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If you tried to imagine the perfect gym teacher, youd probably come up with someone a lot like Hampton Liu. Hes a gentle, friendly guy who spends most of his time trying to figure out how to make the basics of exercise more approachable, and he talks frequently about how he never wants anyone to feel shame for their ability or skill level. In other wordsand with apologies to good gym teachers, who almost definitely existhes probably the polar opposite of whoever lorded over your middle-school physical-education class.

And Liu is a gym teacher of sorts. He has amassed millions of followers across YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok by teaching a remedial PE course for adults from his Arkansas backyard. In many of his videos, he wears a T-shirt and jeans instead of specialized athletic gear, and he uses little or no equipment. The most popular installments take viewers through super-common exercisessquats, lunges, push-ups, pull-upswith variations tailored to many different capability levels. For someone who has never exercised at all, a push-up might start asor might just belying on your back and bench-pressing the air in order to expand your range of motion. There are several more types of push-up that Liu tells viewers to master before they assume the hands-and-toes position thats long been taught to American kids as the One True Push-Up. (Kneeling variation acceptable for girls, if they must.)

Teaching a series of increasingly difficult movements, called a progression by fitness pros, is common at every level of exercise instruction and meant to build capacity over time. All progressions start somewhere, and most of the ones you can find on YouTube, through instructional services such as Peloton, or in classes at your local gym will assume a baseline of ability that a lot of people dont have. The first step, for example, might be a standard squat, performed without weights. Over time, you might graduate to squatting while you hold a 25-pound kettlebell, and then to kicking out to the side with one leg in order to challenge a different group of muscles. But what if you cant do a squat?

Read: Peloton is stuck, just like the rest of us.

Liu focuses on teaching progressions for novices, which work toward the skills that other types of exercise instruction take for granted. Theres a real audience for these, he told me. Lots of people seem to assume that their inability to do sets of those basic moves is an irreversible failurefor many of them, its been their lot in life since elementary-school gym class.

For decades, exercise instruction for adults has functioned on largely the same principle. What the fitness industry calls a beginner is usually someone relatively young and capable who wants to become more conventionally attractive, get swole, or learn a trendy workout such as high-intensity interval training or barre. If youre a novice looking for a path toward these more intense routines, most of the conventional gyms, fitness studios, and exercise experts that offer them dont have much for youcome back when youve developed on your own the endurance and core strength to avoid barfing, crying, or injuring yourself in the first 10 minutes. The situation is even worse if you have no designs on getting ripped and instead just want to build a baseline of capability, whether thats for hoisting your toddler, shaking off the stiffness of a desk job, or living independently as you age.

On the surface, this is pretty dumb. More than three-quarters of Americans dont currently hit the CDCs recommended minimums for regular exercise, and the fitness industry is a graveyard of once-buzzy businesses that abruptly stopped growingmuch to their investors chagrinat least in part because they never had a plan to turn anyone into a customer who wasnt already pretty fit. But the numbers suggest that there is enormous demand for services such as Lius: His super-popular videos make him just one recent example of the teachers and trainers who have found significant audiences by courting true beginners. In doing so, theyve created entry points for more types of people to do something near-universally regarded as essential to mental and physical health. Why has the industry itself been so slow to catch up?

For most inactive Americans, the problem with working out starts where their relationship to exercise does: in gym class. According to Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a historian at the New School and the author of the forthcoming book Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of Americas Exercise Obsession, public-school physical education became more widespread in the United States during the Cold War, as the federal government began to worry that America was falling behind Europe and not producing enough combat-ready kids to challenge the Soviets. (That concern stretches back to the early 20th century and has endured for decades beyond the fall of the U.S.S.R.) Perhaps unsurprisingly, building physical instruction around a national inferiority complex instead of childhood well-being has had some consequences, the most enduring of which is an obsession with testing fitness instead of teaching practical physical skills and helping kids explore new activities.

The limitations of traditional American PE can be evoked pretty tidily with a single phrase: the Presidential Fitness Test. If youre not familiar with the test or have repressed those memories, it was a biannual quasi-military exercise developed in the 1960s that required children as young as 6 to, among other things, run a mile as quickly as possible, do as many pull-ups as their little arms could handle, and get weighed, usually while all of their peers looked on. The criteria for passage varied over the years, and, in between tests, schools werent required to teach kids anything in particular that would help them improve their scores on the skill components. Instead, the test reflected the priorities of the system that created it: For example, kids deemed overweight couldnt fully pass the test, even if they outperformed their classmates. The whole system was a big missed opportunity: Instead of engendering curiosity about physical activity and giving kids skills to build their capability, PE separated them into the physical haves and have-nots. Public-health officials admitted as much when they discontinued the test in 2013.

As it turns out, you cant just teach millions of children that exercise is painful, humiliating, or a punishment for their failures and expect them to swan into adulthood with healthy, moderate beliefs about their bodies. Instead, they follow the lessons theyve learned about themselves, and about exercise: Some people avoid ever entering a gym again and shy away from activities that might draw attention to their physical capabilities, such as hiking or dancing. Others emerge confident that they were born with the keys to the kingdom of athleticism.

