A Rare Club Beckons the Obese – This club only admits people who stand to lose at least 50 lbs.

Health Care Service Corporation Incentivize Its Own Employees to Lose 30 Tons Through Innovative Wellness Program - This owner and operator of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico decided to create a best in class program to help alleviate the burden of billions of dollars lost in productivity and in healthcare costs on our society due to poor health and obesity.

Consumer Reports Tests Elliptical Machines to Find the Best - Octane ellipticals come up top!

A Psychologist’s Therapy Treats Mind and Body – This psychologist is also a fitness expert, and his office has two private fitness rooms.

Pro-Active Employers Encourage Workers to Get out of Their Seats – Trekdesk, the newest solution against long hours of sitting at the office.

Chiropractors, Exercise Better than Medication, Study Says - recent onset neck pain is most often treated with medication, but seeing a chirpractor or exercising would be a better choice according to this study.

Worries Mount over Lack of PE in Schools – Only 5 states require PE from kindergarden through 12th grade.

Let’s Get Physical! 10 Unlikely Workout Songs That Rock - Just for kicks…

Perfect That Workout: Bell Those Muscles – article on LiveMint, describing two great exercises to do on those kettlebells.

6 Exercise Tips for Cold Weather - A personal interest news piece for the season

Biggest Loser Star Bob Harper Shares His Motivation Secrets – if you know that some of your gym New Year’s Resolutions gym-goers are beginning to flag in enthusiasm, it’s great to print a copy and share this one with them. 

Reading specs of machines is not fun. However, it IS fun to analyze how they compare! Here is a thorough analysis of how Precor commercial fitness products compare against Matrix products. Our goal here is to keep you up to date on how our products compare with new changes introduced by competition, so you can make informed decisions. May the best products win!

Consoles:

Consoles, the screens on the commercial bikes, ellipticals and other gym equipment are evolving fast. As consumers want home equipment like the commercial ones with cool LED screens, commercial consoles have already jumped up their games with touch screens and integrated technology. Precor did a good job at its first step into integrated technology with the P80 console. However, it doesn’t measure up to the intuitiveness of Matrix consoles. In fact, Precor website claims that it becomes “more powerful the longer you use it” which means, if you read between the lines, there is a time factor in learning to use it and getting the most out of it. Matrix FitTouch is easier to use, as evidenced by customer reactions and testimonies.

The 15” consoles on Matrix are also self-powered, using electricity generated by users—and offers iPod and iPhone compatibility/charging feature. Precor doesn’t offer self-powered equipment let alone self-powered equipment with advanced consoles that seamlessly connect and offer added value back to the users like that.

Cardio Equipment:

Precor and Matrix both offer complete lines of cardio equipment. Matrix is better. As mentioned above, Matrix is ahead of the curve on sustainable design than Precor by offering self-powered aerobic equipment.

In addition, Matrix’s cardio pieces have constant rate of acceleration and greater weight capacity. These features insure ease of use for greater number of users. Matrix trainers and ellipticals are more compact, have rear entry, allowing side by side placement and greater floor space conservation and neater look.

Beyond those points, the proof of the argument breaks down into the details. Matrix ellipticals called ascent trainers appeal to everyone with an adaptive stride technology as opposed to Precor’s adjustable stride technology.  Basically, users can follow more intuitive elliptical path on Matrix ones but on Precor, they fall into a kind of stepping motion. More fluid motion reduces friction and irritation on the users’ joints, which translates to a better and more rewarding experience on the machine.

Ellipticals

On the trainers, Matrix has 9 inch step up offering much lower point of entry than Precor’s 21.5” step up where the users have to step over a bar. With greater number of seniors hitting the gym and aging US population, it is smarter to go with equipment that doesn’t preclude them. Likewise, Matrix has lower step-up on ellipticals, treadmills, etc.

Strength Equipment:

The problem with creating equipment with higher quality of materials and that are more durable is that they cost more. Here, Precor does offer the advantage of cheaper S Series strength equipment than Matrix G3, the standard Matrix equipment. However, if you observe even the upholstery, the Precor ones are softer, thinner, and the material used shows where they sacrificed to bring the costs down. It doesn’t stop there. The plastic construct-able pieces show blemishes at slightest manufacturing imperfections at the connection points. Chest supports, elbow pads, or foot plates that add comfort and safety of stabilization are out on many pieces.

You attract what you put out. If the first impression of your gym equipment is, “cheap,” that’s the kind of customers you’ll attract.

