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According to the latest update from SafeWork Australia, body stressing injuries topped the list as the most common injury resulting in a claim (36 per cent).

Taking a proactive and preventative approach to musculoskeletal injuries on-site is proven to affect the duration of an injury, while also reducing the risk of it going to claim.

This is great not only for employees, as they remain productive and at work, but also for the business.

The World Health Organisation (2008) has clearly identified the workplace as an important area of action for health promotion and disease prevention, according to Comcare, Effective Health & Wellbeing Programs.

What should you look for in an onsite health provider?

An onsite healthcare provider is more than just the person who comes to youfor injury treatment. A qualified and experienced allied health professional will partner with you, fully integrating with your workplace.

With a focus on injury prevention and management, an onsite health provider will:

Learn more about Work Healthy Australias approach to on-site healthcare here.

A physical presence onsite, dedicated treatment or rehabilitation space and key stakeholder engagement are key to a successful onsite program. But the proactive and preventative elements of an onsite system of care will be informed by the valuable treatment data and health insights that are gathered along the way.

Data example: Body region by length of service

In this example you can see that the top three body regions being treated are shoulder, lower back and neck.

Data Source: Work Healthy Australia

If we look closer, we can see that 85 per cent of these injuries have occurred in workers who have been with the business for under three years.

Data Source: Work Healthy Australia

Why is it important that an onsite health provider records this information?

A skilled onsite provider will be able to use and interpret treatment data to help you improve your processes, programs and ultimately help you reduce your risk of injuries in the workplace.

The example given above could form the basis for your approach to your induction program, a targeted strengthening and exercise program, or it may even inform your pre-employment medical process.

Work health and safety improvements are best achieved when health and safety is supported by the organisations culture and embedded in its procedures and processes, SafeWork Australia stated in the Australian Work Health & Safety Strategy (20122022).

Everyone wins with an onsite program

Engaging workers is key to maintaining a healthy and productive workplace. When a successful onsite system of care is implemented, workers can:

By utilising specialist onsite services to develop an effective system of care, businesses can experience positive change in the health and safety of their workplace.

Onsite care, including the integration of onsite treatment, provides:

If youd like to find out more about implementing an onsite system of care in your workplace, contact the team Work Healthy Australia.

See the article here:
On-site injury prevention: Beyond the treatment room - Australian Mining

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While no national survey has been done on the number of people in Sri Lanka who have osteoarthritis (OA), specialists in the field believe a significant proportion of the population (mainly women) suffer from this crippling condition which hampers their movements. The recommended traditional treatment was weight balancing, and gym workouts with a few pain killers like paracetamol or panadene thrown in to relieve severe pain quickly. This changed when around 2003 a new study showed that both, land based exercises as well as water resistance exercises could definitely help to increase muscle strength and help people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee to walk faster and longer, reduce risks of falls and increase cardiovascular health.

Researchers compared the effects of a six-week hydrotherapy or regular gym exercise program vs. no exercise at all in a group of about 100 people with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Both exercise programs focused on resistance exercises designed to build muscle strength around the affected joint, and participants worked out three times a week either in the pool or in the gym. They found that both programs provided valuable benefits in improving physical function. Walking speed and distance improved in both groups compared with the non-exercisers, while one advantage of hydrotherapy was that it increased cardiovascular fitness, allowing people with osteoarthritis to exercise to a greater degree of intensity without the harm they would experience with a gym-based program.

The Sunday Observer asked a long experienced Chartered Physiotherapist, Dr Gopi Kitnasamy, currently heading the Rehabilitation Services at MJF Charitable Foundation, how water therapy benefits OA.

Excerpts

Q. While Osteoarthritis is often talked about, not many people know what this condition is. Explain its meaning, how it occurs and which part of the body is affected.

A. Osteoarthritis ( OA) the most common form of arthritis, affect millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wear down over time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint in your body, the disorder commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. In normal joints, a firm, rubbery material called cartilage covers the end of each bone. Cartilage provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint motion and acts as a cushion between the bones. In OA, the cartilage breaks down causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint.

Q. Symptoms? How are they initially identified?

A. Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Pain. Your joint may hurt during or after movement.

Tenderness. Joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to it.

Stiffness. Joint stiffness may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity.

Loss of flexibility. You may not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.

Grating sensation. You may hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint.

Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, may form around the affected joint.

Q. What are the risk factors?

A. Factors that may increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:

Old age. The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.

Sex. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isnt clear why.

Obesity. Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater the risk. Increased weight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints, such as, hips and knees. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins that may cause harmful inflammation in and around joints.

Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when engaging in sports or from an accident, may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed could increase your risk of osteoarthritis.

