JUNE 2009

CONTENT

PT news & research

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;

Perception and priorities affect exercise behaviour
Two recent studies focusing on exercise in college students suggest that stress and cultural influences affect how and why individuals exercise.

In the first study, researchers found that college-aged women who are occasional or irregular exercisers are even less likely to engage in any physical exercise when feeling stressed, whereas those who include regular workouts and deliberate physical activity in their daily lives are more likely to increase their exercise levels when under stress.

Analysing the results, lead study author Dr Rafer Lutz, PhD, said, ‘I think our study suggests, more than anything, varying perceptions of exercise. Someone who isn't regularly active may view exercise as 'one more burden' when stressed, whereas those who make it a part of daily life may view it as a stress reliever and an escape from pressure’.

The second study explored the ways in which different cultures exercise. Looking at the exercise cultures of over 400 American and Chinese students, researchers found wildly varying reasons for undertaking physical activity. They found that Americans tended to exercise for reasons of weight control and physical appearance, whereas Chinese students cited health and enjoyment reasons as their main motivating factors.

Lead study author Zi Yan, MS, said, ‘These results reinforce the complexity of exercise behaviour change, particularly among diverse and multicultural groups. Although we didn't study the origins of these exercise motivations, it may be a reflection of cultural values and what young people are taught to prioritise about themselves’.

Source: Medical News Today

Move the body, shift the mood
New research from the US supports the theory that exercise has mood-elevating abilities – and not just in the immediate aftermath of a workout.

Dr Jeremy Sibold, study lead researcher and assistant professor of rehabilitation and movement science at the University of Vermont, Burlington, said that although previous studies had illustrated the positive mental effects of exercise, they had restricted their observations to short timeframes; ‘This is one of the few studies that actually looked at a much longer window, 24 hours. The question I was interested in was, 'How long does that feel-good effect, that improvement, last?’

For the study, 48 healthy men and women aged between 18 and 25 years were assigned to either a group that exercised or a control group that did not. At commencement of the study a survey was used to gauge each participant’s mood. The exercise group proceeded to undertake a moderately intense twenty-minute indoor cycle workout. The mood survey was then employed again after one, two, four, eight, 12 and 24 hours.

The researchers found positive results in the exercise group; ‘Moderate intensity aerobic exercise improves mood immediately and those improvements can last up to 12 hours. This goes a long way to show that even moderate aerobic exercise has the potential to mitigate the daily stress that results in your mood being disturbed’ Sibold said.

It is believed that the mood-enhancing effects of physical activity may be due in part to a rise in levels of mood-boosting neurotransmitters in the brain, such as endorphins.

Sibold highlighted the importance of health professionals encouraging, and prescribing, physical activity for people suffering from low moods and depression; ‘I think that's really important for the general public to know – depression is so widespread’ he said.

Source: American College of Sports Medicine

Help clients keep fit and keep smiling
So your personal training clients are kicking the kilos, eating better than ever before, exercising more which is giving them more energy to do the things they love and making them feel great – but did you know that the improvements they have made to their diet and exercise regime can affect their oral health?

The healthier our lifestyles, the more susceptible we become to a dental condition known as acid wear. Acid wear is a growing problem that contributes to the everyday wear and tear of teeth and according to over 60 per cent of dentists surveyed as part of the 2009 Pronamel Australian Dental Hygiene Survey, it is an issue that will become a lot more severe if nothing is done to address it.

When tooth enamel is exposed to acidic foods and drinks, teeth become temporarily softened making them vulnerable to wear. Acid wear affects the appearance of teeth through changes to lustre and texture and increased translucency. When left unmanaged, acid wear can develop into acid erosion which results in the permanent loss of tooth enamel.

Can being healthy really increase acid wear?
Living a healthy lifestyle, in which diet and exercise feature prominently, can make us more susceptible to acid wear.

Diet
Many of the foods and drinks we associate with a modern diet have a high acidic content which can temporarily soften the tooth’s surface enamel. Weight-loss diets concentrate on healthy eating, and you have probably advised your clients to increase their intake of fruit, vegetables and salads. Fruit and fruit juices, along with salad dressings, are examples of items which sit at the top of the acidic substances list. The more acidic the product, the greater effect it has on our teeth.

Acidic substances checklist
NEUTRAL	SLIGHTLY ACIDIC	HIGHLY ACIDIC
Hot breakfast such as bacon, sausage, eggs	Banana	Grapefruit
Cereal with milk	Tomato soup	Strawberry jam
Toast	Jacket potato and beans	Honey
Peanut butter on brownBread	Hamburger	Meat pie and tomato sauce
Pitta bread, black olivesand tuna	Chicken and chips	Salad with vinaigrette dressing
Lobster and rice	Éclair	Steak with mustard
Poached salmon andBroccoli	Beer	Tomato salad with balsamicdressing
Cheese board		Fruit salad
Chocolate Cake		Rhubarb
Milk		Red wine
		Fresh orange juice

Exercise
Exercise can lead to dehydration and, as a direct result, a lower level of saliva production. Saliva is the body’s natural defence against acid wear as it acts as a buffer helping to neutralise the acid within the mouth. When dehydrated we remove our body’s natural acid wear defence due to a lack of saliva production. Add a sports drink, which is also highly acidic, to our exercise regime and an environment is created which encourages acid wear. Being aware of these factors can help minimise acid wear on your clients’ teeth.

