July 2009

CONTENT

PT news & research

Method developed to diagnose overtraining syndrome
over-training The prevalence of human and equine stress-related illnesses, such as overtraining syndrome, is increasing. Until now, no diagnostic test was available to determine overtraining syndrome with certainty. Researchers from the Utrecht University in the Netherlands (in cooperation with Maastricht University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Virginia, US) have succeeded in diagnosing equine overtraining syndrome by measuring nocturnal growth hormone secretion. The results of this study offer the prospect for an improved treatment method for comparable stress related syndromes in humans, such as burnout.

Overtraining syndrome entails reduced performance despite the same or an increased level of training. The secretion of the nocturnal growth hormone is an indicator for overtraining syndrome. This hormone plays a role in both growth and stress. The researchers were able to diagnose overtraining syndrome by measuring the amount of hormone present in the horse’s blood. The focus can now be placed on determining effective prevention and treatment methods.

Among the more than 200 symptoms described for overtraining syndrome among athletes, not a single one has yet been determined to be specific to the disease’s clinical picture. As a result, it is still difficult to diagnose overtraining syndrome with certainty at an early stage. For
humans, a Profile of Mood State (POMS) assessment tool is used to diagnose overtraining syndrome. This assessment tool measures changes in behaviour and mental state, which so far appear to be the most reliable indicators of overtraining syndrome. Further study should reveal whether measuring nocturnal growth hormone secretion, as is done with horses, can also be applied to humans to diagnose stress-related illnesses, including overtraining syndrome and burnout.

Source: Utrecht University

Weight loss surgery may increase kidney stone risk
A recent study has suggested that ‘Roux-en-Y’ surgery, a common weight-loss procedure could increase the risk of developing kidney stones – although the odds are still fairly low.

Roux-en-Y is the most popular form of gastric bypass surgery, and involves surgical connections around the bowel that help decrease stomach capacity and enable food to bypass part of the small intestine. It had previously been thought that, unlike other types of bariatric surgery, Roux-en-Y did not cause kidney stones, but the new study found that a patient who undergoes the procedure may double their chances of developing the stones, to eight per cent. Kidney stones are caused when oxalate in food combines with calcium or other chemicals to form clusters of crystals which can be painful to pass via normal urination. Surgery is sometimes used to treat the condition. The study was based on a comparison of the insurance claims of over 4,600 Roux-en-Y patients with the same number of obese people who did not undergo the procedure.

Lead researcher Dr Brian Matlaga, an assistant professor of urology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, said, ‘Our study is not an indictment of bariatric surgery – the benefits of this surgery are well-known. Rather, we'd like to help physicians understand that their bariatric patients could be at risk for kidney stones, a condition that could be avoidable with proper preventative care’. He speculated that the reason for the formation of the kidney stones may be that Roux-en-Y surgery may reduce the amount of calcium that patients absorb, a situation which could be remedied with calcium supplements.

Source: Journal of Urology

Social and physical activity keeps elders sprightly
The findings of a new study from the US have furthered the belief that physical and mental stimulation will keep people more youthful as they age.

Contrastingly, those older people who don’t take part in physical activity and social events increase their risk of declining motor function, say researchers from Rush University Medical Centre.

Lead researcher, Dr Aron Buchman, an associate professor in the department of neurological sciences said, ‘A broader range of activities in elders, including physical, social and cognitive activities, may slow the rate of age-related decline. Less frequent participation in social activity was associated with a more rapid rate of motor decline’.

Buchman and his fellow researchers collated data from 906 older adults who participated in the Rush Memory and Aging Project between 1997 and 2008. The researchers measured assorted motor functions over a five-year period. These included gauging participants' grip and pinch strength; their ability to stand on one leg as well as on their toes; their ability to walk in line in a heel-to-toe manner; the speed with which they could place pegs on a board, and how many times they could tap their index-finger in a 10-second period. The frequency of their social activities, including eating out, visiting family and friends and participation in a religious or charitable community was also rated using a five-point scale.

The results showed a correlation between infrequent social activity and increased rate of motor function decline. Researchers noted a 33 per cent faster rate of decline in motor function for every point decrease in social activity. They worked out that a one-point decrease on the social activity scale equated to being approximately five years older at the study’s onset. Put simply, those with less social interaction appeared physically and mentally older. The decline in motor function was also linked with a 65 per cent increased risk of developing disability and more than 40 per cent increased risk of death, prompting Buchman to say , ‘Social engagement may slow the rate of age-related motor decline’.

The findings also held up to scrutiny after factors including disability, global cognition depressive symptoms, late-life physical and cognitive activity, body composition and chronic medical conditions, were taken into account.

CEO of the International Council on Active Aging in Vancouver, Colin Milner, was not surprised by the findings, and commented candidly about his personal experience with social and physical engagement and ageing; ‘Inherently we know that being social is important in life and good, but a lot of times we don't relate it to physical health. My dad is 77, he doesn't get out, he just sits around all day. He retired two years ago and probably lost his purpose for life. He has just literally declined and aged in front of me, and now looks as old as my grandfather does at 98. He was vibrant, now his skin colour has changed, just everything has changed’ Milner said.