Certain occupations. If your job includes tasks that place repetitive stress on a particular joint, that joint may eventually develop osteoarthritis.

Genetics. Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.

Bone deformities. Some are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

However, osteoarthritis symptoms can usually be effectively managed, although the underlying process cannot be reversed. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and other treatments may slow progression of the disease and help improve pain and joint function.

Q. What role does exercise play in relieving disabilities among people with OA?

A. Exercise is an integral part of any arthritis treatment program, as it helps to strengthen and stabilize the joints, preventing further damage. For patients suffering from osteoarthritis, the pain brought on by regular exercise could be unbearable. Water Exercise is an excellent option for patients with osteoarthritis of the knees, hip and spine due to the decreased pressure placed on the joints.

Q. In what way?

A. Water provides an ideal environment for patients to exercise because the buoyant force of water counteracts the downward pull of gravity, thus reducing the weight placed on the joints.

Studies have shown that up to 50% of body weight is supported in waist-deep water, while 90% of weight is supported in neck-deep water.

Patients suffering from osteoarthritis are often unable to perform traditional land-based exercises due to increased pain created by the impact. In a supportive medium such as water, patients can perform similar strengthening or endurance exercises with the benefit of gentle resistance, and also a reduction in pain. Water exercise is especially helpful in cases where a land-based exercise program is not possible due to the intensity of pain, decreased bone density, disability or other factors.

Water exercise is particularly good for people with conditions such as: Osteoarthritis, Advanced osteoporosis (with susceptibility to and/or pain from fracture), Muscle strain or tears, Physical disabilities and Neurological disorders.

In addition, water exercise is frequently recommended as a form of exercise therapy to treat those with diabetes as well as individuals with high blood pressure. Both conditions can improve and become more manageable with water exercise.

Q. What are its benefits?

A. The physical properties of water make it a highly desirable medium in which to exercise to treat arthritis, back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Some of the most important properties of water that make exercise easier are:

Buoyancy: water counteracts gravity and helps to support the weight of the patient in a controlled fashion as the patient is immersed. This can aid the development of improved balance and strength. The buoyancy of water also permits a greater range of positions due to the virtual elimination of gravitational forces, particularly, for exercises that require lifting the legs, the heaviest limb of the body for most people.

Viscosity: water provides resistance by means of gentle friction, allowing strengthening and conditioning of an injury, while reducing the risk of further injury due to loss of balance.

Hydrostatic pressure: there are powerful effects produced by hydrostatic pressure that improve heart and lung function, making aquatic exercise useful to maintain and strengthen heart and lung function. This pressure effect also aids in improving muscle blood flow. Water provides 12 times the resistance of air, which means walking in water requires more effort and ultimately burns more calories than walking on land. And still its a great workout, as you walk, youre really strengthening and building muscle.

Q. Are there different types of water exercises?

A. Exercises often resemble those performed in traditional land-based exercise programs. They look similar to stretching or resistance exercises conducted on land, with the exception that they use the gentle resistance of water rather than gravity to exercise muscles or joints. A few of the more popular exercises are:

Stretching, including stretching the hamstrings and lower back by slowly raising knees to chest, or stretching the upper back and neck by standing away from the side of the pool and leaning forward with arms outstretched to grasp the pool edge.

Strengthening, including using foam barbells to complete bicep curls or lateral side raises that work against water resistance.

Water aerobics, including water walking or slow jogging in a shallow pool which loosens the lower back and hips.

Ai Chi, a hybrid form of Tai Chi developed specifically for water exercise that develops strength, balance, and joint flexibility through slow gentle movements while focusing on relaxation and controlled breathing.

Q. Is there something new being tried out now?

A. Water Walking is becoming popular. It is considered easy on the joints, according to the Arthritis Foundation. You can walk in the shallow end of the pool or walk in the deep end with a flotation belt. You can walk backwards and sideways, as well as frontwards in the pool, to tone different muscles. Sitting along the pool edge and doing kicks or squats also enhance your water workout.

Q. Will water exercise help those with obesity problems since obesity is one cause for OA?

A. Overweight and Obese adults may have functional limitations that result in difficulty performing traditional weight-bearing exercises and activities. Water exercise is a commonly recommended alternative due to the potential therapeutic qualities of water. Weight loss involves burning more calories than a person ingests. Understanding this one basic fact takes the magic and intimidation factor out of the weight-loss equation. Water exercise allows people to work out longer at lower intensities, thereby burning more calories than shorter duration, high-intensity exercise.