Simple ways to help manage the effects of acid wear
By considering the following points it is simple for clients to continue their active and healthy lifestyles and balanced diets while maintaining oral health:

Consume acid-containing foods and drinks quickly to limit the time they are in contact with your teeth
Avoid acidic food and drinks last thing in the evening when salivary flow is at its slowest
Drink plenty of water to maintain hydration levels while exercising
Drink acidic drinks through a straw, and don't hold the liquid in your mouth or swish it around
Avoid brushing your teeth straight after meals or drinks, when enamel is at its weakest – instead, wait at least one hour
Brush your teeth gently but thoroughly twice a day with a protective toothpaste such as Pronamel
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to minimise wear from brushing

Also be mindful of eating and drinking habits. Snacking all day in order to fuel the body increases the frequency and duration of exposure to acidic foods and beverages. And that alcoholic drink to unwind after work is also a contributor to the dreaded wear!

To find out if you may be suffering from acid wear take the ‘Acid Wear Test’ at www.acidwear.com.au where you can also learn more about the condition.

Source: bellamyhayden PR

Folic acid may decrease cardio risk and improve performance in female athletes
Research has shown that some female runners who take high doses of folic acid supplements may experience improved vascular function.

The study highlighted the incidence of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation in women of reproductive age) in young female runners. The researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin attributed the amenorrhea to the runners’ caloric intake being lower than their energy output. They said the findings suggest that folic acid may decrease cardiovascular risk and also improve performance in young female athletes.

Study author Dr Stacy Lynch, a women's sports medicine fellow, said, ‘Previous studies have shown that amenorrheic women runners have decreased dilation in the main (brachial) artery of the arm in response to blood flow. Athletic amenorrhea has a hormonal profile similar to menopause, when the earliest sign of cardiovascular disease is reduced vascular dilation, which can limit oxygen uptake and affect performance’.

The study participants comprised 16 female college or recreational runners between the age of 18 and 35 who had run at least 32 kilometres a week for the preceding twelve months and were not taking birth control pills. Although all of the participants were healthy, six of them had reduced vascular function and irregular or absent menstrual periods.

The participants' vascular function was measured prior to and following a period of between four and six weeks of treatment during which the runners were administered 10 milligrams of folic acid each day. By the end of the treatment period, vascular function in the amenorrheic women had returned to normal, and stayed at normal levels in the other women.

Source: HealthDay News

An inevitable part of being a full time personal trainer is facing the situation when a client ceases training with you. For all trainers this will happen eventually, no matter how good you may be at your job. Maximum retention is a great aim but it will never be 100% continuously. After 12 years I have lost plenty of clients! I always think that losing a client is like instant feedback on your service – and like getting a very swift pay cut (especially if they are doing more than one session per week).

One of the most interesting sessions I attended at FILEX in April was Chad Timmermans presenting his research on ‘Why clients terminate training’. This excellent session and information can help many trainers avoid the behaviours, action or inactions that lead to clients ceasing training sessions.

Chad emphasised that clients often choose the easy option when stating the reason for ending a training relationship. How many times have we heard; lack of time, lack of money, no results, moving away or changing jobs as reasons? These may be the reasons given, but Chad found that they may not be the ‘true’ reasons.

The results of his interviews with ex-personal training clients found that the vital component of the outcomes of training was the relationship between the trainer and client. It is this, he proposed, which forms the platform from which the whole model of personal training is delivered. He continued on to say, ‘issues of poor communication, inter-personal skills and the trainer’s agenda can all add together to form a non-facilitative relationship’.

Chad found two major causes for training terminating:

Client’s contribution
Clients often had a lack of awareness about what personal training was like or what to expect from a good trainer. This caused inaction from the clients towards the training program that was not meeting their needs and they eventually stopped training.

Trainer contribution
Chad found four main reasons for how trainers contribute to clients ceasing training.
1. Poor inter-personal relationship between the trainer and client negatively influences training
2. Ineffective communication or lack of communication
3. The trainer not matching the style of training to the client and not providing them with what they need. Program not tailored to individual client and often lacks professionalism.
4. The trainer imposing their agenda onto the client. The focus was on the trainer not the client.

What can we take from this?
Chad concluded by saying that, initially, trainers should educate their new clients as to how personal training works. By increasing their awareness and how they need to contribute to the process, the likelihood of the client achieving their goals will be increased.

