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COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of digital fitness solutions, pushing the exercise industry toward a hybrid model. People will still attend brick-and-mortar gyms when the pandemic is over, but digital fitness classes will have increased their foothold in the market.

More people turned to digital fitness solutions when quarantine orders closed fitness centers in March. Companies that had previously made a stir in the digital fitness space experienced a surge of interest at the onset of COVID-19, and businesses that had offered passes to brick-and-mortar fitness studios before COVID-19 shifted to provide access to virtual, pre-recorded, and live studio classes.

For example, according to Evercore ISI analyst Lee Horowitz, Peloton app downloads were five times higher in March than February. Peloton also reported a 77% increase in quarterly revenue at the end of December.

Likewise, Mindbody, a tech platform that connects people to exercise, health, and wellness solutions, launched a proprietary solution to allow users streaming fitness classes to bypass Zoom. According to their research, 46% of survey participants plan to keep taking virtual classes after gyms reopen.

Just as COVID-19 accelerated and forced the adoption of telemedicine in healthcare; it seems that it will also accelerate the adoption of at-home digital fitness.

Of course, the adoption of digital fitness solutions is not surprising. Many experts believed that the future of fitness was headed this way anyway, with pioneering companies like Peloton, MIRROR, Mindbody, Tonal, and NordicTrack paving the way.

Not all fitness centers weathered the pandemic well. Likely, anyone who has a YMCA membership received several emails asking them to donate their membership payments throughout the epidemic.

The YMCA lost $800 million in revenue between April and May. Several branches have shut down, with at least two closures planned for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and more likely to follow.

COVID-19's impact on the YMCA is a major one, as many parents rely on the Y for child care. The YMCA is an essential provider of preschool and before-and-after school child care programs, and a program that offers child care during school breaks.

But, the Y wasn't the only fitness center to take a hit during the quarantine.

Gold's Gym and 24-Hour Fitness suffered severe blows. Both companies filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy between May and June and cited COVID-19 as the reason for their filings. Gold's Gym is likely to close 50% of its nonfranchise locations, and 24-Hour Fitness plans to close about 30% of its studios permanently.

New York Sports Club and other companies also ushered financial concerns during the quarantine.

COVID-19 led to an increase in digital fitness classes. It pushed much of the health and wellness space online, with health coaches, personal trainers, and doctors offering more virtual consultations than before. But, now that gyms have the green light to reopen, what's in store for fitness?

The forced break for gym-goers prompted a variety of responses. Some claim they'll never go back to the gym, and others are delighted to be back now that gyms are open again.

Chances are the future will remain a hybrid of digital and in-person fitness solutions.

Digital classes have made exercise more accessible for many. Yet, there are still certain aspects of in-person fitness that digital fitness has yet to replicate. For instance, despite many strategies to replicate community in online fitness classes, there's still something special about meeting people in-person for a workout, and some things, such as swimming laps, will always be challenging for most people to do at home.

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MultiBrief: How COVID-19 is changing the exercise industry - MultiBriefs Exclusive

MINNETONKA, Minn. (KAMR/KCIT) According to a study released on July 29, More than two-thirds of Americans surveyed who work out said walking has been their preferred exercise option amid COVID-19, while one in five said that the pandemic has encouraged them to improve their eating habits.

The 2020 UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey, which examines peoples opinions about health topics and preferences, includes key findings such as:

As for job performance among those who said the wellness programs made a positive impact, 54% of employees interviewed said that the initiatives helped reduce stress; 51% said that they improved productivity; 31% said they took fewer sick days. Among employees without access to those programs, 71% said they would be interested in such initiatives if they were offered.

Now is an opportune time for Americans to make an investment in their health, with employers in a crucial role to foster healthy habits among employees in the workplace and while working from home, said Rebecca Madsen, UnitedHealthcare chief consumer officer, The UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey highlights the importance of implementing robust well-being programs that may foster whole-person health, reduce absenteeism and curb care costs.

Complete survey results can be found here.