Q. Your message to the public?

A. Getting in and out of a pool will be difficult for patients with OA, after hip and knee surgeries, people with physical disabilities and obese patients. Disabled friendly or wheelchair accessible pools are the best solution to help these patients, but we dont have many pools with accessibility in Sri Lanka. At NCCCPDD, which is a special school for children with Cerebral Palsy and other Developmental Disorders in Rajagiriya, we have a disabled friendly pool and Physiotherapists trained in hydrotherapy.

See the article here:
Hydro therapy strengthens joints, reduces cardiovascular risks - Sunday Observer

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The opioid crisis and deaths related to e-cigarette use among teenagers have dominated news headlines recently. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 34 people had died as a result of vaping and, in 2017, opioid addiction was responsible for more than 47,000 deaths in the U.S. Opioid addiction has been declared a public health emergency.

Yet these serious public health threats obscure an ever-present and growing calamity of obesity in the United States. Obesity is second only to cigarette smoking as a leading preventable death in the U.S. Nearly one in five deaths of African Americans and Caucasians age 40 to 85 is attributed to obesity, a rate that is increasing across generations.

Clearly society needs better strategies to address this public health emergency. As a health economist who has spent decades studying ways to prevent disease, I believe there are some policy options that could help.

Many factors contribute to obesity, including genetics, diet, physical inactivity, medications, lack of education and food marketing.

People who are obese face heightened risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and certain types of cancers, among other conditions. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States is $147 billion, with most of those costs hitting public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Similar trends have been observed internationally among developed countries.

So what can we do about it? The massive public and private efforts to control smoking provide both a template for addressing obesity and a benchmark for social impact. Tactics such as education, cigarette taxes, and smoke-free public spaces resulted in a 66% decline in smoking between 1965 and 2018, when cigarette smoking reached an all-time low of 13.7% among U.S. adults.

This outcome is associated with major health improvements reduced cardiovascular disease, stroke, various cancers and mortality from lung cancer. Medicaid alone saves an estimated $2.5 billion a year from smoking-related health improvements.

From a public investment perspective, the potential bang for the buck is even bigger for obesity than it is for tobacco. In my view, a successful anti-obesity campaign must encourage people to be less sedentary; invest in new medical treatments and nutrition science; and create regulatory and health insurance policies that reward behavioral change. It also means broader access to effective therapies.

Our current emphasis on behavioral interventions has been disappointing. Society needs to find a way to talk about obesity and come up with ways to deal with it that do not involve body-shaming Losing weight means eating less or exercising more, or both, but there are no guarantees with either approach. Getting people to exercise is difficult. Nearly 80% of adults are not meeting the key guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity.

Getting people to change their diet is similarly ineffective. According to one study, half of dieters had gained 11 pounds five years after starting their diet; some progress but hardly enough. Similarly, nutritional labels have had little effect on consumers food intake and body mass index.

So what should policymakers do? I think it is time to take several new approaches.

The intellectual property rights of companies that develop novel approaches to weight loss, such as mimicking the effects of exercise, should be protected and rewarded with patent law and other mechanisms. Currently, if a company discovers a way to get people to go for a walk with a new app or program, protection for intellectual property and reimbursement is uncertain.

Given the stakes, the U.S. government should offer greater rewards for behavioral interventions that can demonstrate long-term gains under the same rigorous regulatory standards similar to those required of new drugs. U.S. companies invest billions of dollars to develop pharmaceuticals. By contrast, there is less social investment in other prevention activities.

While not a solution for everyone, gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding, among other procedures, have proven effective. New incentives could expand access to these surgeries by lowering the BMI threshold for eligibility. Some insurers have put up barriers to this treatment because obesity is not immediately life-threatening or related to our traditional notion of disease.

We need to find better ways to annuitize the cost of surgery and increase access while tying reimbursement to outcomes. Other insurers with an interest in long-term outcomes, including the life insurance industry, can play an important role. They have a vested financial interest in avoiding mortality and disability but have traditionally remained on the sidelines while Americans grow fatter.

Evidence points to a 20% reduction in BMI persisting up to 10 years after surgery. In 2017, 228,000 Americans received bariatric surgeries. Of those, only 10% of are eligible under current criteria.

Another approach is to consider new medications and utilize the successful approach that has been used to fight high blood pressure. About 50 years ago, hypertension was considered untreatable. Diet and exercise were the predominant means of controlling it. The discovery of multiple agents to combat hypertension, beginning with diuretics and beta blockers, proved transformative. A similar story emerged for elevated cholesterol. About half the decline in U.S. deaths from coronary heart disease can be attributed to medical therapies like these.

Several clinically proven anti-obesity medications are already available for people who do not respond to lifestyle modification. Furthermore, there is a robust clinical pipeline, with approximately 250 compounds under development, including dozens of novel compounds. Drugs such as these can help change the trajectory of the obesity epidemic, if they are made widely available and reimbursed challenges in todays health care insurance system.

