness videos.

What they said: "Our business might be shut down, but so far all of our staff members have volunteered to send in a video so we can post it online. They are passionate about helping people, and we are trying to do what we can to keep our clients and others moving during all of this." Julie Gronquist, owner.

Contact: http://www.balanceforlifefitness.com; 3555 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills; 651-415-9500.

Chris Freytag/GetHealthyU

What they do: Based in Wayzata, Freytag is the founder and CEO of GetHealthyU.com, a digital fitness and health publishing company that reaches more than 2 million women per month.

What they are doing now: Providing full-length workouts and health advice on GetHealthyUTV.com, a subscription-based website.

Contact: https://gethealthyu.com/. Also posting free videos at https://www.facebook.com/chrisfreytagpage.

Discover Strength

What they do: Offer personalized strength training and body composition testing services to individuals looking to maximize their results in the least amount of time

What they are doing now: Doing virtual one-on-one sessions with their clients and offering a free introductory session for new clients.

Contact: https://www.discoverstrength.com; 120 S. 6th St., Minneapolis, 612-399-9076; 314 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, 763-260-5566; 10160 6th Ave. N., Suite A, Plymouth, 763-546-1628; 18882 Lake Drive E., Chanhassen, 952-934-1204; 265 Radio Dr. STE C, Woodbury, 612-399-9076.

FitELITE

What they do: This small gym in Eau Claire, Wis., provides high-intensity fitness training in group and individual settings.

What they are doing now: Offering its active members daily workouts and accountability through coaching videos. The gym is also publishing videos, meal ideas and more on its Facebook page for everyone.

Contact: https://www.facebook.com/FitELITE.Eau.Claire; 3420 Mall Dr., Suite 7, Eau Claire, Wis.; 715-514-1264.

Grappler Station

What they do: Provide judo and jiu jitsu martials arts training in St. Paul.

What they are doing now: Using Zoom to conduct classes with their students at home.

Contact: https://www.grapplerstation.com; 614 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul; 612-356-2408.

In Motion Fitness

What they do: Help build strength and cardiovascular fitness through their 45-minute PUSH program.

What they are doing now: Offering free on-demand fitness videos.

Contact: https://www.inmotionfitnessmn.com; 3764 Dunlap St. N., Arden Hills, 651-756-8930.

Studio One Yoga

What they do: Offer Hatha/Vinyasa yoga to people of all ages and body types.

What they are doing now: Free streaming of classes, reaching out to clients and encouraging everyone to stay connected with instructors.

What they said: "We will continue to offer free livestreaming classes and keep them up for a while. We know people need them." Sarah Moslemi, owner.

Contact: http://www.studiooneyoga.com; 402 Main St., Stillwater; 1940 Lexington Ave., Roseville; 4475 Lake Ave. S., White Bear Lake. Main number: 651-430-7155.

Sweat Minnesota

What they do: Created in the wake of Gov. Tim Walz's stay-at-home order, Sweat Minnesota is a collaboration of more than 60 local fitness experts who offer free and for-a-fee virtual content.

What they are doing now: Offering periodic days of free virtual fitness and wellness classes, with multiple class options over a period of several hours. About 10,000 Minnesotans logged on to take part in their first "Ready. Set. Sweat Minnesota" event April 4 with the next event scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, visit their website for a large directory of participating fitness experts.

What they said: "Sweat Minnesota was born out of the need to adapt to the current situation. It's so important for people to keep their health at the forefront right now, and it's incredible to see people in our industry come together and do this for our community." Co-founder Dawn Bryant.

Contact: https://www.sweatminnesota.com.

SweatShop Health Club

What they do: This boutique health club in St. Paul has been teaching Pilates and fitness for more than 40 years.

What they are doing now: Offering free videos and online streams of their instructors leading workouts. Paying clients can also access more extensive group classes and one-on-one workouts with their trainers using apps like Zoom.

What they said: "That sense of community can still be fostered online. It's not just about the exercise." Claudia Root, Pilates instructor.

Contact: https://www.sweatshopfitness.com; 167 Snelling Av. N., St. Paul; 651-646-8418.

The Studio by M

What they do: Incorporates yoga, Pilates, cardio, strength training and basic ballet barre work into one workout.

What they are doing now: Live-streaming classes for their members.

Contact: https://www.thestudiobym.com; 1645 Harmon Place, #308, Minneapolis, 612-460-1231.