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Study: Walking ranks as the preferred exercise option for the majority of Americans amid COVID-19 - KAMR - MyHighPlains.com

Girls on the Run Greater Boston is open for registration.Executive director Olivia Mathews said both in-person and virtual programs are being offered depending on location.She said during the pandemic, getting kids moving is more important than ever."We all know, as grownups, the connection between your physical health and your mental health," Mathews said.Running is typically a big part of the program, but she said empowering girls has always been the main goal."Girls participate twice a week, she said. They go through a very specific curriculum that has been evaluated to be effective at helping them to be confident and have skills to stand up for themselves and what's important."Roopal Patel has been coaching for three years, ever since her daughter Anya got involved."We always start out with kind of a vision (that) we share with them (a) little subject area, Patel said. It could be about friendship. It could be about confidence."Her daughter said the program makes the exercise more fun.I'm running the track, but I'm still having fun and learning new things," she said.With teams in many different communities, this years program will look different depending on local COVID-19 guidelines.Mathews described what the remote option will look like."If you can't get out to run the laps if you have to be in your house, it's five-minute intervals is a lap five minutes of exercise of any kind."The Girls on the Run program begins in the 3rd grade and Mathews said thats intentional."There are statistics that are staggering about how girls self-confidence typically declines starting at age 9, Mathews said. Their physical activity level starts to decline at age 10."Patel said Girls on the Run is not about competition, just encouragement."It's not all of it's about running, Patel said. It's about having fun, being active and being confident in whatever it is that you can do."You can find more information about Girls on the Run Greater Boston here.

Girls on the Run Greater Boston is open for registration.

Executive director Olivia Mathews said both in-person and virtual programs are being offered depending on location.

She said during the pandemic, getting kids moving is more important than ever.

"We all know, as grownups, the connection between your physical health and your mental health," Mathews said.

Running is typically a big part of the program, but she said empowering girls has always been the main goal.

"Girls participate twice a week, she said. They go through a very specific curriculum that has been evaluated to be effective at helping them to be confident and have skills to stand up for themselves and what's important."

Roopal Patel has been coaching for three years, ever since her daughter Anya got involved.

"We always start out with kind of a vision (that) we share with them (a) little subject area, Patel said. It could be about friendship. It could be about confidence."

Her daughter said the program makes the exercise more fun.

I'm running the track, but I'm still having fun and learning new things," she said.

With teams in many different communities, this years program will look different depending on local COVID-19 guidelines.

Mathews described what the remote option will look like.

"If you can't get out to run the laps if you have to be in your house, it's five-minute intervals is a lap five minutes of exercise of any kind."

The Girls on the Run program begins in the 3rd grade and Mathews said thats intentional.

"There are statistics that are staggering about how girls self-confidence typically declines starting at age 9, Mathews said. Their physical activity level starts to decline at age 10."

Patel said Girls on the Run is not about competition, just encouragement.

"It's not all of it's about running, Patel said. It's about having fun, being active and being confident in whatever it is that you can do."

You can find more information about Girls on the Run Greater Boston here.

Original post:
5 for Good: Girls on the Run seeks to empower, boost activity during pandemic - WCVB Boston

Photo credit: NordicTrack; Erica Murphy

From Best Products

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.

On Trial: NordicTrack RW900 Rowing Machine

Tester: Erica Murphy, a novice rower looking to switch up my exercise routine

The Brief: Over the past year, I've been seeing more and more articles about the full-body benefits of rowing. Because it's a low-impact cardio option, it places less stress on your joints, which means that you can exercise harder and longer than during high-intensity workouts. Even though rowing is low-impact, you can still get all the cardiovascular and fat-burning benefits you'd get from a more strenuous workout. So when I got the chance to test out NordicTrack's RW900, I jumped at the opportunity.

The biggest misconception about rowing is that it's just an upper-body workout. Spoiler alert: You actually use 86% of muscle groups during a rowing workout. Rowing targets quite the array of muscle groups including the shoulders, back, biceps, and core, according to director of iFit training, Mecayla Froerer, NASM CPT. Proper technique during the rowing stroke can really help engage the core muscles, which will in turn help improve posture."

Froerer says that rowing is also a great sport to build strong legs. I can attest: After using the rower a few days in a row, my hamstrings were feeling the burn.

NordicTrack uses iFit for their interactive personal training, and the program features olympic rowers, certified trainers, and more (in total, the program offers access to more than 130 trainers!). Their iFit program is the biggest way that NordicTrack differentiates themselves from the soon-to-be crowded boutique at-home workout space. It offers in-class experiences, but it's the on-location classes that truly make exercising a fun experience.

