Wellness Magazine 20 2005

MagazineWellness

NUMBER 1 YEAR 8

WELLNESS TRENDS, INNOVATIONS AND LEADERS

20

MAGAZINE FOR OPERATORS

Press Registry Rate: Poste Italiane s.p.a. - Postal Subscription Consignment - Legislative Decree 353/2003 (converted into Law no. 46 of 27/02/2004), art. 1, clause 1, DCB – Forlì

• ResearchResistance Training is Beneficial,

Even in Our Golden Years

• Successful ClubsLadies-only clubs

KINESIS The movement

revolution

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In the picture,

Technogym President

Nerio Alessandri

ometimes you come across things that, by looking at the past, give you aninsight into the future. This is precisely what happened to me in the case ofthe Kinesis project, a topic discussed in detail in this issue of Wellness Maga-zine. In an effort to process the feedback received from customers all over

the world, I was endeavouring to come up with something that would meet theirexpectations and, at the same time, give our sector a boost. I was completelyabsorbed by this thought when, out of the blue, I had an idea. It was triggeredafter watching a group of kids, ranging from five to ten years old, happily playingin a local park. Free spirits performing a remarkable spectacle in which movement,in all its forms, was the main actor. Running, jumping, climbing, somersaults…movements that get lost along the path of life towards old age. It really is strange;I actually think that this is one of the few cases where people, as they age, loseknowledge of what they are and of what their bodies can do. Memory is lost,clouded by increasingly sedentary lifestyles. From that day I kept on thinking, but with a clearer focus: to find something thatwould help adults rediscover movement. The result was Kinesis (appropriately, theGreek word for movement).A new space, different from the traditional ones, in which the individual, of anygender or age, can move freely and naturally (thanks to the three-dimensionalmovement created by the FullGravity Technology patent), exploring and rediscover-ing their original movement capabilities. A welcoming place nurturing theencounter of body with mind, which becomes involved and stimulated by move-ment, and vice-versa. The action is thought out, processed and analysed. Kinesistakes us back to the origins of movement along an intriguing, fascinating path thateveryone can interpret in their own way, throughout the different seasons of life.I am certain that Kinesis is a revolution of movement. My conviction has indeedbeen confirmed by the enthusiastic comments beginning to arrive from the firstcustomers to have installed Kinesis in their clubs. Comments based on therenewed club image, the satisfaction of users, the enthusiasm of personal trainers.Yes, because for users, Kinesis is an entirely new experience that involves themcompletely, fully satisfying their pursuit of harmony and wellbeing. Similar observa-tions can also be found in the feedback from personal trainers, who feel more pro-fessionally motivated and creative as they guide (‘old’ but mainly new) customersto the discovery of movement. Image, satisfaction, professionalism; these are thefactors driving health clubs along the road to success. To conclude, I would like to draw a parallel, if I may. If the strategic idea behindKinesis is to bring the individual back to the centre (the human-centric approach),for years, Technogym has adopted an approach that puts customer concerns anddemands at the centre of its activities, with the precise intention of representing anauthentic Wellness Business Partner on the market. The commitment to playing apro-active role in assisting customers to develop their business is today the com-mon denominator of all Technogym activities. ■

Wishing you all Wellness,Nerio Alessandri

President, Technogym

SEditorial

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MagazineMagazineWellness

ContentsSpecial Event: Sport for all 6

Research: Resistance Training is Beneficial

Even in Our Golden Years 8

Successful Clubs: Ladies-only clubs 12

My Wellness: Retention vs. Attraction 15

Products: Kinesis, the movement revolution 18

Products: Wellness Tools: fitness on the go 22

Evidence-Based Wellness: Tai Chi Chuan 24

Sport & Performance: Training to Win

Roland Garros 28

Solutions: Pre-owned? Yes, please 30

ColumnsNews from the web 31

Welcome into the Wellness Family 32

Wellness Lifestyle 34

Fairs and Events Calendar 37

Focus 38

12

6

24

Contents

NUMBER 1 YEAR 8

20

18

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ppoorrtt as a mmeeddiicciinnee and as a rriigghhtt. Sport asan ooppppoorrttuunniittyy and as a ccuullttuurree. Sport as away of bbrriinnggiinngg ppeeooppllee ttooggeetthheerr. This is whatconvinced the Italian Olympic Committee to