Tigerfit

What they do: This private gym in Minnetonka, owned by iFit trainers Chris and Stacie Clark, has trained Timberwolves and Vikings players, including Chad Greenway.

What they are doing now: They have dropped fees to members while they are closed, have loaned out their training equipment to those who need it, and are offering free live classes to the public.

What they said: "I grew up in an atmosphere where you helped people when they needed help. Looking at this situation, one of the things we felt we could give back was our knowledge of fitness. We have around 500 people participating live, and they are commenting back during the workouts and creating this social atmosphere, even though we all are physical distancing." Chris Clark, co-owner.

Contact: https://www.betigerfit.com; 12993 Ridgedale Dr., Suite 103, Minnetonka; 952-595-5915.

Vertical Endeavors

What they do: Indoor climbing facilities in Bloomington, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth.

What they are doing now: While all memberships are frozen, it is offering free online fitness and yoga classes.

Contact: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPh7h4nyRCOItXsXHwSdUqsAWv0ZKdyJ9. 9601 James Ave. S., Bloomington, 952-881-1110; 2540 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-436-1470; 855 Phalen Blvd., St. Paul, 651-776-1430; 2550 Wabash Ave., St. Paul, 651-330-8661; 329 S. Lake Ave., Duluth, 218-279-9980.

Big orgs, too

Any Time Fitness

What they do: Woodbury-based 24-hour health and fitness club with more than 4,000 franchised locations in 50 countries.

What they are doing now: Offering daily workouts on its Facebook page.

Contact: https://www.anytimefitness.com/in-response-to-recent-public-health-concerns/

Life Time

What they do: National health club chain with 26 locations in the Twin Cities metro area.

What they are doing now: All locations are closed until further notice but Life Time is offering many of its group fitness class videos and home workouts for free to the public online.

What they said: "We remain committed to the health and happiness of our members and team members and are working hard to ensure our community feels supported and knows that they can turn to us and our experts for their own healthy way of life goals." Bahram Akradi, Life Time founder, chairman and CEO.

Contact: https://www.mylt.life.

YMCA

What they do: The Y is a worldwide nonprofit that focuses on empowering young people and improving health and well-being.

What they are doing now: The Y is offering free on-demand fitness videos online. Choose from bootcamps to yoga, tai chi, weightlifting, and activities for children and older active adults.

What they said: "We recently launched YMCA 360, a new online community program that allows participants to stay connected and active, even when they can't visit the Y. We launched YMCA 360 because we know how important physical activity and community are, especially in uncertain times." Valerie Barker Waller, Y-USA senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

Contact: Twenty metro area locations; 800-872-9622; https://www.ymca360.org.

YWCA Minneapolis

What they do: Founded in 1891, it promotes health, education, and gender and racial equity in the Twin Cities.

What they are doing now: Offering free on-demand stretching, yoga and other fitness videos.

Contact: https://www.ywcampls.org/fitness-membership/group-fitness/ywca-on-demand/. 1130 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-332-0501; 2121 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, 612-215-4333; 2808 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-874-7131.

Reach out to us

Know of a fitness leader or fitness business in or around the Twin Cities that should be included here? Have the business owner e-mail rich.gordon@startribune.com. Go here to learn more about what businesses are closed during the pandemic.

See original here:
Here are the Minnesota gym owners and fitness leaders working hard to keep us working out - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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See the original post:
#7Fitness Workout Wednesday with Justin Bowers of 4 Life Fitness Studio - WSPA 7News

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Those with the organization say these classes are a way for community members to remain connected while social distancing

FARGO, N.D. Empty floor mats and a quiet room isnt the usual scene at Fargos TNT Kids Fitness & Gymnastics.

But with Coronavirus concerns still in mind, its the gyms new norm for a while.

Weve been closed for a couple weeks now, and what we really try to emphasize is since the kids couldnt come to TNT, we brought the movement to the kids, says TNT Programs Director Ryan Williams.

Theyre doing so by providing virtual live classes for members.

All children, all abilities can use this, and it doesnt matter, we want to give all the information and allow them to move and be, have fun, and get a little taste of what TNT is, says Williams.

The Fargo-based fitness facility opened more than a decade ago with the goal of providing a place for children of all abilities to get moving, including those with physical or emotional barriers.

That mission is still alive through the organizations online lessons.

In order for the kids to get moving inside their homes, the coaches have opened up theirs.