Petrzela says that this dichotomy colors much of how American adults think about exercise, including who pursues careers in fitness, who can get hired in the industry, and how the audience for fitness services is defined. The fitness industry has changed a lot and for the better in the past 15 yearsgym teachers have begun to piece together curricula that are more encouraging and creative, exercise gear is available in a larger array of sizes, and people who run fitness businesses have started to realize, however slowly, that shame might not be quite as reliable of a sales tool as it once was. But lots of stereotypes persist, and not just in the minds of people who are already regular exercisers. If youve been told all your life that only thin people are healthy, and that exercise is designed to make you healthier, then its only natural to believe that for a particular exercise regimen to work, it must make everyone who does it thin. If a business cant create rock-hard abs for its instructors, what could it possibly do for you?

Equating thinness with instructor competence or exerciser success is pretty much a nightmare for all involved, from elementary school through adulthood, and it never abates. Petrzela, who also spent years as a fitness teacher, says that this is a common source of anxiety for people in that line of work, who risk losing their careers and credibility if their bodies change. Its also not a great way to assemble a workforce with an intuitive understanding of what millions of inactive Americans need from them, whether that is beginner-level strength instruction or yoga-pose modifications for larger bodies. Research consistently suggests that movementnot elaborate boot-camp routines or long-distance running, just movement by itselfis a boon to both physical and mental health. Glenn Gaesser, an exercise physiologist at Arizona State University, argues that regular exercise has a much larger positive effect, in the long term, than dieting or intentional weight loss; and that for larger people, the effect of increased fitness is even more significant. Creating an environment where those same people cant find instruction that addresses their needsor where they cant access it without being browbeaten if they dont also restrict their diets and lose weightonly harms their health.

How to cater to this very large group of people isnt some kind of long-unsolved mystery. The YMCAs network of nonprofit facilities has offered popular, low-cost exercise activities and sports instruction for people across a wide range of ages and abilities for decades. Richard Simmons became a superstar in the 1980s and 90s because there was real demand for his kinder, gentler approach and broadly accessible moves, even among people who wanted to exercise for weight loss. More recently, the gym chain Planet Fitness has become enormously successful with its beginner-friendly, no-shame, low-cost pitch to the general public. Couch to 5k, an app-based running program, has become an extraordinarily popular entry point for true beginners who want to start jogging. But these are the exceptions in the industry, not the rule. Media attention and lavish funding are still overwhelmingly aimed at businesses and exercise personalities that promise the kind of punishment that only a small portion of the population can takeand that most people dont even want.

The responsibility for figuring out how to help more people find accessible introductions to exercise usually falls to the people who actually need these services in the first place, or to those who were clued into that need in intimate ways. Liu began making his instructional videos after his mom passed away in early 2020; he had spent the previous several years caring for her after a debilitating stroke. I always think about, Would this be able to help her if she were still around? he told me. It never hurts to add an easier step.

For Casey Johnston, who developed an eight-week starter course called Liftoff: Couch to Barbell, the impetus was her own experience attempting to pick up strength training. She tried a popular beginners program, but when she got in the gym, she realized that she wasnt yet strong enough to lift a barbell, even without any weights attached. The bar itself weighs 45 poundsmore than lots of true beginners would be able to maneuver safely on their own. Johnston, who felt much more comfortable on the cardio machines, had to work her way up to that initial threshold using free weights. The things that are mundane about strength training feel very intimidating to somebody whos totally new to it, she told me. Its this big, heavy barbell, or this big, complicated-looking squat rack, or the bench that only extremely jacked, really sweaty bros who are yelling ever use. But Johnston bet that plenty of people would give it a try if she could make it more accessible.

So far, that bet has paid off for Johnston: Between her newsletter, called Shes a Beast, and her beginners program, she has replaced the income that she lost after getting laid off from a media job last year. Liu, too, now makes instructional material for beginners as his full-time job. Jessamyn Stanley, a fat yoga instructor with almost half a million Instagram followers and two successful books, has built a thriving virtual yoga business with The Underbelly, which has its own widely available app for phones and smart TVs. There is a very real market for this kind of fitness instruction, and lots of people really want to avail themselves of it.

Read: For women, is exercise power?

If you want to find truly beginner-level exercise services in person instead of online, things can be a little trickier. Morit Summers and Francine Delgado-Lugo opened Form Fitness in Brooklyn in 2018 after meeting in a more typical gym where Summers, who published Big and Bold: Strength Training for the Plus-Size Woman last year, was a trainer. We really wanted to create a space where people could walk in and realize that you dont have to have an aesthetic goal, Delgado-Lugo, whos also a personal trainer and health coach, told me. Scaling the business has been a bit slower going for Form than it has been for some of its online counterparts, partly because the studio has to pull in people from the surrounding area instead of the entire world, and partly because theres no tried-and-true method for getting your fitness business in front of people who are used to being ignored or belittled by the industry. But Delgado-Lugo and Summers have done it, even with pandemic interruptions, and novices make up the bulk of their business. As it turns out, if people know youre not going to punish them or shame them or try to put them on a diet, many of them feel more comfortable asking you to teach them things.

It is, of course, not entirely logical that any of these things should have to be profitable in order to exist, or that people who want to provide these services should have to make the math work out on their own in order to do so. To make exercise instruction and equipment available for everyone, no matter their level of fitness or mobility, would be a public goodimproving population health, reducing health-care costs, and making millions of peoples lives better. This is the type of thing that a functional modern society should endeavor to provide to its members, regardless of individual ability to pay.

