Candover Looks At Selling Off Portfolio

“Candover has sealed its fate as the biggest private equity victim of the financial crisis by announcing plans to wind itself up by selling what is left in its portfolio to return cash to shareholders. The move underlines the steep fall from grace suffered by Candover, which was considered the gold standard of European private equity just a few years ago. Candover said on Tuesday that the net asset value of its portfolio had fallen 13 per cent to £197.4m, or 903p per share. This reflected the impact of the weaker euro and a 9 per cent writedown of its biggest investment in oil services group Expro International. Shares in the group rose 5p to 600p, as analysts welcomed its decision to go into run-off. Candover has invested £250m since June to support five of its portfolio companies: Hilding Anders, the Swedish bed maker; EurotaxGlass’s, the automotive data provider; Technogym, the Italian fitness equipment maker; DX Group, the UK mail delivery company; and Expro.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b9d14dfe-b4c9-11df-b0a6-00144feabdc0.html

Local Gym Offers Free Memberships to Veterans and Active Military

“In a patriotic effort to show appreciation to our Houston community veterans and active military service members, Spring Fitness owner Tom Kennison and General ManagerDerek Terrell, a hospital corpsman during Desert Storm, and his management team were inspired to give back to our community’s armed forces by offering them free memberships as a courtesy in return for their sacrifice and service. ‘Being the wife of a veteran,” said gym manager Megan Robertson, ‘I am excited to have the opportunity to give back to our community and others, such as my husband, who have so bravely served our country.’ Veteran airman and gym member Bob Otto stated, ‘It’s wonderful to be a member of a community that appreciates and recognizes what we did.’”

http://fatcatwebproductions.com/the_paper/952-local-gym-offers-free-memberships-veterans-and-active-military

SOKO Fitness Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End 2010 Financial Results

“SOKO Fitness & Spa Group, Inc. an operator of fitness centers and beauty salons and spas in Northeast China as well as suburban Beijing, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 31, 2010. "During fiscal 2010, we achieved solid top and bottom line growth, high margins and strong operating cash flow. This performance speaks to the significant demand that exists for our premium fitness and aesthetic services in the markets in which we operate, as well as the ongoing success of our growth strategy," said Tong Liu, Chief Executive Officer of SOKO. "Fiscal 2010 was notable for several important milestones, including our entry into the Beijing market, where we currently operate two fitness centers and one spa. We expect that our fourth Beijing facility, Yoga Wave Beijing, will open in September in Westin's Chaoyang hotel, marking our second facility located in a luxury hotel...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soko-fitness-announces-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-end-2010-financial-results-101782498.html

Virgin Active Shelves $1.6 Billion Plan for London IPO, Sunday Times Says

“Virgin Active Holdings Ltd., the health club owned by billionaire Richard Branson, has decided against a 1 billion-pound ($1.6 billion) initial public offering of its shares in London, the Sunday Times said, citing unidentified sources. The company had been considering its options for the business, including a sale to a private-equity firm, the newspaper said. Virgin declined to comment, the newspaper said.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-29/virgin-active-shelves-1-6-billion-plan-for-london-ipo-sunday-times-says.html?dbk

Long-Term Exercise Can Reduce Vets' Muscle Pain

“A bout of exercise can worsen the aches of American military veterans suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain, a small new study shows, But researchers say that it's only temporary. Long-term exercise, they stress, can help reduce veterans' chronic pain. About 100,000 veterans from the first Gulf War war have reported chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) similar to fibromyalgia. The researchers used heat to test the pain sensitivity of 15 Gulf War veterans with CMP and 17 healthy veterans of that war after a workout. Compared to the healthy participants, veterans with CMP found the heat stimuli to be more intense and unpleasant. The vets with CMP also reported more intense leg pain during exercise and were more sensitive to the heat stimuli after the bout of exercise than they were before it. However, there were no significant differences in the pain threshold between vets with CMP and healthy vets. Previous research...

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=642427

Fitness Center Will Open As Planned

“A year after groundbreaking for the Jack and Jo Willa Morton Fitness Center began, the building is nearing completion and will open in November. The $3 million project ran smoothly and without issue, said Superintendent of Byrne Construction Nate Hernandez. The fitness center features a room for cardio, weights and aerobics. Upon entrance from the mall area, the cardio room is located on the left and will be filled with equipment from Cybex International, Inc. All equipment will have custom Texas Wesleyan colors and logo.‘It will have a good uniform look to it,’ said Director of the Morton Fitness Center Aaron Whaley. The cardio room will also house four 60-inch LED TVs to enjoy while burning calories, he said. Senior soccer player Heather Pagano said she’ll use the fitness center often during off-season. ‘It will be very useful since it’s my last season, and I can go there to stay in shape,’ she said.”

http://www.therambler.org/news/fitness-center-will-open-as-planned-1.2310672

Playing Snap

“Snap Fitness Australia has a big vision: at least 200 clubs and overseas expansion are in the five year plan. Right now Snap has six clubs, with 10 planned and 30 territories sold. Brisbane based Roz Barker is the Australia and New Zealand managing director and highly experienced in the industry with roles as varied as group fitness instructor, sales representative, and state management. ‘I've been working in the industry for 20 years, selling full service memberships. In the last four years in clubs it's been harder to sell membership. People don't want to use all the facilities like the childcare and the group classes. Cardio and weights are the prime focus,’ she explains. ‘Snap is an easy sell, we have world class equipment.’ Competition is heating up in the home-base Brisbane area, says Barker, which has corporate stores in Carina and Strathpine, although the fitness chain is now in WA and NSW...

http://www.franchise.net.au/Article/Playing-snap/521870.aspx

SP recebe a primeira ACADEMIA DOS SONHOS em setembro [Brasil]

“Entre os dias 02 e 04 de setembro, quem visitar a 11ª IHRSA em São Paulo, maior feira e congresso de fitness da América Latina, vai poder “sentir na pele” e vivenciar o dia a dia da primeira ACADEMIA DOS SONHOS. O espaço concentra não só o que há de mais moderno em equipamentos, iluminação, piso, decoração, como também as mais avançadas tecnologias, treinamentos de condicionamento físico, acessórios, suplementos alimentares, e, principalmente, o tão almejado atendimento dos sonhos.”

http://www.segs.com.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18108:sp-recebe-a-primeira-academia-dos-sonhos-em-setembro&catid=47:cat-saude&Itemid=328

Five Easy Ways To Fall Into Fitness

“3. Return to your club or gym: It takes 30 days to make fitness a habit, and supplementing outdoor exercise with increasingly frequent visits to your health club will help diversify your exercise regimen and set the stage for regular workouts once autumn's leaves have fallen. Ask any schoolchild: Fall is a great time to learn something new. Many classes at gyms and elsewhere get started in the fall, so look around and see if something intrigues you. And with the kids in school, parents have more time to check out those classes. Fall is the perfect time to gain new physical skills, because you burn more calories when you begin a new activity (thanks to the learning curve and your muscles working harder at something new). If you learn something new now, by next summer, you'll have mastered the skill -- and you'll burn more calories doing it, just in time for swimsuit season. A well-rounded fitness regimen is important. While aerobic activity such as running or bicycling is good for your heart, resistance training is also a critical component of a balanced program, so be sure to take advantage of your club's weight lifting equipment.”

http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/101624588_Five_easy_was_to_Fall_into_fitness_this_season.html

San Diego: Best Health Clubs To Get Fit, Fierce And Fabulous

“It takes a fair amount of effort to stay in shape, but in Southern California, it's a labor of love. Every day, thousands of Golden State hotties make their way to gyms and fitness facilities of all kinds to stretch, run, bike, lift, dance, swim, and get their hearts pumping in an endless variety of creative ways. Whether you're into weightlifting, aerobics, boxing, or even rock climbing, you'll find a health club where you can get fit, have fun, and maybe even meet some like-minded workout enthusiasts. Here's a list of the top five health clubs in San Diego where you can work on the convergence of mind, body, and spirit - or just sweat out last night's debauchery while listening to a bangin' nightclub soundtrack.