Innovation is one of our core values and theyve definitely excelled at that by using their couch cushions, their couches, their tables, their chairs; whatever it may be to replicate the movements that they normally would be doing here, says Williams.

Whether it be in-person or online, the gyms goal remains the same.

Just move. Let the kids move. Its beautiful outside. Get them out, get them moving. Our mission is unlocking potential through movement, and thats what were really trying to do. Were trying to just unlock the potential through movement at their house.

Members currently enrolled in year-round programming receive virtual live classes throughout the week.

The recreational TNT curriculum are getting private links each Wednesday, which includes access to all 10 classes being taught that week.

Anyone can sign up to start taking these classes starting May 4th.

The organizations Facebook page also has a sampling of all of its current offerings, including movement activities for preschoolers, healthy snack recipes, occupational therapy tips addressing childhood anxiety, advanced movement ideas for outdoors, crafts and more.

Find more information on TNTs Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/TNTKidsFitness.

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SHANGHAI, China In the darkest days of Chinas coronavirus outbreak, the streets of major cities, normally teaming with tens of millions of inhabitants, lay eerily empty.

As people in many other countries are now doing, Chinas vast population retreated inside their homes in late January. Every day, people spent hours online, not only desperate for the latest news on the virus, but also researching ways to combat its seemingly relentless spread and sharing tips to boost immunity and improve overall health.

Many international brands were noticeably quiet on Chinas social media channels in this post-Chinese New Year period, posting about company donations to the Red Cross and voicing unbridled support for China in its battle against the virus, but ceasing the usual flow of brand-related content to a captive audience. Notable exceptions were global sportswear brands, including Lululemon and Nike, who responded to the quarantine quickly in positive and on-brand ways.

Both Lululemon and Nike saw an uptick in e-commerce in China.

Admittedly this is an easier task for companies with health and fitness as an existing core brand value, but it nevertheless increased mindshare for these brands. In addition to specially designed online yoga and fitness classes to suit small spaces, the Lululemon livestreams also promoted mental wellbeing, with mindfulness a focus, a message that offers something relatively new for Chinese consumers in the context of modern Chinas relentless surge to be the fastest, strongest and best.

We are trying to help people look after themselves. The best way to navigate this time is to stay closely connected and to stay active for your physical and mental well-being, explains Keen Yim, Lululemons Asia-Pacific Vice President of Brand and Community. The digital classes were offering are widely available, and the response has been incredibly positive to date.

Both Lululemon and Nike sounded positive notes on their future in the China market in earnings reports at the end of March. Though China revenue dropped as stores closed across the country, both saw an uptick in e-commerce sales cushion those losses. According to Lululemons Chief Executive Calvin McDonald, e-commerce in China grew 70 percent in the fourth quarter.

Having opened its first store in China four years ago, Lululemon has 30 stores in the country today and plans to continue a retail roll-out. Their penetration remains low compared with many other peer brands that boast hundreds, if not thousands of stores.

What Chinese Consumers Want

In a plethora of consumer reports and analyst notes focused on China released in the last two months from sources including China Luxury Advisors (CLA), Bain & Co., and Fung Business Intelligence Group (FBIC), all predict a poorer outlook for luxury in the wake of the virus, as well as a more positive outcome for fitness and wellness-related products and categories.

Demand for fitness-related products and services such as sportswear, trainers, wearable fitness devices, [and] fitness training, is set to increase as good health may become one of the most valuable attributes of life after the epidemic, the FBIC report released in mid-March reads in part.

It should come as no surprise that a population that has become obsessed with health and healthcare in the shadow of this pandemic over a period of more than two months, should see that interest manifest in different ways now, even as the immediate threat to health and wellbeing from Covid-19 fades somewhat.

Further emboldening the optimism for sportswear companies is the anticipation of belt-tightening measures among Chinese consumers. The CLA study showed 86 percent of surveyed consumers plan to spend less overall this year compared with last, largely due to the economic uncertainty that faces China as its own economy recovers from the virus outbreak and it also potentially suffers flow-on effects from a global economic downward spiral.

Good health may become one of the most valuable attributes of life after the epidemic.

It is, after all, easier for many of Chinas 400 million middle-class consumers to contemplate spending 850 yuan ($120) on a new pair of Lululemon leggings, in comparison with spending tens of thousands of yuan on a new luxury handbag.