He went on; ‘We are social beings. If you are socially engaged, you are out and about and getting some movement. Friends are good, being involved in social activities is good. If you are engaged in life, you are engaged in all the things that keep you healthy’.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine

Home treadmills and kids don't mix!
As fitness professionals we know the fitness benefits of treadmills, and that increasingly, our clients, participants and members may be supplementing their gym hours with time spent on home treadmills. This is all good and well, but treadmills in the home can be dangerous to toddlers and young children says the NSW Government Office of Fair Trading. Even parents who carefully child-proof their home may not fully realise the risks associated with treadmills.

In the last few years more than 100 Australian children have been seriously injured by treadmills at home. Most injuries happen when a baby or toddler moves to the back of the treadmill (where they are out of sight) and either touches the moving belt or gets their hand caught under it. This can result in severe friction burns that can take many months to heal, possibly requiring skin graft operations and even plastic surgery when the child is older.
Unfortunately the number of accidents in NSW is growing as the sales of domestic treadmills continue to increase.

As a result the NSW Government has introduced a new safety standard which took effect from 1 June 2009, requiring all new treadmills to carry a prominent warning sticker to alert treadmill users to keep children away from machines when they are in use. Fair Trading has also developed a safety awareness education campaign warning parents and carers of the dangers associated with home treadmills, which includes the distribution of thousands of posters titled ‘Treadmills and kids don’t mix!’ to all childcare centres, family day care, preschools, playgroups and community health and baby health centres across NSW.

Safety tips for home treadmill users

If you can, use your treadmill in the room away from young children
If this is not possible:
- use safety barriers (like a playpen) to keep children away from the treadmill
- do not use your treadmill when young children are around
Always keep your treadmill unplugged when not in use
Store your treadmill well away from children’s reach
Always supervise older children if they are using a treadmill
When you buy a new treadmill choose one with protective covers and a safety stop switch.

Case study
Emily was two years old when she accidentally touched the moving belt of the family’s new treadmill. In just a matter of seconds she had suffered friction burns so intense they removed tissue from the inside of three of her fingers, as well as leaving a burn across the inside of her palm. Her shocked mother recalled; ‘There was no blood – it was all just white’.

As a result Emily needed treatment that included a skin graft operation, frequent bandaging, a splint and weekly visits to hospital. Almost one year later the treatment continues. She may also need plastic surgery in future, after she has stopped growing, to make sure her fingers are straight. The accident occurred in seconds but the consequences will continue for many years. If you or any of your clients use treadmills in the home and have young children in the house, always keep the kids away from the machine and make sure they cannot reach any moving part.

Source: NSW Government, Office of Fair Trading

New year? Already?
Indeed it is! Not as exciting as the calendar new year, but in many ways probably more important is the rollover from 30 June to the new financial year. For many this means simply taking the folder full of receipts to the accountant you see once a year and getting it all sorted out to see what you owe or will get as a refund.

This year let’s work a bit differently and use this time to be strategic with your business and think about what you can do for the year ahead to improve on last year. Here’s my top five list of things to do;

1. Realise you are responsible for your business and make a plan of where you want it to go
What is the overall aim of your personal training business? What do you want it to ultimately be? What is your strategy to get there?

All these decisions are ultimately determined by you – even if you have no direction or clue where you want to go, then that in itself is your decision and probably your destination too.

2. Look at the numbers
Yes, as boring as this is, DO IT! They do not lie. I would strongly suggest you look at your key numbers every month (your KPI’s – Key Performance Indicators). Doing this will keep you current and focused. You’ll know what’s happening each month rather than simply guessing or hoping.

3. Meet regularly with your accountant
As dull as this may sound, it is really worthwhile to meet with your accountant quarterly or even monthly, depending on your business. Think of it as a regular assessment of your business rather than a chore.

4. Set a budget
This may start with something simple, such as how many client sessions you want to do each week, and each month. What does this add up to for the year? When will you take holidays? What major expenses will you have this year? What are the usual expenses you have every year? What months do your regular expenses usually come along?

5. Work on your time and schedule
What do you need to do to reach your goals? These should all be in your strategy calendar – the overall planner you use to reach your goals. This is not simply your weekly diary of sessions, it is an planner that looks at the big picture.

For all of these number and budget-related tasks to work, however, you MUST allocate time in your weekly calendar to work on it. By allowing some time each week or month to review, monitor and plan your strategy for your business (either alone or with your accountant) you will come to gain a sense of control and increased professionalism as the owner and manager of your own business, i.e. you.

Andrew Verdon, Dip. Ex Sci
Andrew owns a successful personal training studio in Sydney. He combines a business background with over a decade of hands-on experience in the fitness industry. He also held the position of strength and conditioning coordinator for the 2004 and 2008 Australian Olympic sailing teams. For more information, call 02 9908 2499 or visit www.beyondstudio.com.au

Group Exercise, Mind Body News

Enjoy the moment and gain the rewards
The next time you nab the last free parking spot on the street or receive a free bickie with your morning cappuccino, let yourself appreciate the moment. A recent US study has found that taking time to savour the good things that happen to you can increase happiness and inner strength.

For the study, conducted by Barbara Fredrickson, a professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina, 86 participants provided ‘emotion reports’ every day for a period of one-month. ‘Getting those daily reports helped us gather more accurate recollections of feelings and allowed us to capture emotional ups and downs’ Fredrickson said.