Aesthetic:

This is slightly subjective to consider, but 100% relevant to the subconscious part of our brain that tells us when something (or someone) is more attractive for reasons we don’t know why. Well, let’s try to examine why Matrix seems to appeal more to people because IDEA awards they won are proofs that some people at least think Matrix has great-looking products.

The Matrix strength equipment has a glossy, clean, metal finish with ergonomic, round and curved tops giving them a modern and “spa”-like feel. Precor stands square-cut at the top with tons of wordy instructions on the side for users to study.

Matrix Treadmills have great-looking, solid aluminum end-caps that last, since someone at the company observed people tended to step on them and they broke most frequently on treadmills in general. Precor hasn’t had this person on their staff, so they still have the cheap plastic that will inevitably chip off faster. That Matrix someone’s like Steve Jobs making sure iPhones had real glass and metal in them, to make a winning product. Brilliant.

Service-ability:

In a world where things aren’t perfect, the equipment is bound to bump into issues since tissues are bound to bump into them. The durability, quality of materials, warranty, ease in serviceability, maintenance monitoring capacity, and expense involved with setting up such asset management gadgets are all important considerations to our commercial equipment buyers.

So how does Precor compare with Matrix? Well, Matrix is better for reasons stated in other sections but also the following. The bikes and trainers have removable discs, making them easier to service. There is no need to tilt the machines for unscrewing pieces and stuff, because there are two levelers on the trainers.

On the recumbent bikes, Matrix has a single piece crank that is maintenance free. Precor ones have 3 cranks requiring regular maintenance. For top shape, Precor recumbent need monthly tightening of each one of those cranks per machine.

Also, the maintenance monitoring service at both companies perform similar functions yet Precor has made it a revenue item rather than an added value kind of service. Why do I think that? Because the Preva maintenance system from Precor needs routers, switches, and a dedicated server per facility and a special engineer to install it, costing $20-30K for a large facility with 50 units. Matrix could outfit the same facility with asset management service (which is integrated with monitoring on the consoles, by the way, alleviating much of the costs), for $3K. No wonder Matrix installed their asset management system for their customers about 16 times more often than Precor did so far.

Matrix warranties are better. Why? They can afford to give better warranties when their products are more durable and easier to service.

Price Points:

Finally, you may wonder about the prices of all the equipment. Matrix offers greater price points and ranges in the products than Precor. The verdict? Matrix beats Precor.

Did I tell you we happen to sell Matrix?

-Misheel.

What does this mean for your business in 2012? How does this benefit your market?

Gyms, clubs, and recreation centers:  As a flashy new trend “Zumba and other dance workouts” shoots up from rank #31 in 2010, rank #24 in 2011, up to #9 in 2012, we don’t know if this is here to stay. But, you can’t go wrong with adding a class or two of this high energy, fun trend.

Hotels and hospitality: Take advantage of the current trend toward fitness programs for older adults, strength training, and outdoor activities, by upgrading to easier workout machines for older adults, getting more strength equipment (not just cardio) and kettlebells (been the rage last few years), and by offering bikes or for a more unique fun and fit option, Elliptigos for guests.

Corporate gyms: With growing trends for “comprehensive health promotion programming at the worksite” and “worker incentive programs” for healthier lifestyles, it is no wonder that a lot of more innovative and forward-looking corporations have upgraded their gyms and beefed up on offering incentives for biking to work, etc. Incentivized weight-loss programs run by corporate offices are more popular than ever to help the employees lead more balanced, productive lives.

As a testament to this growing trend for fitness awareness in the workplace, some executives have moved their treadmills right up to their office while others experiment with the new Trekdesk that allows their treadmills to become a desktop work area. (Please see the article on industry news.)

Apartment buildings and multi-housing management: The demand for personal training and educated, experienced fitness professionals has been growing every year. For those looking to reach certain goals or to just begin, having an experienced professional getting them started on the right track is absolutely essential. So, here is an innovative and inexpensive way to deliver high value to residents—partner up with a local physical trainer to come do individual sessions for free for a day. The physical trainer stands to gain new clients. Residents gain more awareness of how to use the gym appropriately to their personal needs, and the management—you—look like a hero for putting them together!

Police and fire departments:  The need for strength training and Stairmasters was always clear to the service personnel in police and fire departments. The trends of the consumers hardly apply. Still, there are a couple of new products with proven results on the market that may be of interest. Vibration plate training has been adopted by most of the professional sports teams due to the effectiveness. In fact no matter which team wins the playoffs, Power Plate will win because all four teams use it for their training. It shortens the time needed for exercises by stimulating the muscles to engage them to the fullest, and offers 57% improvement in weight loss compared to conventional exercise and diet, helps to increase blood circulation leading to greater oxygenation and decrease in toxins in the body. So, the acceleration training from Power Plate would be a strong contender for adding to police and fire department gyms.