Like the boost it gave to e-commerce and livestreaming, the pandemic simply accelerated a trend for fitness and wellness that was already gaining momentum in China before the first outbreak. According to a 2018 Euromonitor International report, the country's sportswear market was worth approximately $40.6 billion last year, andsportswear spending was on-track to surpass spending on luxury goods by the end of this year.

According to the firms data, around 70 percent of Chinese consumers increased their spending on sports shoes by more than 5 percent between 2017 and 2018, while around 60 percent did the same with sportswear.

Kelly Gao, 31, a project engineer in the automotive industry, embraced fitness and healthy eating 18 months ago and is now introducing colleagues and friends to F45, a boutique fitness centre in Shanghai where she works out almost daily.

Before I started training, I got ill for one month and I felt like everything was negative. I wanted to change something in my life. It was hard, but I found I enjoyed it and then started going to the gym every day after work, Gao says.

She has also become an avid consumer of active wear, especially in the first year of her journey as losing weight meant she had to regularly replenish her workout clothes in smaller sizes.

I like some brands, but I basically just search Taobao for the styles I like. The design is more important [to me] than the brand, she adds. Gao prefers working out in colourful, co-ordinated bra tops and leggings, with brighter colours making her feel happier in the gym.

She predicts that most consumers will not necessarily be loyal to any particular brand, or have a preference for international brands over domestic rivals, the latter having been on the rise in recent years and not just big sportswear players like Li Ning and Anta.

Chinese Brand Competition

Maia Active campaign image | Source: Courtesy

Maia Active, a home grown Chinese sportswear brand based in Shanghai, focuses on tailoring its attire to better fit Asian consumers with content marketing campaigns often targeting Chinese women specifically.

Mia Wang, the brands chief executive and co-founder, describes Maia Actives growth over the past three years as explosive. In 2019, sales revenue topped 100 million yuan ($14.17 million) and charted highly on the sportswear rankings on Chinas e-commerce event days, including Double 11 and 618. With 90 percent of sales coming through e-commerce and only three offline stores, sales were hardly dented as China closed for business during the coronavirus shutdown.

Like her counterparts at the global giants, Wang too leveraged livestreaming, tapping a network of affiliated health and wellness trainers to teach workouts using social media platforms Xiaohongshu, Douyin and WeChat to reach out to their community as they were stuck at home.

The company created an online campaign called the 14 Day Challenge in which fans clocked in every day in a WeChat group, sending workout pictures and interacting with other brand followers. Our customers value their health and wellness even more [than ever], Wang adds.

Other Chinese companies have been tapping into the growing awareness of health- and wellness-focused products in different ways. For instance, one of the countrys largest purveyors of lingerie, Cosmo Lady, revealed as part of its year-end earnings last month that it would be launching personal hygiene products before the end of 2020.

The announcement that the company, which saw revenue fall 20 percent in 2019 compared with a year earlier, would be pivoting to face masks and anti-bacterial intimate wear products, including bras, underwear, vests and sleepwear, was enough to prompt a precipitous 20 percent stock price rise.

That news should prove instructive to brands beyond the sportswear arena who are interested in reaching Chinas increasingly health and wellness-focused base of consumers.

An added benefit for luxury brands may be the addition of product categories at lower price points than traditional ready-to-wear fashion or leather goods, further enticing an even broader base of middle-class consumers in China.

While perfume and sunglasses have long been considered gateway products to lure consumers into the world of luxury, 2020 might be the year that branded face masks join their ranks.

FASHION & BEAUTY

Xiaomi E-Commerce | Source: Courtesy

Phone Maker Xiaomi Gets Into the Discount Luxury Business

Xiaomi, a Chinese technology company known for its affordable phones and other electronic devices, has launched a discount luxury channel on its e-commerce platform. Xiaomi Youpin features products from brands including Gucci, Prada, Versace, Hugo Boss and Bally, as well as affordable luxury brands such as Coach, Michael Kors, Longchamp and Kenzo. The off-season merchandise is commonly discounted between 20 and 50 percent and the majority of users (60 to 70 percent) are male, correlating with the technology brands popularity with men.(Shumin Lai and Jing Wang for BoF China)

Chinese Skincare Leader Sets-Up Billion-Yuan Beauty Fund

High-end domestic skincare brand Marubi plans to set up a fund of 1 billion yuan ($141.5 million) to focus on investing in beauty brands. Marubi has signed an agreement to cooperate with Fangyuan Jinding Investment Company to jointly establish the Marubi Jinding Cosmetics Industry Fund Management Centre. Investment activity has slowed in first quarter of this year, but beauty brands still remain attractive propositions in China. Just last week Chinese beauty unicorn, Perfect Diary, received a capital infusion of $100 million in a round led by New York-based Tiger Global Management, taking their valuation above $2 billion. (Yicai.cn)