Another avenue to consider includes levying taxes on sweetened beverages, or the so-called soda tax. One study found that implementing a 1 cent per ounce soda tax would reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption by 20% over 10 years. The result would be a $23.6 billion savings in health care and improved population health.

Finally, the food and restaurant industry deserves some of the blame. Restricting access like the United States tried with the ban on the consumption and sale of alcohol wont work. But responsible steps to regulate portions might.

Smart, bold strategies helped us address public health crises before, including smoking and hypertension. We need to be similarly aggressive with obesity if we want to avert hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths. As we did with smoking, it is time to make obesity a number one public health priority.

[ Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter and get a digest of academic takes on todays news, every day. ]

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Obesity, second to smoking as the most preventable cause of US deaths, needs new approaches - The Conversation US

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What about fitness?

Biologists use the word fitness todescribe how good a particular genotype isat leaving offspring in the next generation relative to how goodother genotypes are at it. So if brown beetles consistently leavemore offspring than green beetles because of their color, you'd saythat the brown beetles had a higher fitness.

Of course, fitness is a relative thing. A genotype's fitness depends on theenvironment in which the organism lives. The fittest genotype during an iceage, for example, is probably not the fittest genotype once the ice age isover.

Fitness is a handy concept because it lumps everything that mattersto natural selection (survival, mate-finding, reproduction) into one idea.The fittest individual is not necessarily the strongest, fastest,or biggest. A genotype's fitness includes its ability to survive,find a mate, produce offspring and ultimately leaveits genes in the next generation.

It might be tempting to think of natural selection acting exclusivelyon survival ability but, as the concept of fitness shows, that'sonly half the story. When natural selection acts on mate-findingand reproductive behavior, biologists call it sexual selection.

See original here:
What about fitness? - Evolution

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Rep Fitness carries equipment designed to take your fitness to the next level. We carry functional fitness equipment that can be found in thousands of gyms around the country, gear that will help you setup the perfect home gym, and commercial quality equipment to setup your venture into providing fitness for others. We specialize in manufacturing equipment that offers high quality at an incredible value. Whether you want an equipment package for functional training, a bar and plate package, or you want to outfit your affiliate, we have multiple options to suit your needs. Each product we carry is thoroughly tested and designed to meet the needs of athletes that use their equipment on a daily basis. Our bumper plates are some of the most durable on the market, while our kettlebells offer an incredible value. Our Olympic bars are capable of handling the heaviest loads without becoming bent, and our steel equipment is all made to offer great value without sacrificing the strength of the steel used, which makes them safe and useful for home and commercial use.

"Rep Fitness is our supplier for life. Their showroom is a great place to try out new equipment and their prices are unbeatable. CrossFit Grail is proud to have Rep Fitness equipment in our gym." - Eric Keely, Co-Owner of CrossFit Grail

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Rep Fitness Strength Equipment and Home Gym Specialists

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Fitness & Recreational Sports at the University of Nevada, Reno is one of the largest employers of students on campus, with up to 120 on the schedule at any given time. Their two main facilities, E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center and Lombardi Recreation Center, are opened, run and closed down at night by students, who fall into a variety of positions designed to keep everything (and everyone) moving for the 362 days per year that the centers are open.

In the midst of all that, with more than 130 classes per week and monstrously large buildings full of people throwing around weights and themselves, FRS still manages to not only train student workers in the myriad policies that keep things ticking but also to take close interest in their students success and contribute to it.

Our foundation is our students, Assistant Director of Fitness & Recreational Sports Sheena Harvey said. We could not run this facility without our student workers. Harvey is talking about the four-story, 108,000-square-foot E.L Wiegand Fitness Center, which opened in February 2017 and grew the number student workers needed to manage and run things by quite a bit.

Harvey herself joined FRS in 2003 as a student worker, and 17 years later, she proudly calls the fitness center The best place on Earth! She beams with enthusiasm for the work and for her students. They probably get tired of me, Harvey said laughing, but thats their fault for working here.

Shes always checking in with her student workers, asking about how their classes are going and how tests went. Sometimes we see them all the way through to graduation, Harvey said, and I think thats the coolest part.

Getting more than 100 students trained in everything from customer service to personal training to officiating intramural sports is no small feat. Were getting students that this is their first job. Theyve never had to be somewhere on time, Harvey said.

Just to begin work with FRS, students have to meet the following criteria:

Student positions include facilities operation staff, lifeguarding staff, intramural sports official staff, sport supervisors and fitness instructors, and each of these has its own path to move up, as well as specific in-service requirements.

We trust our students, Harvey said. "I think thats a big part of it, always backing them up. Were a big ball of risk, and this is an active job.