Want to row in Slovenia's Lake Bled? You can do that. Are you interested in supplementing your rowing workout with a bodyweight segment on the beaches in California? You can do that, too. The locations make every class interesting, and you don't feel like you're working out at home.

Story continues

This also means that you need to give yourself an extra 5 minutes to browse through all the choices, because there are a TON. In addition to studio and on-location rowing classes, iFit also gives you access to warm-up and cool-down plans, yoga classes, HIIT classes, and even running classes. The rower comes with a year-long iFit membership, so you'll have a solid amount of time to try out the various programs and workouts.

Now let's talk about the actual machine.

When fully extended, the rower measures 7 feet, 2.5 inches long. But it was designed with saving space in mind and folds in half for easy storage. When folded, it takes up roughly 3 feet of floor space. If you're wondering how big that really is, it fits in my NYC apartment both extended and folded up. Folding the rower up and down does take some getting used to, so I'd recommend practicing it a few times if you plan on keeping it folded when not in use.

The RW900 comes with a 22-inch HD Smart Touchscreen, and it's just as clear as any other screen I've used on home workout equipment (The Mirror, Peloton, SoulCycle, to name a few.) The screen is adjustable to turn to the right and left, which helps if you're doing a class that's a combination of rowing and HIIT. The screen doesn't tilt up and down it hasn't been a huge issue, but just something to note.

Because this rower does feature a screen to give you access to all that iFit has to offer, the price falls in line with other luxury at-home exercise machines. The RW900, which is the highest-end rower that NordicTrack offers, will set you back roughly $1,800. NordicTrack does offer a payment plan to lower the upfront cost.

Engineered with an inertia-enhanced flywheel, the rowing mechanism is smooth and relatively quiet. It also comes with 26 resistance levels, so you can up the ante as you progress with your rowing abilities.

As far as sound goes, two amplified speakers help crank it up pretty good. But there's also an auxiliary music port for headphones so you won't wake up your neighbors while going all-out at 30 strokes per minute.

Closing Argument: According to Froerer, Rowing is a great form of exercise for people of all ages and can provide a great workout for the novice and pro alike. I started out rowing roughly a month ago and still feel like a novice, but I can tell that my body is getting stronger and more toned, and its a workout Im definitely keeping in my rotation.

Shop RW900

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This Rowing Machine Helped Me Travel to Lake Bled Without Ever Leaving My Home - Yahoo Lifestyle

Those with an active lifestyle or looking to lose weight or build muscles can benefit from home exercise equipment when they are not doing laps in the pool, running miles outdoors, or working up a sweat in the gym. In todays modern technology, you have various options from a treadmill, elliptical, cable rows, and so on. Those that you think you can only access in the gym are now easily accessible for home use. But if youre on the lookout for a great machine that specifically targets certain physical areas then the V-Form Trainer is for you.

The problem when it comes to home workouts though is the lack of proper guidance. You have to settle for self-motivation or mediocre rehearsed prompts coming from home exercise videos. Whereas in the gym, you have a trainer who checks your form, counts your reps, and gives you a power boost.

This is where advancements in technology come in to make your home fitness journey more interesting, fun, and exciting. Built-in AI or sensors on exercise machines have become useful in the absence of a physical one-on-one trainer. The AI records your progress, monitors your form, and basically acts as your workout guide.

The V-Form Trainer is a smart home gym equipment that provides strength training workouts to help you work on that muscle or tone. Inspired by Leonardo DaVincis drawing of the ideal human physique, it targets certain body areas so you achieve the perfect form.

The V-Form Trainer runs on electricity and only needs four square meters of floor space and easily and neatly stores away. It boasts sleek ergonomic aesthetics with its 55lb carbon fiber platform coupled with a smooth charcoal finish. It features customizable LEDs that respond to your force load.

Forget the dumbbells and other weight training tools that seem more dangerous and unreliable when it comes to home workouts. They scream accidents when you do lifts or bench presses without assistance. The V-Form Trainer takes the hassle and burden out of carrying and weighing metal plates. Instead, automatically adjusted resistance cables provide you with the needed weight at a max load of 200kg (450lb).

This home gym equipment uses an adaptive force algorithm that takes the guesswork out of weight training. The technology manages load so the cables adjust accordingly to your strength capacity and tendencies across the range of movement. This means you still have to exert serious force as the machine encourages you to aim for a harder, stronger, and healthier workout.