Schools: Obesity epidemic in children has headlined the national discourse for the last six or seven years yet school funding cuts have made it difficult to address the need for physical exercise at schools. Moreover, physical education teachers are being forced out of their jobs or forced to double up duties with other subjects. While the problem continues to compound, many exceptional schools are stepping up to upgrade their facilities and equipment. Even if programming currently flags, if the funding can be found and used appropriately, getting quality commercial grade equipment and service will guarantee that students will have years of access to physical training and sports equipment, enabling continuation of physical education.

Universities: The universities play a pivotal role in society, often forwarding innovative ideas and become the forefronts of trends rather than followers. So, it is not surprising that universities have been jumping on self-powered eco-friendly cardio equipment as well as adding on electricity-generating system to their gyms, harnessing the energy of the students to give power back to the grid.

Hospitals, Chiropractic, Rehab, Physical Therapists: “Functional Fitness” has continued to stay strong, hovering right around #7-#10 for the past five years. While many of these functional fitness activities do focus on older age groups for obvious reasons, in the hospital, chiropractic and physical therapist’s offices, these represent to some degree, almost all of their clients. In fact, this may be the reason behind another interesting trend—that of “physician referrals” to exercises. A lot of physicians prescribe pharmaceutical solutions to their patients, but increasingly exercises and physical activity seems to be the best prescription for a lot of patients with tremendously positive side effects. In fact, some physicians have begun to buy gym equipment for their offices and partner up with physical trainers and therapists to facilitate recovery of patients. (See Industry News Jan 2012 for more.)

Senior Facilities:  As more baby boomers hit retirement and seek healthier paths to aging gracefully and living actively, the demand for fitness programs that cater to them has jumped up from #6 in 2010 to #2 in 2011, and stays strong at #3 for 2012. It helps also, that they have more disposable income than the average population and time. So, this market will continue to expect dynamic growth and higher quality of programs and equipment.

Personal Trainers:  While personal training and greater demand for educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals are strong trends, the growing number of newly certified graduates is intensifying competition, too. This makes a stronger case for segmentation, specialization, and catering to more and more niche clients.

One good niche area is another growing trend—exercise and weight loss. Whereas caloric restriction and diet fads dominated weight loss programs in the past, mounting evidence for greater need for exercise and benefits of exercise is leading the “exercise and weight loss” to become an ever-growing trend since this survey began. There are even some boutique gyms catering to obese clients, that allow new members only if they stand to lose at least 30 pounds. (Please see the article on industry news.)

Another great niche to focus on is the fight against childhood obesity that Michelle Obama has highlighted. “Children and obesity” has stayed in the top 5 trends for the last 6 years.

Also, “group personal training” has moved up 6 spots from last year. This is discounted personal training to groups of 2-4, that allows for a creative way for personal trainers to abridge the economic downturn and growing demand.

(For the full pdf of the survey, please go to the ACSM website.)

First, to avoid electric shock, remember to unplug the machines before cleaning. For treadmills, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning the foot rails on the sides of the moving belt. The dust and debris that often build up on the rails cause friction and over time, burden the motor unnecessarily.

On elliptical and bikes, the pivot points, bearings, chains, and pedals may need occasional lubrication. Generic lubricants like WD-40 will often cause build-up and swelling. So, use the manufacturer-recommended lubricants, like Teflon or silicone.

When wiping sweat and grime off the equipment, do not use harsh chemicals like Bleach or ammonia.  A mild antibacterial soap and warm water will usually do the trick with a damp, soft cloth. If your cloth is sopping wet, excess moisture getting into the unit could damage your equipment or burn the console.

Finally, you can use a compressed air and a shop vac to keep the motor control board, foot rails and the area beneath them clean. When your machines last longer, you do not need to purchase new equipment as often. So, knowing how to keep the exercise machines clean and in good shape is ultimately about controlling business costs.

What is cross training?
With more fitness tools available than ever before, today it is easy to cross train, or incorporate variety in workouts such as jogging on Mondays and Wednesdays and lifting weights and swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or it can be spending 15 minutes each on a stationary cycle, elliptical cross trainer and treadmill for a 45-minute session.