announce the construction of a mmuullttiiffuunnccttiioonnaallssppoorrttss ffaacciilliittyy iinn NNaassiirriiyyaahh (Iraq), which it fundeditself, just over a year since the terrorist attack thattook the lives of 15 Italian soldiers and civilians.Indeed, what other drug can give such iimmppoorrttaannttppssyycchhoollooggiiccaall aanndd mmeennttaall bbeenneeffiittss without negativeside effects, or, in fact, lleennggtthheenn lliiffee eexxppeeccttaannccyy tosuch a degree?This, and other issues relating to the subject of sport,were debated at the 10th ‘SSppoorrtt ffoorr AAllll’’ CCoonnggrreesssswhich saw, among others, sportsmen and women,executives and journalists from across the world,come together in the name of sport. TTeecchhnnooggyymm wasalso present, in its capacity as an official sponsor ofthe event and leading name in the world of sport.

FACTS AND FIGURES FROM THE CONGRESS11,,220000 rreepprreesseennttaattiivveess ffrroomm 111122 ccoouunnttrriieess,, 330000aabbssttrraaccttss,, 110000 ssppeeeecchheess,, 110055 sseessssiioonnss,, 9900 aaccccrreeddiitt--

eedd jjoouurrnnaalliissttss aanndd 114444,,000000 ppaaggeess vviissiitteedd oonn tthhee ooffffii--cciiaall wweebbssiittee ((wwwwww..ssppoorrttffoorraallllccoonnggrreessss..oorrgg)).. These were the figures from the Congress hosted bythe International Olympic Committee (IIOOCC) andseamlessly organised by the Italian Olympic Com-mittee (CCOONNII), in collaboration with the WorldHealth Organisation (WWHHOO) and the General Asso-ciation of International Sports Federatios (GGAAIISSFF).One of the most interesting speeches delivered dur-ing the Congress was by Dr. NNoorrbbeerrtt BBaacchhll of theInstitute of Sports Science, University of Vienna. Hemaintained that women who exercise have a longerlife expectancy and that 36% of active women aremore dynamic both athletically and psychologically.Observations made by Dr. CCaarrooll BBeellllaammyy, execu-tive director of UNICEF, matched these findings.Dr. Bellamy stated that she sincerely wished thatsport would become accessible for everyone, par-ticularly for those in the developing world. “It isfundamental that schools provide physical educa-tion, as only through having access to sports canyoung people enjoy the many physical and psycho-logical benefits”.

“Sport is the future ofpeople”, responded,Dr. RRoollaanndd RReennssoonnfrom the Faculty ofPhysical Education andPhysiotherapy at K.U.Leuven, Belgium. “It needs to be includ-ed as a compulsorysubject in all universityfaculties.”JJuuddyy FFllaannaaggaann of theAustralian Sports Com-mission highlighted theproblem of obesity cur-rently af f l icting the

S P E C I A L E V E N T

Sport for allRome is host to the world congress promoting initiatives

in the name of sport and people

S

Below, the impressive

backdrop that welcomed

guests to the Marmi Stadium

at Rome's Foro Italico

by Federica Monticelli

6

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Western world: “Young people in particular shouldpractice sports, as obesity could constitute a realhandicap for them later in life.”The fact that sport is still considered to be thereserve of a privileged few was the viewpointexpressed by MMiirroossllaavv DDuuttcchhaakk from the StateCommittee of Ukraine on Physical Culture andSports. “In the past there was enormous commit-ment to sport in our country,” he explained withregret, “but today a mere 9.93% of the populationpractices sport, 10.49% only occasionally. Thismeans that 79.58% of Ukrainians practice nosport at all”. The opposite trend is being wit-nessed in IIttaallyy, where 11.2 million people playsports “regularly”, whilst another 5.5 million doso “occasionally”, which adds up to a total 16.7million people, or 30% of all Italians. Add a fur-ther 17.4 million people who practice some typeof sporting activity “now and then” and the over-all proportion of “active” Italians rises to 61.2%(Sources: Istat and Coni).“Our objectives are to increase awareness aboutthe benefits of physical activity”, emphasizedTTeecchhnnooggyymm’s president NNeerriioo AAlleessssaannddrrii, “through