In addition to building good communication and critical thinking skills, doing in-service work, cleaning and managing all of the various tasks and responsibilities mentioned above, the student workers are encouraged to pursue new avenues and certifications.

There may be someone who wants to be a yoga instructor but doesnt know the steps to do it, Harvey said. If we have some spaces and there are students showing interest and wanting to do instruction, well put them into a certification program, so they can have it and get it in before graduation and not have to pay for it.

One such student is sophomore and kinesiology major Dalton Taylor, who earned his certification to teach barre (a blend of weight training and ballet-inspired movement) and work as a substitute instructor for cycling classes. Taylor is working his way toward becoming a supervisor, but as a senior staff member, hes still helping guide the new hires, sharing his experience, helping them understand policies, constantly doing walkthroughs and making sure to be friendly with everyone. He said the program has not only made him more able to assist people who need help but has encouraged him to ask for help when he needs it, too.

Ive always been big into fitness. Ive done rugby and dance throughout my youth, Taylor said. I want to share that experience and share what Ive learned with other people. This job has definitely helped me with my communications skills.

Taylor credits two of his own student supervisors with taking him under their respective wings to help him learn the ropes and all the policies. Hes learned to build connections with patrons and other student workers, and as a kinesiology major, its actually E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center that drew him to campus in the first place.

The first time I came to the gym was my junior year of high school, Taylor said. My mom and I were touring campus and got to see, Oh, this is a brand new facility. That was one of the big things that got me up here [from Las Vegas] was the gym.

Its not all about making sure the facilities are running efficiently at Fitness & Recreational Sports. Its also about getting students across the stage at commencement and giving them the skills theyll need going forward.

Fit to graduate. When I say that, I mean it. We want every student that comes through our program to graduate, Harvey said. I think the biggest thing is and I literally say this to all my students When you leave here, youre going to be a better communicator. Youre going to be a better critical thinker. Youre going to be able to deal with conflict as it comes. And I just think theyre going to be a better person.

Fitness & Recreational Sports also offers the Steve Pomi Scholarship, named for the FRS director who preceded Director Jim Fitzsimmons, which consists of $3,000 awarded to three students each year. Winners get to see their own smiling faces across social channels and on monitors throughout the facilities. Students working for FRS are encouraged to apply and reapply if at first they dont succeed.

Community health sciences major and senior Kyle Harris is a recent awardee who was encouraged to give it another go. He said his time with FRS has given him purpose. If I werent part of it, I probably wouldnt be a part of anything other than a few clubs here and there, Harris said. Working here has given me more things to do in college. Its really helped.

Harris is currently working as a student supervisor and working toward becoming an instructor before he graduates in May and starts training to become a paramedic. His work with FRS has truly enriched his time at the University.

I enjoy watching people grow as individuals, Harris said. As a supervisor and a shadow for crossfit, its really heartwarming to see people change as a crossfit shadow, seeing people make gains across the gym; as a supervisor, seeing people get more assertive with their work.

Talking with students and staff, its abundantly clear that working for FRS is more than just a paycheck for everyone involved. Student workers are empowered to make decisions knowing that staff members trust them and will be there to back them up. In the workplace, students are encouraged to be themselves and work together to make things their own.

I always tell my students to be great in whatever theyre doing, in whatever they want to do, Harvey said. In my emails, I sign off, Okay, go be great!

Read the original:
Go be great: Fitness & Recreational Sports mentoring and student success - Nevada Today

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The owners of Granite Fitness had been negotiating to extend the lease long-term with additional improvements and upgrades when Planet Fitness signed its lease to occupy the same space, Overstreet said in an email.

Overstreet wouldnt disclose the number of members who attend the gym, but said that its been popular among Heights residents. Granite also offers group training classes, personal training and nutrition coaching.

We remain committed to your health and wellness goals these final three months and are actively working on a transition plan for our Heights members, the notice stated to members. We will keep you updated with future developments.

Overstreet and David Leon, who owns the Planet Fitness franchise in Montana, said that theyve talked about options for transitioning out of the building. However, Overstreet said that shell be exploring all opportunities that are in the best interest for the Heights Granite Fitness members.

While negotiations are in the early stages, Leon said he wants to be on good terms with the owners of Granite Fitness and provide a win-win situation for everyone.

We dont want to go there and act like were kicking somebody out thats been there for a long time, and we dont want to do anything sleazy, Leon said.

See more here:
Planet Fitness gym plans move into current Granite Fitness location in the Heights - Billings Gazette

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Health

From going to therapy to disengaging with toxic social media accounts, health pros share how they take care of their emotional wellbeing.