All the while, the V-Form Trainer logs your overall performance for comparisons and encouragement. You are always in the know with improvements and achievements.

The V-Form Trainer works with a companion Bluetooth app that syncs with your phone through the machines QR code. It provides access to programs, exercises that target different muscle groups: lifts, presses, curls, squats, and coached sessions and classes. It even offers diet management guides and Core brand classes including V-Flow for recovery, V-Strength, V-Burn, V-Booty, and yoga.

The smart app lets you customize workout plans and provides immersive virtual training sessions, track performance data, and optimize progress. It also lets you share BPs and encourage others on the V-Form Family to hit their goals or top your achievement.

The V-Form Trainer makes bulky, heavy metal bars and plates seem obsolete. Its an intuitive machine that effectively hones your strengths and saves time on changing weights. It provides full-body workouts in a compact size that takes little floor space and minimal tools.

Learn More Here

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The V-Form Trainer Is An Intuitive Strength Training Machine - Men's Gear

These LIVESTRONG.com readers all saw results with Noom.

Image Credit: Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

You've heard it a hundred times: Anything that sounds too good to be true when it comes to weight loss probably is. But when every weight-loss program out there promises undeniable results, how do you know which ones are legit and which ones are just marketing spin?

The key is looking at people's real-life experiences, which is why we asked LIVESTRONG.com readers across the Unites States to share the weight-loss approach that worked for them.

One standout? Noom, the psychology-based weight-loss program that emphasizes adjusting habits to help people lose weight and keep it off. Keep reading to hear what three LIVESTRONG.com readers had to say about how this weight-loss approach fit into their lifestyles.

Michele Giannini | Clinton Township, New Jersey

Giannini lost 28 pounds using Noom, which she credits to the psychology behind the program.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Working long hours in an office environment for over 20 years and having two children, my weight had crept up. I would get inspired and do cleanses or extreme diets that severely restricted one food group. I would lose weight, but always gain it back (and then some) when not adhering to the strict guidelines.

I also enjoyed workouts such as CrossFit or other high-intensity workouts. I'd get really into a program and inevitably get injured. I had a high-stress job and life in general, and I noticed a year or two ago that even my workouts made me feel more stressed. I would get stronger and more fit, but generally not lose weight. Nothing ever felt right long-term. Nothing seemed sustainable.

In February, I saw an ad online for a free trial for Noom. I loved it right off the bat and signed up for a membership. I set my goal at 135 pounds, which was about 22 pounds from where I started. Once I reached that goal, I set another five-pound goal. In total, I've lost about 28 pounds, and my lifetime goal is to maintain within five pounds of my current weight.

The major difference for me was the psychology behind Noom. The articles I'd read daily and the quizzes and self-assessments taught me so much. My thoughts completely changed regarding food and exercise. I learned why I ate the things I ate, and when, and how much. And because I am more concerned with movement over exercise, I'm enjoying walks and other gentler exercises that alleviate my stress rather than add to it. I feel so strong and healthy and I've never received so many compliments. The impact has truly been immeasurable, and I love how I'm now able to inspire others.

Nolan Carlson | West Fargo, North Dakota

Carlson loves that Noom focuses on education around food, not eliminating specific foods from your diet.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

I've tried a number of different diets, but ultimately they've resulted in short-term progress. I was looking for an app-based program so I always had it with me, and when I saw the commercial for Noom I thought I'd give it a try. I've been using it for about two months now, and I've lost 10 pounds.

Noom is different from other diets I've tried because it uses a plan based on caloric density. It doesn't eliminate foods from your diet, but instead educates you on why certain choices are more beneficial for you than others. Noom also gets into the psychology and physiology of dieting and cravings why your body signals you to eat at certain times, and why you feel urges to binge or grab something salty or sweet. Every day has reading lessons to help you make smarter choices, and you have the opportunity to share with a personal coach or a group.

Some of my favorite things about the Noom program are the daily weigh-ins, logging my food and the fact that I can still eat a wide variety of foods without starving myself or being on a non-sustainable diet.

The program works, but it still requires discipline. That's the key to any diet. Any diet is only as good as the person willing to follow it. Much of my lack of progress is a result of me ignoring the lessons Noom has shared.