educational campaigns and the promotion anddistribution of dedicated research projects. For ourpart, our company will increase its commitment todesigning technology that is both simple and easyto use.Furthermore, it is essential to boost the percent-age of the population who engage in physicalactivity. This is achieved by increased collabora-tion between the medical profession and thehealth and fitness sector, by strengthening part-nerships between private and public sector organi-zations, by raising awareness and increasing theamount of information available about the bene-fits of physical activity and finally, by developingthe sports sector, fitness and wellness”. In order for sport to become a right for all, we needto start with the children. “Article 31 of the Conven-tion on the Rights of the Child”, concluded CCaarroollBBeellllaammyy “recognises and reiterates the rights ofchildren to engage in play activities. A ccoommbbiinnaattiioonnooff ssppoorrtt aanndd eedduuccaattiioonn can help the young toescape the clutches of scourges such as HIV. Theworld knows that ssppoorrtt iiss aann iinntteerrnnaattiioonnaall llaann--gguuaaggee and that today’s youth can bring aboutimportant changes”. ■

Side photo,

Nerio Alessandri

giving his

presentation

Side photo,

President of CIO,

Jacques Rogge, in a

commemorative shot

with Technogym

President, Nerio

Alessandri, and

several company

managers

7

S P E C I A L E V E N T

After taking part in the 10th ‘Sport for All’ Congress, theChairman of the IOC, Jacques Rogge was invited to visitTechnogym’s headquarters. Mr. Rogge congratulated thecompany president Nerio Alessandri and Technogym’smanagement team for their success at the Athens OlympicGames, acknowledged by the athletes and the organisersalike. He was especially impressed by the Research Centre,where hundreds of engineers, physicians, bio-engineersand IT specialists work together to develop the finestsports equipment, designed to meet the bio-mechanicalrequirements of the human body.

JACQUES ROGGE VISITS TECHNOGYM

Official Supplier

The countdown to the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics has begun.Technogym, as Official Supplier, will set up three gymnasiums(in Turin, Bardonecchia and Sestriere) for the 4,000+ athletesand the sports journalists residing in the media villages.Technogym therefore chalks up another Olympic success story,following on from its presence at the Atlanta Olympic Games in1996, and as official supplier to the Olympic Games andParalympics at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

FULL SPEED AHEAD TO TURIN 2006

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s we grow older our muscles becomeincreasingly smaller and we becomeweaker. This decline in muscle size,known as senile ssaarrccooppeenniiaa, appears to

affect certain muscle groups more than others;the quadriceps and calf muscle groups areamongst those most severely affected by age-ing. Research has shown that ppeeooppllee oovveerr tthheeaaggee ooff 7700 aarree wweeaakkeerr tthhaann aadduullttss aaggeeddbbeettwweeeenn 2200--3300 yyeeaarrss,, bbyy aass mmuucchh aass 5500 ppeerrcceenntt. This frailty, which is generally associatedwith old age, poses a ssiiggnniiffiiccaanntt hheeaalltthh pprroobb--lleemm as not only does it limit the ability to per-form ddaayy--ttoo--ddaayy ttaasskkss, but also increases therriisskk ooff ffaalllliinngg. Frailty in older generations hasmedical and economic consequences world-wide. In the future, tthhee bbuurrddeenn ppllaacceedd oonn ssooccii--eettyy bbyy tthhiiss ggeenneerraattiioonn mmaayy bbee eevveenn ggrreeaatteerr,given that in most developed nations, the popu-lation of older adults is expected to rise consid-

erably over the next 20-30 years. Methods toprevent, or at least delay, ageing-induced mus-cle atrophy and strength decline are of para-mount importance.PPhhaarrmmaacceeuuttiiccaall aaiiddss, such as aannaabboolliicc aaggeennttssmay provide some hope, however, these canonly be effective when ccoommbbiinneedd wwiitthh ssoommeeffoorrmm ooff eexxeerrcciissee.Exercise training is the most practical and gen-tle method of increasing muscle strength inelderly people. It is widely accepted that resis-tance training is an effective means of increas-ing strength and muscle strength, however, thebenefit of such training for the elderly is lessknown. A common misconception is that eexxeerr--cciissiinngg llaatteerr iinn lliiffee hhaass nnoo oobbvviioouuss hheeaalltthh bbeennee--ffiittss, however, this is certainly not the case.Recent research studies prove that resistancetraining, in particular, can be very beneficialeven in old age.