As Petrzela, the historian, pointed out to me, these services have been freely given to the public in the past. Before the private-sector fitness industry exploded in the 1980s, tax-funded recreation centers, youth sports leagues, and community pools were much more plentiful in the United States, she said, even if unevenly distributed among predominantly white and Black neighborhoods. This is part of a greater austerity politics, which is affecting every aspect of our lives, she told me. She calls it the privatization of the good life: Public funding for facilities and programming dries up, and wealthier people buy gym memberships and Pelotons and enroll their kids in private sports leagues. In my lifetime, I have seen the prices of fitness products and experiences skyrocket, Petrzela said. Poorer people cant afford those things, and their neighborhoods are less likely to be safe for outdoor recreation, or to have intact sidewalks and functional playgrounds. The numbers bear out this split: Among the best predictors of how much exercise Americans get is how much money they make.

Liu thinks about the financial costs of exercise constantly. His instructional videos are supported by advertising instead of membership fees, he focuses on moves that use body weight or that can be done with around-the-house objects such as chairs or towels, and his full recommended routine is available on his website, free of charge. Because of Lius huge subscriber numbers, he can run a business without directly charging for the majority of his output, which isnt possible for most teachers who go it alone. I want to make as much knowledge free as possible, he told me. The more options people have, the more likely that someone will find something that they like and stick to it.

Original post:
What the Fitness Industry Doesn't Understand - The Atlantic

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The good Lord didnt intend for us to sit around on our butts.

That quote appeared in the March 15, 1984 edition of the North Vernon Plain Dealer in the run up to the Fourth Annual Sassafras 10K and Fun Run. The speaker? Orlo Blomquist, a Jennings County resident remembered for sharing the joys of physical activity, fitness, and wellness with the entire community.

Orlo moved to Jennings County to work as an engineer for Cummins. When a friend died in his 50s after years of being inactive, it rang like a wakeup call. The lifelong motorcycle enthusiast and former flat-track racer added new sports: running and bicycling. As his daughter Laura Blomquist-Corkum shared, He read Dr. Kenneth Coopers books on aerobics like they were his second bible.

It didnt take long before Orlo began to share his enthusiasm for fitness with the community.

In 1981, he began coordinating the Sassafras 10K and that well-loved event became the Spring Tonic Sports Festival, including not only a foot race, but also a bicycle tour of Jennings County and canoe race on the Muscatatuck River.

As Vernon Mayor Dan Wright remembers, He built this cannon to shoot off at the beginning of the race. I had a lot of respect and love for Orlo. He came around when I was in junior high, early high school aged. Just the fact that what he started is still relevant today. Thats pretty neat!

In Orlos own words from 1989, Were trying to get away from the hardshell competition and keep it a fun thing. Thats what Im trying to promote. [Fitness] can be a lot of fun.

The spirit of Orlos quest to make fitness fun is needed today. According to the County Health Rankings, 35% of Jennings County residents are completely sedentary outside of work. This means people arent working in the yard, going for walks, doing taxing chores, or exercising. This lack of physical activity puts people at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and other chronic diseases.

But, Orlos legacy will be on full display this Saturday, April 30 in Vernon.

Three separate events started by Orlo Blomquist or that would certainly make him proud are being held. The first is the Spring Tonic 5K Run & Walk hosted by the Jennings County Running Club that will start at the Vernon Gym at 8 a.m.

Participants will run through the Vernon Cemetery and out to Tunnel Mill before returning to the Gym. The trees are beautiful right now! says Jeff Walker, the race organizer. Were excited to restart a Jennings County tradition and raise funds for the Vernon Gym.

Entry fees are $25 and participants can register day of starting at 7 a.m. or online at https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Vernon/SpringTonic5KWalk. Every participant will receive a t-shirt and finish line photo, and awards will be given for top finishers.

Also supporting the Vernon Gym that night, the Friends of Historic Vernon will be hosting Vernon Trivia Night. Teams of up to eight can participate starting at 5:30 p.m. and the cost, which includes a taco bar dinner, is $25 per person. Proceeds will go towards maintenance and upgrades at the Vernon Gym.

We want to keep the price low for folks [to rent the Vernon Gym] so that everybody can use it. We want the Gym to be functional, a nice place, and we want it to be fun!

If you would like to test your knowledge, especially your local history, then you can RSVP by calling 812-592-0428.

Sandwiched between the two, and the longest continually held event honoring Orlos legacy of making fitness fun, is the Orlo Blomquist Memorial Canoe and Kayak Race. This event is being put on by the Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society as fundraiser for their work protecting the Muscatatuck River. Registration starts at noon at the Vernon Commons and is $10. All non-motorized craft are welcome.

The race will start at the Vernon Commons at 1 p.m. and finish at the Crosley Green Bridge boat launch. It should take about an hour and a half, according to Troy Jackson. As is tradition the winner from last year will return with the champions paddle to defend their title. Each winner gets to sign and date the paddle and it has been circulating for years!

Orlos legacy is a testament to his passion about fitness and making fitness fun. His daughter Laura, who will be joining the fun on April 30, had this to say to event organizers: Orlo would be so excited to see the run back in action and that the canoe race is still going. He was all about making physical fitness a fun family affair and our family holidays still revolve around being in a run together. Thank you so much for doing this!