TECH & INNOVATION

Bilibili logo | Source: Shutterstock

Bilibili Users Fear Encroaching Fan Wars

Bilibili is known for its strong hold in subcultures linked to anime, comics and gaming, but the recent influx of celebrities joining the platform has users worried that celebrity fans joining the platform on mass, following their idols, will ruin Bilibili's unique character. Where celebrity fans go on the Chinese internet, fan squabbles tend to follow. Further exacerbating their concern is the fact that Bilibili is actively making the platform easier to join, to broaden its user base. (Lan Jing Hun Shui Official WeChat)

Virtual Influencers Taking Over Chinese E-Commerce

Chinas first homegrown virtual influencer only surfaced in early 2019 when online magazine Voicer introduced Poka. She has since lent her likeness to brands such as Gucci, Canada Goose, and Shushu/Tong. Although virtual influencers remain a new phenomenon in China, the last 12 months has seen Xiao Wanzi, a virtual marketing persona created by beauty brand Perfect Diary, and Tmalls Aime enter the fray. (Radii China)

CONSUMER & RETAIL

Valentino store in Hong Kong | Source: Shutterstock

Valentino Latest Brand to Shut Store on Hong Kongs Canton Road

Italian fashion label Valentino has become the second top luxury label to close a flagship store in Hong Kongs Canton Road, following jeweller Tiffany and Co., as Hong Kongs prolonged retail slump makes flagship rents harder to bear. Canton Road, along with Russell Street in the neighbourhood of Causeway Bay, was until recently one of the worlds most important locations for luxury brands. (SCMP)

Chinas Retail Industry Takes Stock of Re-Openings

The China Commerce Association for General Merchandise (CCAGM) yesterday released the results of its first weekly survey of Chinas retail industry since the abatement of the countrys coronavirus outbreak. A total of 93 retailers (department stores, malls and supermarkets) from 22 provinces participated in the survey, which found that all had resumed operations to some extent, with 79 percent reporting they were 100 percent up and running again. For malls, 60 percent reported that consumer footfall and sales were back to at least 50 percent of normal levels. (CCAGM Official WeChat)

,POLITICS, ECONOMY, SOCIETY

Advertising images from Luckin Coffee | Source: Courtesy

The Extraordinary Reaction to Luckin Coffees Massive Fraud

Chinese coffee chain super-brand Luckin Coffee has been in the spotlight the past week after the company revealed in an SEC filing that an internal investigation had uncovered an alleged $300 million fraud on the part of its former COO. This news led the stock to drop nearly 80 percent in one day. Chinese consumers appear to have rallied around their homegrown Starbucks competitor, mobile intelligence service Apptopia has recorded a huge surge in downloads of Luckin's iPhone app in recent days. On Chinese social media, most commenters seemed unfazed by the scandal and continued to voice support for Luckin. (Technode)

Economic Forecasts Release Updated GDP Expectations

Just a week after the World Bank downgraded its expected GDP growth forecast for China to 2.3 percent (compared with the 6.1 percent growth reported in 2019) two new reports have this week thrown their own predictions into the ring. Fung Business Intelligence Group offered a range of 2.5 percent full-year GDP growth at the low end and a best-case scenario of 3.5 percent year-on-year. The Economist Intelligence Unit, meanwhile, expects Chinas 2020 full-year growth to be a mere 1 percent. (Economist Intelligence Unit, Fung Business Intelligence Group)

China Decoded wants to hear from you. Send tips, suggestions, complaints and compliments to our Shanghai-based Asia Correspondentcasey.hall@businessoffashion.com.

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Editors Note: Watches & Wonders (formerly SIHH) and Baselworld 2020 are canceled but that hasnt stopped watch brands large and small from debuting their new wares. To stay on top of this years best new watch releases, visit our tag page.

A heart rate sensor is a pretty cool and useful feature for a watch to have. Combined with the famously rugged build of a G-Shock watch and its suite of further practical tech and sensors, were talking about a watch thats perfect for a range of outdoor and physical activities. Thats exactly what the new G-Shock GBD-H1000 offers.