She continued, ‘This study shows that if happiness is something you want out of life, then focusing daily on the small moments and cultivating positive emotions is the way to go. Those small moments let positive emotions blossom, and that helps you become more open. That openness then helps us build resources that can help us rebound better from adversity and stress, ward off depression and continue to grow’.

Discussing the particulars of the study findings, Fredrickson said that ‘the levels of positive emotions that produced good benefits weren't extreme. Participants with average and stable levels of positive emotions still showed growth in resilience even when their days included negative emotions’.

So, we need to consciously enjoy the ‘micro-moments’ of happiness that can be sprinkled throughout our days, but which we often forget within a few seconds? Fredrickson believes so; ‘A lot of times we get so wrapped up in thinking about the future and the past that we are blind to the goodness we are steeped in already, whether it's the beauty outside the window or the kind things that people are doing for you. The better approach is to be open and flexible, to be appreciative of whatever good you do find in your daily circumstances, rather than focusing on bigger questions’.

Source: Emotion

Dance your way to 10,000 steps
Government recommendations that we try to walk 10,000 steps each day in order to curb the nation’s obesity trend (let’s go with ‘trend’; when obesity has been steadily increasing for as long as it has, can it still qualify as an epidemic?) are often considered very hard to meet, particularly by those who, unlike fitness professionals, don’t work on their feet all day. The key to reaching this number, then, is to find interesting ways of getting nearer to that elusive 10,000.

Two new studies suggest that dancing may be the best way of doing this, allowing dance participants to pack up to 2,000 fun-filled steps into an hour. One study conducted by researchers at the University of the Studies of Rome, Italy found that salsa dancing could improve cardiovascular fitness, while the other study by a team from Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK found that less vigorous ballroom dances, including the tango and the fox trot, could add over 2,000 steps to a daily walking total.

‘Learning to dance can be a fun, social, local and friendly way to enjoy low-intensity physical activity and skill learning' said the author of the UK study, Stephen Cobley, a senior lecturer in skill acquisition and sport/exercise psychology at Leeds Metropolitan University.

The popularity of television shows such as “Dancing with the Stars’ has bought ballroom dancing to prominence in recent years, and this prompted Cobley to conduct a study into the fitness benefits that dancing provides. He and his colleagues designed a study based upon a 12-week series of introductory ballroom dancing lessons which was offered to a group of sedentary adults.

The 27 study participants, of which 22 were women, had an average age of 53. The weekly, two-hour classes included dances such as the fox trot, the tango and the cha-cha. By taking part in the classes, the participants, who would otherwise have spent the time in sedentary pursuits, considerably increased their weekly totals of steps taken. Commenting on the study, sports and lifestyle nutritionist Molly Kimball from the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, said, ‘Ten thousand steps per day is the recommendation, but how many seniors are getting that? Two thousand steps is still good, and every little bit helps’.

The Italian study focused on salsa, a faster dance which provides a greater aerobic workout. The researchers measured oxygen consumption and heart rate in dancers who performed salsa during lessons, at night clubs or in a group dance called rueda de casino. Participating in the study were 11 pairs of dancers with an average age of 36 years. Maximum heart rate was found to increase between 58 and 75 per cent in all of the dancing groups, and oxygen consumption increased by up to 56 per cent, though the nightclub dancers appeared to provide the highest rate of aerobic activity.

Study author Gian Pietro Emerenziani, said, ‘Salsa is a spirited dance. With this form of dance, you are clearly getting a workout. All three types of salsa in our study, practiced frequently, will have a positive impact on health and fitness’.

Kimball concurred, saying, ‘With dancing, you don't necessarily have to go to the gym, you don't have to run in the heat, but you're still benefiting’.

Source: HealthDay News

Workout to the beat of the drum
Are you in need of some group exercise inspiration to stir you from you winter slumber? Do you fancy shaking up your fitness routine with something a little different? Japanese drumming is becoming an increasingly popular way to stay fit and have fun for Sydney-siders of all ages. By pounding a 250kg Japanese drum and learning the background to the ancient art form, Japanese drumming provides a vigorous workout as well as some fun.

East and West collide with Japanese drumming. The workshops were created by Australia's taiko ensemble: 'TaikOz' – known for blending gymnastic grace and physical prowess with the primal energy and heart-thumping beats of the Japanese taiko (or drum). Having just headlined the Darling Harbour 21st birthday celebrations in Sydney and appeared on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, TaikOz are currently enjoying great popularity and have performed in venues worldwide, including the Pompidou Centre in Paris and Japan's National Theatre in Tokyo.

Taiko drumming enables students to experience the power and strength of Japanese drumming, as well as the history and concepts behind the sacred art of ‘Wadaiko’ (Japanese drumming). Combining music making with an intensive, vigorous workout, taiko classes are reputed to energise, strengthen and excite participants. Lasting up to two hours, classes teach body awareness, listening, diligence and team work.

TaikOz has opened a Taiko School in Sydney which holds ten classes each week. The workshops run all year round and cater to taiko enthusiasts of all cultural backgrounds and ages. For more information, or to get yourself, your participants or your clients involved, call 9572 8595 or visit www.taikoz.com

Source: TJC PR

G'Day to all Group Ex Instructors!
Feeling uncreative with your classes lately? And I’m not only referring to choreography, but also delivery, mood and the environment. Creativity on demand can be a challenge, especially when you have a lot on your plate, so here are some of my home-brew simple and effective tips for boosting creativity:

Carry a small notebook for moments when you are struck by an idea (or a great piece of routine) – you can quickly note it down. It doesn’t matter if it is just a rough draft, what is important is that the notebook acts like a recorder and plays back your ideas. Some of my most creative choreography evolves from ideas that are randomly jotted in my notebook.

