Archive for February 2020
More Sleep Leads to Better Performance
Before your next endurance event, try getting a few extra sleep hours.
Read MoreMarch 2020 Question of the Month: Do You Offer Conditioning or Injury Prevention Programs?
As we begin to prepare for spring, are you offering any conditioning programs or injury prevention programs like the FIFA strategies outlined here? Do your programs take place indoors or outside?
Read MorePoorer Health Among Millennials
Fitness professionals may want to reach out to more young adults, as “millennials are seeing their health decline faster than the previous generation as they age,” reports Blue Cross Blue Shield in The Economic Consequences of Millennial Health, published on November 6, 2019. Millennials were born in 1981–1996 and are considered to be the first generation of “digital natives.”
Read MoreChair Yoga Improves Quality of Life for Adults With Dementia
Dementia, the fifth-leading cause of death for Americans over 65, affected 5 million American adults in 2014, with numbers growing annually. Psychotropic drugs are often prescribed as therapy, but side effects include dizziness and a higher risk of falls. In the United States, polypharmacy is also an issue for this age group, with more than 44% of men and over 57% of women currently taking five or more medications. Ironically, a side effect of polypharmacy is cognitive impairment.
Read MorePersonalized Tai Chi
Are customized routines really better than a standard protocol? One recent study posed this question in reference to tai chi: Is it better to offer a standard tai chi sequence or to individualize moves to a person’s needs?
Read MoreHip Fracture Risks and Postmenopausal Women
Hip fractures have serious consequences, including an increased risk of death within the first year following the accident. Findings from a recent study offer good news on the benefits of physical activity for postmenopausal women.
Read MoreSkill-Based Exercise for Cognitive Health
These days, we hear a lot about the cognitive benefits of exercise. A recent research review examined 72 studies (including literature reviews and meta-analytic reviews) to clarify the relationship between exercise and cognition.
Read MoreWant to Increase Efficiency With Automated Marketing?
Automation is the key to efficiency and consistency—especially when it comes to marketing. Yes, you are better off sending some emails and texts as one-off campaigns (think monthly newsletters, event announcements, and schedule updates), but you can—and should—automate most of your day-to-day marketing communications. The good news is Mindbody Marketing Suite helps you do both; easily build customized campaigns and send targeted automations to prospective and existing clients.
Read MoreShould You Open a Second Location?
If you’re a gym owner, the thought of opening a second facility may eventually float through your mind. After all, only so many clients can fit in a single space before it starts bursting at the seams. While it might be enticing to open another shop elsewhere, there’s no guarantee the new venture will be a success. Launching and growing a first gym is risky enough—in the United States, 50% of new businesses are likely to fail within the first 5 years, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (SBA 2012). Success and survival rates for second locations are less clear, but many experts suggest that the risk of failure is even higher. However, if you do your research, understand the risks and make smart decisions, a second studio might be a viable option. Consider these important points before breaking new ground.
Read MoreWhat Are This Year’s Top Fitness Trends?
To be “well” means seeking a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. Wellness is a lifelong effort, and fitness is a part of the quest. There are multiple dimensions of wellness—including physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, social, and occupational. It turns out that when you work out, you’re not only boosting your physical wellness but other dimensions as well. As part of the Mindbody Wellness Index, we asked more than 20,000 Americans from 50 major U.S. cities about their fitness habits. We learned which cities are most dedicated to fitness, how often they’re getting their sweat on, and what forms of exercise they want to try next.
Read MoreHow to Breed Staff Loyalty
Has your business experienced faster staff turnover than you’d like? Are you about to hire new staff? Do you want your fitness pros to remain loyal to your facility? You can beat the high-turnover odds in the fitness industry. The key is to find qualified pros who fit your business and then set them up for success, giving them specific training for their positions and clearly communicating your expectations. Consider the hiring and onboarding system I’ve developed over the past 8 years of running my own business.
Read MoreHow to Grow and Expand Your Business
Starting your first fitness business takes commitment, determination and the will to succeed. Scaling that business takes all of that AND the willingness to tackle challenges that don’t apply to a single location. Smart planning now makes the eventual transition (it will happen!) smoother. The following are four steps that fitness businesses take to successfully grow their operations.
Read MoreIDEA Editorial Staff
Editor in Chief: Sandy Todd Webster
Art Director: Annie Morley
Executive Editor: Joy Keller
Managing Editor: Judy Minich
Digital Producer: Sarah Kolvas
Owner & CEO: Amy Boone Thompson
Read MoreInsomnia Linked to Refined Carbs
A new study on insomnia in postmenopausal women suggests the consumption of refined carbohydrates may be the cause. The findings were published online in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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