Rather than going full touchscreen-smartwatch, G-Shock has maintained its offerings that build upon its famous digital tech. Its continued to add features including GPS, step counting, a Bluetooth connection for integration with a smartphone app and others. These features can be used together to provide a range of health and fitness-related info and metrics.

From world time to altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer and more, G-Shocks spec list is almost unwieldy. A notable and valuable feature of the GBD-H1000, however, is the brands Tough Solar light-charging tech, which means you dont have to worry about battery changes. Hopefully, its negative display will be legible enough for easy use during physical exertion or daily wear.

The GBD-H1000 has that chunky, aggressive case design that characterizes so many G-Shocks, as well as the size to go along with it at 55mm wide. However, its resin (plastic) case not only has durability benefits but also helps keep it lightweight (just 101g). Available for preorder now but estimated for release on April 17, 2020, the Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000 comes in two strap options, both priced at $400.

Zen Love is Gear Patrols watch writer. He avoids the snooty side of the watch world, and seeks out food in NYC that resembles what he loved while living in Asia for over a decade.

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This Tough Outdoor Watch Is Packed with Practical Fitness-Tracking Features - Gear Patrol

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The COVID-19 pounds of weight gain memes popped up pretty much the second we started social distancing and staying home. And while its always infuriating when people make jokes about weight gain, the Quarantine 15 posts and advice articles are especially gross.

Theres already enough stress right now: Unemployment is skyrocketing, hospitals are on overflow (or preparing for the possibility), many people are struggling to meet basic needs, and no one really knows when or how this will all end.

The fear of added pounds during this time is a reflection of the diet culture we live in. Were terrified of weight gain even in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic because were constantly flooded with messages that gaining weight or living in a larger body is very, very bad. Were collectively obsessed with diets, products and intense workout routines that feature before and after photos.

In a time of such anxiety and uncertainty, of course we cling to these weight-centric obsessions theyre familiar, which right now makes them feel almost comforting.

Still, this incessant, communal fear of weight gain really sucks. Its especially harmful for anyone with a history of an eating disorder or similar mental health issues, but its stressful for pretty much everybody. (And, again, there are too many actually legitimate things to be stressed about right now.)

Unfortunately, the weight gain jokes arent going away anytime soon. In the meantime, heres what you can do to tune them out and reframe your own perspective on weight, food and exercise during the pandemic.

Recognize your weight gain fears come from messages youve internalized, and those messages arent necessarily true.

Lya_Cattel via Getty Images

Youre not wrong for worrying about [weight gain], because we live in diet culture, said Brenna OMalley, a registered dietitian and creator of The Wellful.

Right now, diet culture is sending direct messages like Quarantine 15 memes and tips for not gaining weight during quarantine. But there are also subtler messages everywhere the absence of larger bodies in the media, or comments like, Are you sure you want to eat that? when youre going for a slice of office birthday cake.

The first step in ignoring messages like this is recognizing that weight gain, or living in a larger body, isnt inherently unhealthy.

Health encompasses a whole variety of factors, its multifactorial, said Ayana Habetmariam, a social worker, registered dietitian and founder of Truly Real Nutrition.

Social determinants (race, socioeconomic status, gender, stress, perceived stigma), genetics and other lifestyle factors also play a huge role in your overall health. Plus, the link between weight and health is complicated. A 2019 study looked at data from 100,000 Danish adults collected in various cohorts over 40 years, and found that people in the overweight category actually had the lowest mortality risk of all BMI categories.

Knowing this wont instantly change the way you feel about weight gain, nor will it change the way our culture talks about it. But mentally calling out fatphobic thoughts and comments as they come up is a good place to start, OMalley said.

Remember the idea that everyone is going to gain weight during this pandemic is B.S.

Underneath the memes is the unspoken assumption that the pandemic will automatically lead to weight gain for everyone, which just isnt logical.

Thats a really sweeping generalization, OMalley said. I dont think we can make that assumption.

In fact, if youre worried that a disruption to your routine will automatically lead to weight gain, it might be that your routine is too strict to begin with.

Do you assume that not having control over your eating schedule or workout schedule means that you will gain weight? Get curious about where that thought is coming from, OMalley said. So many of us think we constantly need to be calculating our food intake and logging a certain number of workouts.

Were hyper aware of what were doing around movement and eating, so we worry that well gain weight as soon as we loosen the reins.