R E S E A R C H

A

Research was conducted

on subjects aged between

65 and 89 years for a

duration varying from

three to twelve months.

The program involved

exercises for the lower

and upper body

* Dr. Neil Reeves is the

Post-Doctoral Research

Fellow at the Institute for

Biophysical & Clinical

Research into Human

Movement at Manchester

Metropolitan University

(UK)

by Neil Reeves*

8

Resistance Trainingis Beneficial, Even in

Our Golden YearsKeeping in shape as you get older:

what happens and what to do about it

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ADAPTATIONS TO RESISTANCE TRAINING INOLDER ADULTS In recent years a debate has centred onwhether resistance training can actually pre-vent frailty in old age. We have conducted aseries of studies to identify the muscular, neuraland tendinous adaptations to resistance train-ing in older adults. Adults aged bbeettwweeeenn 6655--8899yyeeaarrss underwent whole-body resistance train-ing programmes lasting from tthhrreeee ttoo ttwweellvveemmoonntthhss. At the end of the study, the partici-pants displayed ccoonnssiiddeerraabbllee ssttrreennggtthh ggaaiinnss iinnaa rraannggee ooff mmuussccllee ggrroouuppss tthhrroouugghhoouutt tthhee bbooddyy.The programme involved lloowweerr bbooddyy eexxeerrcciisseesssuch as leg presses and calf raises, in additionto uuppppeerr bbooddyy eexxeerrcciisseess, such as the chestpress and seated row. The maximum levels ofrepetit ions measured on the resistancemachines increased on average by 14-30 percent for the various upper and lower body exer-

cises. Both static and dynamic strength werealso measured using a dynamometer (a spe-cialised strength measuring device). Olderadults showed increases both in static andddyynnaammiicc ssttrreennggtthh ooff tthhee ttwwoo mmuussccllee ggrroouuppsstteesstteedd:: tthhee ccaallff aanndd qquuaaddrriicceeppss. This is particu-larly important to daily functional perfor-mance, as both the calf and quadricep musclegroups are responsible for locomotor activities,such as walking and stepping. Magnetic Reso-nance Imaging (MRI) can be used to obtainaccurate information relating to the size ofentire muscles and muscle groups. This scan-ning method was used to assess the size of thequadriceps and calf muscle groups before andafter a resistance exercise training programme.The results indicated that the muscles of olderpeople were actually enlarged by as much as1122--1155 ppeerr cceenntt after a resistance training pro-gramme. These findings clearly show that aaggee--

In the early weeks of the training

programme, the elderly and those

out of training in any age group

showed a quick increase in

resistance. Researchers think this is

due to the increase in neurological

activity transmitted to the muscle

Loss of muscle mass (or sarcopenia)

affects certain muscle groups of the

body more than others, in particular

the quadriceps and the calf muscle

groups. Some studies have shown

that people over the age of 70 are

weaker than young adults of 20-30

years by as much as 50%

R E S E A R C H

9

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iinngg--iinndduucceedd mmuussccllee aattrroopphhyy ccaann bbee rreevveerrsseedd ttooaa cceerrttaaiinn eexxtteenntt bbyy eexxeerrcciissee ttrraaiinniinngg. Whilst thepercentage increase in muscle size was quitesubstantial, it was lower than the percentageincrease in strength. This means that althoughmuscle size is a major determinant of strength,and strength increases with training, it is notthe sole factor responsible for becomingstronger. The fact that strength increases to arelatively greater extent than that of musclesize in response to resistance training pro-grammes is actually a common observation,regardless of the participant’s age. One of themain reasons for this is because there are alsocchhaannggeess iinn tthhee nneeuurroollooggiiccaall ssyysstteemm wwiitthh rreessiiss--ttaannccee ttrraaiinniinngg. MMoottoorr nneerrvveess are responsiblefor activating muscles and causing them toproduce force. Many people, particularly theelderly, are not able to completely aaccttiivvaattee aallllooff tthheeiirr mmuusscclleess. This is due to a neural limita-tion that may be overcome to a certain extentwith resistance training. After a resistancetraining programme, we found that older peo-ple can activate a larger proportion of theirmuscles and although many still cannot com-