1. Pacific Athletic Club

2. Fit Athletic

3. Pure Fitness

4. City Boxing

5. Solid Rock Gym”

http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/san-diego-best-health-clubs-to-get-fit-fierce-and-fabulous/21814

Precor AMT 100i Fitness Trainer Is Highly Adaptable

“Everything these days that can be customized seem to catch on faster than a stock version, and the Precor AMT 100i fitness trainer falls under such a category. It allows you to get to your workout regiment on the spot without having to worry about pushing any buttons to change movements or adjusting the contraption according to your body build and shape. This is made possible as the commercial grade cardio fitness product is smart enough to adapt itself to individual body sizes and fitness goals, delivering a low impact, high intensity workout. Changes of its movement path from elliptical, treadmill to climbers can be achieved without having to push a single button. Sweat it out in peace now, eh?”

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/08/precor_amt_100i_fitness_trainer_is_highly_adaptable.html

Philips International Announces New Lease with L.A. Fitness at Palm Springs Mile in Hialeah, Fla.

"Michael Pilevsky, managing director of Philips International, one of the country's leading developers of retail shopping centers, has announced that L.A. Fitness has signed a long-term lease for a brand new 52,780 square foot state-of-the-art health club facility at the Palm Springs Mile shopping center, located at 630 West 49th St. in Hialeah, Fla. Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina stated, "Thanks to the excellent working relationship with Palm Springs Mile, we were able to attract L.A. Fitness, a business that will create hundreds of employment opportunities to Hialeah residents as well as bringing much needed amenities to our community."

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4433234.htm

Does Music Make You Exercise Harder?

“In fact, it’s music’s dual ability to distract attention (a psychological effect) while simultaneously goosing the heart and the muscles (physiological impacts) that makes it so effective during everyday exercise. Multiple experiments have found that music increases a person’s subjective sense of motivation during a workout, and also concretely affects his or her performance. The resulting interactions between body, brain and music are complex and intertwined. It’s not simply that music motivates you and you run faster. It may be that, instead, your body first responds to the beat, even before your mind joins in; your heart rate and breathing increase and the resulting biochemical reactions join with the music to exhilarate and motivate you to move even faster. Scientists hope to soon better understand the various nervous system and brain mechanisms involved. But for now, they know that music, in most instances, works. It eases exercise. In a typical study, from 2008, cyclists who rode in time to music used 7 percent less oxygen to pedal at the same pace as when they didn’t align themselves to the songs. But there are limits to the benefits of music, and they probably kick in just when you could use the help the most. Unfortunately, science suggests that music’s impacts decline dramatically when you exercise at an intense level.”

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/phys-ed-does-music-make-you-exercise-harder/?src=me&ref=homepage

Fitness Center Set For Ballantyne Debut

“Urban Active Fitness is slated to open a 42,000-square-foot health club this weekend. The $13 million facility features three stories of fitness equipment and exercise venues. The club boasts an indoor swimming pool, elevated track, racquetball courts and more than 115 pieces of workout equipment. The facility also will operate a supervised playroom for children. Urban Active Ballantyne will have roughly 55 employees. The club is at 12325 Copper Way. It will be open Aug. 28 and 29 for previews and open to members Aug. 30. Urban Active operates 35 fitness clubs in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. The Ballantyne facility is its first in North Carolina.”

http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2010/08/23/daily22.html

Jungle Club Hosts Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program

“The Jungle Club Sports Complex of Vero Beach announces its “Back in School, Back in Shape” open house on Saturday, August 28, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The public is invited to come to the health club for free all day for a variety of fun events and activities for the entire family. Tours and membership specials will be the main focus of the open house, but the public may use any part of the gym, take a group exercise class, use state-of-the-art equipment and have a family fun day by the pool. There will be massage demonstrations, free metabolism evaluations, a personal training...

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/aug/25/jungle-club-hosts-youth-guidance-mentoring-activit/

Planet Fitness Gym to Open in Fairfield

“Planet Fitness is opening its first Cincinnati-area location in Fairfield. The Dover, N.H.-based fitness company signed a 15-year lease for 14,000 square feet at Patterson Place, according to landlord Neyer Properties. The property was formerly known as Fair Plaza. Neyer said it is making interior and exterior improvements to the space, including repairs, improved storefronts, updated HVAC systems, repaved parking and signage. It is part of a 25-acre site redevelopment that will include an updated 60,000-square-foot shopping center, a senior living complex and patio homes. Planet Fitness is slated to open in September and employ a staff of 12.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2010/08/23/daily30.html

Crunch Fitness Appoints Keith Worts as New President

“Crunch Fitness, the health club chain renowned for fusing fitness and entertainment, today announced the appointment of Keith Worts as its new president. Former chief operating officer of the company, Worts has been an industry leader with over 20 years experience in all aspects of operations including brand development and strategy. Worts will oversee the management of Crunch's unique fitness brand with 21 locations in the U.S. ‘I couldn't be happier to continue working alongside...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crunch-fitness-appoints-keith-worts-as-new-president-101391749.html

Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime

“It’s 1 p.m. on a Thursday and Dianne Bates, 40, juggles three screens. She listens to a few songs on her iPod, then taps out a quick e-mail on her iPhone and turns her attention to the high-definition television. Just another day at the gym. As Ms. Bates multitasks, she is also churning her legs in fast loops on an elliptical machine in a downtown fitness center. She is in good company. In gyms and elsewhere, people use phones and other electronic devices to get work done — and as a reliable antidote...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/technology/25brain.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

Mercedes Puts Workers On Road To Good Health

“There's a little tinkering going on under the hood at Alabama's Mercedes-Benz auto factory, and it has nothing to do with the luxury SUVs built there. Employees are eating better, exercising more and setting ambitious physical fitness goals for the coming year, all part of a new push to promote healthy living among the 2,800-member work force. Changes include a wider selection of healthier foods in the plant's cafeteria, with nutritional information posted for the daily options. Signs...

http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2010/08/mercedes_puts_workers_on_road.html

Exercise ‘Makes You Feel Full’

“Brazilian researchers have discovered that exercise not only helps you shed kilos by burning calories but also makes you feel full by triggering neurons in the brain. Researchers at the University of Campinas Exercise say that exercise restores the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (feeling full), which in turn contributes to reduced food intake and consequently weight loss. The increase in obesity has become one of the most important clinical-epidemiological phenomena...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Exercise-makes-you-feel-full/articleshow/6432098.cms

CB Richard Ellis Advises On Health Club Sale

“The North West leisure and alternative investment team at CB Richard Ellis has been instructed to advise on and dispose of a health, fitness and racquets club in Shropshire. An established and successful club with an existing membership of around 3,500, the facility presents an acquisition...

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ldpbusiness/business-local/2010/08/25/cb-richard-ellis-advises-on-health-club-sale-92534-27129633/

[Hey Bric Spender] Low-Cost Treadmills For Brazilian Joggers

“Brazil is often seen as an image-conscious country whose residents are willing spend lots of time and money to make themselves look toned and beautiful. Stereotypes are always exaggerated, but in this case a look at the number of fitness gyms confirms that there is definitely something to it. And gyms’ traditional status as havens for the moneyed elite may be about to change. Brazil has 15,521 health clubs, the second highest number in the world behind only the US. The number has doubled since 2007. And Brazil’s 4.6m members generated $1.1bn last year, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). But for the average Brazilian - and for the less-than-wealthy foreigner - these gyms are an expensive affair. The membership rates of...

http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2010/08/24/low-cost-treadmills-for-brazilian-joggers

Fitness Feels the Burn

The recent economic climate has impacted consumers’ spending habits, leaving populations young and old seeking more bang for their buck. Overall trends are expected to show a return to the basics in regard to fitness, with boot camps and energizing, calorie-burning group classes becoming popular...

http://www.skininc.com/treatments/wellness/fitness/101329094.html

Shake Things Up With Vibration Platforms

“Vibration platforms, which purportedly provide a host of bone, muscle, circulatory, flexibility and injury-rehab benefits by shaking your body 20 to 50 times a second as you stand on them, are becoming more varied and practical as the market grows beyond pro sports teams and physical therapy offices. Backed by numerous studies (sometimes company-supported) suggesting that vibration increases load and stimulation with less joint stress, the machines are promoted as "workout accelerators" that hammer muscles in half the time of normal gym sessions. Some of the newest...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fitness/sns-health-fitness-vibration-platforms,0,43082.story

The Communist Approach to Obesity

“Here’s one way to fight obesity: mandatory exercise, as Beijing has commanded again, after a three-year break. ‘The short-term goal is to involve 60% of the workforces in Beijing by 2011, and 70% of the workforces of the government,’ says Zhang Yujing of the Beijing Federation of Trade Unions. ‘We want all state-owned enterprise workers to have restarted this routine by next year.’ The city’s residents seem to support the policy: ‘I think this [resumption] is really necessary, because people’s living habits are very bad now. They sit in the office the whole day,’ said one 30-year-old, who works in marketing. ‘I have my own exercise plan, but I never put it into practice because I am too busy.’”