Loretta Flynn | Warrenton, Virginia

"Noom helped me understand my relationship with food better than any other method Ive tried," says Flynn.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

I've been trying to lose 10 pounds all my life, with limited success. I was looking at weight-loss programs on the internet when COVID-19 first hit in March, and when Noom popped up, it said that they were giving free memberships because they didn't want anyone who was struggling to not have a resource that could help them. Since many people didn't have an income at that time, I thought that was really big of them to do. So I signed up and paid the fee as a donation.

I lost six pounds in my first six weeks of using Noom, and I love it because the sense of humor in the daily readings makes them educational but also entertaining, so you look forward to them. I also love that it doesn't dictate any particular foods. All foods are allowed, they just educate you on which ones are going to be more filling for you, and which ones are going to help you stay on your goal path better. Plus, every once in a while they'll send you a message that says, "You've been working hard, why don't you have a treat today?" Which is really nice, instead of saying, "Cookies are bad, don't eat them."

In fact, it doesn't label any foods as "good" or "bad," which was a huge breakthrough for me. I love potato chips, and Noom would say, "Potato chips are potato chips. They are neither good nor bad. Potato chips have a lot of sodium. Do you want to intake a lot of sodium today?" You can answer that question however you want, without feeling guilty for eating a "bad" food. It takes the emotion out of it.

Overall, Noom is different from other diets I've tried because it's not so much a diet as a journey to understand your eating patterns and how to break them. It challenges you to question why you crave the things you crave, which is important because for sustainable weight loss you need to change your eating habits, and that starts with understating your motivations. If you can identify, "I'm eating this because I'm stressed," the next time you're stressed you might make a different decision about food. Or you might not. But at least you have the information. Noom helped me understand my relationship with food better than any other method I've tried.

Want to try it? Noom gives you the support and tools you need to stay focused on your weight-loss goals. Try Noom today.

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This Is the Weight-Loss Program That Actually Worked for LIVESTRONG.com Readers Across the Country - LIVESTRONG.COM

Getting an internship in college can enhance a students traditional learning experience, according to uindy.edu. Jordan Grino and Aria Warren, two University of Indianapolis alumni who graduated with degrees in exercise science in August, were placed at GiGis Playhouse to intern this past summer. Professor of Exercise Science and Internship Coordinator Jill Dempsey assigned internships, and she placed students where she believed theyd succeed, according to Grino.

[Dempsey] worked like crazy to find places that would accept virtual interns, and since it was so hard to find a place for everyone, she just chose, Grino said. She knows all the students pretty well, so she picked based on what she thought they would like.

GiGis Playhouse is a nonprofit that supports families that have children and adults with Down syndrome, and their mission is to help families network, according to http://www.gigisplayhouse.org. According to their website, this is achieved through educational programs, social skill development programs, and supplemental programs that help develop fine and gross motor skills. This summer, they were online, and that had new challenges for them, Warren said.

It turned out to be all online, and they still had almost all their participants showing up, so it just showed how important GiGis is to them, Warren said. It is really important for them just learning new skills and getting to be around each other and have fun.

Grino said she found numerous ways to implement her exercise science background. She helped with a program called GiGiFIT and created a warm-up routine for them, Grino said.

Warren was involved with GiGis kitchen and helped them make food, according to Warren. She helped them make smoothies and gluten-free recipes, Warren said.

With the GiGis kitchen [program], I used more of our sports nutrition stuff that we do with exercise science think about the different nutrients and stuff they would need, Warren said.

Warren was able to broaden her horizons and help with programs she normally would not have if it werent for GiGis Playhouse, Warren said. Since everything was fully online, they helped with a plethora of activities. Surprisingly enough, Warren said favorite parts of the internship were not even exercise-science related.

Warren got to assist in helping GiGis put on a virtual theater show. The participants worked on facial expressions and practiced how to interact with each other, Warren said. According to Warren, this helped the participants gain a lot of confidence.

The theater program was definitely my favorite, which I was surprised about because I never really have been into theater stuff, but just seeing all the participants gaining confidence in the theater, Warren said. They were so happy to be there, and it impacted all of us.

According to Grino, her favorite activity was the movie club because she had the opportunity to develop with different activities and discussions to lead with the group. During this time, she got a lot of time to talk and have fun with the participants, Grino said.

Overall, their experiences with GiGis Playhouse were positive, Warren said. Even though it wasnt quite what they were expecting, they gained an amazing experience.