pletely activate all of their muscles, this adap-tation contributes considerably to the strengthgains with training. In the first few weeks of aresistance training programme, very rapidstrength increases are seen in the elderly aswell as in previously untrained people of anyage. This rapid increase is too quick to beattributed to muscle hypertrophy (enlargementof muscle size), but is known to occur due toiinnccrreeaasseess iinn nneeuurraall ddrriivvee ttoo tthhee mmuussccllee. Musclehas a certain ‘intrinsic force’, which representsits maximum force-producing capacity per unitarea. We have found that elderly people notonly experience increases in muscle size, butcan also iinnccrreeaassee tthhee iinnttrriinnssiicc ffoorrccee--pprroodduucciinnggccaappaacciittyy ooff tthheeiirr mmuusscclleess. This beneficial adap-tation is another explanation of why the rela-tive strength gains following training are largerthan the relative increase in muscle size. Usinga recently established technique, we are ableto employ uullttrraassoouunndd iimmaaggiinngg to scan musclesand view their iinntteerrnnaall ssttrruuccttuurree. Using thistechnique we have demonstrated that a rreessiiss--ttaannccee ttrraaiinniinngg pprrooggrraammmmee ccaauusseess ffaavvoouurraabblleecchhaannggeess ttoo tthhee iinntteerrnnaall mmuussccllee ssttrruuccttuurree ooff

10

Recent research has

demonstrated that resistance

training by the elderly has a

beneficial effect on both

muscles and tendons

Using ultrasound imaging,

resistance training

programs have been

shown to have a

beneficial effect on the

internal muscle structure

of elderly adults

R E S E A R C H

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To attain significant

results in the elderly, the

intensity of exercise

loading during resistance

training needs to be

relatively high

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is

used to assess muscle group mass

before and after the resistance

training programme. Muscles

were effectively increased in size

from 12 to 15%

11

R E S E A R C H

oollddeerr aadduullttss. These adaptations cause a cer-tain degree of reversal to the changes thatwe see within the muscle induced by ageing.These positive adaptations are likely to con-tribute to improved muscle function, forexample, by increasing the speed with whichthe muscles contract.

THE MUSCULOSKELETAL BENEFITS DERIVEDFROM RESISTANCE TRAINING ARE NOTONLY CONFINED TO MUSCLES.TTeennddoonnss are the biological structures con-necting muscle to bone and are responsiblefor transmitting muscular forces to the skele-ton, thereby enabling us to physically move.Using ultrasound imaging it is also possibleto scan tendons in real-time during muscularcontraction. A surprising finding was thateven tteennddoonnss ccaann aaddaapptt ttoo rreessiissttaannccee ttrraaiinniinnggiinn tthhee eellddeerrllyy. Tendons are actually strength-ened as a result of exercise training anddevelop in such a way that would reduce thelikelihood of tendon strain injuries. So it is clear from the research findings inours and other laboratories, that rreessiissttaannccee

ttrraaiinniinngg iiss bbeenneeffiicciiaall eevveenn iinn oolldd aaggee. Animportant point to stress, however, is that theiinntteennssiittyy ooff eexxeerrcciissee llooaaddiinngg nneeeeddss ttoo bbee rreellaa--ttiivveellyy hhiigghh. It is generally accepted that inorder to induce positive adaptations, exercis-es need to be performed using loads that rep-resent 7700--8800 ppeerr cceenntt ooff oonnee rreeppeettiittiioonn--mmaaxxii--mmuumm. Finally, although a programme of resis-tance training can increase strength andmuscle size in elderly people, an importantquestion which needs to be posed is to whatextent does eexxeerrcciissee ttrraaiinniinngg rreevveerrssee tthheewweeaakknneessss ccaauusseedd bbyy tthhee aaggeeiinngg pprroocceessss? Aunique insight to this important question canbe gained from a recent study that comparedmaster weightlif ters ranging from 40-87years old, to people of the same age rangewho had never performed weightlifting train-ing. The results showed that although evenwith the master weightlifters there was aninevitable strength decline with ageing, thelife-long strength training performed by thesepeople meant that they were capable of gen-erating the ppoowweerr eeqquuiivvaalleenntt ttoo aa nnoonn--ttrraaiinn--iinngg iinnddiivviidduuaall 2200 yyeeaarrss yyoouunnggeerr. ■

