The Newsletter

We all have bought music for personal use. You pay the money and you enjoy the songs. But over the years, the music world has changed. Sophisticated recording devices suddenly became affordable, music could be downloaded for free from Internet websites and recorded music sales tumbled.

Almost overnight, one could get all kinds of great music at bargain prices. Many commercial ventures played music without paying a lot of attention to where it came from and without paying too much for it. While large corporate organizations such as radio and television stations have long paid performance, licensing and reproduction fees for music, this payment structure has never fully reached smaller industries such as dance studios and fitness clubs. All of this is changing.

The people who compose, perform, record and distribute the music we exercise to, want to be paid for value delivered. They are able to employ legal tariff, copyright and licensing requirements that will obligate fitness facilities that use background music and music used in exercise classes to pay royalties and license fees.

Are the new fees they are applying for substantial? YES

VANCOUVER,
August 25, 2008

The World Economic Forum has invited Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), to join its new Global Agenda Council on the Challenges of Gerontology. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is an independent, nonprofit organization "committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas."

To further its mission, the organization is creating Global Agenda Councils of 15-30 members each on critical challenges facing humanity. This network will bring together leaders in business, government, academia and society who are 'the most innovative and influential" thinkers worldwide on these topics, according to the Forum. The objective is to promote interdisciplinary and long-range thinking to address these issues

Messages all around us urge us to exercise regularly. Volumes of medical literature proclaim the benefits of exercise: Exercise lowers blood pressure. Exercise helps to reduce and maintain weight.

Exercise decreases the risk for certain cancers. And, the list goes on. Americans need to grasp the idea that exercise is, indeed medicine. Yet, in spite of these persistent exercise messages, Americans are not moving. In fact, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention state that 60 percent of Americans are physically inactive.To reinforce the urgency of the exercise message, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have launched "Exercise Is Medicine," an initiative that will bring the topic of exercise into the physician's office to be assessed by the physician as a vital sign - just as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate are already being assessed at every comprehensive visit.

Exercise is an effective medication. In fact, exercise can prevent and cure many chronic conditions - doing in 30 minutes per day what dozens of prescription drugs try to do, without the potentially harmful side effects. So, next time you visit with your doctor, be prepared oft the questions, "Are you exercising?" or "How much exercise do you do?"

BOSTON - August 21, 2008 "The 2008 IHRSA European Congress is a unique opportunity to build a strong connection with European club operators and advance our knowledge of the health club market in Europe." said Joe Moore, President and CEO of IHRSA.

The Congress offers a superb array of new program activities and speakers to its roster. "With so many valuable features and approximately 400 attendees from over 25 countries, this year's Congress is sure to provide practical insight, applicable to any aspect of today's global fitness industry," said Moore.

This year's European Congress includes four keynote presentations to be delivered by executives from both inside and outside the health club industry, providing thought-provoking commentary on trends shaping business and the fitness industry.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama State Employees' Insurance Board recently approved a plan to charge state workers starting in January 2010 if they don't have free health screenings.

If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor at no cost, enroll in a wellness program, or take steps on their own to improve their health. If they show progress in a follow-up screening, they won't be charged.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30.3 percent of Alabama citizens are now obese, ranking the state behind only Mississippi. Research shows someone with a body mass index of 35 to 39 generates $1,748 more in annual medical expenses than someone with a BMI less than 25, considered normal.

Alabama already charges workers who smoke - and has seen some success in getting them to quit. The Executive director of Alabama State Employees Association, said the plan is not designed to punish employees.

Health club operator Planet Fitness has been named to Inc. magazine's annual list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Planet Fitness finished 732nd overall.

The Inc. 5,000 list ranks business according to revenue growth in the four previous years. From 2004 to 2007, Planet Fitness's annual revenues leaped from $8.4 million to $48.5 million - an increase of 472 percent.

With 230 health clubs in 29 states, and 410 more in development, Planet Fitness is a low-cost/high-value gym operator. As recently as 2003, the company consisted of a handful of clubs in its home state of New Hampshire. But when Planet Fitness began franchising in 2003, it triggered a rapid national expansion.

