Archive for December 2005
Fitness-Oriented Gym Classes Better Than Traditional
In the quest to stave off childhood obesity, schools may want to modify traditional physical education classes to be more fitness and lifestyle oriented. That’s the take-home message that a recent study imparted in the October issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (2005;159, 963–68).
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, wanted to kn…
Tai Chi Reduces Fear of Falling in Older Adults
A new study, sponsored by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, has found that consistent tai chi practice significantly reduces fear of falling among older adults. Fear of falling is an indicator of the likelihood of falling, according to studies. Fear of falling also le…
Read MorePlant the Seed, Watch It Grow
During his welcome inspiration address at 2005 IDEA Fitness Fusion—Chicago® last April, Jay Blahnik,1996 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year and senior education consultant for the Nautilus Institute™, talked about how fitness professionals are on the front line of health promotion and advocacy. He referred to the fitness industry as “plan A&rdq…
Read MoreHow Fat Is Your State?
If you live in Oregon, you can be proud that you and your fellow citizens held the weight scales steady last year. According to “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2005,” a report from Trust for America’s Health, the beaver state was the only one that did not grow fatter (Hawaii was not included in the report).
Here’s how other states weigh…
Taking a Stand on Fortification and Supplementation
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recently released its first Position Paper on the topic of nutritional fortification and supplementation. This paper, which appeared in the August 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, “addresses increasing the nutrient density of foods or diets through fortification or supplementation when diets fail to deliver c…
Read MoreMusic, Imagery and Healing Touch Help Heart Patients
People who listened to soothing music, participated in guided imagery and received healing-touch therapy before heart surgery were more likely to be alive 6 months later than those who did not experience these interventions, according to a study published in The Lancet (2005; 366, 211–17).
Lead investigator Mitchell W. Krucoff, MD, from Duke Clinical Research Institu…
America’s Fattest & Fittest Colleges
According to a Men’s Fitness and Princeton Review survey conducted in early 2005 of nearly 10,000 students from more than 660 colleges, some campuses fall prey to the “freshman 15” more easily than others. Here are the top 10 in both categories:
This section of the article is still in process of conversion to the web.
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Shovel Snow Like a Pro
It’s that time of year when gym members hobble in with wrenched backs from shoveling snow. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2004 more than 44,000 people were treated for snow-shoveling- and snow-blowing-related injuries. A few preventive measures go a long way. Share some of the following tips from Pam Pedlow, MHK, MES, founder of Fitness, Function & Perfor…
Read MoreIt Starts With You
2005 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year Helen Vanderburg is founder and president of Heavens Fitness Limited in Calgary, Alberta. She also trains other fitness professionals through Hi Fitness Inc., is executive director of Helco Management and co-owns Fountain Park Health Club….
Read MoreInner IDEA Is Born
After a quarter century of focusing on exercise and its impact on the body, IDEA is embarking on its next evolutionary path: exploring the inner connection between mind, body and spirit in a quest toward optimal wellness. To support our strong belief in this path, we are delighted to announce the debut of Inner IDEA, an exciting new conference that will launch July 23–25, 2006, just…
Read MoreProfile of Personal Training Clients
Personal training is the haven of older exercisers who want guidance to begin or continue an exercise program. Over half of personal training clients are 45 years or older, and the majority are beginning or intermediate exercisers. Considering that so many clients have temporary or chronic injuries or special medical needs, it’s not surprising that they turn to the expertise and one-on…
Read MoreGreat Expectations
You’ve seen it play out every January and February d…
Read MoreDon’t Forget the Job Description
If you’ve ever asked an employee to do something pertinent to her job only to have her counter, “That’s not in my job description,” you know how important it is to outline the position in advance. According to the United States Small Business Administration, job descriptions provide the foundation for job training and future evaluations and should include the following b…
Read MoreThe No-Baloney, No-Fad Diet
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Read MoreMix It Up!
The New York Health & Racquet Club orients members to strength and cardiovascular benefits with Plyo-Box, which combines boxing, kickboxing, tae kwon do, Hapkido and plyometric drills. “The class utilizes an individual’s own body weight for resistance,” says J. Travis, brand manager. “The movements are short, fast bursts of energy. This explosive element jolts the…
Read MoreSample Class: Performance-Driven Indoor Cycling
Have you ever eaten a cupcake from the Magnolia Bakery in New York? The cake itself is delicious—rich and flavorful. The icing is smooth and not too sweet. If you ate the cake alone, it would be a little dry; but if you ate only the icing, it would make you sick!
Indoor cycling has something of a “cupcake” personality. Some instructors are technical, athletic-ba…
Mixing Innovation and Outstanding Service
Subject: Dave Parise
Company: Results Plus, Hamden, Connecticut
Types of Clientele. The majority of the company’s clients are in their 40s–70s. “When you market to an upscale demographic as we have, it is much easier to maintain those clients, as long as you provide the level of service they are used to,” Parise says.
Booking Sessi…
Study: Future Obesity Burden May Be Substantial
The obesity threat only looms larger as we age, according to findings from a study in the October 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (2005; 143 [7], 473–80). Researchers followed 4,117 normal-weight white adults, ages 30–59 years, who participated in the Framingham Offspring Study from 1971 to 2001. Within 4 years, 14%–19% of the women and 26%–30% of the me…
Read MoreEquipping Older Clients for the Future
Over the past two decades, fitness equipment manufacturers have gone from peddling basic barbells to hawking digital talking machines. During this time, many new products have rocked the way fitness professionals design exercise programs, while other gadgets have fizzled away, never to be seen again. Now, with the first of the Baby Boomers turning 60 this year, a new line of senior-friendly pro…
Read MoreThe Power of Intention
Every person attending an exercise class or using the services of a personal trainer does so with an intention in mind. Quite simply, an intention is a commitment to achieve some specific purpose. The intention of an exerciser might relate directly to improving health or enhancing physical appearance—or it might be limited to making social contacts. Since only the client can realize hi…
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