Why is cross training such a popular topic right now?
Because it works! Varying workouts ultimately produces the best outcomes – whether that means losing weight, running a race or play a better golf game. No matter what type of exercise we do, our bodies eventually get accustomed to it, and the benefits are reduced. Cross training keeps the body guessing and continuing to improve.

What are other benefits of cross training?
In addition to sustaining physiological progress, cross training leads to a myriad of other benefits:

• Better overall fitness level
• Reduced risk of injury
• Improved athletic performance
• Enhanced motivation and reduced boredom

How is cross training possible within one machine?
Introduced in 1995, the elliptical cross trainer is currently the fastest-growing piece of fitness equipment. A cardiovascular machine breakthrough, ellipticals combine the motion of a cross-country machine and a stairclimber- with the feet traveling in an egg-shaped, or elliptical, motion – delivering a weight-bearing, easy-on-the-joints, simple to use, effective workout unlike any other fitness product.

Today’s elliptical cross trainers are unique because they easily facilitate cross training on the same machine by allowing for forward and backward motion and including arms for synchronized, total-body movement. Studies have shown that total-body elliptical cross trainers engage numerous muscles including the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, pectorals, lats, deltoids, biceps and triceps in a natural, closed kinetic chain- unlike any other modalities such as treadmills, stationary cycles or stairclimbers. Plus, core musculature strength and stability are constantly taxed on a total body machine, as exercises must recruit the abdominals and lower back to maintain balance. Ellipticals also may enhance balance, coordination and fluidity of motion – all of which play a critical role in activities of daily living.

Providing elliptical cross trainers within your fitness facility is a must in 2011 due to their increasing popularity. For your facility users, getting the most efficient and effective workout in the shortest amount of time is a primary goal. They know that taking advantage of an elliptical cross trainer provides unique options all within one workout on one machine. Octane Fitness machines incorporate this beneficial variety with easy to use and durable models at prices that are affordable in any setting.

"The moment I got on this machine, I knew I had to get one of my own," recalled Greene, after first working out on an Octane Fitness elliptical several months ago in a hotel fitness center while on a book tour. "The ergonomics are superb; the smooth motion is natural; and the low-impact, total-body workouts are extremely effective," Greene said. Replacing his current elliptical machine, Greene equipped his home and training studio with Octane’s premium commercial xR6000 xRide seated elliptical, and he soon will add the top-of-the-line Pro4700 standing elliptical as well.

"Bob Greene’s recommendation of Octane Fitness really validates what we’re doing in terms of delivering more innovative, effective and efficient ways to exercise," said Tim Porth, executive vice president of product development and marketing at Octane Fitness. "When he contacted us after using our equipment, we were eager to partner with a talented professional who is so passionately dedicated to helping millions of people pursue healthier lives through proper diet and exercise."

Specializing in fitness, metabolism and weight loss, Greene holds a M.S. in exercise physiology from the University of Arizona and a B.S. in health and physical education from the University of Delaware. A member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise, Greene has spent 27 years working with clients and consulting on the design and management of fitness, spa and sports medicine programs. The author of five best-selling books, Greene recently released The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes to help more than 80 million people living with diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Fueled by a relentless passion to offer the best elliptical machines, Octane Fitness is committed exclusively to delivering breakthrough, performance cross training—unlike any other fitness equipment manufacturer today. Low-impact, effective cardiovascular equipment is the sole focus of Octane Fitness’ extensive research, development, testing and manufacturing—all ultimately to benefit exercisers with superior quality products; innovative, effective workouts and unparalleled personalized service.

What is Suspension Training®?
In the simplest form, Suspension Training refers to the broad body of unique training movements, coaching cues and program principles that have been created and systematized by Fitness Anywhere. These training movements are distinguished from traditional exercises in that either the user’s hands or feet are generally supported by a single anchor point while the opposite end of the body is in contact with the ground. Using the TRX®, the desired percentage of body weight is loaded onto the targeted body zone and animated as an exercise movement. The TRX’s single point attachment provides the ideal mix of support and mobility to train strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility, power and core stability all at once across a wide range of resistance.

All levels, all places, all goals
With a single piece of equipment that can be set up anywhere in your facility, the user can perform a virtually endless number of Suspension Training exercises to achieve any fitness or performance goal. Because your clients can instantly modify resistance by adjusting body position, Suspension Training workouts are safe and effective for people of all fitness levels. The TRX is portable and affordable and delivers greater functionality than large, expensive machines that cost thousands of dollars. The TRX’s compact and lightweight design enables individuals to use it virtually anywhere: in the park for boot camps, on the sports field, in the gym, at home or in a hotel room.

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