Five Philly fitness instructors, including yoga teacher Adriana Adel, share why prioritizing their mental health is a necessity. / Photograph by Joanna Nowak Photography.

We hear it time and time again: taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. Yet, though we proudly share our fitness achievements like conquering our 100th spin class or holding crow pose for the first time when it comes to discussing mental health in social circles, feelings of hesitation and fear can arise.

Luckily, these days theres been a lot of positive movement in openly discussing mental health and emotional wellbeing. While in the past there were stigmas around discussing therapy and many media sources perpetuated stigmas surrounding mental health now, more and more people are talking openly about these issues. Theres also a rise in people intelligently using social media to dispel myths and talk about mental health in productive ways.

To help stimulate more conversation, we turned to five Philly fitness pros who are open about their mental and emotional wellbeing on Instagram. Below, they share how they prioritize their mental health and use their platforms for positive change.

BWP: Why is mental health care a priority for you?Adriana Adel, yoga instructor at Three Queens Yoga and Maha Yoga: When my mental health is off track, it affects my other areas of wellbeing, making it more difficult to easily access things like joy, pleasure, and true rest. Sometimes my diagnosed anxiety and depressive tendencies take a toll on my spirit. Ive slowly learned that when I do proactively care for my mental well-being I feel greater flow, more connection to purpose and self, and experience feelings of resiliency, rather than those of less-than-enoughness. Caring about my mental health helps me curate and cultivate the energy I want to offer myself and, in turn, offer to others.

Larkin Silverman, co-founder of and instructor at Lumos Yoga & Barre: I consider teaching yoga and group fitness an act of care-giving, and if I dont have the capacity to care for myself, I cannot hold that space for my clients. If and when I experience professional burnout or am struggling to not bring what weighs me down into my work, it can lead to resentment of my workplace, my coworkers, and my clients, and directly impede my capacity to do my work. Just like insufficient nutrition and adequate sleep are essential to my overall functioning and health, my mental health is a critical piece of experiencing a sense of overall wellness.

When did you realize your mental health is just as important as your physical health?Alexis Rose Artis, CEO of ARX Fitness and spin instructor at SoulCycle: About one week after I had my second daughter [at 31 years old], I started experiencing a disconnection the smell of her made me nauseous, her cry made me angry rather than worried, and I couldnt bear to hold her. The next day, I went into my closet, closed the door, called my older sister, and cried. I was so embarrassed. She came to my house and stayed an entire week to help. I waited two years to tell my husband of my postpartum depression, not because I didnt think hed be supportive, but because I needed time to navigate my own feelings and emotions which I learned, as a rape survivor, comes with time. From that day forward, we promised each other we would always put our mental health first and never judge one another.

Alexis Rose Artis, CEO of ARX Fitness and spin instructor at SoulCycle. / Photograph courtesy of ARX Fitness.

Emma Barrera, spin instructor at City Fitness: When I was 18, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It changed my entire life. If I want to stay stable and healthy, I need to be taking care of myself properly every single day. Ive come to describe it as a permanent cold in my head. If you have a cold, you go grab some over-the-counter medicine. The medicine I take just helps that cold in my head.

Morgan Dowd, trainer at Unite Fitness: I didnt fully accept this until about March of last year. This was the first time I asked for help on my own. At that point, I was nine years into recovery from anorexia and exercise bulimia, and four years into my fitness career. For so long, I believed that once I was weight restored and physically healthy, things would just fall into place. Even though from the outside I was in the best shape of my life, I was still incredibly fragile mentally. I was triggered easily, still had a lot of disordered eating thoughts, and was having panic attacks almost daily. I woke up one morning and decided I didnt want to navigate my mental health alone anymore. If my job is to help others be their best selves, then I had to help my whole self, too.

Morgan Dowd, coach at Unite Fitness. / Photograph courtesy of Morgan Dowd.

What resources, services, and/or practices do you utilize to take care of your mental and emotional well-being?Adel: Therapy! I have a really amazing therapist who was referred to me by a friend. I highly suggest folks ask their circle for recommendations for therapists because its so important to find a therapist who you can connect and be open with! Ive had more than a few false starts with therapy and at the time I thought it was my fault (cue another spiral of anxiety), when really it was just a round hole, square peg situation from the start. With that said, therapy isnt financially accessible for all, but sliding scale services are available. Plus, there are a lot of resources out there for self-education and introspection, from therapy Instagram to books and podcasts (Im listening to one right now on the nervous system and self-regulation thats pretty digestible and actionable).

Artis: I say no more often, take one day per week where Im unreachable, limit my social media usage, and see a therapist regularly.