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/the-communist-approach-to-obesity/

Power Plate To Target Men Via F1 Team Tie-Up

“The brand, which manufactures gym equipment, has previously relied on endorsements from celebrities including Dannii Minogue and Courteney Cox to target women, who are the most frequent users of its products. The latest activity is intended to capitalise on Formula One's huge global fan base, which is male-dominated. Power Plate will be able to use Williams drivers Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hülkenburg, as well as the team's crew, within its marketing. As part of the change in approach, Power Plate will shift its focus away from endorsements to concentrate on gaining brand recognition. Male-focused marketing will promote its affiliation with the racing team. The company will roll out experiential work to educate consumers about the brand...

http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/1003886/Power-Plate-target-men-via-F1-team-tie-up

Legendary Boxing Gym Goes The Distance

“The folks at Gleason's Gym like to say that boxing is the art of not getting hit. With its down-at-the-heels decor, Gleason's looks like it's taken a punch or two. But focus and fancy footwork have kept this oldest active boxing gym in the United States firmly in the ring since 1937. ‘I'm a specialist. We're a boxing gym. That's what we do,’ said Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason's, located in Brooklyn, New York. ‘Woman or businessman we'll train you in the sport of boxing, prepare you physically and mentally for a 12-round fight.’ Although the gym has retained its...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67M2RF20100823

Fixing a World That Fosters Fat

“Why are Americans getting fatter and fatter? The simple explanation is that we eat too much junk food and spend too much time in front of screens — be they television, phone or computer — to burn off all those empty calories. One handy prescription for healthier lives is behavior modification. If people only ate more fresh produce. (Thank you, Michael Pollan.) If only children exercised more. (Ditto, Michelle Obama.) Unfortunately, behavior changes won’t work on their own without seismic societal shifts, health experts say, because eating too much and exercising too little are merely symptoms of a much larger malady. The real problem is a landscape littered with inexpensive fast-food meals; saturation advertising for fatty, sugary products; inner cities that lack supermarkets; and unhealthy, high-stress workplaces. In other words: it’s the environment, stupid. ‘Everyone knows that you shouldn’t eat junk food and you should exercise,’ says Kelly D. Brownell, the director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale. ‘But the environment makes it so difficult that fewer people can...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/business/22stream.html?_r=1&src=busln

Gym Mixes Vodka With Fitness

“Sweat and alcohol are both great social lubricants,” said David Barton, founder of the David Barton Gym. So in a move that might seem silly or inevitable, depending on your point of view, he has combined them. The gym chain became a watering hole at its locations in Chicago, Miami and New York when it started hosting cocktail hours after its intense boot camp training classes. They are sponsored by the Swedish vodka brand Svedka throughout August and are meant to tie in with the brand’s ‘RU Bot Or Not?’ ad campaign that features a female robot with proportions Barbie would envy. ‘I want people to find the gym not just a place to work out, but a good hang as well,’ Mr. Barton said. After the trainer-led group exercise classes, customers can take off their sweaty socks and trade their usual smoothies with scoops of protein powder for cocktails made with clementine-flavored vodka, orange juice, sour mix and fresh mint...

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/gym-mixes-vodka-with-fitness/

August Heat Can Be Risky For Athletes

Each year, nearly 10,000 high school athletes in the U.S. suffer heat-related illnesses that require medical attention and cause them to miss practice or games, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fully two-thirds of those cases occur in August, according to the report, and roughly 80 percent of the stricken athletes are football players, who at this time of year are often slogging through grueling preseason workouts. With temperatures hovering in the 90s and beyond, dehydration and heat exhaustion while exercising are a very real -- and potentially dangerous -- threat. And competitive athletes aren't the only ones who can experience problems when the mercury and humidity peak. Even if they're in excellent shape, weekend warriors may find themselves suffering heat-related symptoms after a long run or even a day of lawn mowing and yard work. ‘People get out there and...do a really hard workout,’ says Scott Anderson, a certified athletic trainer in Clearwater, Florida. ‘The sensible thing is to go slow, and work up progressively. ...A lot of people even go indoors and cross-train if it's too hot.’”

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/19/august.heat.athletes/?hpt=Sbin

First Lady's Health Campaign Motivates Island

“Inspired by this initiative, a group of locals will be kicking off an Island version of the national campaign that will target Islanders of all ages and hopefully lead to a community commitment to improved health. The newly formed LetsMove Martha's Vineyard will host an inaugural event on August 24 that will feature activities, healthy food preparation and samples, sign-up opportunities for those interested in making a commitment to maintaining an active lifestyle, and a...

http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=2106

Entrepreneurs Seek Safety In The Franchise Fold

“If you can't beat 'em join 'em. So said Corey Butcher, a health club entrepreneur who progressively purchased four gyms before deciding he needed some national muscle to stay healthy in the competitive Dallas market. Last year, Butcher brought all of his clubs under the umbrella of Gold's Gym, a national franchise with some 520 U.S. locations. ‘The problem was you're fighting against the dollars of LA Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness and Bally's,’ said Butcher, 38, who prides himself on turning around underperforming clubs. ‘We needed some synergy in the corporation. Really the only way of doing that I felt was with a franchise.’”

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67H2VL20100818

Adult Gyms Encourage Kids To Come Join The (Health) Club

“The games they play leave little doubt about the ideology: Duck, Duck, Goose with squats; Hot Potato with a medicine ball. In response to the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States, traditionally adult health clubs have begun offering fitness programs designed specifically for kids - combining exercise movements, athletic skills and basic nutrition guidance with aspects of childhood that are familiar and fun. At the same time, motivated by health concerns, competitive athletics and vanity, teens are working out more frequently in adult gyms, especially over the summer months. Team CrossFit, an independently owned gym in Woodland Hills, launched CrossFit Kids in June. The collection of fitness The appeal is not hard to grasp: Parents can work out...

http://www.dailybreeze.com/lifeandculture/ci_15817851

Climbing Gyms, Indoor Rec Facilities Retaining Foothold Despite Plunging Economy

“With so many businesses closing or hanging on by a thread during the recession, Adventure Rock, an indoor rock climbing gym in suburban Milwaukee that opened in 1991, just had its best year ever. It and other indoor sports facilities in Wisconsin are doing things like hiring and planning new construction -- activities that for other luxury businesses are well out of reach these days. ‘We added a lot of staff,’ said Adventure Rock manager Eric Olson. ‘Some areas of our business are down, but overall revenue is up double digits. Kids’ birthday parties are down, but membership is way up. We had by far our best year ever as of the end of October.’ In Madison, Boulders Climbing Gym has been crowded on recent evenings, to the surprise of general manager...

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=207048

The Rush Fitness Complex Grand Opening Celebration

On September 3rd, 4th, and 5th, THE RUSH FITNESS COMPLEX based in Knoxville Tennessee, celebrates the GRAND OPENING of their newest facility in Winston-Salem North Carolina (their 20th location). Along with the RUSH, local area businesses will be providing food, door prizes, music, balloons, free tours, and chance to win a free 1-year RUSH membership for all who attend...

Gym Owner Learns How To Be Fiscally Fit

The pounding music and loud cries of encouragement that flood out of the CrossFit Oahu warehouse are almost as intimidating as the rigorous drills of jumping squats, glute-ham situps and kettlebell swings that can make up a typical training session. But Bryant Powers has created a workout community that welcomes Olympic weightlifters and fitness rookies alike. The fitness Mecca where Powers spends nearly all of his waking hours is what could be described as a gym rat’s dive-bar — ropes hanging from the ceiling, original CrossFit shirts on display like...

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2010/08/16/smallb1.html?b=1281931200^3801941

Roll-Out Of Budget Gyms Planned By Group

“A health and fitness operator is planning to create up to 300 jobs by rolling out a chain of budget gyms across Yorkshire. Xercise 4 Less, which already has a base at Xscape in Castleford, is planning to launch the brand in up to 15 more sites over the next five years. A thousand members have already signed up to join the Wakefield gym, which will feature 300 pieces of gym equipment, and the company says it is on target to reach its goal of 4,000 members at the site. Xercise 4 Less, which has a turnover of £750,000, plans to launch the brand in towns...