August 21st

EXERCISE REHABILITATION OF THE SHOULDER

DESCRIPTION: "Nearly 6 million people a year visit their doctor for shoulder pain, strains, dislocations or other shoulder related problems" In the Exercise Rehabilitation of the Shoulder course, functional anatomy of the shoulder joint will be reviewed. In addition, common shoulder injuries (frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tear and shoulder instability) will be discussed, and rehabilitative principles and exercises for each will be presented.

WHAT YOU WILL LEAN IN THIS COURSE:
- Functional anatomy of the musculature and supporting structures of the shoulder joint.
- Evaluation of the shoulder joint.
- Common shoulder injuries, key points of each injury and how to rehabilitate them.
- Rehabilitative exercises using the stability ball, body weight, tubing and free weights.

Many personal trainers have heard a great way to grow their business is by becoming a local fitness celebrity. But many don't have any idea how to do it.

Fortunately, with some effort, it's very easy to accomplish. In fact, there are two things any trainer can be doing right now to catapult from unknown to "the" fitness expert in their area almost overnight.

Public Speaking - Nothing builds credibility like public speaking. Nothing. As soon as the speaker stands in front of their audience they are recognized as an instant expert. It's an interesting phenomenon, but people automatically assume since the person is addressing an entire group they must be a credible source of information. Additionally, most people's greatest fear is public speaking, so anyone who is able to actually do it is treated with respect and treated as an authority instantly.

TORONTO - On August 18, Stott Pilates and Can-Fit-Pro successfully attempted the Guinness World Record for the world's largest Pilates class. The class served as the grand finale of the Can-Fit-Pro Consumer Fitness and Wellness Show in Toronto on Saturday, August 16.

A total of 623 fitness enthusiasts of all ages and abilities inhaled and exhaled through the half-hour workout led by Moira Merrithew, co-founder and executive director of education at Stott Pilates. "There was a real energy and excitement in the room as people moved together to create fitness history," said Lindsay G. Merrithew, Stott's co-founder, president and CEO. "Beyond achieving an unofficial world record, this class was also a powerful demonstration of mind-body fitness as a growing part of people's exercise interests."

The World's Largest Pilates Class was held in celebration of Can-Fit-Pro's 15th anniversary and Stott Pilates' 20th anniversary. According to Guinness World Records, 500 participants were required to break the record, with all participants performing the exercises simultaneously for at least 10 minutes.

Is it right to search for a replacement for someone before you are certain you will have a void?


The answer to this is very easy: if you are talking about a lover, then don't do it. If, on the other hand, you run a business or a department and you have a low performer on your team, then it is your responsibility to take some steps to prepare for a loss, rather than waiting until one occurs.

Face it-in today's business world, managers are lucky to get even two weeks notice, and many employees who stay for their two weeks have mentally moved on anyway.

The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute along with it's co-host, the Alberta Centre for Active Living are please to present the Institute's third annual Physical Activity for Public Health course, a professional development opportunity which specifically targets increasing effectiveness in building an active community.

This program is the perfect opportunity to access the latest leading edge solutions and ideas. It provides international insights as well as a uniquely Canadian perspective on increasing knowledge about physical activity. The program will take place September 29 - October 2, 2008 at the Banff Park Lodge in Banff, Alberta. Please share information regarding this marvelous opportunity to participate in this highly informative Public Health Course with your colleagues and encourage them to register and join you in Banff.

For more information please visit www.cflri.ca or contact Sue Cragg at scragg@cflri.ca.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Aug. 26, 2008 - The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness advocate, is pleased to announce that is has been invited to be a member of the NSF Joint Committee on Health Fitness Facility Standards. NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, that is the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety.

BOSTON - August 25, 2008 The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announces that registration is open for the 7th Annual IHRSA Asia-Pacific Forum, November 6-9, 2008, in Shanghai, China.

"As one of the major centers of Asian commerce and innovation, Shanghai is an ideal location for the 7th Annual event. It will provide a forum to examine challenges and opportunities facing our individual businesses and to reinforce alliances with each other to grow our industry together," said Joe Moore, President and CEO of IHRSA.

The Asia-Pacific Forum programming will include four days of education and networking as well as an impressive group of keynote speakers. "We are delighted with the exceptional lineup of presenters who will inspire us with their knowledge and insight," said John Holsinger, IHRSA Director, Asia-Pacific.