He also said that many trainers need to educate themselves, especially in the areas of client relationships and communication. This will help reduce the possibility of the trainer’s behaviour not meeting the client’s desires and expectations – and of being seen as unprofessional.

If you receive Network’s eNews, then you are most probably a registered fitness PROFESSIONAL. My question for you is: are you acting like one?

To contact Chad Timmermans for more information, call 0416 113013 or e-mail chadtimmermans@hotmail.com

Source: HealthDay News

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

Breathe a sigh of relief
Recent study findings suggest that regular practice of yoga may help alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

In a trial looking at the effects of Hatha yoga, researchers from the department of exercise science at Syracuse University, New York, recorded participants actually cutting back on some of their asthma medication.

Dr Jonathan Field, director of the allergy and asthma clinic at New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Medical Centre in New York City, said, ‘It's dramatic but not surprising. There have been some smaller studies that have stated this before, but I don't think they've ever used a standardised scale of this sort’.

Senior study author, Amy Bidwell, a doctoral student, said that the inspiration for the study had come from personal experience when she had injured her back while working as a personal trainer; ‘I opted for yoga, not surgery, and it pretty much healed me’ she said. A yoga convert, she became an instructor and then, recently, turned her focus to its potential role in helping asthmatics.

Bidwell said that previous studies looking at the effects of yoga had been positive, but had not been based on realistic exercise scenarios (i.e. trials had involved yoga sessions twice a day for 10 consecutive days); ‘Three times a week for 10 weeks was more realistic’ Bidwell noted.

Twenty study participants aged between 20 and 65 years were assigned to either a yoga group, which practiced Hatha yoga for two and a half hours per week for ten weeks, or a non-yoga control group.

Participants were asked a series of questions gauging severity and frequency of their asthma symptoms, their participation in activities associated with loss of breath and psychological and social functioning. Oxygen consumption, ventilation and heart rate variability were also measured while participants performed a three-minute handgrip and then a five-minute upright tilt.

Participants in the yoga group showed an improvement in symptoms of almost 43 per cent, although there were not significant differences between the groups in heart rate variability, oxygen consumption or ventilation.
Advocating the practice of properly instructed yoga to all asthmatics, Bidwell said, ‘We hold poses up to a minute and focus on deep breathing, which is critical to asthmatics. There's not much of a downside to yoga unless you have a major orthopedic problem’.

Commenting on the study findings, Dr Jonathan Field, director of the allergy and asthma clinic at New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Medical Center in New York City, said ‘It's dramatic but not surprising. There have been some smaller studies that have stated this before, but I don't think they've ever used a standardized scale of this sort. Breathing symptoms are such a big part of asthma in terms of gaining control over them. Yoga enhances awareness of breathing and you may be able to recognise early on when breathing is not at a level it should be, which would promote earlier care. Also, it's been recognised that deep breathing in athletes – swimmers or runners – actually improves asthma. When you have more functional use of lungs, it protects against asthma’.

Source: HealthDay news

The ChiBall Method™ evolves into comprehensive mind body program
Founded in 1997, the ChiBall Method™ is a holistic mind body exercise program that uniquely combines the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, colour and aromatherapy and a synergy of six ancient and modern exercise modalities – tai chi-qi gong, ChiBall Dance, yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais Method and relaxation. The healing nature of the program is focused through the medium of coloured aromatherapy ChiBalls™ infused with six different mood enhancing essential oils.

With a global presence in 40 countries, the ChiBall Method™ has evolved to become a comprehensive mind-body training program with strong core values. To support a recent re-branding exercise, professional marketing support and guidance has been introduced as well as high quality materials and services for individual operations.

Even in uncertain economic times, health and wellbeing remains a high priority for people. The ChiBall Method™ is a comprehensive mind-body exercise system that can be adapted to all ages and uniquely tailored to address specific health issues such as weight loss, stress and chronic fatigue. It’s also a good way to enrich your skill-set and develop competencies across a range of disciplines – adding more strings to the group ex/mind body instructor’s bow.

The new ChiBall Method™ education program offers online education Distance Learning Programs along with support and ongoing development, whether the student wishes to become a certified teacher, ChiBall presenter, or master trainer. Program founder, Monica Linford, is conducting a series of workshops introducing the philosophy and foundations of The ChiBall Method™ commencing in Sydney on 5 July and in Perth on 25 July. The 7-day training intensive commences in Perth on 25 October and in Sydney (over two weekends) on 19 November. For further information about the ChiBall Method™ introductory workshops, contact ChiBall World on +618 8121 9770, e-mail info@chiball.com or visit www.chiball.com

A good hearty laugh
Two studies presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) annual meeting furthered the theory that ‘laughter’s the best medicine’ – or at least a preventative form of it.