Such a regimented approach to eating and exercising isnt generally sustainable long-term. In a 2011 review of the existing evidence about weight and weight loss, the authors found that almost no one was able to sustain significant weight loss for more than five years, and that dieting and other weight control behaviors usually just led to weight cycling. Essentially, you lose weight when you start a new routine, inevitably gain it back, then find another routine that starts the cycle all over again.

If youve fallen off the bandwagon of your eating or exercise plan during this pandemic, understand that it likely would have happened anyway if it was too strict, quarantine or not.

Know that emotional eating is kind of to be expected.

jakubzak via Getty Images

OMalley also pointed out that of course your eating habits are a little different these days.

A lot of things have changed recently. Peoples access to food has changed, their schedules have changed, their routines have changed, and weve had really stressful events happening, she said.

The food in your house is likely different than normal, too. The idea that were eating differently in a different pattern, different foods than before makes a lot of sense when we frame it as: When things change, things change, she said.

In the first week or so of quarantine, you may have gravitated toward comforting foods like pizza and ice cream. We tend to equate comfort foods with foods that are rich, savory, creamy, sweet and generally more energy-dense, Habetmariam said.

And thats often true these foods taste good, and can trigger a dopamine response in our brain that also makes us feel good. But its also the sentimental value of a food that makes it comforting: the nostalgia, the sense of security, the happiness, or the love that the memory of it provides, Habetmariam added.

Eating these foods, and calling up these positive emotions, can actually be a helpful way to cope with anxiety and everything else going on.

Of course, food shouldnt be your only coping mechanism. Sleep, movement, social connection (even if its virtual), and therapy are all things you can lean into for comfort and a sense of normalcy right now.

Try intuitive eating, which can help you feel less out of control around food.

When someone first lets go of food rules and starts eating more intuitively, theres often an initial period where they go overboard on foods that had previously been off-limits, Habtemariam explained.

But soon, these foods lose their intense appeal and the person settles into a pretty normal eating routine. The same thing will likely happen with your eating patterns during quarantine.

If people are paying attention to how they feel and just allowing themselves to eat what they want, I do think the emotional eating will eventually taper off, Habtemariam said.

OMalley also pointed out that bingeing is often a response to restriction. If you allow yourself to guiltlessly eat what you want, when you want, youll likely feel more in control around food and be able to stop eating when youre full. On the other hand, obsessing about weight gain and setting rules around what you eat can perpetuate that out-of-control feeling.

Focus on regular movement, not intense exercise.

oscarhdez via Getty Images

You might also be freaking out that not having access to the gym will lead to weight gain or a total loss of any progress youve made with fitness. Again, that isnt really true.

Theres a lot of research that shows doing bodyweight exercise or some high-intensity interval training can be enough for getting health benefits and maintaining aerobic capacity. said Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist and host of the All About Fitness podcast. I wouldnt tell anyone to train for the New York Marathon by doing eight minutes of in-home bodyweight exercise. But can you maintain your fitness level that way? Yes.

Thats not to say you need to be doing structured exercise right now. Many of us are too overwhelmed to even consider it. If thats the case, look at this as a recovery period.

In my opinion, a lot of people who go to the gym six to seven times a week are chronically overtrained, McCall said. If nothing else, this is a chance for that nagging knee injury to get better, for that shoulder thing to finally heal.

Instead of focusing on structured workouts, aim to get in some regular movement, which can totally include walking or yard work.

Any kind of exercise really does help reduce the overall stress that were feeling, McCall said.

Stress can raise our levels of cortisol, a hormone that affects blood pressure, blood sugar, and metabolism; movement helps keep these things in balance. And sure, after two weeks of being relatively inactive youll start to lose some fitness, McCall explained. But, so what? Unless youre training to be on a podium somewhere, it really isnt a big deal.

For people who are relatively fit, it should only take around two to six weeks to get that fitness back when this is over, McCall said.

And if youre still freaking out about weight gain, know this: A 2016 review of the evidence found that exercise doesnt have as much impact on weight as most people think, and that recreational activity (like sports or walks) was actually better for mood boosting and weight maintenance than intense exercise.

Bottom line: Know that worrying about weight gain isnt doing you any favors.

To be blunt, the biggest threat to our health right now doesnt have to do with weight or food, OMalley said.

The goal right now is to stay home, and to take care of your mental health by dealing with anxiety the best you can. Youre not wrong to worry about weight gain, because thats the culture we live in but putting it in perspective and giving yourself some grace can really help quell the fear.

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