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/Rollout--of-budget-gyms.6482614.jp

Best Gyms in Los Angeles

“The fitness business is going strong there, with thousands of personal trainers who are able to take advantage of the beaches, mountains, and amazing year-round weather to train outside of the gym setting. Although the majority of personal trainers freelance, others choose the gym setting to make a living.

Los Angeles' Best Gyms:

Congratulations to the nearly 100 IHRSA member clubs listed:

Sports Club LA (Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Orange County)
Equinox (West Hollywood, Westwood, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and more)
LA Fitness (Sixty-three gyms in and around Los Angeles)
Gold's Gym (Several locations in and around Los Angeles)
Crunch (West Hollywood, Bob Harper teaches spin on Saturdays)

Non-IHRSA clubs:

Bodies in Motion (Several locations in and around Los Angeles)
Tao Athletic Club (Beverly Hills)
Train (West Hollywood)”


http://uk.ibtimes.com/contents/20100818/best-gyms-los-angeles.htm

Massachusetts Legislative Update: 2009-2010 Session Ends with Three Victories for Mass Clubs

"The Massachusetts Legislature adjourned its 2-year legislative session on July 31, 2010. While Beacon Hill lawmakers remain in an informal session, the legislature is now very unlikely to advance multiple pieces of legislation that could have harmed the Massachusetts health club industry, essentially guaranteeing victories on the following issues:..."


http://cms.ihrsa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=21381&nodeID=15

TrustLine Update

As reported July 1st, IHRSA and CCD have worked to secure the introduction of legislation that aims to address industry concerns about the enactment of Senate Bill 702 (SB 702). The new law requires health club day care employees to clear a background check through the state-administered TrustLine registry. That legislation, Senate Bill 1196 (SB 1196), would clarify that only health club employees ages 18 and over would be subject to the new rule, set to go into effect on January 1, 2011...

http://cms.ihrsa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=21382&nodeID=15

Massachusetts Legislative Session Ends With 3 Victories

The Massachusetts Legislature ended its formal session on July 31st effectively defeating three potentially negative bills for the Bay State’s health club industry. The bills covered a broad range of issues, from personal trainer licensing to membership contracts. “Massachusetts has an active legislature and a large club industry,” says Amy Bantham, deputy vice president of government relations. “One of the greatest concerns is that many other states look to what Massachusetts has done in crafting legislation. Therefore, stopping negative bills here and in California, is nationally important as these states tend to be in the forefront of legislative trends.”....

http://cms.ihrsa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=21383&nodeID=15

Crunch Announces Third Franchise Location in Rocklin, CA

“Crunch announces it will swing open the doors to its third location in their line of franchise clubs in Rocklin, CA in October 2010. The newest Crunch outpost will be in the Blue Oaks Shopping Center at 6680 Lonetree Blvd. Located next to the Blue Oaks Cinema 16 movie theatre, Crunch looks to bring the brand's fitness meets entertainment and No Judgments philosophies to the Rocklin community. ‘I am excited to bring the first club of its kind to the Sacramento area,’ said the new Crunch Rocklin owner. ‘Rocklin is the perfect place for Crunch because it's an active, health conscious community. Our clubs will provide a fun, friendly and clean environment, with brand new equipment and group exercise classes that will be affordable for everyone.’”

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crunch-announces-third-franchise-location-in-rocklin-ca-100890869.html

Gaiam's latest exercise tool hopes to be a Step360 to better balance

“The newest fitness tool coming to a gym near you looks like a tire stolen from an alien automobile. But more important, it resembles the love child of the step and the Bosu, two of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment in recent history. Even if you've managed to avoid sweating for years, you're probably at least acquainted with the cardio-conducive step platform and the blue squishy domes meant to test your balance. The two concepts are melded in the form of Step360, which fitness company Gaiam recently debuted at a convention in Los Angeles.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/17/AR2010081702818.html

We Hope To Set Up 100 Health Clubs By March: Anant Gawande, CFO, Talwalkars

“In an interview with ET Now, Anant Gawande, CFO, Talwalkars, talks about their expansion plans. Excerpts: […]”

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/We-hope-to-set-up-100-health-clubs-by-March-Anant-Gawande-CFO-Talwalkars/articleshow/6330064.cms

American Council on Exercise (ACE) Announces New Youth Fitness Initiatives to Support Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit Campaign

“The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's leading authority on fitness and the largest fitness certification, education and training organization in the world, has teamed with Henkel, the company behind some of the nation's leading brands such as Dial®, Purex®, Renuzit®, Right Guard®, and Soft Scrub®, to support the company's Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit campaign through the launch of new educational tools on the Youth Fitness section of the ACE Get Fit™ website. These online resources support the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit campaign, which was recently launched...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-council-on-exercise-ace-announces-new-youth-fitness-initiatives-to-support-henkel-helps-get-kids-fit-campaign-100970559.html

Planet Fitness To Open In Fairfield Plaza

“For years, people have been taking tennis lessons at the Mid-Cape Racquet and Health Club. But because the club may have to shut down, those people might have to find some new courts. The club's owner, Bob Lynch, says the $4-million facility is going through foreclosure. ‘It's difficult turning a profit at a facility like this when $29 is all you're paying for fitness and keeping up with the maintenance,’ he said.That includes not only the fitness machines and weights, but also keeping the 10 tennis courts in top condition for lessons and tournaments. And even with more...

http://www.abc-7.com/Global/story.asp?S=12995930

Premier Sportsplex of Lubbock, Texas Names Brandon Hughes as Marketing Director

“Premier Sportsplex, a leader in helping Lubbock residents lose weight and get back in shape along with providing five star kid’s programming, today announced that Brandon Hughes has been named Marketing Director while maintaining General Manager duties. ‘We couldn’t be happier that Brandon agreed to handle our marketing,’ said Curry Blackwell, President, Premier Sportsplex ‘His extensive experience in marketing, training and managing fitness staff in the health club industry will be a key factor in the growth of the Premier Sportsplex.’”

http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/54201-1282072429-premier-sportsplex-of-lubbock-texas-names-brandon-hughes-as-marketing-director.html

Docs Writing Veggie Vouchers To Combat Obesity

“Physicians have long told patients fighting obesity to eat their fruits and vegetables. Now they’re writing prescriptions for it. Health care providers are offering vouchers worth $1 per day to members of low-income families in Massachusetts and Maine participating in a new program. The idea is to boost consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by providing one serving a day from local farmers. The program, created by Connecticut-based Wholesome Wave, is formally launching Wednesday in Portland and Skowhegan, five days after it began in Massachusetts. It will measure how the fresh produce affects blood pressure, weight and body mass index; blood-sugar levels; and participants’ weight. It also collects data on physical activity.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1275340&srvc=business&position=recent

Overweight Kids Risk Weak Bones, Diabetes

“Overweight children who are at risk for developing diabetes before puberty also face greater odds for having weak bones, a new study indicates. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia studied 140 children between the ages of 7 and 11 who got little regular exercise and found that 30% showed signs of poor blood sugar regulation and 4% to 5% less bone mass, which is a measure of bone strength. The researchers...

http://children.webmd.com/news/20100817/overweight-kids-risk-weak-bones-diabetes

Some Minority Groups Hit Hard by Childhood Obesity

“The study, to be published in the September issue of Pediatrics, finds that black, Hispanic and American Indian girls have two to three times higher odds of having a high body-mass index (BMI) compared to white girls. What's more, although rates of obesity peaked for Hispanic girls in 2005, they have kept on rising for American Indian and black girls. ‘What was encouraging was that we saw some decline in obesity, [but] we saw an increase in the racial disparities. So...