Silverman: Im a big proponent of therapy, though Im currently between providers (and I wont lie, facing new intake paperwork can be daunting). In the meantime, Ive found ways to make use of free or low-cost resources, and turn to my gratitude journal, mindful movement, and meditation to self-reflect. Ive also worked to more deliberately curate the media I consume by unfollowing accounts that make me feel shame, comparison, or dissatisfaction, and replacing with content from mental health-focused accounts and experts.

Larkin Silverman, co-founder of and instructor at Lumos Yoga & Barre. / Photograph courtesy of Larkin Silverman.

While discussions surrounding mental health have progressed and become more present on social platforms and in social circles, a stigma still seems to exist. Why do you think that is?Dowd: I am certainly glad that mental health is being talked about, but I think social media doesnt show the full, real picture of any persons life. It also plays a detrimental role in stereotyping certain issues. Not all eating disorders are rail thin, not all depression looks like someone dressed in black and crying all the time. I currently struggle with anorexia, anxiety, and depression, even though I might look fine and am able to maintain a normal life. The myths were taught make it easy to downplay certain issues and not ask for help because they dont fit the mold. The more people ask for help and misconceptions are dispelled, the more we push back against the stigma together.

Adel: As a black girl growing up, I remember my pain around disordered eating and depression being dismissed because those were white people problems. That comes from not only cultural conditioning, but also issues in wider representation of who is portrayed as having (and therefore is allowed to have) mental health disorders, who can seek help, and what that help looks like. I think theres also just straight up fear fear of being judged, fear of being labeled, fear of the unknown. But in order for there to be a change, we have to start with ourselves. Id love to see a world where folks talk about their mental health struggles and wins as easily and with as much applause and encouragement as when people talk about their goals in the gym.

Who or what has helped you most in being transparent about your mental health care and journey with others?Barrera: I live by the mantra, Crazy is a concept. Those four words have guided and helped me along my journey. I am not crazy because I live with a mental illness. No matter how insignificant the voice in my head tries to make me feel, I [know I] am still worthy of kindness and love.

Emma Barrera, spin instructor at City Fitness. / Photograph by The Shine Studio.

Artis: When I first was prescribed Xanax for anxiety and depression, I was so worried how it could impact my image. Then I quickly remembered how I overcame the embarrassment of being a rape survivor that theres actually nothing to be embarrassed about. Look at me now! Im a blessed, strong, smart, beautiful queen who has a testimony to share. Thats my why and thats my superpower. My daily mantra: If not now, when?

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5 Philly Fitness Pros Open Up about Their Mental Health - phillymag.com

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London has become home to many and varied fitness companies

As the New Year begins, the demand for new and exciting fitness classes and activities increases again, particularly in busy cities such as London.

The last decade has seen the fitness industry in London boom, as ideas find their way from free sessions in parks and commons to gym floors and recreation centres.

With the UK, and London particularly, in the midst of its annual January fitness boom, some of the capital's most intriguing ventures are assessed.

12 ROUNDS BOXING

While many ideas come and go from Clapham Common, very few outgrow their origins to become an integral part of what is a very transient community in the heart of London.

Initially started by former care worker Kat Bryson as afitnessgroup on the Common, the first 12 Rounds session was attended by four people. Since then, it has continued to grow steadily thanks to close attention to the needs of its members. Two of those original four still attend classes at the gym.

The decision to move into a permanent home on St Johns Hill was taken in 2012, and has since become a hub for the local community in Clapham.

At the forefront of Brysons vision is the snappy #boxingmakesyoubetter hashtag, but beneath that is a genuine belief in the sports healing qualities.

The club have done notable work in raising mental health awareness and Bryson is keen to cultivate a close-knit feel among both members and staff.

From its roots on Clapham Common, 12 Rounds is now a physical gym providing many different classes

She says: "It is all about remembering where we came from and who our community is.

"There have been struggles and challenges, but everyone here knows they are in this together. That will never change."

What really stands out about 12 Rounds is how close-knit yet all-encompassing it has become. If you turn up in the morning, there will likely be an exercise class attended by mothers. Later in the day there is the recently established lessons for children.

In the evening there is fundamentals for adult beginners and various sessions all the way up to their 12-week fight school, which culminates in charity matches just down the round at the Clapham Grand.

Bryson, recently a parent for the first time, is already planning mother-and-baby classes for her clientele.

ONE ELEMENT

Some of these initiatives are still to be found in the exact place they started.

In February 2007, Tom Marien began his first session as One Element on Wandsworth Common.

Now, 13 years on, he is still leading classes at 8am every Saturday and through the week.

To ensure the standards remain high, for his sessions, Marien rotates between around 60 exercise programmes he has personally developed over the past 12 years.