I think it was a really good experience for me to have going into physical therapy because Im going to work with people of all different ages and everything, Warren said. I dont know where I want to specialize for sure, but I could definitely see myself doing that in the future.

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Alumni intern remotely at GiGi's Playhouse The Reflector - The Reflector Online

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in four adults age 65 and older, report falling each year. About 37% of those who fall reported needing medical treatment or restriction in activity afterward. Siobhan McMahon, Ph.D., MPH, with the University of Minnesota School of Nursing explains how physical activity in older adults can help prevent falls and related injuries.

Q: What are the risk factors for injurious falls among older adults?Q: What are the risk factors for injurious falls among older adults?

Prof. McMahon: There are several risk factors for injurious falls that can be modified, some more significant than others. For example, changes in walking gait, and balance and strength are significant, interrelated risks. Other risk factors include pain, visual changes (e.g., cataracts), the use of medications that increase fall-risk, osteoporosis, postural hypotension, and environmental hazards (e.g., poor lighting, thick carpet).

Q: How does physical exercise help prevent falls in older adults and related injuries?

Prof. McMahon: According to a 2019 study, physical exercise that focuses on strength and balance is the one intervention that has been found to reduce injurious falls on its own. Performing these physical exercises at least three times per week helps to build and maintain a persons balance and leg strength. In turn, better balance and leg strength make it easier to walk on uneven surfaces and to correct slips, trips or stumbles.

Q: What can friends, family, health care providers and caregivers do to help prevent or reduce the risk of falls?

Prof. McMahon: Partner to do four things on a regular basis. The first and most effective thing to do is to encourage and support movement and the inclusion of leg-strengthening and balance-challenging movements into everyday life and adjusted according to personal ability and preferences. There are many videos and programs (e.g., Silver Sneakers) available online to help people get started at home. Many people do these exercises with others, but remotely, such as over the phone or through Zoom. Second, get annual eye exams. These are important because they enable an eye doctor to identify and help people manage eye problems that are associated with falls (e.g., cataracts). Third, regularly check and ensure that environmental hazards are minimized (e.g., correct dim lighting, clear clutter) and that aids are readily available when needed (e.g., bathroom grab bars). Finally, self-assess risk factors for injurious falls and discuss that assessment with primary care providers. The CDC has a brochure that guides this assessment titled Stay Independent.

Q: How has education on fall prevention changed with the pandemic?

Prof. McMahon: During the pandemic, the need for prevention efforts have not changed they are still critical. However, several programs have paused because they rely on gatherings of six or more individuals in one location. Fortunately, education and fall prevention efforts can be done independently and at home. Also, some programs have successfully shifted to delivery via telephone or computer. For example, Juniper and Fairview have shifted the Tai Ji Quan balance program to Zoom. Hopefully, more fall prevention programs and efforts will adapt to COVID-19-related restrictions so they are accessible to all older adults with fall risk.

Q: How is your research working towards improving fall prevention in older adults?

Prof. McMahon: My research builds on the evidence that balance and strength physical exercises reduce falls. This evidence provides healthcare professionals with knowledge about which physical exercises to promote. However, despite efforts to disseminate this knowledge, most older adults do not perform these physical exercises. One reason for this is that little is known about which strategies motivate older adults to exercise regularly. Due to this, my research focuses on developing and identifying strategies that can be used by nurses and other healthcare professionals to help older adults stay motivated and include fall-reducing physical activities into their everyday life.

Siobhan McMahon is an associate professor in the School of Nursing and a cooperative member of Adult and Gerontological Health. Her research focuses on promoting health and wellness in older adults, especially those at risk of falling. McMahon develops community-based physical activity and fall prevention interventions for older adults. Her current study assesses the relative effects of behavior change strategies on older adults physical activity.

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Talking...with U of M is a resource whereby University of Minnesota faculty answer questions on current and other topics of general interest.

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Talking "Fall prevention in older adults through physical activity", with the U of M - Brainerd Dispatch

Peloton Interactive (NASDAQ:PTON) has enjoyed surging demand as the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a boom for in-home exercise equipment. In the quarter that ended June 30, revenue soared 172% year over year to reach $607.1 million, and the company closed out the period with 3.1 million members -- up from a user base of 1.4 million in the prior-year period.

Impressive sales momentum and a business model that looks perfectly situated for the era of social distancing have translated into stellar stock performance. And the exercise innovator recently made moves that could spur more big gains for its share price.