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A Legacy of Fitness and Fun, Remembering Orlo Blomquist - Madison Courier

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Many of us have started a fitness journey, but somewhere along the way, we fizzle out. What started as high hopes crashes and burns fairly quickly.

How can you stay motivated in your workouts?

Stop making excuses that you do not have enough time. Schedule your workouts and fitness time as you would lunch with friends or activities with your family. In order to achieve your goals and stick to your physical fitness, make time in your routine.

Carve out time in your week to join a FreedomCore Pilates class, and enjoy your time each week.

You can reward yourself, but only if you meet your goals. If you attend every class this month, hit your mileage goal, or just get in a good workout, treat yourself! But those nice running shoes, new leggings or fancy water bottle, you got this.

Everyone is motivated by financial loss. By committing to a gym membership, regular class, or other financial deposit, you will be more motivated to make that money worth it.

FreedomCore Pilates offers affordable, fun classes that will fit any budget. Commit to your fitness routine and budget with FreedomCore Pilates.

Friends make everything better. By exercising with friends, you will be more likely to follow through, enjoy your time, and look forward to your next workout. Find friends that challenge you and make you meet your fitness goals.

Instead of suffering through a run, a lifting session, or another routine you hate, make your fitness fun! Join a class you love, try a new form of workout, or find a trainer you vibe with. Whatever you choose, love your workout every day!

>>FreedomCore is also offering a FREE introductory class for anyone who is interested! Be sure to visit freedomcorepilates.com to book your free session!<<

With a variety of class offerings and membership packages to suit anyone plus a drop-in-class option and even a FREE introductory class, FreedomCore Pilates is perfect for everybody. Visit freedomcorepilates.com or check out their Facebook Page to learn more.

Excerpt from:
5 Tips to Stay Motivated in Your Fitness - Signals AZ

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Latest Industry Data Shows Club Memberships Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC Fitness Solutions (ABC), the leading technology and related services provider for the fitness industry, is making its next-generation club management solution, ABC IGNITE, available to club operators of all sizes. ABC is also excited to announce that its industry data shows club membership levels have returned to pre-pandemic numbers.

According to ABC's data of over 16,000 club locations, Q1 2022 has seen a measurable shift in the fitness industry. New membership joins are up 14% from Q1 2021, and equally encouraging is the fact they are up 7% when compared to Q1 2019. Member attendance and check-ins are also up 32% and are currently higher than pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, membership cancellations are down 13% and membership freezes are down 37% when comparing Q1 2022 to Q1 2021 and represents another clear sign the industry is rebounding stronger than ever.

As industry activity increases, ABC IGNITE is available to help clubs take advantage of the renewed and increasing opportunities. "The reaction from early adopters of ABC IGNITE has been overwhelmingly positive, with most astonished at its simplicity and the insights it brings," said Bill Davis, CEO of ABC Fitness Solutions. "Our team worked extensively to create a software suite that is both intuitive to use and powerful to deploy. It is purposely designed to meet the needs of the fitness industry as it enters a new phase where member engagement, actionable insights, and flexibility are crucial to success. With ABC IGNITE we have evolved our core competencies that the industry has relied on for 40 years to help club operators thrive as the industry comes roaring back from the difficulties of the past two years."

Three years in development, ABC IGNITE is the culmination of extensive dialogue with the industry and ABC customers, a complete review of ABC's current system and services, and a multi-million dollar business acquisition strategy that integrated best in class global solutions and companies within the ABC Family. In July 2020, ABC acquired GymSales, a leading international provider of fitness sales management tools bringing sophisticated CRM expertise. In September 2020, ABC acquired Trainerize, to accelerate capabilities to power mobile fitness solutions and trainer engagement. Most recently, advanced business analytic capabilities were added to the ABC arsenal with the acquisition of Fitness BI, a proven Data Warehouse-as-a-Service platform providing advanced business intelligence and reporting. All three products have been integrated as part of IGNITE.

As ABC IGNITE rolls out across the entire industry, it marks the start of ABC's continued commitment to investment, which will see a further $100+m invested in innovation over the next three years. Integrating and leveraging the expert knowledge and advanced technology capabilities from these acquisitions as well as ABC's existing technology infrastructure has allowed the company to develop the most flexible club management platform the industry has seen to date.

From member management and engagement, new member sales performance, staff utilization, billing, and reporting, ABC IGNITE provides actionable insights that allow club owners to make smarter choices to more efficiently and effectively run their businesses. By removing the technological complexities and reducing their total cost of ownership, club operators can concentrate on initiatives such as enhancing member experiences and improving staff welfare. A fitness industry veteran and trendsetter, Gold's Gym SoCal's CFO Paul Becker, believes IGNITE is ultimately about focusing on what matters most, the members. "IGNITE is truly a leap forward, it will give our staff what they need to engage with members from the moment they walk in our clubs."

ABC will be upgrading our existing customers to ABC IGNITE at no additional cost. The feedback related to upgrades so far have been positive. "The upgrade went as smoothly as possible," raved Jon Aschermann, owner of 121 Fitness in Decatur, IL. Another customer from Foust Family Fitness, Lisa Stooksbury, also raved that "the overnight upgrade was seamless. Our team was trained over a few sessions and was able to check-in new members and process new payments in a very short amount of time."