At the heart of each is the commitment to 'social fitness' and the ethos of working as a group towards individual goals. As groups of up to 30 push each other through a series of gruelling tasks in near-freezing conditions, that mentality becomes crystal clear.

They have seen competitors come and go from their little patch of grass in south west London, and Marien has learnt enough to know things may change rapidly for him too.

Marien says: "If you can get the members to motivate each other, that is so much better than me doing it.

"I think what makes people return is that it feels like family here.

"We are all in this together and the most important thing for me is that everyone feels like they are coming together and working together."

One Element provides a unique membership structure for its participants

Such was the initial success that a partnership with the RFU allowed Marien to begin expanding his sessions nationally, only for logistical issues to see the project scaled back.

Now, while staying true to their roots, One Element are cautiously embarking on a franchise model.

There are four more groups across London, in Clapham Common, Richmond, Docklands and Tooting as well as one in Belfast.

One Element is in the process of growing franchise businesses one again

CLAPHAM COMMON HOCKEY CLUB

It is not just commercial businesses that have been founded on the grass at Clapham Common.

When Nick Powell and Pete Thom, keen hockey players, realised there wasn't a club that suited their needs nearby in south London, they took themselves down to the common and set up a casual game.

Before long, more people joined in and it became a weekly occurrence. From there, it was only natural that what was an occasional knock-around became a fully-formed club. Eventually, as the idea grew, players were charged small fees to cover costs and a fully-functioning club was formed.

Now, as the directors of the private limited company, Powell and Thom unlock dividends if they hit growth targets, and Powell, 35, believes this drives a very different mentality to the traditional community-run, grant-funded clubs.

Clapham Common Hockey Club has grown rapidly in recent years

Currently boasting 14 teams and around 400 members, the founders are proud of their flexible membership structuretypical membership starts at 158 a yearand format that sets them apart from the more family-friendly clubs in the south London area.

There are plans for swift growth, with Powell hopeful of reaching the 1000 member mark by the end of 2020.

Of the club as a whole, he says: "Last year we added 220 players and this year our plans was to add 500 but we won't be able to. We will have to add 250 because of capacity, we will hit it very quickly.

"That is rubbish, because I think we would be the fastest growing hockey club in the world. We want to go faster but we can't."

Mixed hockey is a fast-growing section of the club

Specifically, Powell believes their focus on mixed gender teams has been a huge success. So popular have these been that Powell instigated the creation of a league for their three teams. Powell believes Clapham Common Hockey Club to have the fastest-growing mixed teams in the world.

Due to the unique demographics of Clapham and its surrounds, Powell and Thom have devised a system they feels satisfies everyone from those wanting competitive matches to casual players after a social experience - who are now catered for by the newly-formed Social Hockey Club. A recent beginners' session attracted 75 participants.

Powell says: "We have always put experience at the heart of everything we do here.

"There is a load of people who the traditional model doesn't work withno one offers bespoke beginners' lessons to 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds, 40-year-olds. That is where we come in.

"It is an evolving model and a disruptor model in the way we price it to suit people's lifestyles better."

The club are aiming continued growth in members and teams

There are challenges. The club play across sites in Crystal Palace, Battersea Park, Bermondsey and Kennington and have so far been frustrated in their attempts to secure a permanent homePowell's preferred outcome for the club.

Discussions with the local council over building a privately-funded site have been in vain, with negotiations for a publicly-funded facility predicted to take many years to come to fruition.

Powell says: "A permanent base would be the ideal situation but it is also a limiting factor.

"If I had a pitch in Clapham it would be amazing, but you have your pitch and 3-4 miles around you and that is it.

"It is a massive downside in one respect, but at the flexible end not being bound to one location opens up new areas and that means expansion possibilities are larger for us."

Powell believes there is the potential to spread his model beyond London, but is keen to control the capital first.

He adds: "Once we get our model sorted in London, there is plenty of potential to expand. The Social Hockey Club has the potential to really resonate and we want to see where that goes."

Continued here:
From Hockey To Boxing, How Independent Companies Are Revolutionizing Community Fitness In London - Forbes

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Looking for the best fitness options near you?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top fitness spots around Sacramento, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're in the mood for a workout.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

First up is Mansion Flats's Yoga Seed Collective, situated at 1400 E St., Suite B. With five stars out of 69 reviews on Yelp, the yoga spot has proven to be a local favorite.

Curtis Park's Asha Urban Baths, located at 2417 27th St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the day spa, swimming pool and massage spot 4.5 stars out of 202 reviews.

Flawless Boxing & Fitness, a boxing and self-defense class spot in Upper Land Park, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 140 Yelp reviews. Head over to 600 Broadway to see for yourself.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.

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Here are Sacramento's top 3 fitness spots - Hoodline

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