Fitspott

E-Spinner - Interactive Exercise Bike To Encourage a New Legion of Spinners?

                              

As part of Fitspott's ongoing review of cool new products we discovered at this years Club Industry trade show, we introduce the eSpinner from Star-Trac. On the first day of the show I actually walked right passed the eSpinner on display as I thought it was just a regular spinning bike...boy was I wrong.

The e-Spinner removes the spinning bike from a class setting and out onto the cardio floor. For many people,  attending a spinning class is not always doable or even preferable. In some cases personal schedules do not coincide with a health clubs spinning  schedule, while in others individuals might not feel comfortable in a group class setting.  

The eSpinner is meant for users of any level or ability. The eSpinner has an embedded touch screen computer which features a virtual spinning master instructor. After inputting some basic information the computer builds a custom workout from literally thousands of rides between 20 and 60 minutes. The interace housing the computer also has a fan, a USB port and an ipod dock.

Workouts are led to a variety of dynamic music genres or users can choose their own audio/video content from their iPod. There is even a built-in TV to watch if they choose to build their own workout and train without the master trainer.

Source: e-Spinner Brochure

At the show I inquired about a home model of the eSpinner but did not get a definitive answer. It seems to me that the home version of the eSpinner would be a grand slam for Star Trac. 

In my experience the most popular home exercise equipment is either a treadmill or an elliptical machine. I could see a home version of the e-Spinner joining these ranks as it offers an experience unlike the other two. It will certainly be interesting to see the reaction of the eSpinner in health clubs as they roll it out to the masses.  

Listen to music while you exercise....and be fashionable at the same time?

                                      

If you have even the slightest interest in modern design you should do yourself a favor a subscribe to the RSS feed of Yanko Design. The site is ranked amongst the top 100 most read blogs by technorati.

It is fair to say that within every 3 or 4 posts there is a product that makes you say Holy #$%@! Yanko design must have either have an unbelievable research team or have hired the Fonz himself. They constantly report on the most innovative and "cool" existing products as well as those still in the conceptual stage. 

Fitspott was especially intrigued by a new concept recently posted on the Yanko Design blog. Designed by Gopinath Prasana, the the iBangle (the future design of the ipod?) is a thin piece of aluminum with a multi-touch track pad. To achieve the perfect fit, a cushion inside the ring inflates to keep itself taught against your wrist. Wireless headphones support the obstruction free design and all navigation is available on the bracelet itself.  

The ibangle has not hit the market yet but I am sure it will be a hit if it ever does. I can only imagine other companies licking their chops as they think of all the other accessories they would apply this concept to.

About Yanko Design                                                                                                                   Yanko Design is a web magazine dedicated to introducing the best modern international design, covering from industrial design, concepts, technology, interior design, architecture, exhibition and fashion. It’s about the cutting edge and the classic, the new and the rediscovered. It’s all about the best.

Source: Content and Image Source Yanko Design  

Managing the Stress of The Financial Crisis

It seems like every time the financial ticker on my computer refreshes, the major indexes keep changing back and forth from green to red. While I have heard many financial experts stating not to base the stability of the economy based solely on the stock market, the market flucuation is also accompanied by one story after another of company layoffs and other companies announcing they are going out of business altogether.

Unless you are completely financially insulated, there is no doubt that you are experiencing heightened levels of stress as we all wait to see where the dust will settle.

Question: Aside from consulting with a financial planner how can we manage the stress of this financial crisis?

Answer: You guesed it, get out there and exercise.

I can think of no better time to re-inforce the benefits of engaging in a health and fitness program to manage stress. Whether this means beating the stuffing out of a heavy bag, going for a run, hitting the weights or even taking a long walk, exercise can help you better cope during these frightening times. 

Not only will engaging in an exercise routine help to counteract some of the damaging effects caused by your bodies physiological response to stress, it will also help you to keep your head clear as you determine the most logical ways of handling your financial situation. 

If things really get as bad as some have predicted, health clubs will eventually be forced to modify their pricing or will unfortunately experience a significant decrease in their memberships. 

Fitspott is committed to helping our members become aware of all the options available to them. Instead of people just stopping their exercise programs because they cannot afford to continue paying a health club membership, they need to find alternatives that match their financial situation. Quitting should not be an option as it will only compound your problems.          

Kranking - Spinning For The Upper Body?

                                           

The title of this post may not be exactly accurate, however when I first approached the Krank Cycle demonstration at the Club Industry tradeshow, that was the thought that first popped into my head.