AUTHOR’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would like to thank Technogym for their valuable contribution to our research pro-grammes. Some of the work described was part of the “Better-Ageing” research pro-gramme (see Wellness Magazine n. 3 year 6), a study supported by European Commis-sion Framework V funding.

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hat was once merely a trend hasnow become a social phenome-n o n : ww oo mm ee nn a r e s h ow i n g a nincreased interest in f itness and

wellbeing and are in search of an environ-ment in which these needs can be met. It comes as no surprise then, that alterna-tives to the traditional health club conceptsare of fer ing tailor-made solutions to thisnew market segment.

FROM BODYBUILDING TO WOMEN’SWELLNESS CLUBSTraditionally clubs have catered to the healthand fitness needs of men specifically focusingon enhancing their ssttrreennggtthh, however, over timethe more emancipated women have startedgoing to these clubs, participating in the ‘bodybuilding cult’.Over time, the club has become a place whichprovides a balance of wweellllnneessss,, rreellaaxxaattiioonn aannddssoocciiaalliissiinngg. As clubs have become more appeal-

by Federica Monticelli

S U C C E S S F U L C L U B S

A trend that is taking hold in many ways. Let's look at the chiefaspects with a quick trip around clubs and chains

Ladies-only clubs

W

Women-only clubs are

something that an

increasing number of

women are keen to try.

They think the environment

is less intimidating and

more relaxing

12

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:39 Pagina 12

ing to women, the number of female membershas risen significantly and savvy operators havetargeted membership recruitment campaigns atsuch women.This phenomenon is developing at the same ratethroughout the Western world, and whilst only aproportion of operators are targeting this nichemarket, they are in no doubt that this is the routethey should take.

GERMANY TARGETS SERVICESDDiieetteerr WWaalltteerr, owner of the pioneering MMoovvee FFiitt--nneessss ffüürr ddiiee FFrraauu (www.move-fitness.de) club inAalen, is in no doubt: “I opened this ladies-onlyclub in 11998877,” says Walter. “At the time the onlyfacilities available were designed for bodybuilders and women were uncomfortable in thistype of environment. Furthermore, the ttyyppee ooffeeqquuiippmmeenntt aavvaaiillaabbllee was uunnssuuiittaabbllee. To get thebusiness to grow, I concentrated on mmaarrkkeettiinnggccaammppaaiiggnnss,, ccoouurrsseess,, eevveennttss aanndd ssppeecciiaall ooffffeerrss: allthis was combined with ttoopp qquuaalliittyy sseerrvviicceess,, ssttaaffffaanndd eeqquuiippmmeenntt”.

UUwwee WWiinnkkeellmmaannnn, owner of FFiigguurraa--FFiittnneessss ffüürrFFrraauueenn (www.figura-fff.de) in Wallenhorst, agreesthat ddiissttiinngguuiisshhaabbllee sseerrvviicceess for female cus-tomers may be the key to success. “Another rea-son why women choose ladies-only clubs isbecause they aarree wwoorrrriieedd aabboouutt the ‘ffiirrsstt iimmpprreess--ssiioonn’,” says Winkelmann. “Working out in a mixedclub may be inhibiting, whereas here they find anatmosphere and activities catering to their specif-ic needs. We only break the rule once: at wweeeekk--eennddss, members are allowed to bring their part-ners to the club.”More confirmation that women prefer to joinladies-only clubs comes from MMaarriioonn SScchhmmiiddtt,owner of WWoommaann’’ss AAkkttiivvee (www.womans-aktiv.de), in Rahden. “Lots of the women who joinmy club are of a certain age and would like tolose weight, but they still want to workout andkeep fit,” explains Schmidt. “I consider my experi-ence as a trainer (before becoming a club owner)to be invaluable for understanding the require-ments of the clientele and for creating a commit-ment to the club”.“Women’s needs are quite different to those ofmen,” says SStteepphhaann BBrrääuunniinngg of AAmmiiggaa bbyy MMaaiinn--hhaattttaann SSppoorrttss KKGG (www.mainhattan-sports.com)in Frankfurt. “We have six clubs with an averagesurface area of 650 m2, five of which are actuallyladies-only clubs; we offer 880000 different ccoouurrsseess


