How do you determine your own fitness level

How Do You Determine Your Own Fitness Level?

You pick up the magazines each day, and you are bombarded with health and fitness information. Advertisements and articles that are designed to impart much needed information to the reader about the state of fitness and health in America today, and what we as responsible citizens should do. I want you to stop, and think for just one moment. How do you determine your current fitness and wellness levels? Does your regular doctor each time you go ask if you believe yourself to be fit and well? Probably not. Nor does he give you any method for determining the status on your own. Fitness centers abound in this country, and most are staffed with counselors who can test your fitness level. What about your wellness level? Are they one and the same? They are not one and the same, yet they rely heavily on each other to keep you healthy.

Being fit and being well are totally different conditions. Your wellness rating is dependent upon your immune system, and what vitamins, supplements, and nutrition you provide for your immune system. Fit people can sometimes be unwell. And well people can sometimes be unfit. However, when you do combine the two, and use sound principles based on clean living, exercise, and healthy eating, you attain a state of equilibrium where you are both fit and well.

Most individuals do not take the time to completely understand the advantages of being both fit and well. We read and absorb the information we are given through the media and health organizations, without ever pondering if we are receiving all the information we need, or simply the part that is profitable to be seen or heard. Fitness gyms need your monthly fees in order to remain operational. They have no real concern about the condition of your immune system. Physical fitness is a condition of the body alone. Hospitals and doctors need you as a patient in order to remain operational; they want you to know you need to be fit and well, but often leave out important pieces that affect your wellness and, therefore, your ability to be fit.

What about eating habits? What about vitamins? What role does our daily intake play in our health, our wellness, and our fitness? More than you have been lead to believe or understand. The bodys ability to remain well under anything other than ideal conditions is a direct result of the nutrition received on a daily basis. The minds ability to remain well is, again, a direct result of our nutrition intake. For instance, the human brain does not develop well without the necessary input of protein in our daily diet. No protein, no intelligence. No intelligence, then none of the other states is attainable.

Our spiritual input is a determining factor when establishing our fitness level. We all need the benefit of spiritual reflection, as a way of cleansing ourselves of the stress of our daily life. Spirituality is a way of assuring ourselves of a renewing, and rebirth of ourselves as humans. Fitness encompasses our bodys health, as a whole and in this

The obesity epidemic – how helping fight it can increase your revenue

The Obesity Epidemic – How Helping Fight It Can Increase Your Revenue

According to recent research (The Culprit and the Cure, Dr. Steven Aldana), 60% of company CEOs state health care costs and lost productivity as their number one concern. An overweight employee can cost an employer $450-$2000 annually in health care costs and lost productivity. Seventy percent of health care costs come from tobacco use, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. As a personal trainer or health club manager/owner, you can help in the fight against obesity and increase your revenues at the same time.

The World Health Organization sites that 17 million deaths annually occur because of obesity and that number is on the rise. Officials believe it will reach epidemic proportions in the next decade. Furthermore, being overweight puts a person at higher risk for chronic disease, which in turn taxes the already burdened health care system.

In addition 67% of Americans do not get enough exercise to reap the benefits. Changing their minds about exercise, (how to do it, when to do it, where to do it and that it can in fact be FUN!), can help increase your membership, clientele numbers and retention rates.

BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

As a society, we have done just about everything possible to avoid physical activity. We have drive through restaurants, banks, ATMs, and even pharmacies. We have garage door openers so we don’t have to get out of our car to pull right up to our door so we don’t have to walk any distance before walking in our back door. We have TV remote controls. And how many times have you driven around the grocery store parking lot looking for a closer space so you didn’t have to walk as far?

Because of all of these modern conveniences and advances in technology, we now have to go to great lengths to make sure we are getting the recommended amount of physical activity to maintain good health. Committing to an exercise program is often the most difficult challenge we face. As a health club owner/manager or personal trainer you can help fight obesity while also increasing your business.

But, since there is so much competition out there, how do you get people to commit to a workout plan and more importantly, how do you get them to choose your facility or select you as their personal trainer?

The first step is to make sure that your target audience is aware of the benefits of exercise. Use websites, direct mail pieces, in club or community challenges with prizes to get the word out. Part of the problem is that the general public doesn’t even realize the risk in obesity. Sure, they know it isn’t healthy but do they fully realize the risks? Or the benefits of exercise? Now it is up to you to get the work out and get the business in!

– Prevent or lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you compare the long-term health of people who exercise regularly to those who are not physically active you’ll see that the risk of heart disease, instances of heart disease death, and stroke drops dramatically with a consistent increase in physical fitness and physical activity.

– Lower blood pressure.

– Lower cholesterol.

– Maintain or obtain a healthy body weight.

– Prevent or lower the risk of certain types of cancer. People who exercise regularly have a 30-40% lower risk of colon cancer than their sedentary counterparts. Researchers are still working to determine why exercise, not diet, is a key factor here but in the meantime, we know that exercise does reduce the risk. Some studies show a reduction in the instances of breast cancer among those that exercise as well. Again, we don’t know exactly why that is, but we do know it is beneficial.

– Relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.

– Improve mood.

– Improve self esteem and self confidence.

– Reduce the symptoms of stress.

– Have fun!

HEALTH CLUB AND PERSONAL TRAINER PROFITS

According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is a national objective to cut the obesity rate to 15% from 31.6% by 2010. Since 1980, the increase in overweight individuals in the United States has grown marginally (32% to 33%) but the rate of increase in those individuals who are obese has grown dramatically. The number of obese individuals in the United States was 14.5% in 1980 and today nearly two thirds of the population is considered obese. A new category is even being added by the CDC to include those considered morbidly obese.