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=642121

Nautilus, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results

“Fitness company Nautilus, Inc. today announced unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Continuing operations include the Company's direct and retail businesses. The Company's commercial business is reported as a discontinued operation. For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company's loss from continuing operations was $7.0 million, or $0.23 per share. Loss from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2009 was $14.7 million, or $0.48 per share, which included a pre-tax restructuring charge of $11.8 million, principally related...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nautilus-inc-reports-second-quarter-2010-results-2010-08-16?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Dior Exec Flexes Her Way to Better Fitness [video]

“Christian Dior President Pamela Baxter bases her workout on flexibility and core-strength exercises with a personal trainer. See the latest interview in the What's Your Workout series.”

http://online.wsj.com/video/dior-exec-flexes-her-way-to-better-fitness/A68F9A27-FEC8-412D-A56B-867FF1E33C65.html?KEYWORDS=fitness

Sweating with Samurai Swords [video]

“Japan's new fitness craze has women using samurai swords to slash extra pounds and cut down stress.”

http://online.wsj.com/video/sweating-with-samurai-swords/E5F1FC56-207D-4064-8558-4580EF5BAD35.html?KEYWORDS=fitness

Washington Redskins Quarterback Donovan McNabb Tackles Childhood Obesity in the Washington, D.C. Area

The Washington Redskins and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced today they are teaming up with Redskins quarterback and health advocate Donovan McNabb to help tackle the nation's childhood obesity epidemic. As the newly appointed 2010 Redskins Health Ambassador, McNabb will work side by side with Washington, D.C. youth to demonstrate fun and easy ways to make exercise part of their daily lives. Beating childhood obesity is a top priority on the local and national agenda, gaining momentum through the Redskins' commitment to the Play 60 movement for an active generation and first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign. D.C. has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the nation, which has long-term implications since...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/washington-redskins-quarterback-donovan-mcnabb-tackles-childhood-obesity-in-the-washington-dc-area-100878489.html

Australian Researchers Find a Link Between Obesity and Diabetes [audio]

“Obesity is one the leading causes of preventable deaths in Pacific countries and Now Australian scientists have made a breakthrough in establishing a link between obesity and diabetes. A four year study between the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute has found inflammation in fat stores could be responsible for diabetes.”

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201008/s2984905.htm

Elite Fitness for Women in Las Colinas, Texas Announces Grand Opening Week

“Elite Fitness for Women is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of its new women’s only fitness facility targeted at helping the women of the Las Colinas and Irving, Texas area to lose weight and get in better shape. ‘I am pleased to announce the Grand Opening of our new women’s only facility,’ said Martha Barbaria, President of Elite Fitness for Women. ‘We have been working diligently on creating a service that truly helps women get the results they are seeking.’ Elite Fitness for Women is managed and run by a group of health club professionals with backgrounds...

http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/53795-1281989853-elite-fitness-for-women-in-las-colinas-texas-announces-grand-opening-week.html

Goldman's Tiered Gym Pricing Raises Eyebrows on Wall Street

“Here is the latest in creative financing from Goldman Sachs: the prices it charges its own employees to use the gym at its West Street headquarters. It's asking its highest-ranking employees to pay $81 more a month than its lowest-ranking staff, Reuters' Felix Salmon reports. While the bank can argue that it is just charging based on what the market will bear, others are already launching conspiracies. ‘Is it a Pigovian tax aimed at minimizing the number of healthy employees?" Salmon asks. "Is it an attempt to stop the unfit from complaining about having to cross-subsidize those who work out?’ Planet Money l...

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/08/16/129234269/goldman-s-tiered-gym-pricing-raises-eyebrows-on-wall-street

24 Hour Fitness Implements New Fingerprint Program

“A new cardless check-in program that launched in Northern California this month allows members to gain entry to the 78 24 Hour Fitness facilities from Santa Cruz to San Francisco using their fingerprints rather than traditional, gym-issued cards. Members of 24 Hour Fitness on Soquel Avenue can attend a member-appreciation day Saturday to find out more about the new program, which eventually will be implemented nationwide, according to Troy Croghan, a regional vice president. Croghan stressed that the program is optional and said members can continue to use their cards until the new system is implemented at all of the more than 400 facilities across the country. At that time, the cards will be phased out, but members who do not want to have their fingerprints scanned still can gain entry by showing a photo ID. The decision to make the change was based on strong member demand, Croghan said, and in the areas the company has so far tested, ‘97 percent of our members had decided to opt in to the new system as their preferred check in. ... Overwhelmingly, it's been positive.’...

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/ci_15764948

Technogym Offers New Workout Equipment

“Technogym has introduced Crossover, a workout equipment which provides a complete upper and lower body training and ensures maximum glutes activation. Thanks to a simple and converging lateral movement, Crossover is easy to use and engages muscles that are not normally called upon by conventional machines, said a company statement. Complete muscle activation allows to optimise calories burning and, at the same time, to tone up legs and glutes. The dynamic, smooth, enjoyable movement offers a core intensive workout helping to optimise balance and coordination. Crossover is ideal for any user, at any performance level, guaranteeing a safe workout without stressing joints, it said. ‘Exciting and absorbing, it allows a fixed-stride cyclical exercise and completes the Technogym Excite+ line with ‘Lateral Total Body,’ making it the most complete Cardio line in the world,’ said the statement.”

http://www.tradearabia.com/news/newsdetails.asp?Sn=HEAL&artid=184589

Good Health: Fitness Club Thrives

“Helen Naples, the owner of Women's Wellness & Fitness, said that people are constantly asking if her business has been struggling in this economy. She said they tell her, ‘When times are tight people are afraid of losing their jobs and when budgets get squeezed surely people think of fitness as a luxury.’ Naples is happy to respond that her health club, which is for women only, has actually experienced growth. ‘Some people look at their health and well being as an investment," she said. ‘It actually is a financial decision for them to invest in their health and well being because, frankly, they can't afford to be sick.’ She said that Women's Wellness & Fitness had a record first quarter, partly benefiting from the closing of some gyms and health clubs in Winston-Salem in the past year. Being an independent operation has also helped, allowing Naples to keep overhead low and make changes and decisions quickly without having to go...

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/aug/15/good-health-fitness-club-thrives/business/

Investing In Wellness: Northwestern Mutual Expands Program To Decrease Health Care Costs

“Last December, Melanie Herman was sick with the flu and decided to seek relief in the health care clinic at her employer Northwestern Mutual. Medical visits to the clinic are $5 for employees in the company health plan and their dependents. The clinic is one prong of Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual’s strategy to improve employee wellness and reduce health care costs. During her exam at the downtown clinic, Herman, 36, learned she was both diabetic and had high blood pressure. That was not good news for Herman, a senior investment accountant, but it gave her information she needed to start improving her health. She has since lost 30 pounds through a combination of medication, which she’s off for now, using the on-site fitness center and dining on the healthy menu at the company cafeteria. Northwestern Mutual, with an ongoing string of profits and 4,900 local employees, has long been known for its market-leading employee benefits. The fact that even this company has found ways to further improve employees’ work environment and wellness demonstrates that Milwaukee-area employers are continuing to emphasize wellness and it’s paying off, said Dianne Kiehl, executive director of Business Health Care Group, Franklin. Kiehl, who leads the group of 1,100 area employers of all sizes...

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/08/16/focus1.html?b=1281931200^3801661

Few Medicines Work As Well As Exercise [Q&A]Few Medicines Work As Well As Exercise [Q&A]

“We all know we're supposed to exercise, to move our muscles and be strong. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates about three-fourths of older adults are sedentary, despite informative articles insisting activity helps prevent many related ailments, from coronary artery disease to cognitive decline. Dr. Sheldon Zinberg, founder of the Nifty After Fifty workout centers, insists people are reluctant to put a name to their problem: ‘We're talking about sarcopenia, or age-related muscle wasting. All of us are familiar with the long words like osteoporosis or menopause, but, for whatever re...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2012629269_webexercise16.html

Steve Nash Is All Business Off Court

“Consigliere is the latest addition to a Nash business empire that includes fitness clubs (Steve Nash Fitness World), a film production firm (Meathawk), a vitamin company (One Bode), a social-media company (Apoko), and an ownership stake in the Major League Soccer-bound Vancouver Whitecaps. The Steve Nash Fitness World chain operates 16 facilities. ‘We believe in investing in startups and then helping them nail the story about why their brand is so special.’ Steve Nash, NBA star throughout Metro Vancouver and plans to grow to 20 to 25 locations before expanding into other Canadian markets. Nash noted proceeds from Vitaminwater sales at the fitness centres go to the Steven Nash Foundation, which funds children's health, education and community projects. The foundation distributes $100,000 a year in grants to B.C. Initiatives.”