The Krank Cycle is basically an upper body ergometer with some very important distinctions. First and foremost, albeit probably not as important, it looks cooler than previous upper body ergometer's. The real difference of the Krank Cycle compared to its predecessor is the independent Krankarms.This patented modification eliminates the fixed position of the Kranks at 180º. Each arm can drive the Krankcycle, but one arm cannot assist the other. This forces the use of ALL of the muscles of the upper body in a balanced and coordinated fashion.  

The Krankcycle^®, envisioned by Johnny G and engineered by Carl Gramberg of Oxnard, California, adjusts in height from 41 to 47 inches, is 52 inches long, and weighs 135 lbs.  Its 21” x 52” footprint lets it be placed in three locations in the standard health-club model:  on the cardio floor, in the strength room, and in the group-fitness studio.

Research shows that arm cranking can develop upper bodies not only in strength and endurance, but also in performance ability and increased O2 absorption, increasing metabolism and overall vitality.

Image and Content Source: Krank Cycle Website

Fitspott did not take part in the group Kranking class at the show but did have an opportunity to test out the Krank Cycle. The independent Krankarms and group exercise setting could quite possibly redefine an exercise method that has been previously overlooked by most health members.

In my experience, upper body ergometers in health clubs have previously received little attention except for physical therapy patients or a few of the older adults. Based on the Krank Cycle demonstration at Club Industry, things are about to change.  

 

Inclusive Fitness Initiative

As promised, Fitspott will be reporting on various innovative companies and products we came across at the Club Industry Trade Show in Chicago. The first company in this series is actually a UK based company called Inclusive Fitness.

When I first approached their booth I was a little confused as they seemed to represent a number of different brands of equipment that already booths elsewhere in the exhibition hall. It was after a brief conversation with on the Inclusive Fitness representatives that I realized that all of the equipment was outfitted to accomodate special needs populations.

Whether a chair swiveled to allow a wheel chair participant to enter an upper body ergometer, or a treadmill that started at an extra slow speeds, the modifications to common commercial exercise equipment were compelling.

My conversation with the company's rep revealed that they were working with the US government to help standardize the protocol for health and fitness facilities as they relate to special needs populations.

Many years ago I was involved with a health club with a chair lift in one of our pools to help lower MS patients into the water. The response to this one simple device was amazing and helped  give people from all over Long Island an opportunity to do something previously thought impossible. I can only imagine the impact a company like Inclusive Fitness will have here in the US. Fitspott will definitely be following this company as they launch their efforts here in the United States.

Background of Inclusive Fitness

 

The Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) was created following research commissioned by the Gary Jelen Sports Foundation in 1998, analysing why disabled people weren’t visiting fitness facilities. 

 

Gary Jelen, MBE is perhaps best known for his powerlifting achievements, winning medals on a national and international stage.  Gary also has a learning difficulty and initially found it difficult to find a training venue or a coach willing to accommodate his needs.  It is this experience that provides the inspiration for the IFI and the desire of the project to ensure that disabled people irrespective of geography or impairment can have access to an inclusive fitness facility. 

 

The IFI model is a relatively simple concept yet at the projects inception in 1998 was new to virtually all fitness providers.  The model centres on developments in four key areas:

• The development of accessible and inclusive environments
• The installation of fitness equipment accessible for disabled people
• Ensuring that staff have the required skills to be able to cater for the needs of disabled people
• Ensuring that facilities understand how to target and communicate effectively with the disability market

These four components ensure that the IFI and associated projects and products stimulate a programme of continuous improvement, placing the focus upon more than just accessible buildings and driving forwards the concept of a truly inclusive service. 

The IFI now boasts a range of past and current projects, a fee paying accreditation scheme and a range of partnerships and developments at home and overseas.  It is the aim of the IFI to have launched 1000 inclusive fitness facilities across the UK by the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London.  This target is ambitious, yet achievable in the context of the industry’s fresh approach to provide an inclusive service and the drive of all partners involved in the initiative.

Source: Inclusive Fitness Website

Club Industry 2008 in Chicago Day 2

Day 2 at the 2008 Club Industry show in Chicago was much quieter than the first day. When I first got to the exhibit hall I actually wondered if the show was cancelled because there was nobody else in the hallway entrance. 

While the crowd was significantly less than the first day, I was able to have much more detailed conversations, even with companies we met with briefly the day before. The general consensus was that a company like Fitspott is very much needed to help bring the very large and convoluted health and fitness industry together. 

There are so many cool products, services and information that never find their intended target because the industry is just so large and fragmented. Not everyone has the ability to visit a trade show to be introduced to all that is available. 

As a result of the show, Fitspott has identified some additional opportunities to be integrated into our platform. It is more apparent than ever that the health and fitness industry needs a beacon to help the abundance of products, services and information more effectively reach their target audience.

As a side note, the architecture in Chicago was quite diverse and very interesting. There was actually an architectural boat tour that travelled through the canals of the downtown area, pointing out some of the cooler buildings.