Dig out past convention notes of master classes and workshops. Now, you may not recall exactly how the routine is performed when looking at the piece of paper, but you would be surprised how well these ‘archived’ choreography notes can serve during creative dry-spells.

Change the orientation of your class or teach from a different side of the room. A simple change like this can create an entirely different feel for you and the class participants. Also, you could implement this change towards the end of a class rather than for the duration of the entire class. You would need to consider any restrictions such as sound system, pillars, equipment and any other factors that may impede visibility and hearing by changing the set-up.

Theme classes. An all-time favourite, timeless and proven approach to creativity on demand with group exercise. Work with your club manager or group exercise coordinator in marketing and promotion of the theme class. Changing the name of a class could also bring innovation, for example, HiLo aerobics could be termed 'grooveology' for the month, offering a workout designed to emulate disco, funk or hip-hop feel. I recall on a visit to a US fitness chain club a few years back, the timetable had a class called 'thighs and gossip' which made me wonder if any exercise was even performed!

Play a different tune. Music is one of the principle elements of our job. With so much variety, genres, themes and collections of music, there is a lot of scope for drawing creativity from your choice of songs to use in your classes. It’s easy to get in a routine of playing your favourites, but by asking participants for ideas you can expand your playlist and find fresh inspiration from music you may not choose to listen to in your free time, but which works well in the group ex studio!

Colours! Organise for your class participants to all wear a choice of two colours the next time they attend. It’s fun, simple and creates a striking, motivating visual in the club when you have a group of people wearing the same colours and moving in synch.

Attend classes. Attending another instructor's class is inspiring through their choreography, delivery, connection with the class, communication skills and overall interaction with members. In the fitness industry, it is vital we are continually inspired by mentors and our peers.

Remind yourself to have fun and laugh. Keeping in mind we have a duty of care as fitness professionals, it is equally important to take a lighter side by laughing with the members and being part of their fun and their journey. Through this, creativity and innovation ultimately falls in place, enabling us, fitness instructors to inspire, encourage and motivate others.

Until next E-News, stay healthy and happy to ya all Groovy and Inspiring Group Ex Instructors!

Kinnie Ho

Nutrition News

Vegies to lower blood pressure
An amino acid commonly found in vegetable protein appears to lower blood pressure according to new research from the US.

Data from an international diet study involving 4,680 individuals from the US, the UK, China and Japan, showed a correlation between a 4.72 per cent higher intake of glutamic acid as a portion of total dietary protein and a 1.5 to 3-point reduction in average systolic blood pressure and a 1- to 1.6-point lower diastolic pressure.

Because high blood pressure is a strong risk factor for heart disease, even this relatively small point reduction could translate to a six per cent reduction in stroke death rates and a 4 per cent lowering of coronary heart disease deaths, according to study author Dr Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Stamler warned that the findings were not a green light for people to take glutamic acid supplements, saying, ‘We make a clear statement that there are no data on supplements of glutamic acid to tell us anything one way or another about their value’.

Commenting on the relationship between lower blood pressure and higher glutamic acid intake, Ian Brown, a research associate from Imperial College London and a member of the study team, said that the results were not surprising; ‘It is compatible with earlier findings that a diet high in vegetable proteins, those found in beans, whole grains, rice, soy products and bread, is associated with lower blood pressure. The solution to improving blood pressure is not based around a single nutrient. We are looking at a whole series of dietary elements that act together. Combined, they have a large effect’.

Stamler added, ‘The fact that the most important amino acid in vegetable protein is related to blood pressure supports the inference that a diet high in vegetable protein and low in animal protein has favourable effects on blood pressure. We must also consider obesity, high salt intake, high alcohol intake and high potassium intake, among other risk factors’.

Summing up the fact that the study had been another example of proving what has been ‘known’ for years, Brown concluded; ‘It's just as mothers and grandmothers have been saying for years. Eat your vegetables, avoid fatty foods, avoid excess alcohol’.

Source: Circulation

Green tea could halve stroke risk
Recent Australian research has found that consuming two cups per day of green tea could decrease an individual’s risk of suffering stroke by as much as 50 per cent.

Each year, stroke is responsible for over five million deaths worldwide, and of these, ischemic stroke (stroke caused by a clot that cuts off blood to the brain) accounts for about 70 per cent.

Even one cup a day appears to reduce risk of ischemic stroke, according to researcher Professor Colin Binns, of the School of Public Health at Curtin University in Western Australia. If you’re really keen on the brew then drinking more of it can increase the risk reduction to 60 per cent, but if the green stuff isn’t your cup of tea (sorry), then everyday black tea also has similar, though lesser, properties.

‘We can say if you are going to drink a beverage, then tea is the healthier option. We believe other kinds of tea are half as effective as green tea in reducing risk’ said Binns.