Today, the average club operator uses 6-8 disparate software applications to run their club. Making these solutions work together is complex, time-consuming, and largely inefficient, particularly when factoring in the higher-than-average employee turnover rates seen within the fitness industry. ABC IGNITE dramatically simplifies this process with a single integrated solution that saves time while reducing the total cost of technology ownership.

For further information, please visit http://www.abcfitness.com

About ABC Fitness SolutionsABC Fitness Solutions (abcfitness.com) is the premier provider of software and related services for thehealth andfitness industry. Building ona reputation for excellence in support for clubs and their members,ABC is the trusted provider to boost performance and create aTotalFitnessExperience for members of clubs of all sizes, whether anationalfranchise, regionalchainor alocalgym. Founded in 1981, ABC helps nearly 16,000 clubs and facilities in 116 countries perform better and more profitably, offering a comprehensive SaaS club management solution that enables club operators to achieve optimal performance. ABCFitness Solutionsis aThomaBravo portfolio company, a private equity firm focused on investing in software and technology companies (thomabravo.com).

ABC Fitness Solutions Media Contact: Ian Twinn | Tandem Marketing Communications [emailprotected]

SOURCE ABC Fitness Solutions, LLC

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ABC Fitness Solutions Opens ABC IGNITE to all Club Operators - PR Newswire

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Fashion designer Michelle Smith and SoulCycle instructor Stacey Griffith are debuting their activewear line, Love & Sports, at Walmart. The line is designed to be fashion-forward, with vibrant colors and unique fabrics.

Walmart

Over the past two years, fashion designer Michelle Smith and SoulCycle instructor Stacey Griffith have touched dozens of fabrics, spitballed brand names and tried out samples of sports bras and leggings when lounging at home or sweating during workouts.

Now, the New York City-based couple is revealing their secret project: Love & Sports, an elevated activewear and swim brand that they are debuting with Walmart. The new brand hits the big-box retailer's website on Friday and is rolling out to 1,500 stores.

"I think some of our friends actually thought we were having a baby because we couldn't talk about something and said, 'We can't go. We have something to work on,'" Griffith said.

"I guess we kind of are having a baby," Smith said, with a laugh.

Smith co-founded high-end apparel brand Milly and designed the dress worn by Michelle Obama in her Smithsonian portrait. Now she has a newer, eponymous line of sleek items, from silk camisoles to alpaca coats, that can run as much as $2,750 apiece.

Meanwhile, Griffith has gained a fan-following as an indoor cycling teacher and gone on a motivational tour with Oprah Winfrey. The designer and fitness instructor met and later started dating thanks to a SoulCycle class.

The fashion-forward clothing collection is another sign of the retailer's efforts to shake up its reputation and become known as a place where shoppers can find stylish garments along with milk, bananas and TVs.

Walmart has launched a growing number of exclusive and elevated fashion names, including Sofia Jeans, a denim brand developed with actress Sofia Vergara; Eloquii Elements, a plus-sized women's brand inspired by acquired brand Eloquii; Scoop, a trend-forward womenswear brand; and Free Assembly, an apparel line of everyday wardrobe pieces for men, women and kids.

It has also tapped the star power of other fashion names, notably in the hiring of Brandon Maxwell who has dressed famous women including Lady Gaga as creative director of Scoop and Free Assembly.

Love & Sports will be sold on Walmart's website and in 1,500 stores. Its first collection includes 121 pieces that range in price from $12 to $42.

Walmart

Walmart, which still gets the majority of its annual revenue from the grocery business, does not break out apparel sales from other general merchandise, such as home decor and electronics.

Denise Incandela, executive vice president of apparel and private brands for Walmart U.S., said the retailer was drawn to Love & Sports' unique designs and bold colors. She said teaming up with Smith and Griffith created an opportunity to stand out in a category where high quality usually comes with a high price.

The idea for the new brand was born when Smith reached out to Incandela through a direct message on Instagram in the early months of the pandemic. Incandela, an alumna of Saks Fifth Avenue, knew Smith because the luxury chain carried her Milly clothing line.

Smith later shared some initial sketches that she had worked on for a few months. "It's just such a natural extension of Stacey and myself that it almost designed itself," she said. "It just flowed through onto paper."

Smith, who trained at elite fashion houses like Hermes and Louis Vuitton, said that she and Griffith were looking to make clothes that fit both budgets and bodies.

The brand's first collection includes 121 pieces that range in price from $12 to $42. It includes retro running shorts, cropped sweatshirts and seamless bras. It ranges in size from XS to XXXL for activewear and up to XXL for swimwear.

Items have details that blend street fashion and fitness, such as lots of pockets for cell phones, invisible zippers on the inside to secure credit cards and waistbands that can be worn high-waisted (Smith's preferred style) or rolled down for a low-waisted look (Griffith's preference).

Love & Sports will add footwear and accessories, including sneakers and handbags, in the fall.

Love & Sports is debuting with swimwear. In the fall, the line will include shoes and accessories.

Walmart

Activewear has become a hotter, but more crowded, field during the pandemic. Sales in the men's and women's apparel category rose from $52.3 billion in 2019 to $70.8 billion in 2021, a 35% increase during the two-year period, according to The NPD Group. The market research group includes all apparel items with active features such as moisture-wicking fabric.