A Peloton treadmill. Image source: Peloton.

Peloton recently announced it will be reducing prices for its core bike line from $2,195 to $1,895, or roughly 15%. The company also announced the Peloton Bike+, which costs $2,495 and includes a larger screen, improved speakers, and resistance levels that adapt automatically to workout programs.The company is also rolling out a new treadmill that's significantly less expensive than its current model -- while the existing Tread+ model costs $4,295, the upcoming Tread model will debut at $2,495.The Bike+ launched Sept. 9, and the Tread will debut late this year in the U.K. and next year in the U.S., Canada, and Germany.

While reducing the price of its base exercise bike and introducing a new premium bike will likely be catalysts for the company, it's the Tread that has the biggest potential to drive growth. It will put the company in much better position to grow its business in the category, and should pave the way for growth in high-margin subscription sales. While hardware is a core part of Peloton's business, its subscription-based content is a big part of the company's growth story and what makes the stock intriguing.

Introducing a lower-cost of treadmill will result in lower gross margins in the near term, but it could be hugely beneficial by boosting gross margins over time. The company's subscription content has its best gross margins by far (56.8% last quarter), so bringing new subscribers on board through less-expensive hardware has the potential for huge long-term earnings growth.

Peloton stock has already put up a stellar performance in 2020, with shares more than tripling for the year so far. The company has been growing sales at a rapid clip, but big gains in share price raise important valuation questions.

^SPX data by YCharts

The stock now trades at roughly 7.5 times expected sales for fiscal 2021 (which began July 1) and more than 300 times expected earnings. That would be an outrageously growth-dependent valuation for an exercise hardware company, but that's where the importance of the subscription service offerings and broadening its member base comes in.

Paid subscribers for the company's digital subscriptions rose 210% year over year in the quarter to reach 316,800 paid members, and it looks like more big growth is on the way. So far, the company is seeing impressive member retention for its subscription content platform: The average net monthly connected-fitness churn rate was just 0.52% in the fourth quarter and 0.62% in the last fiscal year.

If Peloton keeps adding subscribers at a healthy clip and retains them at a high rate (management expects churn of less than 1% this year), its current valuation leaves plenty of upside. The company is commendably making its products more accessible, and while that will result in a near-term contraction for margins, it will likely play a big role in landing new customers, paving the way for more explosive sales and earnings growth over the long haul.

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September22, 20207 min read

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We are undergoing a seismic psychological shift from the sensory-rich normality of pre-COVID days. Were a tactile society,but now hugs and handshakes are off-limits, and almost everything is virtual. Our senses are experiencing a form of starvation and the effects are knocking many of us off balance.Studyafter study reiterates the conclusions of one of the earliest investigationsinto sensory deprivation, conducted in theearly 1950s atMcGillUniversity, which came to a dramatic early conclusion when subjects reported severely disrupted thought processes, uncontrolled visions and distressing hallucinations.

Related:How a Personal Mess Became a Passionate Message for This Entrepreneur

Because of Covid-19, many of us have also seen our cultural norms evaporate, leaving what appears to be a void in their place-a state of culture shock, which sparks a turbulent emotional cycle.We are all going through a version of this process now. The longer we resist the need to change, the harder becomes the journey to acceptance.

But theres an upside. The way we manage these twin attacks of culture shock and sensory deprivation can also have a profound effect for the better on our personal and business lives.

In my own experience, as CEO of a growing virtual business and as a survivor of a traumatic injury, I have faced isolation and culture shock in many forms.When the only choices were adapt or fail, I set myself a goal of rebuilding and improving rather than letting events overwhelm me. The lessons I was forced to learn are a useful example as we attempt to pivot in our business and personal lives around the fallout from the pandemic.

Just a few years after I founded my virtual PR agency, I was badly injured in a car accident. For a period of about eight months, I was unable to talk properly or walk without support. Overnight, I had become isolated physically and mentally and shaken to the core by the sudden changes to my life and the impact to my business. To some extent, what I went through then mirrors the experiences were all going through today.

Related:Is Covid-19 a Mental Health Tipping Point?

My first step towards recovery was to acknowledge that life had changed. That acceptance gave me permission to embrace the way I would need to adapt.