The picture above was taken in Millenium park. It reveals a sculpture dubbed the Chicago Bean created by Anish Kappor.

Chicago Illinois - The Cloud Gate Sculpture at Millennium Park: "The Bean"
Cloud Gate is British artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor work installed in the United States. The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city's famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a "gate" to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives.

Source: CirrusImage.com 

Club Industry 2008 - Day 1

As we mentioned in our last post fitspott was heading off to the windy city to attend the 2008 Club Industry trade show. The goal of the trip was to introduce Fitspott to some of the biggest and most innovative companies in the health and fitness industry.

The first day of the show was very productive and we received a lot of positive feedback from our meetings. While the show was a little smaller than previous Club Industry shows we have attended, the exhibition hall was definitely ripe with new product releases.

As we mentioned before the show, there is always a subtle theme that seems to emanate from every show. This year the theme was fitness products and services focused on the youth fitness market. Aside from the major equipment companies, some of the biggest and most exciting exhibits were by these exer-gamer companies.  

I spent quite a bit of time watching the reaction of the non-stop flow of traffic to these exhibits. It was interesting to see the number of people that had no problem rolling up their sleeves and interacting with these active gamer products. I could not help but think that if the adults were having this much fun on the equipment, it is really going to be a homerun with kids.

All the exergamer and youth fitness companies seemed to agree that it was important that they work together to spread the research detailing the effectiveness of their products in fighting youth obesity. They also seemed to be very excited about working with a platform like Fitspott to help maximize the reach of their message. 

I am getting ready to head back for Day 2 of the show...tune in tomorrow for an update.

New 2008 Health and Fitness Guidelines are Released By the US Government

On October 7th the Department of Human & Health Services released the 2008 health and fitness guidelines for Americans. The guidelines are a result the first thorough review of scientific research about physical activity and health in more than a decade. A 13-member advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt reviewed research and produced an extensive report.  

The report makes recommendations on the ways that Americans can fit exercise into their daily schedule with activities they can enjoy. It also describes the benefits that prolonged exercise can have for participants.

The guidelines are broken down into groups such as: Children and Adolescents, Adults, Older Adults, Women During pregnancy, Adults with Disabilities and people with Chronic Medical Conditions. 

Source: HHS Press Release

Fitspott will post these guidleines on our site and we wil do our part to update the available options to achieve them. As everyone has different likes/dislikes, time availability, equipment available, etc. it is important that these guidelines are supported by a variety of specific suggestions. It is our responsibilty as health and fitness professionals to understand these guidelines and help to encourage our clients and members to adhere to them.

Fitspott will be attending Club Industry 2008 in Chicago

Members of the Fitspott team will be heading to Chicago at the end of the week to attend the 2008 Club Industry trade show. The show brings together some of the biggest product and service providers of the entire health and fitness industry.

The Club Industry trade shows are always interestin as many companies use them as a venue to introduce new products. The show is also a very good way to get a pulse on new health and fitness trends that are coming up the pike. Every show seems to offer a subtle theme that permeates throughout the health and fitness industry for months after the show.

I have heard great things about the city of Chicago and hope to get some time to do a little exploring between meetings. In the days leading up to the show we are finalizing our meeting schedule, but are happy to squeeze in additional meetings if companies have an interest.

We will be reporting live from the show on Friday and Saturday. Tune in for what's new and exciting in the world of health and fitness.

How will the Health and Fitness Industry be affected during the Financial Crisis?

Just how bad the financial crisis will get is anyones guess. It is certainly very frightening when almost every single analyst predicts we are heading into a deep recession.

As a health and fitness professional, several questions come to mind. How will the financial crisis affect the health and fitness industry? Are there any opportunites that might emerge as a result of this crisis? How do I protect my current clientele?

The answers to these questions are probably dependent on just how bad things actually get. If people lose their jobs, it is probably fair to say that their discretionary income will be diverted away from health club memberships and personal training sessions. Even if people keep their jobs, the fear of the unknown might also result in a curb of spending on anything that is not considered a bare necessity.

Only time will tell when we have actually reached the bottom of the stock market nose dive. With that said, one fact is apparent even now. The uncertainty in the economy is causing an awful lot of increased stress for the majority of the American population. It does not take a rocket scientist to predict that these increased stress levels will result in an increase in health issues if not managed properly.  

Health and fitness professionals will walk a delicate balance between realizing their services are more valuable than ever and many people not being able to afford them. 

Fitspott believes that the financial crisis will offer opportunities to those health and fitness professionals that can think outside the box and understand how to market themselves and their ideas. How will you adapt your business to compete during this financial crisis?