The researchers reported that in addition to reducing stress, a factor which can damage the heart, laughter can help improve blood flow, in turning helping to lower the risk of high blood pressure.

One study involved one group of participants watching a comedy film, while a second group watched a documentary. During the screening, both groups were checked for activity of the carotid arteries that bring blood to the face and brain. The researchers recorded improved ‘arterial compliance’ in the comedy-viewing participants. Arterial compliance is a measure of the amount of blood moving through the arteries, with decreased arterial compliance frequently associated with high blood pressure and heart disease.

Lead researcher Jun Sugawara said, ‘Arterial compliance was improved for a full 24 hours after subjects watched a funny movie. Laughing is likely not the complete solution to a healthy heart, but it appears to contribute to positive effects’.

The second study, which also involved two groups of participants watching either a comedy or a documentary, looked at vascular function and blood vessel dilation. The comedy-watching group displayed increased dilation of blood vessels during the comedy. High blood pressure is often linked to constricted blood vessels.

The study’s lead researcher, Takashi Tarumi, said ‘Not only did comedies improve vascular dilation, but watching a documentary about a depressing subject was actually harmful to the blood vessels. These documentaries constricted blood vessels by about 18 per cent’.

Source: American College of Sports Medicine

G'Day to all Group Ex Instructors!
I trust this eNews finds you all well. The whirlwind of FILEX 2009 has graced the southern hemisphere again for another successful year. Already I am looking ahead to FILEX 2010 and I hope you are too!

During the FILEX convention, I was speaking to an instructor who told me that over 70 per cent of her regular classes involve teaching group fitness classes to young children and teenagers, as part of a health initiative program organised between the local council, fitness facility and primary schools. I asked her if there are as many considerations and challenges in teaching regular classes to a group of young kids as there are when teaching adult and senior populations. One point she particularly noted from her experience was that, unlike among adults, most young children are not interested in organised or structured exercise routines. Rather, they tend to prefer 'random' and playful activities.

Here are some instructor tips and reminders that emerged out of our discussion on teaching and motivating young children to exercise;

Plan your session well to ensure clear training objectives and teaching points you wish to achieve.
Ensure every child participant is involved in the class all the time.
Communication – Instructors need to refine their communication skills when working with children. Provide clear and simple instructions, avoid overloading information.
Positive reinforcement through using positive words and statements, as well as the tone of your voice. Remember to vary the tone of your voice to emphasise certain key words or instructions.
Give specific feedback when providing positive reinforcement. This could be verbal and/or non-verbal. For example, ‘That's better Jane, your arms were higher this time’ with the ‘OK’ hand-gesture.
Take smaller steps in exercise progression when teaching kids. This means avoiding introducing new tasks until the first one is mastered correctly by every participant.
Provide lots of encouragement and opportunity for fun and expression of creativity. Children are generally enthusiastic and motivated so it also helps to spend time before and after the class with them to gain an understanding of what they like and don't like.
Demonstrate activities where possible; adopting a 'show and tell' approach is often the most simple and effective way to communicate.
Attentive supervision – ask children if they understand the instructions before performing the exercise/activity. Effective questioning technique will help you confirm their understanding. Focus on children at all times through supervision and encouragement.
Learn their names well! Ensure a safe environment for children to experience the workout in a positive manner.

When teaching kids to exercise effectively, we need to be highly aware of both what we say and do, and how we say and do it.

Until next eNews, stay healthy and happy to ya all Groovy Group Ex Instructors!

Kinnie Ho

WORKING WITH KIDS FITNESS
The Children’s Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine (CHISM) delivers an online training module for fitness professionals wishing to specialise in children’s fitness. The Plan and Deliver Exercise for Children and Young Adolescents (SRF CHA 001A) Certificate IV Specialisation Module is also accredited for 15 CECs with Fitness Australia. For more information, visit www.chw.edu.au where you can also click on the link to download the Kids in Gyms guidelines.

Nutrition News

Vitamin D boosts brain function in older age
Recent research from Europe has suggested that vitamin D may play an important part in keeping the brain functioning well in older age.

The European Male Ageing Study formed the basis of the research, with information being drawn from over 3,000 European males aged between 40 and 79 who were participants in the study. The men came from eight different European countries.

A selection of tests designed to measure memory, speed of information processing and mood and physical activity levels, were used to assess mental agility. Levels of Vitamin D, which is produced in skin exposed to sunlight and obtained through dietary sources such as fish, eggs and fortified milks and cereals, were then measured by taking blood samples.

An association was drawn between high circulating levels of vitamin D and high scores on memory and information processing tests. After adjustments were made to allow for mood and physical activity, however, the link was only evident in one of the two information processing tests. Correspondingly, a link was evident between low levels of vitamin D and poor scores. Levels of 35 nmol/litre or below marked the threshold of poorer performance.