To keep the business afloat, I delegated much of my work, a task I would have found impossible before.Because I had to write down my ideas and instructions since I couldnt speak, collective discussion and teamwork became key strategies.

My colleagues became closer allies than ever before. Instead of just me setting goals for the clients, and the team supporting me, we, as a collaborative team, set well-defined goals around delivering the results our clients were paying us to achieve. Project management and accountability systems became far more importantand they also allowed flexibility around individuals different circumstances. We prioritized creativity while maintaining core disciplines of timeliness, accountability and courtesy. And it paid off. The clients saw stellar results, and the agency thrived.

What I discovered from this was the immense value of having a great set of people sharing a commitment to high standards, working with self-discipline and creativity to achieve a common goal.

As a CEO and a former attorney, I have an analytical mindset and am task-oriented, which lends itself to logic instead of creativity.My accident forced me to let go of the old ways,work within the limits of my innately human makeup flaws and all - and reawaken senses that enabled me tothink differently about my company.

Evolving the company into a new type of environment that was more intuitive and collaborative required a new way of thinking.To create and access that creativity in this time of change, we had to choose as a company to substantially shift the way we thought about work.I realized that we could tap into greater reserves of creativity by working with - not in conflict with - our natural instincts.

In addition to adapting, prioritizing, teamwork and collaboration onmy journey to rehabilitation, I looked inward. I used a number of techniques designed to recharge the creative spark and use my own inner resources to re-orientate towards a more intuitive, creative working style:

Panasonic, Toyota, IKEA, Beiersdorf, Bosch, General Mills, Goldman Sachs, Nike, Google, Intel, Royal Dutch Shell, SAP, Target, the UKs Parliament, and the US House of Representatives are among the organizations that have turned tomindfulness, meditation and movement programs toenhance employees senses of curiosity, openness and enthusiasm for continuous improvement. The payback is economic.Annual productivity improvements are estimated at $3,000 per employee. In fact,astudyconducted in a DowChemical company calculated potentialcompany savings of up to $ 22,000per employee based on average wages at the time due to reductions in stress and burnout and increases in workforce productivity.

Related:How to Strengthen Your Personal Resilience

Sports psychologists have long since understood the value of the imaginative exercise we call visualization.Visualizationis widely used by high performing athletes as well as business people, artists and academics toenvisage success and make it feel familiar and achievable to individuals.Studies such as PMCs 2016 paper, Thinking, Walking, Talking: Integratory Motor and Cognitive Brain Functionshow that people who imagine themselves flexing a muscle achieve actual physical strength gainsbecause they activate the same pathways in the brain that relate to the actual, real-life movement of the muscle.

Memorizationis often used in conjunction with techniques to help the brain remember and repattern the way it functions. Memorization is, of course, a classic conditioning technique used in advertising and marketing; its proven success should not be discounted as a method for adjusting to new situations. I used these techniques as I recovered from my accident to repattern the way I communicated by instilling in myself the innate discipline required to marshal my thoughts and re-establish normal speech and cognitive processes.

In Asia, movement has long been associated with the workplace as well as personal wellbeing.Organizations across the globe are starting to understand the health and productivity benefits of exercise.Onestudyshowed that not only does workday exercise improve well-being, but participants also reported a 72 percent improvement in time management and workload completed on days whenthey exercised.Even short bursts of movement boost productivity, which is whymany Japanese companies have mandatory exercise programs for employees.Research also indicates that when companies prioritize employee health and exercise, it becomes a big cost-saver over time. APricewaterhouseCoopersreporthasestimated that weight-related health issues cost the Australian workplaces $477 in absenteeism alone - plus a staggering $544 million in lower productivity presenteeism.

These techniques can help all business owners reinvent and enrich their company cultures and business practices both nowduring this time of collective sensory deprivation and culture shockand when we are finally able to put Covid-19 behind us.They helped me toachieve not just physical recuperation but also a new inner balance that enabled me and my business to survive and thrive in what previously seemed insurmountable difficulties. I discovered a better sense of wellbeing - and Im running a company thats thriving in the teeth of todays difficulties.

Valerie Chan will be presenting on the topic how to thrive beyond a virtual culture at TedX Farmingdale on October 10th, for more information, click here.

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A Devastating Car Accident Left This Entrepreneur Unable to Speak or Walk for Months. Here's How She Rebuilt Her Life and Her Business. - Entrepreneur

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