The Curtin University researchers and academics from three Chinese hospitals monitored the consumption of green tea by ischemic stroke patients in Guangdong province in southern China. Four hundred stroke patients were interviewed, and the data compared with that gleaned from 400 healthy individuals in the same area. Guangdong was selected for the study because the diet of the population has remained largely the same for the past twenty years and the drinking of green tea is common practise, providing the researchers with necessary consistent factors.

Binns said that because the Western diet changes so much (comparing a shopping basket of today with one from 1989 could be an interesting task) conducting the study in Australia would be difficult, but the researchers believe that the benefits found in green tea would also apply within a western diet.

Source: Stroke

Soy may protect lungs
Research from Japan has suggested that regularly consuming soy products may result in improved lung function and reduced chances of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

For the study, researchers led by Fumi Hirayama questioned 300 Japanese COPD patients and 340 age-matched healthy individuals about their intake of soy products, such as tofu and soy milk.

Ninety-per cent of cases of COPD, characterised by a progressive decline in lung function and including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is caused by long-term smoking.

Although the pros and cons of soy are continually researched and debated, with previous studies linking soy to reduced cholesterol and easing of menopause symptoms, the Japanese study is the first to link soy intake with reduced risk of COPD.

‘It has been suggested that flavonoids from soy foods act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the lung, and can protect against tobacco carcinogens for smokers. However, further research is needed to understand the underlying biological mechanism’ said Hirayama.

Source: Respiratory Research

Club Corner

It’s all about the staff!
2009 Australian Fitness Industry Survey

It’s not all about the latest equipment, the fastest way to lose weight, the best way to do a bench press or the style of classes or music. It’s all about the staff. In this year’s Australian Fitness Industry Survey released this month 620 owners and managers of gyms and 7,000 active and lapsed members, highlighted continually the fact that the staff are the backbone of the fitness industry.

The survey reports that gyms regard finding quality staff as a concern for the coming year, and comments from owners and managers highlighted a disappointment with the quality of industry training that prospective and new staff members had received prior to employment.

The clubs back this need for good staff, reporting that their investment priorities for the coming financial year would be on staff training and not on fitness equipment, which was one of the top investments in last year’s survey. Over 50 per cent of clubs are planning to invest in customer service training and attending conferences in the coming year.

One of the industry experts in the survey, Nigel Champion, Executive Director of Australian Fitness Network said: ‘So what is the solution to ‘finding good staff’? This is easier said than done, but it comes down to ‘creating and keeping good staff’ through effective recruitment, continual training, a rewarding work environment, good remuneration and a viable career path’.

The staff were also cited by members as being one of the main factors that convinces people to join and more than 45 per cent of members said that the guidance provided by fitness clubs was the main influence that helped them achieve their health and fitness goals, rather than paid personal training or working out on their own. Comments from the members confirmed;
‘I am so motivated in everything I do because of my gym/trainer.’
‘The individualised guidance, support and encouragement of the fitness instructors have led me to broaden my fitness horizons and to achieve far more than expected in a short time span’.

Staff also figured highly in the top 10 of what the members expect during each visit to their club. Professionalism of staff ranked third and the engagement of the staff came in fourth place.

The 2009 AFIS also includes extensive information, analysis and insights on club operations, staff pay rates, membership structure, sales, marketing and much more.

To find out more or to purchase your own copy of the 2009 AFIS at a special price, contact
simon.hall@ezypay.com.au or click on the Ezypay image at the top right. Network members receive a 10% discount when quoting their membership number.

Source: Ezypay Pty Ltd

Regular e-mail contact significantly improves member adherence
A recently published study has found that e-mail communication has a significant positive effect on a person’s health and fitness. According to the study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine (AJPM), using e-mail to regularly prompt people to follow a healthier lifestyle resulted in measureable improvement in the person’s health and exercise regime.

The study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente and NutritionQuest and funded in part by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, measured the impact of a program devised by a public health professor at the University of California, Berkeley that delivered brief, regular e-mails to a group of individuals. The e-mails consisted of simple suggestions for healthier eating or improving exercise habits. Compared to a control group, those in the e-mail program showed a significant increase in exercise adherence and healthier living.

The AJPM findings are consistent with a medical review published by the Centre for a Liveable Future at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Published in May 2009, the review (Periodic Prompts and Reminders in Health Promotion and Health Behaviour Interventions: Systematic Review), found 11 studies conducted since 2006 that showed that periodic communication with participants resulted in a positive impact on a person’s health and fitness.

Retention Management has been providing a comprehensive e-mail communication service to fitness facilities since 2003. The foundation of the service has been an automated personalised e-mail program that analyses each member’s specific attendance pattern and then uses that data to assist the member in maintaining or developing a consistent usage pattern. These usage-based e-mails also include the latest health and wellness information designed to assist each member in leading a healthier lifestyle. The service also includes a new member integration program, marketing blast e-mails and prospect sales e-mails.

‘This new study, along with those already published, further validates how our service not only assists members in achieving their goals, but provides our customers with a distinct operational advantage over their competitors. Members who achieve results are not only happier members but retained members’ said Richard Ekstrom, president and founder of Retention Management; ‘Since our inception, we have been helping hundreds of centres deliver better results to millions of members in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand’.