The researchers noted that previous research had speculated upon a link between vitamin D deficiency and lower mental agility, but the new findings, which had added meat to the bones of that theory, had not enlightened them as to how the two are connected. One theory, however, is that vitamin D may increase hormonal activity or the protection of neurones and chemical signalling pathways.

Although the scale of the link between vitamin D and mental agility was not sizeable, the study authors speculated that, because of widespread vitamin D deficiency, especially in older people, significant benefits could be achieved if vitamin D supplements were used to hold at bay the effects of ageing on the brain.

Source: Journal Of Neurology Neurosurgery And Psychiatry

Cola excess can cause muscle weakness
Excessive cola drinking can cause a muscle-weakening condition known as hypokalemia, according to Greek research.

Hypokalemia causes a decrease in blood potassium levels, which affects muscle function. The Greek researchers conducted a review of individuals who consumed particularly large quantities of cola – between two and 9 litres per day.

The researchers highlighted the cases of two pregnant women admitted to hospital with low potassium levels. The first of these women, a 21-year-old, drank up to three litres of cola each day and reported feelings of fatigue, loss of appetite and persistent vomiting. Blood tests revealed she had low potassium levels, and an electrocardiogram showed a heart blockage. The second woman, with a 10-month history of consuming up to seven litres of cola daily, had low potassium levels and reported increasing muscular weakness.

After ceasing their cola consumption and receiving oral or intravenous potassium, both women made a speedy and full recovery.

Dr Moses Elisaf, of the University of Ioannina, said ‘We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before, and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralisation and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and there's increasing evidence that excessive cola consumption leads to hypokalemia’.

Referencing the three common ingredients in cola – glucose, fructose and caffeine – Elisaf continued; ‘The individual role of each of these ingredients in the pathophysiology of cola-induced hypokalemia has not been determined and may vary in different patients. However, in most of the cases we looked at for our review, caffeine intoxication was thought to play the most important role. This has been borne out by case studies that focus on other products that contain high levels of caffeine but no glucose or fructose’. He went on to say, however, that ‘caffeine-free cola products can also cause hypokalemia because the fructose they contain can cause diarrhoea’.

Source: International Journal of Clinical Practice

Club Corner

Snap Fitness announces expansion into Australia and New Zealand
Snap Fitness, the world’s fastest growing franchisor of compact, ‘24/7’ fitness facilities, has announced a partnership with a privately-held, Australian-based area development group headed by Rozlyn Barker, formerly of Goodlife Health Clubs, who has over 20 years experience in the health and fitness industry. The group is well-funded for its expansion goals and has plans to open between six and 10 locations in Australia and New Zealand by the end of 2009.

‘Australians are placing more importance on fitness than ever before’ said Barker; ‘The issue for many people is that they have trouble finding the time to workout, and many fitness clubs don’t offer a great deal of flexibility for members. Over the years other companies have attempted to mimic the company’s business model, but we are confident that anyone that steps foot in one of our clubs will be able to see the difference and understand what makes Snap Fitness the global leader in fast, convenient and affordable workouts across the globe’.

Launched in 2003, Snap Fitness, the world’s largest and fastest growing franchise featuring compact fitness facilities, currently has roughly 1,000 locations open and operating worldwide and projects to have more than 2,000 locations under development by the end of 2009. In addition to the US, Snap Fitness also currently operates clubs in Canada, India and Mexico.

Snap Fitness offers modern equipment, month-to-month memberships as opposed to long-term contracts, and allows memberships to be frozen for up to three months a year without penalty.

Snap Fitness Founder and CEO, Peter Taunton, said ‘We are thrilled to have Rozlyn and her team joining Snap Fitness, and even more excited to expand Snap Fitness on an international level into Australia and New Zealand. We are looking forward to fast growth throughout the country, and plan to open between 250 and 350 new clubs within the next five years’.

For more information visit www.snapfitness.com

Source: Fishman Public Relations

IHRSA Releases 2009 State of the Health Club Industry Report
The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has released its 2009 IHRSA Global Report: The State of the Health Club Industry. The report contains a thorough overview of the worldwide fitness industry, including the latest financial information and industry overview with analysis from independent clubs, large club chains, leading industry suppliers, club associations and federations.

‘Health club companies around the globe are prepared to take advantage of a rebounding economy, as 2008 totals indicated solid performance despite uncertain economic times. The resiliency of the health and fitness industry, led by operators and entrepreneurs, positions the industry strategically for the future’ said Jay Ablondi, IHRSA Executive Vice President of Global Products and Publisher, CBI Magazine. ‘While these are not ordinary times, the fact remains that there is simply no better industry in which to work or invest, than ours.’