As health club owners and personal trainers, now is the perfect time to get in on the profits of this national objective. First and foremost, your goal should be to help reduce the obesity rate. However, as a business owner, if you are able to build business and profit from a positive national objective, why not do it?

– Talk to your local congress members about what your city, county and state are doing to support this national objective. Find out how you can get involved.

– Set up meetings with local doctors, physical therapists and hospitals in your area to create a referral system. If a person they are treating can benefit from your services (and who couldn’t), set up a system of working with each healthcare professional to design well rounded programs that they are happy to recommend to their patients.

– Hold a meeting at your facility emphasizing the growing obesity epidemic and the problems it presents. Then explain the benefits of exercise. Perhaps you can get a well known health care professional to speak at the meeting and support this information.

– Talk to local health care corporations to see if they would be willing to pay a certain portion of employees’ health club or personal training costs to help keep rising health care costs and lowered productivity to a minimum. Explain how investing the money in prevention will benefit them and their employees in the long run.

– Sponsor a local weight loss/shape up challenge for your health club members as well as non-members. Non-members can see what your facility can offer and may become members to maintain their progress after the challenge ends.

Now it is time to put your knowledge and your skills to work to do all you can to help in the national objective and join the fight against obesity. Unlike other diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and certain genetic cancers, the obesity problem is linked directly to lifestyle choices. There has never been a better time to be a personal trainer or be in the health club business. You can increase your own business while helping to fight obesity, one person, one choice at a time.

A short guide to istanbul pilates

A Short Guide To Istanbul Pilates

Istanbul comprises of 13 million people and it is well known for its sports and recreational activities. The people of Istanbul are sports enthusiasts and it is true that there are various stadiums and sports field available which enhances the image of Istanbul pilates. It is to be said that there are 18 golf courses in Istanbul and every course is around 45 minutes away from city center. It is a beautiful country and most people are involved in several types of sports activities there. You will be amazed to know that there are around 18 teams only from Istanbul playing in National Premiere League which include Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Buyuksehir Belediye and Galatasaray.
Basketball is another famous Istanbul sports but the article is not all about entire sports. Its all about a special sport which is very famous in Istanbul. It is actually a slimming therapy and for this pilates studios are established in different parts of country. In fact, Taksim is well known for these types of therapy sessions and interestingly it is spread into almost all parts of country. Taksim pilates are well known in Istanbul. The are different types of pilates studios available in Taksim and most of these studios are available in the center of city.
It is a well being program and most people of Istanbul take part in these types of activities. Taksim is a beautiful city located in Istanbul and there are several pilates groups available for the well being of people. It is always recommended to the people that they should do thorough research on the subject before joining any Istanbul pilates. If you have keen interest in these types of recreational activities, then you must visit Istanbul at least once in a lifetime. It is to be said that there are thousands of visitors come every year to enjoy Istanbul pilates.
When it comes to opting for best studio, it is good to do complete research online. It is the only way to find out the best studio for this activity. Taksim is a city is Istanbul and it is well known in all over the world due to the nice nature of their people. The people there provide best hospitality for the visitors and thus it is always to be a good tourist place. Numerous pilates studios are available in Taksim and if you want to visit Taksim pilates, the best season is from May to late October. In this season, the business of pilates studio is on high.
Apart from all, one can get the opportunity to experience Taksim pilates from one of the best instructors. They provide complete training to the interested people and assure their well being. Istanbul pilates are the best place to do these types of exercises if you really want to make the body tight and completely fit. One can find the world class cardio equipments for complete fitness. So, in the end it can be said that one can experience the world class facilities at any of the Istanbul pilates and surely it will be a lifetime memory for you.

Fitness, the most important investment of your life

Fitness, the Most Important Investment of Your Life

When most people think of investing they think of stocks or realestate. Most people do not think about their health when they hear these words. However, what if I were to tell you that there is not more important investment you could ever focus on. That might make you feel a bit uncomfortable if you have been lacking in this area or it will justify you in you great health at this moment in time. The fact is your health is more important than money, stocks, cars or anything at all. How can you enjoy these things if you are dead right?

On average a person spends about $300 a month for health insurance unless they get it free through work. Even then it is most likely a PPO and you will have to pay some kind money including deductable. Most of us are willing to fork out the money no matter how painful it may be, for health insurance out of necessity. Yet many of us are no willing to pay $30 a month for a gym membership which would keep us out of the hospital for the better part of the year. You see we have our priorities backwards. Concentrating on you physical well being would significantly cut healthcare costs.

We are not just talking about health here. If you want to look healthy and vibrant then you need to work out daily and eat right. If you want to receive nonstop compliments then you need to live a life caring for your precious body. We are not talking about anything extreme here. Forget all those extreme diets and impossible boot camp work out plans you cannot maintain with daily consistency. We are talking about moderation. Do some exercises, eat some good food, and make you and your body happy. Continue to eat carbs and meats but do so in moderation. Its easier and healthier this way. You see, if you cannot make it a lifestyle then you should not be doing it.

You emotions and overall sense of well being is affected by your level of fitness. Your ability to focus, concentrate, and perform all intellectual tasks is also effected by your health. Why not make this a priority first? You wish to succeed in business, and then exercise a little every day. You want to be more attractive? A healthy smiling person is the most attractive of all. You want to feel more inner peace? Hit the gym and eat some healthy foods.

Start out with baby steps. Commit to eating just a piece of fruit every morning. Do a couple push ups every day and work your way up to more every week. You will see the progress come and you will be pleased. You see you are investing slowly and steadily in the stock of life and physical well being.