by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
Spas that provide exercise programs and facilities will continue to add more yoga and more “spiritual or mind-body” offerings, according to the International Spa ...
by Joy Keller
Here are just a few highlights from this year’s Tracking the Fitness Movement (2004 edition), a study conducted for SGMA International by American Sports Data Inc.:
Fitness walking is listed as the favorite form of exercise for 10.3 million people.
Use of recumbent stationary bikes has risen by nearly 60% since 1998.
Users of elliptical-...
by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
Treatments that combine massage and yoga with “Pilates-like overtones” are one of the key emerging themes in the consumer spa experience, according to the International Spa Association’s 2004 Consumer Trends Report.
Treadmill exercise and stretching finished in the top 5 in SGMA International’s analysis of the Sports Participation Topline Report (2004 edition). These weren’t the only fitness-related activities in
the spotlight. In the top-30 list of sports activities and recreational pursuits, here were the first 20 (listed by ranking): Sports/Activity=# of Participants in Millions
1. bowling=55.0
2. treadmill exercise=45.6
3. fishing (freshwater, other) =43.8
4. stretching=42.1
by April Durrett
In the
mid-1990s, corporate
fitness was on a roll. With a strong economy, companies were competing to hire and keep
the best
employees. Corporate fitness programs were considered
a valuable perk to
retain these employees.> Fastforward to 2004. Has the once sunny forecast for corporate fitness held steady? Or have economic storms brought it crashing down? Is it currently a viable career option for fitness professionals? Here’s a look at the status of this niche, including top trends in group fitness, personal training and wellness programs.
If you train clients with hypertension, you’ll want to check out the new position stand of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on “Exercise and Hypertension.” (It replaces ACSM’s 1993 position stand “Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Hypertension.”) ACSM’s latest stand views exercise as a cornerstone therapy for the primary prevention, treatment and control of the disease.
Does your city get a thumbs-up for being well suited for fitness and walking? The American Podiatric Medical Association, in conjunction with Prevention magazine, named 12 top walking cities in the United States:
Four-year data trends revealed in the 2003 IDEA Fitness Programs & Equipment Survey show that stability ball-based training is on the upswing. Have you incorporated this type of work for your clients?MORE WHAT’S NEW, P.11 IDEA PERSONAL Trainer APRIL | 2004 IDEA PERSONAL Trainer APRIL | 20044 what’s newbusiness
Here’s yet another reason to encourage children to play sports: A new survey found that the odds of being physically active during free time are significantly higher for adults who participated in organized sports as a child.