With global totals of club memberships exceeding 117 million, IHRSA’s ‘One Hundred Twenty Million Members by 2010 Plan for Growth’ is fast approaching realisation. Launched in 1999 by IHRSA Director Emeritus, John McCarthy, IHRSA set a long-term initiative to promote exercise adoption and membership with the goal of 100 million health club members worldwide by 2010. In 2006, the bar was raised to reaching 120 million members by January 1, 2010.

Key findings in the report include:

The industry generated an estimated US$68.2 billion in total revenue, serving nearly 117.5 million members at more than 122,000 facilities worldwide, representing growth across the board from 2007 figures.
The North American fitness market has set the pace with its resiliency, demonstrating solid performance. Non-dues revenues, along with membership retention have been steadily climbing in the Canadian market.
Latin America, specifically Brazil, has shown consistent growth as business owners in these emerging markets improve their fitness operations and consumers’ willingness to pay for club memberships increases.
The European health club market generated US$33.3 billion in revenue in 2007, an increase of 16 per cent from 2006. Club units rose by 8.6 per cent, with memberships growing 4.6 per cent.
The growth of the Asia-Pacific market remains promising, with revenues, total facilities, and memberships increasing significantly.
The industry’s first quarter performance, which has shown it to be recession-resilient, indicates that is should fare better than many sectors of the global economy.

The ‘Industry Research’ section of the report includes information on the top ten global markets with details on industry revenue numbers, club totals, membership numbers and penetration rates, in addition to sections on the Americas, Asia Pacific and European markets. The ‘Company Profiles’ section highlights 200 leading club companies from around the world. The final section of the report includes supplier profiles, which provide clubs with useful information about products, services and software.

The 2009 IHRSA Global Report is available for purchase, in both print and PDF format, at the IHRSA web site www.ihrsastore.com.

Source: IHRSA

Announcements

Follow the Network team on Twitter
If, like us, you’ve added Twitter to your online social networking repertoire, then why not follow the short’n’sweet musings of the Network team? Once you’ve signed into your account, simply click on the ‘Find people’ tab and look for ‘ozfitnetwork’.

Twitter is a short messaging service that works with multiple networks and devices. Rather than being a conversational tool, the aim of Twitter is simply to let people know what you are up to. When so many of us are swamped with inboxes overflowing with e-mails that need answering, the beauty of Twitter is that users do not expect a response to their messages. And there’s no room for rambling long-windedness either – ‘tweets’ (as the messages are called) must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via the web, mobile texting or instant messaging.

So, to borrow Twitter’s tagline, what are you doing?

Groundbreaking study to cap the growing trend of type 2 diabetes in overweight adolescents
Researchers at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead are embarking on a groundbreaking new study to investigate whether a different dietary approach to insulin resistance in overweight adolescents can put the brakes on its progression to type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes affects 85 to 90 per cent of all people with diabetes. While it usually affects mature adults, younger people and children are increasingly being diagnosed. Often, people with type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and are overweight or obese.

The MBF Foundation funded the three-year $400,000 project, recognising increased medical and community concern about the growing number of overweight children being diagnosed with insulin resistance. Currently adolescents with insulin resistance are managed through a combination of exercise, diet in line with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, and medication, with the aim of preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Clinicians at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead are evaluating two diets, combined with an exercise program, for their effectiveness in turning the risk of this condition around. As a result of a growing body of evidence that amongst adults higher protein diets can more effectively reduce body fat and help control insulin levels, dietitians will investigate whether young people can similarly benefit from a high protein diet.

Dr Christine Bennett, MBF Foundation Steering Committee Chair and Chief Medical Officer of Bupa Australia, said that one in four young Australians are now overweight or obese (according to ‘The health and wellbeing of young Australians’ report by Australia21, 2008) and some of these will go on to develop type 2 diabetes if urgent action is not taken to manage this increasing problem; ‘Type 2 diabetes can be difficult to control and needs to be managed effectively. Complications are often present at diagnosis and can lead to heart and kidney disease appearing later in life. We can potentially save thousands of adolescents from this serious long term chronic condition’ she said; ‘We want to give our young people the best possible start to life and find the best way to help them deal with a difficult problem. With early intervention insulin resistance is potentially reversible, or at least the progression to type 2 diabetes can be delayed’.

The program will see 108 adolescents aged between 10 and 18 take part in a diet and exercise regime. Participants will follow one of two diets. The first will be based on the currently recommended Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, which is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. The second will follow a lower carbohydrate and increased protein diet.

‘Teen-friendly diet models will be used to enhance compliance with the aim of reducing insulin levels and helping young participants lose weight’ said Dr Sarah Garnett, Principal Researcher from the Westmead Children’s Hospital; ‘We believe the project is the first of its kind. There is little evidence currently available to establish the best diet to control insulin resistance in adolescents and the role of protein in the diet. This will tell us the advice we can give these kids that will actually work’.