Kristen Classi-Zummo, an industry analyst who covers fashion apparel for The NPD Group, said some observers bet that as the pandemic receded, people would step out into the world dressed up again and eager to don formal attire like in the Roaring '20s.

Instead, she said, people have largely looked for comfortable and versatile pieces that fit into a hybrid way of life, such as pants with enough stretch to allow a quick walk around the block between virtual meetings or a longer sports bra that can pair with workout leggings as well as jeans and heels.

As the category has boomed, however, so has the number of brands vying for market share. The number of activewear brands has climbed from 1,600 in 2014 to 2,400 in 2021, according to NPD. That field includes players from Lululemon and Nike to private labels launched by the likes of Target, Kohl's and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Classi-Zummo expects activewear to remain popular this year and beyond, but have a slower growth rate than the double-digits in 2021 and that, she said, will heighten competition for consumers.

"We still anticipate it will grow, but what is a brand to do in a marketplace that's seeing less growth and a lot more competition?" she said. "She's been buying activewear for years. She doesn't need another pair of black leggings. What special features, what new fit, new fabric can you offer to keep her or him interested in the category?"

Griffith said Love & Sports was inspired, in part, by a pandemic-related shift to "an era of yummy fabrics."

She said she's already secretly sported the brand in SoulCycle classes, but hid sports bras beneath tops and worn pairs of shorts without a logo. Now, though, she's looking forward to her big reveal.

Read the original here:
Walmart unveils activewear line with fashion and fitness couple Michelle Smith and Stacey Griffith - CNBC

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Axie Infinity was a pioneer of the play-to-earn movement and the project inspired new Web3 applications that aspire to apply the earning model to their respective ecosystems.

The latest project to join the move-to-earn movement is STEPN, a Solana-based Web3 application where owners of the NFT sneakers earn as they walk.

STEPN has programmed a few factors that determine just how much a person can make with its sneakers and the Green Satoshi Token (GST) is STEPNs in-game token that currently trades for $7.30. Over the last 30-days the token has surged over 77%, but is it sustainable?

Whats interesting about the move-to-earn phenomenon is that its essentially a form of P2E since it gamified fitness through a digital asset (the sneaker). Regardless of how one slices it, NFT holders must engage in the application mechanics to receive the reward.

While STEPN might be racking up some serious profits for investors now, there are already a growing number of competitors emerging and new earning models could soon make it nothing more than a passing fad. Play-to-earn was all the rage in 2021 but now that movement is a mere shadow of its former self. This should lead investors to question the sustainability of the move-to-earn trend.

Incentivizing behavior is not a novel concept, especially in the health and fitness space. In fact, SweatCoin, a project founded in 2018, was one of the first applications that would pay its users digital currency to exercise.

There are other crypto fitness applications such as Dotmoovs, Calo and Step, each with their respective in-app reward tokens. This means that STEPN isnt pioneering the movement, but it could be revitalizing it.

The project is currently in beta with new users requiring a code to participate. In branding and packaging move-to-earn, STEPN gained popularity among crypto and NFT pundits and had a parabolic spike in upward growth. Cumulatively, STEPN has amassed over 200,000 users over its lifetime with consistent volume. In the last 7 days over 32,800 new sneakers have been minted.

On average, a STEPN sneaker can earn a user up to $20 per day, while a premium tier sneaker can make users hundreds of dollars at the current price of GST.

Similar to Axie Infinity, users must first put in an initial capital investment to begin earning rewards. There were 99,999 NFT sneakers available for mint, but just like Axie Infinity, users can breed their sneakers during sneaker minting events (SME).

Currently on Magic Eden, a secondary marketplace, the cheapest STEPN sneaker is on sale for 16.56 SOL ($1,628) and the most expensive is 300 SOL ($29,493).

There are a range of sneaker types, along with tiers of attributes and levels a sneaker acquires that impact how much it can yield.

The durability of cellular signal and the strength of a user's global positioning system (GPS) plays an integral role in earning. If either GPS or signal is choppy, there is no guarantee that data is being recorded, and STEPN relies on knowing the distance a person has covered to earn rewards.

STEPN is currently in beta with new users requiring a code to participate. By branding and packaging move-to-earn, it has gained popularity among crypto and NFT pundits and had a spike in upward growth.

Cumulatively, STEPN has amassed over 223,500 users and it currently dominates the move-to-earn landscape in total market capitalization. Its governance token, Green Metaverse Token (GMT), is over 20xs that of all other movement economy tokens combined making it a desirable bet.

STEPN is not alone in the move-to-earn race, and recently Step App, a dapp on Avalanche blockchain, emerged as a competitor aiming to tap into the $100 billion fitness industry.

Step App has multiple token emissions with FITFI, a governance token and KCAL the in-game token being earned. However, the risk in token emission of any kind is that it becomes a vacuum for value extraction. To mitigate the possibility of inflation, Step App will integrate token sinks into its tokenomics and burning mechanisms will indefinitely remove tokens from circulation.

Unlike STEPN and Sweat Coin, Step App will build a software development kit that provides others with tools to build within its Metaverse. In this way, it is more Web3 native and can potentially mitigate bottlenecks that impede the product's overall scalability.

Its still uncertain how these move-to-earn applications will combat saturation, and how well their token mechanics can sustain a healthy price point once these applications are servicing millions of users. Theres also the risk of a potential drop off in active users since maintaining exercise regimes is stronger from habit-building and intrinsic motivations rather than external rewards.