Source: www.PulseTecSolutions.com & Retention Management

What’s the opposite of a pub crawl?
A gym crawl, of course. And that’s exactly what a group from New Zealand’s Club Physical did one Saturday recently. Starting at 8:15am sharp, the group from Auckland underwent a boxing class at Westgate. Next, after surprising a Birkenhead FLEX class with their sudden arrival and frivolity they experienced a ‘Rocket Circuit’. The group arrived at Karangahape Road at 11:45am for a spirited self defence class before a relaxing respite at Mt Eden’s Sierra Café. Next stop was Three Kings for Pilates before the group was whisked off to TeAtatu for their choice of a SPIN class or a game of squash!

Explaining the social and member-retention benefits that such an event provides, gym crawl co-ordinator Tina Richards said, ‘I went on an event like this fifteen years ago at the Network Convention in Surfers Paradise, Australia, and have always wanted to organise something similar. A lot of members hadn’t been to our other branches, so this was ideal. People quickly became friends. We took a loud ‘hooter’ with us everywhere we went, so the natives quickly became aware that we’d arrived! I slept like a log that night… and NO HANGOVER!’

Source: Club Physical

2009 IHRSA Index Results Reflect Tough Economy
The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) recently announced the release of the IHRSA 2009 First Quarter Index, which demonstrates the financial performance of a sample of the commercial health club industry. The survey of 18 leading US health and sports club companies, representing a total of 530 facilities, determined that commercial health club financial performance struggled in the first quarter of 2009 relative to the first quarter of 2008. In spite of overall wavering performance, select clubs experienced improved performance in the same time period. Participating clubs indicated growth from the fourth quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009.

Overall, Quarterly Index participants reported decreases in total sales, membership revenue, and non-dues revenue from first quarter of 2008 to first quarter of 2009. Total sales decreased by 3.6 per cent from US$7.8 million in 2008 to US$7.3 million in 2009. Membership and non-dues revenue also decreased by 1.0 per cent and 8.1 per cent, respectively. Total membership accounts increased by a modest 1.2 per cent. Although respondents collectively struggled with first quarter performance, some participants reported improvements. The majority of respondents (56 per cent) reported increases over one per cent in total membership accounts, while only 33 percent reported similar increases in total membership dues revenue. ‘Non-dues revenue can be expected to fluctuate as consumers limit their discretionary spending’ said Katie Rollauer, IHRSA senior manager of research, ‘However, the low single digit decline in membership accounts and revenue, relative to other retail industries, demonstrates the resilient nature of the club industry during a recession’.

Participants reported a decline in EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and rent). EBITDAR decreased by 5.0 per cent from the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009, amounting to 29 per cent of total revenue; the lowest since fourth quarter of 2006. With a cash-strapped US consumer populace at hand, clubs often resort to discounting membership and non-dues services, which in turn may contribute to the drop in EBITDAR. Additionally, decreased EBITDAR reflects the need for more efficient expense management. ‘It is possible companies have started to tighten expenses, but benefits to the bottom line might not be observed until future quarters’ noted Rollauer.

While Quarterly Index participants, overall, reported decreased revenues and accounts from the first quarter 2008 to first quarter 2009, on a consecutive quarter-to-quarter basis, participants reported growth from fourth quarter 2008 to first quarter 2009. Total sales, membership dues and non-dues revenue all increased; with non-dues sales up 16.6 per cent from $5.8 million to $6.8 million. Total membership accounts also increased by 4.7 per cent, and EBITDAR improved by 9.7 per cent.

‘Although strong first quarter sales and membership accounts are typical of the health club industry, positive quarter-to-quarter growth indicates the industry was ab le to maintain performance over a consecutive six month period in the midst of a challenging economy’ concluded Rollauer.

Source: IHRSA

Announcements

Join the discussion at the Network Blog!
Written by Network and select guest authors, the Network blog is designed to keep you up to speed with everything fitness industry related. Go to www.fitnessnetwork.com.au select the Community tab and click on ‘Network Blog’ to check out the hot topics, post your comments and help shape our industry. Recent posts include;

United Airlines in America require obese people to purchase a second seat
The Best of Both Worlds: Instructing Freestyle and Pre-Chore Group Fitness
The Fitness Industry, is it recession proof?

FitnessBiz 09 continues commitment to a better educated industry
With a growing number of obese people in our country and an even greater strain on the medical system, educating health club owners on how to get this demographic into clubs will reduce the health care costs on our nation, according to Justin Tamsett, managing director of Active Management.

‘Over the past two years we have had over 400 people attend our half-day conference across the nation and I receive many emails telling me how their business benefitted from FitnessBiz’ Tamsett said; ‘Australian Fitness Network currently delivers exceptional conferences but we have received ongoing requests from those industry members who are unable to travel to attend. This year we have launched a 30 per cent saving if you live more than 100km from your nearest capital city’.

FitnessBiz 09 is a half-day conference in Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney in August. Attendees receive tools and strategies that they can put in place immediately. It has been designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, whose owners wish to increase profits and improve their efficiency of operations.

‘FitnessBiz is not for strategic thinkers. It has been designed to give every attendee an immediate return on their investment. We understand that these small and medium-sized businesses need specific tools to help improve their bottom line, and so all sessions are designed to provide these tools. This means that personal trainers, sales people, club managers and owners will all benefit from attending’ Tamsett said.

FitnessBiz has been modelled on the successful FitnessBiz conference run by Fitness New Zealand. While this is a true example of a conference with several sessions from which attendees can choose, FitnessBiz will be just a single-strand conference.

‘We are fortunate to again have Creative Fitness Marketing and Ezypay as Gold Sponsors, but we also welcome the Australian Institute of Fitness as Gold Sponsor for 2009. Les Mills Australia also joins as a Silver sponsor of the event. We are also very thankful again to Australian Fitness Network and Market My Club who are also supporting FitnessBiz 09. Without their support this event would not take place. We guarantee that attendees who attend FitnessBiz 09 will increase their profits by implementing the abundance of ideas that they’ll take home. So much so, they’ll soon be able to afford to fly, stay and attend the major conferences in Australia’ Tamsett concluded.

FitnessBiz ‘09 features four powerful presentations in one half-day event;

Powerful Promotions for the Borderline Bunch
If you could increase your sales leads by 10 per cent it would have a profound effect on your profitability. Given that the regular exercise bunnies i.e. the market we've already got, are circulating from club to club in search of the best deal, the real challenge for the industry world-wide is to attract the Borderline Bunch. You will receive proven strategies to get the Borderline Bunch through your door.

The Lifeline to Your Business – The Incoming Call
Every day your phone rings with potential new members and in this session you’ll learn how to maximise every contact on the phone. But then also learn the skills to convert a soft enquiry to a hard lead!

Referrals – Where Are They in Your Business?
We all know about asking for point of sale referrals – now receive a powerful script to receive highly qualified referrals. Also learn when and how to run referral promotions and, more importantly, how to find other referrals.

Using Social Media To Improve Retention (and Sales)
If you are not using Twitter and Facebook to grow your business, then you are not living in 2009! Quite seriously, your members are using this technology, so learn the tips to get your club and personal training businesses on-line to improve your retention – and your sales!

For more information, call 02 9980 9089 or e-mail jt@activemgmt.com.au

Source: Active Management

Australian Fitness Expo evolves into Australian Fitness & Health Expo
Diversified Exhibitions has announced the strategic brand repositioning of its award winning exhibition, the Australian Fitness Expo. The new look Australian Fitness & Health Expo will be a more targeted event, consolidating the strengths of the existing show and increasing the visitor demographic from the health sector.

Exhibition Manager, Ashley Robertson, said that the evolution was not a complete re-brand but a repositioning of the exhibition in order to benefit exhibitors by continually providing new, relevant and hard to reach buyers; ‘With a change of name, logo, floor plan and feature areas, the Australian Fitness & Health Expo has evolved to meet the needs of our clients and by doing so will facilitate a more relevant and focused industry event’ Robertson said.

In 2010, the focus of the marketing effort will be to attract a larger audience of higher spending fitness professionals and qualified trade buyers. Consequently, the marketing budget will be more targeted to delivering an increased number of trade prospects keen to do business.

A revised floor plan will reflect the new positioning, aid traffic flow and assist visitors to plan their time at the event more effectively. New feature areas are also planned to attract more buyers to the event by providing a professional setting in which to conduct and discuss business opportunities.

‘A key objective of the Australian Fitness & Health Expo will be to provide benefit to our exhibitors by delivering a high-spending and highly targeted audience of trade buyers of fitness and health products and services and high quality ‘pro-sumers’’ Robertson said. Key targets in the fitness sector will continue to be heavily targeted to ensure exhibitors gain market share in essential sectors while the inclusion of ‘health’ in the new-look name and logo will open up a greater number of buyers from the Allied Health and Medical industries. New target markets include wellness centres, physiotherapy and rehabilitation facilities and hospitals.

‘The Australian Fitness & Health Expo provides the greatest concentration of buyers in one place than any other event for the fitness and health industry in Australia. The addition of ‘health’ to our already successful model will open up relevant and rewarding opportunities for our exhibitors through the provision of a new population of qualified buyers’ Robertson said.

Source: Pinque PR

Ride on! Around the Bay in a Day
In its 17th year, Australia’s premier cycling challenge event, Around the Bay in a Day 2009, is set to put people of all ages and fitness levels to the test as they pedal to victory in Victoria.

Around the Bay in a Day Event Manager Eleni Koronakos said the event has evolved in line
with the increasing popularity in recreational cycling; ‘More people cycling means more people want to be challenged on their bike. Around the Bay in a Day offers a challenge to every cyclist with an offering of five very different ride options from 50km to 250km’ she said.

For the serious cyclist, there is the 250km or 210km lap and with no shortcuts across Port Phillip Bay it’s a challenging ride that can take you to a new level of cycling. For those who haven’t got time to train all winter, or are just getting back on the bike and want a challenge, there is the 100km ride from Sorrento to Melbourne.

For a more social outing there is the 50km ride option which takes you over the Westgate Bridge twice, the only event in Melbourne to offer this. And, after the success of its debut last year, the 80km School Challenge is back, taking school kids from Melbourne to Patterson River return.

Riders are also encouraged to take on the charity challenge and get sponsored for The Smith
Family, the event’s official charity partner; ‘We urge all riders to seek sponsorship from their friends, family and colleagues to help support disadvantaged Australian children’ Koronakos said.

The Smith Family fundraising target for 2009 is $1million, with 100 per cent of funds raised going to their Learning for Life suite of education programs. This target will go to assisting over 3,000 disadvantaged Australian primary school children with education and learning opportunities which help break the cycle of disadvantage.

To get yourself and your clients involved in this fitness challenge, or for more information about Around the Bay in a Day, visit www.aroundthebay.com.au or call 1800 616 600

Source: Bicycle Victoria

Roll up! Roll up! Auditions for circus students in 2010

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), described by Paul Kooperman of the Australian Stage as ‘the future of circus’, is urging aspiring circus performers to submit their applications for entry into the 2010 Bachelor of Circus Arts course by 4 September 2009.

From 25 September 2009, NICA trainers will visit each state to hold auditions. Those with a flair for the physical and a desire for a challenge will have the opportunity to apply for the course, with successful applicants participating in the three-year full time degree, conferred by Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.

NICA’s ‘Bachelor of Circus Arts’ is the only circus degree of its kind available for study in Australia, and attracts applicants from across Australia and overseas. Applicants must have completed Year 12 or equivalent to be eligible for this program.

NICA director and CEO, Pamela Creed, said that the NICA Bachelor of Circus Arts course is for young people with a background in physical training such as circus, sport, dance, physical theatre, gymnastics, acrobatics, martial arts, diving or trampoline; ‘I am always surprised by the diversity of circus performers’ backgrounds and I encourage those seeking an exciting international circus career to apply’ she said.

NICA graduates are highly employable, knowledgeable and creative, with awe-inspiring circus and performance skills. Graduates have gone on to establish careers in Australia and internationally in acclaimed companies including Cirque du Soleil and Australia’s own Circus Oz. Some students have gone on to form their own companies and tour the world to perform in prestigious festivals.

Over sixty young people currently study at NICA’s facility in Melbourne. Auditions for entry into the Bachelor of Circus Arts in 2010 are being held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in September and October.

So, if you or any of your clients think that the circus life is for you, register for an audition via the NICA website at www.nica.com.au or by phoning NICA on 03 9214 6975.

Source: Mollison Communications

Book review

Book title:Stronger arms and upper body
Authors: Joe Wuebben and Jim Stoppani, PhD.
Details: Paperback, 246 pages, published by Human Kinetics 2009.
RRP: $31.95; Network member price: $28.80 if purchased online at www.fitnessnetworkcentre.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0736074015

Human Kinetics has an increasing interest in body building, which is fair enough given the size of the mirrored gym market and the size of the hairless ones who stand before them. For most self-educating athletes and coaches, body building magazines are the first source of information on exercises and systems. The impact of such magazines can be insidious and cancerous for the young and susceptible. There must be some sobering sources to counter. Stronger Arms and Upper Body is one such text, penned by two sober experts, our mates Joe and Jim.

Joe Wuebben is senior editor of Muscle and Fitness magazine and has a degree in Kinesiology. Jim Stoppani is the senior science editor of Muscle and Fitness. His doctorate is exercise physiology and he authored the excellent 2006 text Encyclopedia of Muscle and Strength published by Human Kinetics. Their construction of this text is superb. Part I is ‘Foundations to Training’. This contains three essential chapters. The first brisk chapter presents the requisite information about muscle anatomy of the upper body. Chapter 2 is ‘Training Fundamentals’. The discussion includes volume, intensity, training frequency, the need for variety and the perils of overtraining especially the ‘glamour’ muscles the hairless ones observe in the mirror. Chapter 3 is ‘Exercise Essentials’. This one terminates the foundations with a prolonged exposition of split routines that expands from the familiar two day split to three weeks! The chapter concludes by advising on exercise order (do the heaviest lifts first and free weights before machine), the range of repetitions per set/exercise, what rest to take, etcetera!

At last we have crossed the mountain range. Lying before us is the fertile plain, the shimmering vista, the nirvana of exercises. We have entered Part II territory – Upper Body Exercises! Six body zones have been identified on the fertile plain – chest, back, shoulders/ trapezius, triceps, biceps/ forearms and the very important, much troubled rotator cuff. Enter Human Kinetics’ forte – format. Each exercise is identified and accorded a page. Two photographs of the beginning and end point of each and a seven point descriptive format instruct the reader as to the targeted muscle group, how to start and execute, what variations are possible, an advanced tip for the wily and what alternative exercises there are to exercise the same muscle. The text features over one hundred exercises that utilise both free and machine weights between the pages 42 to 177 inclusive.

Part III concludes this exercise compendium – it’s entitled ‘Advanced Applications’. Again, a troika of chapters. Advanced training requires a renewed stimulus. This is provided by super setting, forced repetitions, ballistic training, pre-exhaustion techniques and legitimate ‘cheating’. The authors offer succinct, non-emotive advice for all these systems and more. The remaining chapters provide tailor-made programs for hypertrophy, strength and weight loss. The final chapter, ‘ready to use workouts’, is the most valuable one for inexperienced coaches lacking confidence in devising programs for the identified body zones. The authors have constructed 33 programs to meet all needs of the body business.

This text joins its siblings Stronger Abs and Back published in 1997 and Stronger Legs and Lower Body (2002). The accumulated tally of exercises provided by this tri-set is over 400 – now that’s Bradmanesque! These books are ideal for trainers unfamiliar with the array of exercises available to exercise any body zone. As variety is the spice of life, this book will help to spice up your training!

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