The program involves an intensive three-month dietary intervention and a three month intensive gym and home-based exercise program. The participants will be followed-up for six months to measure the program’s effectiveness. Recruitment for the three-year study is already underway, with the first participants having started their exercise session at Fitness First.

Source: Crossman Communications

Ultra marathon around Australia to raise $1m for childhood cancer research
Imagine running through sand storms that rip the skin from your face or cycling for so long you get blisters on your bottom. Now picture enduring these conditions over 12,500km around Australia for three months.

Craig Goozee is not a famous athlete or celebrity, yet on 29 May 2009, he will set out on an ambitious ultra marathon called A2B4C in honour of his daughter, Jessica, who tragically passed away from cancer at the age of nine.

Goozee, an ambassador for Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research (CCIA), will start his journey at Australia Square, Sydney, and run, bike, and kayak 12,500km around Australia to Bennelong Point, the long way round.

His intention is to raise $1 million to support CCIA’s vital research into the causes, prevention, better treatments and cure of childhood cancer.

Goozee’s previous A2B4C marathons, in 1998 and 2000 raised over $650,000. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of Jessica’s death, Craig will go against the odds and set out, at age 45, on the biggest marathon of his life.

‘This is my third and final A2B4C marathon. Mentally and physically, this marathon requires more of me than I have ever given before but I’m very committed to completing it, for both the memory of Jessica and to honour the support already coming through from the community’ said Goozee.

‘Craig is an engaging and inspirational man. He has shown amazing courage and determination in everything he pursues, from his time as an undercover police detective, to a father who nursed his dying daughter’ said Dr Moira Clay, Associate Director at CCIA; ‘This A2B4C marathon is the super-human effort of a dad trying to make a difference. He is an ordinary man doing something quite extraordinary’.

Craig’s journey will take him to towns all around Australia, returning to Sydney towards the end of August. You can support Craig by calling 1800 682 536 or make a donation online at www.a2b4c.com.au

Source: Children’s Cancer Institute Australia

Service Skills Australia wants to hear from Australian fitness professionals
Service Skills Australia is calling for workers in the service industries to participate in a survey and contribute to the future direction of accredited training in Australia.

In 2008, Service Skills Australia conducted an online survey in which 90 per cent of respondents stated that their business provides on-the-job training. Service Skills is seeking to answer the question of whether employers and workers have different views on what training really means, and to explore how workers benefit from training.

The survey will provide information to the service industries about the value and uptake of on-the-job training and the awareness of accredited qualifications and certificates.

Participants, who must be employed in the service industry, have the chance to go in the draw to win a $250 gift voucher. The survey is completely anonymous and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.

For more information, or to complete the survey, go to www.serviceskills.com.au/surveys

Source: Service Skills Australia

Federal Government supports the 5th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport
The International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) recently marked one year to go until the official opening of the 5th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport and also announced the Australian Federal Government as an official partner contributing AU$100,000 to support the IWG Secretariat.

At the launch, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Sport, showed her great passion and engagement for women and sport, saying, ‘The Government is committed to promoting the role of women in sport and increasing recognition for women’s sporting achievements and this funding for the IWG Conference is a practical means of effecting change in this area’.

The Chair of the International Working Group on Women and Sport, Johanna Adriaanse, welcomed the move and stressed the importance of the government’s commitment for women and sport in Australia; ‘The conference will set a new benchmark in terms of a broad international audience, high profile keynote speakers and will leave a strong legacy for women’s sport in Australia. The objectives of the International Working Group on Women and Sport align well with the government’s policy to boost media presence for women in sport and to further encourage women to take responsibility in leadership positions’ she said.

The Federal Government complements the group of current conference supporters including NSW Sport and Recreation, the University of Technology Sydney, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Sport Employment Australia and Business Events Sydney.

Preparations for the conference, which aims to foster the promotion of opportunities for girls and women in sport and physical activity throughout the world, are well on track. The conference will be staged from 20 to 23 May 2010 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre as well as in Sydney Olympic Park. The program topics will be released in July 2009.

Source: International Working Group on Women and Sport

PT firefighter to feature in 2010 Calendar
Full-time firefighter and part-time personal trainer Blake Abbott, has been selected to feature in the 2010 Firefighters Calendar to help raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Burns unit.

Blake is also training hard to compete in the International World Police & Firefighters Games in New York in 2011; ‘This is the tenth anniversary of 911 and will be a massive event with teams competing from around the world at ground zero’ he said. Blake says his firefighter job and working at ME Fitness, as a personal trainer and Boot Camp facilitator, has helped to keep him in good shape; ‘My fitness levels not only benefit me on a work level, they transcend through to my family life. It's great to be able to keep up with kids – go bike riding, take them surfing, to the park or on a high wire ropes course, whatever’ he said.