Since most of these move-to-earn applications require capital upfront, users should stay aware of the price action, volatility, growth and saturation of the movement economy and the levels of activity required to break even or profit.

Turning physical activity to profit could become increasingly difficult if the move-to-earn ecosystem develops and gains more popularity. Since more users are looking to turn their physical activity to cash, this impacts the token price and can increase the price of entry. As such, these applications are working to tackle the manipulation of fraudulent inputs of exercise as an exploit for maximal earnings.

In theory, move-to-earn applications are well intended in centering health and wellness. However, the success of these models stem from incentivizing, and in effect, attempting to influence behavior to form habits.

Studies show that habits are sustained more readily through personal intrinsic motivations (which are hard to quantify) rather than external rewards.Therefore, there are fundamental factors to consider when investing in the move-to-earn movement for the long-term.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. Every investment and trading move involves risk, you should conduct your own research when making a decision.

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NFT traders STEPN to a new groove Is move-to-earn the future of fitness or another fad? - Cointelegraph

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By Abigail Connolly

In a Feb. 7 email from Officer in Charge Dr. Mary C. Toale, SUNY Oswego announced that they would not be charging students to use the on campus fitness centers. The removal of the fee would last through the rest of the spring semester.

We are thrilled to announce students no membership fee access to SUNY Oswegos fitness centers for spring 2022 as the first use of the HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund) Mental Health and Wellness funds, the email stated.

Two months later, the Fitness Center sent out an email to students that had used their facilities during the free spring semester, linking a survey to determine the impact the funding had. It is important that they gather this data in order to understand the impact that having the fitness centers free for use has on the mental and physical health of students.

In the Feb. 25 issue of the Oswegonian, I called into question why the move for free gym memberships was not made sooner. After the negative financial impacts COVID-19 caused, man students lost income and a way to pay for nonessentials.

While it is understanable that the fitness centers may not be considered completelty essential to living, it would be ignorant ot ignore the numerous benefits having a space to exercise has on both mental and physical health. The fitness centers on campus are generally regarded as having more than adequate resources, machines and support. They place emphasis on creating a community through various group classess, challenges and events, all of which gve students an opportunity to meet new, like-minded people in a positive setting. Something that may otherwise be difficult for students to do in the collegiate setting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that students who are physically active are more likely to have better grades, school attendance, memory and classroom behavior. Additional studies confirmed that the higher the physical activity and physical fitness levels are, the better cognitive performance will be. Not only does offering the gyms as a resource keep students more phsyically fit, it has the potential to improve class structure and students potential.

SUNY Oswego made a fantastic decision in allowing students free access to these facilities. Students who may not have been able to afford the previous fees now have access to a healthy outlet on campus.

The survey sent out is going to help determine whether thisresource will cotinue to be readily available to students. For the sake of mental, physical and community health. It is necessary for many students to feel as though they have a release from the everyday stresses of college life and for many that place is the fitness center. Now that it has been offered fro fre, I thik students may be hard pressed to want to pay the $65 fee for access.

The HEERF would be well spent on the SUNY Oswego fitness centers and would offer students a space to improve their overall well being.

Kailee Montross | The Oswegonian

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With the arrival of summer season, there are multiple motivations that inspire people to sweat it out and shed that flab. Experts say that people are more driven to lose inches in summer season as unlike winter when flab can be hidden in layers of woollens, summers are all about beaches and pool parties which requires one to look their best. Exercising in summer season however comes with its own set of rules, especially when one is looking at outdoor workouts. From choosing the right workout gear, snack, knowing when to hydrate to listening to your body is important while exercising during summer season. (Also read: Expert offers summer fitness and workout tips to shed kilos)

Exercise has loads of health benefits and research says it reduces chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It is also good for your brain and a study done at the University of British Columbia found that regular aerobic exercise boosts the size of the hippocampus, the area of the brain involved in learning and verbal memory.

Fitness expert Mukul Nagpaul, Fit India Movement Ambassador and Founder of Pmftraining on dos and don'ts one should keep in mind while exercising in summer season:

Choose the Right apparel

Look for dry fit clothes as they have the ability to dry very quickly which is very helpful while sweating as generally cotton is preferred by a lot of people in summers but cotton is good for casual clothing but not for exercising as cotton absorbs sweat and gets heavy which can be quite uncomfortable

Hydrate properly

Our bodies are 50-70% water and in summers we need more water to keep the body functioning properly so you need to aim for at least 2-3 litres of water and in you will require more water, depending upon your activity levels and in case you sweat more than you will require more water.

- Don't wait until you are thirsty as this is a sign that you are already dehydrated which will impact your performance in your workouts.

- Dont forget to drink more water in the hours following your workout. This will help you to avoid some of the more serious effects of dehydration like nausea, vomiting and kidney failure, not to mention that youll feel much healthier and more energized.

Listen to your Body

Getting in tune with your body may be the most important of these fitness tips. It's very easy to get carried away if you are playing a sport or during a competition so in case you show any signs of dizziness, extreme thirst, nausea, cramps or dry mouth etc. then immediately stop the activity and look for a cool spot to relax and drink a sports drink. Once you feel better then try to rest or slowly start with the activity but make sure to listen to your body

Don't stay out in the sun for prolonged periods

During summers, the suns heat is very intense which can take a toll on your body. It's important to avoid being in the sun from 10 am to 3 pm as sun is the strongest at that time. If at all possible, avoid exercising in direct sunlight. Staying in the shade keeps you cooler and may enable you to complete a more intense workout despite the heat.