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Steve+Nash+business+court/3403819/story.html

Celsius Announces 252% Increase in Revenue

“Celsius Holdings, Inc., the creator and marketer of Celsius(R), Your Ultimate Fitness Partner(TM), today reported results of operations for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Revenue for the quarter totaled $4.1 million as compared to $1.2 million for the same quarter in 2009, an increase of 252%. The Company recorded a net loss of $3.0 million for the 2010 quarter as compared to $1.4 million for the same period last year, or ($0.16) and ($0.19) per share, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded a net loss of $8.9 million or ($0.54) per share on net revenues of $ 6.4 million, as compared to a net loss of $2.6 million or ($0.35) on net revenues of $2.1 million, during the 2009 period. Commenting on the res...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/celsius-announces-252-increase-in-revenue-2010-08-12?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Embody Pole Fitness, First and Only Alternative Pole Fitness Studio in Corona, CA, Sees a Smashing First Month in Business

A wise person once said, ‘Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life.’ Diana Boyle, owner of Embody Pole Fitness in Corona, CA, has embraced this philosophy and is making it a reality. A computer network system engineer by trade, she has turned her love of fitness and pole dancing into the Inland Empire’s latest fitness craze. Serving only women, Embody Pole Fitness combines pole dancing, yoga, and unique fitness classes and they have enjoyed an exciting first month in business. In addition to pole dancing, students are benefiting from over 148 specialized classes per..

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4382094.htm

Fitness Guru Works With Body Bar

“Fitness-industry veteran June Kahn will work with Body Bar Inc. in Boulder to develop a fitness program for seniors. The Body Bar FLEX program will include downloadable fitness routines, DVDs and educational materials using the lightweight and portable Body Bar FLEX, a workout tool designed to improve strength, balance and flexibility. Kahn has worked in the fitness industry for more than 30 years. She is founder and president of June Kahn's Body Works LLC in Broomfield, life Power Pilates coordinator for Lifetime Fitness and director of education for Beamfit in Westminster. ‘I look forward to developing effective and fun moves that will ultimately prolong strong balance, functionality and well being for our vital, active adult and senior population,’ Kahn said in a prepared statement.”

http://www.bcbr.com/article.asp?id=53012

Will Not Forgo Margins To Counter Competition: Talwalkars [video]

“Mumbai-based gym chain, Talwallkars has been on a roll since the company posted good set of results. The company’s net sales came in at Rs 66.5 crore for the quarter ended June 2010 compared to Rs 59.7 crore for the same period last year. The company’s PAT (profit after tax) was at Rs 7.9 crore versus Rs 6.7 crore. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Anant Gawande, CFO of Talwalkars, spoke about the company's plans going forward. Below is a verbatim transcript of the interview. Also watch the video.”

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/will-not-forgo-margins-to-counter-competition-talwalkars-_477822.html

Biotonix Announces Second Quarter 2010 Results and Review of Activities

“Biotonix (2010), a leader in postural health and fitness, today announced the financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010, and a review of its activities. ‘The fitness and sports markets were our main focus during the second quarter with the conclusion of two deals with fitness chains Movaxion and Club Med Gym, and the launch of GolfPrint(TM), our new postural assessment solution for golf. We pursue our implementation efforts in the golf segment and have added resources to our sales force to better tackle the fitness segment,’ said Louise St-Onge, CEO of Biotonix. […]According to IHRSA, 15% of Canadians have a fitness club membership. In Canada, members number 4,635,000 across 5,047 clubs, which represents a USD 1.89 billion industry (1). Designed to meet the specific...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/biotonix-announces-second-quarter-2010-results-and-review-of-activities-2010-08-13?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Capitol Report: State Mid-Term Legislative Report

http://cms.ihrsa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage.cfm&pageId=18755

IDEA Launches IDEA FitnessConnect Directory Linking Fitness Professionals to Consumers

“IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the leading membership organization of health, wellness and fitness professionals including personal trainers, group fitness instructors, fitness directors and fitness business owners in more than 80 countries, launched IDEA FitnessConnect, its powerful new platform linking fitness professionals, certification verification partners and consumers, at the IDEA World Fitness Convention on August 4-8 in Los Angeles, CA. The launch of IDEA's FitnessConnect was preceded by a brisk walk in the local community led by Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and hundreds of participants; US Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin attended the conference as a featured guest and as the 2010 IDEA Leadership Award...

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/IDEA-Launches-IDEA-FitnessConnect-Directory-Linking-Fitness-Professionals-Consumers-1302422.htm

Nautilus, Inc.: Successful Enforcement against Counterfeiters

“In its continuing actions against counterfeiters of Bowflex(R) products, fitness company Nautilus, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!nls/quotes/nls/nls (NLS 1.89, -0.06, -3.08%) cooperated with and aided U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in obtaining the conviction of Chunchai "Katherine" Yu for bribery and trafficking in counterfeit exercise equipment. Yu was convicted by a federal jury in southern California on July 15, 2010 and faces a maximum sentence of 90 years in prison and fines totalling $12.5 million. In addition, Nautilus is continuing with its civil litigation against Yu for knowingly importing and selling counterfeit Bowflex products.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nautilus-inc-successful-enforcement-against-counterfeiters-2010-08-10?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Zoom Media Adds LA Fitness to DO Network

“One of the nation's largest digital out-of-home networks targeting health club patrons just got bigger, with the announcement from Zoom Media & Marketing that it has signed a long-term media and advertising agreement with LA Fitness, which operates over 330 health clubs in 21 states and Canada. LA Fitness joins Zoom's Digital Fitness Network, which currently reaches over 30 million adult viewers per month, according to Nielsen. The addition of LA Fitness brings the total number of venues in Zoom's network to 1,600 health clubs in the U.S. and over 2,500 worldwide...


http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=133609

Interview: Kara Thompson Shemin, International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association

“The fitness industry is intriguing to many graduates of healthcare degree and certificate programs. With the boomer generation determined to maintain their fitness level and younger generations seeing fitness as part of an active and healthy life, the demand for personal fitness coaches, health club memberships and fitness programs tailored to specific life circumstances is expected to increase substantially in the coming years. Does more sports club membership mean we will need more professionals certified in the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver® classes, experienced in first aid/CPR, or with expertise in therapeutic fitness? To find out more about this career opportunity, Health Education Solutions interviewed Kara Thompson Shemin, public relations coordinator for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA)…”

http://www.healthedsolutions.com/articles/interview-kara-thompson-shemin-ihrsa

John McCarthy: Bahram Akradi is the New Curt Beusman

McCarthy recently offered some really nice comments about Beusman, but one stood out, and I don’t know if it will make the final cut of the article. McCarthy said the industry looks to Life Time Fitness CEO Bahram Akradi the same way it did 30 years ago to Curt Beusman, founder of the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco, NY. Beusman was and still is an industry leader. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, he was a real innovator, and he never stopped sharing his views with the industry. His IHRSA convention addresses were must-see and must-hear material. (More on that to come in the story.) The Saw Mill Club...

http://blog.clubindustry.com/fitnessbusinessproblog/2010/08/10/john-mccarthy-bahram-akradi-is-the-new-curt-beusman

THE GYM Armonk’s Spin-A-Thon Raises $2,815 for Cancer Treatment and Research

“Members of THE GYM Armonk, a premier fitness and health center in Westchester County, recently packed into the club’s Spin Room to raise funds and awareness for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The three hour Spin-A-Thon raised $2,815 which was directly donated to the non-profit organization.The Dana Farber Cancer Institute is devoted to providing cancer patients with the best treatment available, while developing tomorrow’s cures through cutting-edge research. The mission of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is to provide expert, compassionate care to children and adults with...

http://www.i-newswire.com/the-gym-armonk-s-spin-a-thon-raises/53418

Relatively Good Investment Opportunity Detected in Shares of Town Sports International in the Leisure Facilities Industry

“Below are the top five companies in the Leisure Facilities industry as measured by the price to sales per share ratio. Often companies with the lowest ratio present the greatest value to investors. Town Sports International has a price/sales ratio of 0.14x based on a current price of $2.92 and trailing 12-month sales per share of $20.8.”

http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/relatively-good-investment-opportunity-detected-shares-town-sports-internati-0

efi Sports Medicine Names Randy Bergstedt Executive Vice President

“efi Sports Medicine®, creator of Total Gym® and the GRAVITYSystem®, has named Randy Bergstedt Executive Vice President, responsible for product development and marketing effective September 8. Bergstedt comes to efi after 12 years at Star Trac, most recently as vice president of marketing, where he was instrumental in helping the company expand into new markets and triple in revenue. ‘The addition of Bergstedt to the efi team is a critical step in our growth plans as we strive to expand our product offerings and enter new markets,” said Tom Campanaro, CEO of efi Sports Medicine. ‘His experience and passion for the fitness business will help him hit the ground running and integrate into the fantastic team we already have in place.’”

http://www.efisportsmedicine.com/about/press-room/press-releases/efi-sports-medicine79881.htm