It is particularly important for Blake to stay in shape for his firefighting role which is full of physical challenges; ‘You never know what you will encounter when you arrive at a job. House fires are intense and you are working in such a heightened state of alertness that 10, 20, 30 minutes work in full kit can really take it out of you. You have to be able to recover quickly and make use of the time you get as best you can, the fitter you are the more efficient you can be’ he said.

Blake runs boot camp classes twice a week which he says he loves as much as being a firefighter; ‘I think my military training – six years as an Army Physical Training Instructor – definitely helps. I am able to offer realism with the boot camps we run at Maximum Effort. Realism that comes from real time experience’.

Blake says he wanted to become a firefighter from an early age. Featuring in the calendar is an honour for him, but he is also happy he can contribute to raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Burns Unit and the firefighters games team.

The Firefighters Calendar has raised AU$650,000 for the Children’s Burns Unit at the Royal Brisbane Hospital since its inception. The 2010 Firefighter Calendar retails for ten dollars and is scheduled for release this August. Copies of the calendar will be available to purchase online at www.firefighterscalendar.com.au and at all The Coffee Club outlets.

Source: Invigorate Brand Management

Book review

Book title: Essentials of strength training and conditioning, 3rd Edition
Editors: Thomas R Baechle and Roger W Earle
Details: Hardback, 642 pages, published by Human Kinetics 2008
RRP: $131.45 (Discounted price available for Network members if purchased online at www.fitnessnetworkcentre.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0736058036)

In 1994, Human Kinetics published the first edition of this fabulous textbook. It was substantially revised for the second edition published in 2000. Now, the third edition has appeared, with more subtle changes. Just what has changed?

The information on performance enhancing substances has been expanded. The chapter on nutrition is more robust, so too testing protocols. The most dramatic change is the artwork and photographs. For coaches in possession of the 2nd Edition there is insufficient substantial change to warrant purchase of the third. For coaches not a proud owner, purchase is mandatory! This text has no rivals, no peers. It stands alone – the solitary giant – as the definitive source of scientific information on strength and conditioning. Thirty experts each with the alphabet beside their name, drawn from the diverse fields of anatomy, biochemistry, endocrinology, physiology and psychology et al, have compiled this authoritative classic. Let me tell you, it’s a daunting task to review a 600 page text book!

The ten heavy-going, hard yakka chapters contained in Section 1 ‘Concepts and Applications of the Exercise Sciences’ are indeed the science chapters. Contained within are explanations of the systems – neuromuscular, cardiovascular and respiratory. The endocrine response to Resistance Training (RT) is thorough in its exposition of hormonal changes due to the impact of training. Not all of the ten chapters are anatomical. Chapter four is devoted to the biomechanics of RT. Chapter nine is one of the big change chapters – ‘Performance Enhancing Substances’. The chapter discusses the illegal in dispassionate, informative terms and it espouses the benefits of the legal.

Section 3 has two chapters only – ‘Warm Up and Stretching’ and ‘Exercise Technique Fundamentals’. The theory for both warm up and stretching will be familiar to experienced coaches. Following the theoretical, common stretches are described and illustrated by colour photographs. PNF dominates the selection. What is comforting is the sanity of the stretches – no-one has to be a rubberised yoga master to complete the stretches recommended for the identified body zones.

An identical format is evident in the exercise technique chapter. The theory is safety-dominated; wearing belts, using spotters, lifting from the floor, etc. Over 40 pages of tried and true exercises are contained. Coaches completing Levels III and IV would find this chapter indispensible, with each exercise patiently described and illustrated.

Section 4, however, is what makes purchase mandatory. Six chapters have been assembled under the auspices of ‘Program Design.’ Chapter 15 is Resistance Training procedures – identify the need, select the exercise, determine the frequency, establish an exercise order, prescribe the reps and sets and advise the rest period – classic stuff, no fanfare, no nonsense. Chapter 16 is ‘Plyometric Training.’ Within the technical description of plyometric usage, sit sundry tables, seemingly one per page. The tables tabulate the stretch shortening cycle, drills for the lower body, appropriate volume and what to use in warm-up – once again it’s good, reliable advice. Forty plyometric drills follow, each illustrated by colour photographs and clear instruction. This book is thorough if nothing else.

The text may be entitled Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, but it’s a lot more than that. Chapter 17 is ‘Speed, Speed Endurance and Agility’ theory, technique and development. Ironically, weights do not feature, but erudite script does. It is the same with Chapter 18 ‘Aerobic Endurance Exercise Training’, a thin chapter about sweaty exertion via Lactate Threshold and not barbells.

Periodisation is next. The text presents standard stuff, but what is useful for coaches is the sample programs included. The remaining chapters in this mammoth book of 642 pages cover rehabilitation and reconditioning, the latter is long overdue. There are still two chapters to go and these are written for an American context of constructing the actual gymnasium and establishing policies and procedures for its members. ‘nuff said, this text speaks for itself.

BUY THIS SOLITARY GIANT – IT’S YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP.