Are you an empty preacher or a great teacher?

by Ryan Hogan | Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The following post is written by Network's Online Trainer Skye Jones.

Before I get my ‘intellectual’ cap on, let me just preface this blog post by saying that I have followed two career paths in my life – one being an artist and visual arts educator with my specific focus being community arts projects, and the other being a fitness professional. I am a personal trainer and a group exercise instructor.  ...read more

Fat or fiction? Faking body image in the media

by Ryan Hogan | Sunday, December 20, 2009

While reading the New York Times Health and Fitness Blog recently, I came across a post by Tara Parker-Pope that really caught my eye, entitled ‘Losing Weight by Photoshop’. The title obviously speaks for itself, and after reading the very well written piece, it reinforced to me how many people in our industry – and of course, how many of our clients and customers – have a negative perception of their body image.  ...read more

Hot topic: Gym Waivers, Client Liability and Duty of Care

by Ryan Hogan | Tuesday, December 08, 2009

In the recent decision of Belna Pty Ltd v Irwin [1], the NSW Court of Appeal considered the duty of care owed by a gym operator to a client who suffered a serious knee injury while performing lunges as part of a program designed by an employee.

Facts
Ms Irwin dislocated her knee while performing lunges at a Fernwood gym. The exercises were part of a prescribed gym program formulated by a consultant of the gym and the incident occurred while Irwin attempted a lunge for the first time. Her leg gave way, she fell to the floor and was then taken to the hospital where it was found that she had dislocated her knee.   ...read more