Similarly, it may make sense to reserve outdoor workouts for early mornings when temperatures tend to be cooler. This puts you at less risk for heat exhaustion, sun stroke and dehydration.

Don't eat protein before workouts

Lean protein is a great source of energy, but it may not be your best bet before a workout in the heat. Science has shown that eating protein before exercising causes a rise in basal temperature. This means that youll feel even hotter if you load up on protein and then exercise in the warmer summer temperatures.

Indulge in protein after your exercise session because this will help you rebuild muscle tissue. Before and during your workout, focus on keeping your temperature lower by drinking water or a slushie made from ice and a sports drink. Researchers have discovered that a lower core body temperature often correlates with improved performance in athletes.

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Summer fitness tips: Dos and don'ts to remember while exercising in hot weather - Hindustan Times

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Ana Khan,Staff writer

April 28, 2022

Yoga at Rienzi with Carolina Venie of Yogaleena Studios.

Get Fit Thursdays at Urban South HTX brewery.

Bike Houston's monthly bike ride.

PurpleStride returns to an in-person charity walk at Houston Sports Park.

Get Fit Thursdays

The weekly event at Urban South HTX brewery begins with Run Club Nite followed by a yoga class. 6:15-9 p.m. April 28; 1201 Oliver; facebook.com/urbansouthHTX

PurpleStride Houston

PurpleStride returns to an in-person charity walk that raises funds for pancreatic cancer research. 7 a.m. April 30; Houston Sports Park, 12211 Kirby; secure.pancan.org

Yoga at Rienzi

Instructor Carolina Venie of Yogaleena Studios leads this introductory yoga session in the beautiful surroundings of Rienzi, the MFAH house museum for European decorative arts. The program is intended for adults, and participants must bring their own yoga mats. 9-9:45 a.m. April 30; Rienzi House Museum, 1406 Kirby; mfah.org

First Sunday Ride

Roll out from Market Square Park and join Bike Houstons monthly bike ride. 8 a.m. May 1, 301 Milam; bikehouston.org

ana.khan@chron.com

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Yoga at Rienzi and other upcoming fitness events around Houston - Houston Chronicle

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It is a lesser known fact that overweight men have significantly lower sperm counts than men of normal weight but male reproductive health is rarely discussed in India or anywhere in the globe and even when infertility is recognised, it is met with disappointment and humiliation since the capacity to reproduce is assumed. Men's overall health influences fertility and sperm quality is a crucial element of a male fertility but its not the only factor.

The reproductive health of women is often discussed frequently but men often fail to know how to take care of their reproductive health. As there are misconceptions related to this topic, we got a doctor on board to share some fitness tips for millennial men to take care of their reproductive health.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Surabhi Siddhartha, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital in Kharghar, shared, Nowadays, one is unable to concentrate on reproductive health owing to stress, an erratic lifestyle and a lack of physical activity. Thus, poor reproductive health can be a matter of concern for millennial men. There are many reproductive health challenges when it comes to men. They may have problems such as low sexual desire, ejaculation disorders, erectile dysfunction, genital ulcers, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), testicular disorders, prostate cancer, and infertility owing to which marital conflict can emerge.

He added, Stress has a direct effect on the mental, emotional and physical health of men. It may decrease testosterone levels and sperm production, such as glucocorticoids. Poor diet and no physical activity can impact male reproductive health too. Alcohol, tobacco and smoking cause fertility complications in males. Tobacco has been tied to low sperm count as it affects spermatogenesis. Other factors such as environmental pollution, diabetes, hypertension and obesity can also lead to low sperm count and infertility.

Tips for millennial men to take care of their reproductive health:

Dr Surabhi Siddhartha listed 5 tips on men should take care of their reproductive health. These include:

1. Regular STIs screening: There should be enough amount of awareness among men regarding sexually transmitted diseases like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), Syphilis, Chlamydia and Herpes. Till now there is no vaccine for them, prevention is the only key to protection regarding these diseases. The use of contraceptives should also be promoted. You will have to follow the doctors instructions when it comes to screening.

2. Quit smoking: Smoking can impact sperm quality. So, do not smoke.

3. Try to maintain good personal hygiene: You must avoid using any chemical products down there. Try to wear undergarments of a good breathable fabric like cotton and make sure that it is not tight.

4. Eat a well-balanced diet: You need to opt for a diet inclusive of all the vital nutrients. Try to eat eggs as they contain protein and vitamin E, improve sperm motility and sperm count and protect them from oxidative stress. Go for berries as they contain antioxidants and can help one to have a good sperm count. Spinach encourages sperm production. Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids and tend to improve the motility of your sperms. Avoid junk, packaged and canned foods as they can be problematic.

5. Regular exercise: This can help to increase the sperm count. Try to exercise for at least 5 days a week for half an hour. You can opt for swimming, cycling, gymming, Yoga, aerobics or running. De-stress by doing meditation.

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5 fitness tips for millennial men to take care of their reproductive health - Hindustan Times

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