Spinning Workouts: 5 Cool Indoor Cycling Trends to Try

“Group indoor cycling classes have been popular for two decades, and new variations on Spinning workouts are only getting hotter. ‘Due largely to better equipment and seamless technology integration, class attendance and interest in group cycling has increased,’ says Kara Shemin, public relations coordinator for International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). And hip boutique fitness studios are popping up in major cities, ushering in fun new indoor cycling workout trends that are pushing these classes—often referred to as spinning—beyond just pedaling. Check out these cutting-edge advancements to become a spin-master:..."

http://www.shape.com/fitness/spinning_workouts_5_cool_indoor_cycling_trends_to_try

Exercising Can Improve Seniors' Quality Of Life

“Most mornings at the Wellness Center, a north Macon health club that is a branch of The Medical Center of Central Georgia, the number of middle- and retirement-age exercisers meets or exceeds the number of fitness buffs in the younger set. Seniors are perched on recumbent bikes, some reading newspapers, while others march on the indoor track or on stair climbers and treadmills while watching TV, reading books or just listening to the piped-in music that, at that hour, is often upbeat stuff from the ’50s and ’60s. Hazel McCloud, who is 86 and has been going to the gym since the mid-1990s, has found a second home in the...

http://www.macon.com/2010/08/08/1221927/exercising-in-your-golden-years.html#ixzz0w7bUhKeV

HealthQuest Fitness Center Celebrates 20th Anniversary

“Tony Giovannoni said that it was his own experiences at another health club that led to the genesis of HealthQuest. ‘My brother-in-law and I were members of a racquet club. They had a weight room, but it wasn’t their primary focus. We always had the feeling that the exercise areas and the people who used them weren’t important,’ Giovannoni said. So the entrepreneur decided to take matters into his own hands and start his own health club. HealthQuest first opened in a defunct roller skating rink in the River Park Shopping Center in 1990. What hasn’t changed is the business’s core principle, which is to offer ‘a warm, welcoming environment for...

http://napavalleyregister.com/business/article_489208ba-a1e4-11df-a97f-001cc4c002e0.html

Elite Fitness for Women Names Debbie DeSandre as Marketing Director

“Elite Fitness for Women, a leader in helping women lose weight and get back in shape today announced that Debbie DeSandre has been named Marketing Director Manager. ‘We couldn’t be happier that Debbie has joined our team,’ said Martha Barbaria, General Manager of Elite Fitness for Women ‘Her extensive experience in marketing, training and managing fitness staff in the health club industry will be a key factor in the growth of Elite Fitness for Women.’ In her role, Debbie will be responsible for the entire marketing and new member growth of Elite Fitness for Women. She will also...


http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/51906-1281216219-elite-fitness-for-women-names-debbie-desandre-as-marketing-director.html

Introducing Elite Fitness for Women in Las Colinas, Texas

“Elite Fitness for Women is pleased to announce the launch of its new women’s only fitness facility targeted at helping the women of the Las Colinas and Irving, Texas where women can lose weight and get in better shape. ‘I am pleased to announce the launch of our new women’s only facility,’ said Martha Barbaria, President and Owner of Elite Fitness for Women. ‘We have been working diligently on creating a service that truly helps women get the results they are seeking.’ Elite Fitness for Women is managed and operated by a group of health club professionals with extensive backgrounds...

http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/51905-1281215067-introducing-elite-fitness-for-women-in-las-colinas-texas.html

Anytime Fitness Preparing To Open New Location [audio]

“Katherine Meek will soon be opening her new Anytime Fitness health club in Stevensville after going though a bit of an ordeal. Martin's Supermarket, the owner of the new and under construction Harvest Place Shopping Center at John Beers and Cleveland, decided to tear down the old mall for a new store. Without advance warning, the store told tenants that they needed to move out. However, Meek's lease...

http://www.wsjm.com/Anytime-Fitness-Preparing-To-Open-New-Location/7863636

Real Estate: Gold's Gym To Pump Up Downtown

“As the U.S. economy struggles to recover from the Great Recession, there is very little construction activity occurring in downtown Milwaukee. One of the few projects under construction downtown is the transformation of a long vacant building into a Gold’s Gym health club. Gold’s Gym will occupy about 43,000 square feet of space on five floors of a 7-story building at 731 N. Water St. Gold’s Gym will be the first new health club in downtown Milwaukee in several years. Other downtown Milwaukee health clubs include the downtown YMCA, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave.; Wisconsin Athletic Club, 411 E. Wisconsin Ave.; Bally Total Fitness, 1237 N. Van Buren St.; and the Milwaukee Athletic Club, 758 N. Broadway. Downtown Milwaukee has about 15,000 residents and about 78,000 people work downtown. But can the downtown market support an additional health club? The owners of the downtown Gold’s Gym franchise think so, and the Wisconsin Athletic Club is planning to open an additional downtown location. ‘We don’t look at (the other downtown health clubs) as competition,’ said Joseph Harrison, managing partner of the downtown Milwaukee Gold’s Gym. ‘Our competition is sedentary lifestyles. We want to complement the other guys. There’s definitely room for everyone in this market.’ ‘We think there is enough demand...

http://www.biztimes.com/news/2010/8/6/real-estate-golds-gym-to-pump-up-downtown

Gold’s Gym Hires Wendy McMullen to Spearhead National Corporate Wellness Program

“Gold’s Gym, the world’s leading authority on health and fitness, today announced that Wendy McMullen has joined the company as its National Corporate Sales Director. In her new role, McMullen will be responsible for generating new national corporate wellness accounts on behalf of the brand. She will be working directly with Gold’s Gym International, the Gold’s Gym Franchisee Association and the National Franchise Council to grow and evolve the national corporate wellness program. McMullen has held numerous sales leadership positions with high-profile...

http://dallas.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?articletitle=Gold%E2%80%99s%20Gym%20Hires%20Wendy%20McMullen%20to%20Spearhead%20National%20Corporate%20Wellness%20Program&newsid=215643&type_news=latest&s=sbcn

Jump Up, Jump Up And Slim Down

“Minus the space suit, inhospitable climate and view of the cosmos, I feel as if I now know what it's like to exercise on the moon. All it takes is a pair of Kangoo Jumps, which I can only compare to a ski or rollerblade boot affixed to an elliptical double-sided bow (the weapon, not the hair accessory). Wearing this novelty fitness gear is not unlike bouncing on a trampoline, except each foot has its own springboard (a.k.a. “impact protection system”). In the boots, you appear taller (roughly 20 centimetres) and leaner...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/jump-up-jump-up-and-slim-down/article1662697

24 Hour Fitness Introduces Les Mills Bodypump Group Exercise Class

“24 Hour Fitness, a fitness chain, is introducing Les Mills Bodypump, a pre-choreographed group exercise class. According to a release, Bodypump is a barbell class, designed to improve strength and endurance in the major muscle groups. The conditioning techniques integrated into the class have been kept current by combining music and instructors that inspire participants to give their best efforts...

http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2010/08/05/4940185.htm

Christopher Clawson Returns to Life Fitness as President

Brunswick Corporation announced today that fitness industry veteran Christopher E. Clawson will return to Life Fitness as its president. Clawson will report to Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy. Clawson most recently served as chief executive officer and president of Johnson Health Tech – North America. Prior to joining Johnson in 2007, Clawson had been vice president of marketing and business development for Stamina Products. Clawson has spent more than 25 years in the fitness industry, the majority of which have been with Life Fitness, where he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility within the product and marketing arena, eventually serving as vice president sales and marketing – consumer.


http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christopher-clawson-returns-to-life-fitness-as-president-99892119.html

Obesity Rates Keep Rising, Troubling Health Officials

“Americans are continuing to get fatter and fatter, with obesity rates reaching 30 percent or more in nine states last year, as opposed to only three states in 2007, health officials reported on Tuesday. The increases mean that 2.4 million more people became obese from 2007 to 2009, bringing the total to 72.5 million, or 26.7 percent of the population. The numbers are part of a continuing and ominous trend. But the rates are probably underestimates because they are based on a phone survey in which 400,000 participants were asked their weight and height instead of having it measured by someone else, and people have a notorious tendency to describe themselves as taller and lighter than they really are. ‘Over the past several decades, obesity has increased faster than anyone could have imagined it would,’ said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issued a report on the prevalence of obesity: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/AdultObesity . Obesity rates have doubled in adults and tripled in children in recent decades, Dr. Frieden said. If the numbers keep going up, he added, ‘more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.’”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/health/nutrition/04fat.html?_r=1&ref=nutrition

David Llloyd Leisure Helps to Roll Out a World Record

“British canoeist, Helen Barnes, achieved a new Guinness world record recently at the Nottingham West Bridgford David Lloyd Leisure swimming pool. The supply teacher completed 100 Eskimo rolls without a paddle in 3 minutes and 46 seconds, smashing her own record by fifteen seconds. Helen was cheered on by more than seventy pupils from Radcliffe-on-Trent, Lady Bay and Cotgrave Candleby Lane primary schools where Miss Barnes teaches. The pupils watched poolside at the David Lloyd health club and gym, sporting banners saying ‘Go Miss Barnes’ waving pom-poms and cheering as she got nearer the target...

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4346134.htm

InTouch Releases TouchPoint v4, Helping Clubs Sell More Memberships

“InTouch Technology Ltd is proud to announce the release of TouchPoint v4, the latest release of InTouch’s lead management system. ‘We’ve spent the last 12 months working with our customers to design the industry’s leading prospect management system and we are ecstatic about the result. This new version truly drives leads into the club and gives management instant visibility into their true...

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4309264.htm

Paxton’s access control solutions beef up security at The Gym

“The Gym is a rapidly developing chain of venues that offers their customers flexible and accessible gym membership. With 11 sites in major cities across the UK, The Gym is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, providing a modern health club for people on the move. All day, every day, gym members can access the premises using an eight digit PIN code they receive when they join The Gym online. This means that The Gym is constantly accessible, even after staff have gone home. With up to 1,100 people accessing The Gym's busiest sites every day, security...

http://www.sourcesecurity.com/news/articles/co-1283-ga-co-4230-ga.5053.html

Health Club Leader Sir Richard Branson to Kitesurf English Channel

“Virgin Active health clubs have announced that Sir Richard Branson, who celebrated his 60th birthday on July 18th, is set to do his network of gym members proud by kitesurfing the English channel. Health club founder Richard, in the company of his nephews, children and a few mad friends, will become the oldest person to kite-surf across the channel. The cool, fun, colourful and frankly crazy journey from Dungeness to the French coast will take place during the month of August. And as you might expect from a man who masterminded a fitness centre chain, Richard is more than up for the challenge: ‘Kitesurfing is one of my favourite sports...

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4342094.htm

Chicago Athletic Clubs Engage Motionsoft's Health Club Management Software and Billing to Upgrade Technology for Member Experience

“Health club management software and billing services leader Motionsoft (www.motionsoft.net) announced today that Chicago Athletic Clubs, with five premium locations across Chicagoland, has chosen Motionsoft to implement new club management and payment processing solutions. Motionsoft will integrate CAC's locations in Evanston, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Lakeview, and West Loop with versatile and growth-oriented fitness technologies. The clubs will also employ Motionsoft's payment processing software and services, powered by Motionsoft's Quickstar service. ‘Motionsoft has a proven...

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/lpbc_chicago-athletic-clubs-engage-motionsoft-s-health-club-management-software-and-billing-to-upgrade-te-1083322.html

TFAH Applauds Senate Appropriators for Proposing Historic Investment for Public Health

“The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) commended the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for approving an historic $1.27 billion for prevention and public health for fiscal year 2011. This proposed funding would include $750 million, the second installment of the new Prevention and Public Health Fund that was created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. ‘This unprecedented investment could turn the promise of prevention in health reform into a reality. This could be the opportunity to transform the health of millions of Americans for the better,’ said Richard Hamburg, Deputy Director of TFAH. ‘Instead of waiting to treat people after they become ill, these funds would allow us to keep people healthier in the first place.’...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tfah-applauds-senate-appropriators-for-proposing-historic-investment-for-public-health-99788719.html

Many Unaware Exercise Is Cancer Fighter

“Most Victorians don't know that failure to exercise can increase their risk of developing cancer, according to a survey released by the Cancer Council Victoria (CCV). CCV said one-third of deaths from cancer in Victoria each year - or 3000 people - were preventable but people were unaware of the cancer risk factors. Cancer Prevention Centre director Craig Sinclair said people tended to believe that their risk of developing cancer was down to fate or family history. In reality, less than one in 10 cancers were caused by known faulty genes, he said. ‘While messages are getting through...

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/many-unaware-exercise-is-cancer-fighter-20100803-1148e.html

Former GM Corporate Director of Global Health Services Joins U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc.

“U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc., the leader in prevention, has announced the appointment of Joel Bender, MD, PhD, FACOEM, as the company's global medical director. Previously Dr. Bender served as corporate director of Global Health Services for the General Motors Corporation where he directed health management programs for more than one million GM employees and their family members. His activities have included clinical, executive, governing, and medical advisory roles in many national, international, and professional organizations. In his new position...

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/ghal_former-gm-corporate-director-of-global-health-services-joins-u-s-preventive-medicine-inc--1083372.html

Local Health Club To Host Fitness Obstacle Course Challenge

Naples-based health club Florida Fitness Coaches will be holding a fitness obstacle course challenge at its location on Tamiami Trail in north Naples. The challenge begins August 16, 2010 when all of the participants will be given the details of the obstacle course. They will then have 6 weeks to practice the events of the course and improve the time it takes them to complete the course before the final timed competition...

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul/30/local-health-club-to-host-fitness-obstacle-course-/

SGMA Applauds Proposed $80 Million for PEP in 2011

“The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) is delighted with the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approval of $80 million in funding for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) in 2011. This Senate action took place late yesterday afternoon – July 29. The U.S. House of Representatives will complete work on its 2011 education funding bill later this fall. In recent years, the House and Senate have proposed similar funding for PEP. PEP is a competitive grant program managed by the U.S. Department of Education. PEP grants are awarded to schools and community based organizations that provide quality physical education/physical activity programs for America's youth. This funding is a top priority in SGMA’s...

http://www.sgma.com/press/242_SGMA-Applauds-Proposed-%2480-Million-for-PEP-in-2011

Minnesota Family Planning Sites For Anytime Fitness

“Several members of a Minnesota building industry family are relocating to the North Bay to open four health clubs, starting in Rohnert Park. Steve and Nichole Kelling, both 39, his brother Michael, 32, and sister Elizabeth, 24, plan to open their first club in early October in the Pacific Market-anchored Mountain Shadows Plaza shopping center, according to Steve Kelling. The siblings purchased a four-location franchise from Anytime Fitness and chose to start the venture in Northern California because of previous vacations here and housing availability in Petaluma, he said. The similarly hard-hit Minnesota...

http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/23508/minnesota-family-planning-sites-for-anytime-fitness

Bellingham Woman Follows Passion By Helping Others Stay In Shape

“Cedar Tree Fitness offers one-on-one personal training with clients who want to get stronger, look healthier and lose weight. Owner Amy Van Pelt said she begins helping people by talking about their goals and then putting together a program to help improve their abilities and fitness. Van Pelt said she likes to start off slow to let clients build up their muscles and flexibility. One of the most important things about personal training is paying attention to ‘the total body,’ she said. ‘You need a strong core and upper body,’ she said. Van Pelt, 59, started Cedar Tree Fitness in January 2010. Van Pelt said she works with clients in a studio in her home, but also goes to client's homes upon request. She said typically her clients are women who are 50 years of age and older...

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/08/02/1549382/bellingham-woman-follows-passion.html#ixzz0vSWNimU4

Gold's Gym Pocatello Holds Spin-A-Thon To Raise Money For Diabetes

“Saturday morning in Pocatello, local people were pushing and pedaling as fast as they could to raise money and awareness for diabetes. The second annual Spin-A-Thon was held from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Gold’s Gym. Employees and gym members have been working for weeks to raise money for the American Diabetes Association and the fight against the disease. The event was open to the public and there were spinning sessions, music, games and prizes. Person trailers who took part said diabetes is something that everyone should be aware of...

http://www.localnews8.com/news/24472718/detail.html

Fitness Center Fills Void In North Suffolk

“A void left vacant when Premier Fitness closed earlier this year in North Suffolk, will soon be filled when Anytime Fitness opens its second Suffolk location, this time in the Harbour View Shopping Center. ‘It’s another service and good quality-of-life business for our citizens up there,’ Director of Economic Development Kevin Hughes said. ‘Godhap4Fitness, which focuses primarily on personal training, opened earlier this month. Anytime Fitness focuses more on general fitness and has personal training available. It’s a good compliment to the area, and will certainly be filling a void.’”

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/jul/31/fitness-center-fills-void-north-suffolk