13

All-women workouts can

create more feeling than in a

mixed environment

Women trainers working

for women are a plus: their

experience is much

appreciated by female

clientele who don't have

the same needs as men

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:39 Pagina 13

and our eeqquuiippmmeenntt is also ccuussttoommiisseedd forfemale users: in fact, the weights only increaseby 2.5 kg.” “Our experience tells us that iinnvveessttiinngg iinn aa llaaddiieess--oonnllyy cclluubb ccoossttss lleessss, on average, than a mixedclub, and they are aallssoo eeaassiieerr ttoo rruunn,” continuesBräuning. “Women are ttiiddiieerr,, aaddmmiinniissttrraattiioonn iissssiimmpplleerr and there are lleessss rriisskkss iinnvvoollvveedd.”

THE BRIT REVOLUTIONIn the UK FFiittnneessss FFiirrsstt (www.fitnessfirst.com) pio-neered the changes in the market: “Before us,ladies-only clubs were more expensive, but didn’toffer much in the way of services,” says RRaacchhaaeellYYoouunngg. “We raised the level of service in ourclubs and cut prices”. The chain now has 1133llaaddiieess--oonnllyy cclluubbss from Glasgow to Brighton, con-verted over the last two years into FFiittnneessss FFiirrssttffoorr WWoommeenn, replacing the previous chain (FFrreesshhSSttaarrtt FFiittnneessss). “We provide large spaces within which womencan relax and unwind” continues Young. “Theyasked us for more comfortable and less intimi-dating environments, so we created them. In FFiitt--nneessss FFiirrsstt ffoorr WWoommeenn, members feel more atease because they can workout in clubs wherethey don’t feel they are being looked at based

on what they are wearing or which workout theyare doing.”Fitness First has even coined a special slogan tosummarise the philosophy behind the clubs: ‘RRuunnbbyy wwoommeenn,, ffoorr wwoommeenn’.

AUSTRALIAN LESSONSLadies-only clubs can be mixed and vice versa. Isthis a contradiction in terms? Not at all.BBlliissss WWoommeenn’’ss SSttuuddiioo is a ladies-only area of190 m2, inside a mixed club of 2,600 m2 (DDeeaakkiinnHHeeaalltthh SSppaa, www.deakinhealthspa.com.au),established 22 years ago in the heart of Deakin,A.C.T. (Australian Capital Territory, Canberra). Bliss Women’s Studio is a completely new site,which opened in November 2004 and is market-ed as an ‘exclusive’ club. It has been fitted withTTeecchhnnooggyymm equipment, which includes the WWeellll--nneessss SSyysstteemm, giving members personalised work-outs whilst constantly monitoring their progress.The target market are pprrooffeessssiioonnaallss, yyoouunnggmmootthheerrss and wwoommeenn ooff aa cceerrttaaiinn aaggee: in otherwords, people who want to escape from theirstresses for a while, get a rest and workout withother women.“There is no competition in this area,” say themanager of Bliss Women’s Studio. “The onlyproblem we have, if it can be seen as a problem,is the WWeellllnneessss SSyysstteemm: our ladies love it and themen who come to the main club are trying toconvince us to involve them too. Unfortunately inthe health and fitness industry, staff turnover ishigh and training a trainer isn’t that simple”. ■

14

Equipment can also be

'adjusted' for women

users: weights, for

instance, are in 2.5 kg

blocks

More and more women are

seeking clubs with no male

presence, where they can

work out in peace


WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:39 Pagina 14

M Y W E L L N E S S

Retention vs.Attraction

veryone knows that the key to the successof any business is customer rreetteennttiioonn –and the health and fitness industry isn’tany different. Until recently, clubs focused

their attention on aattttrraaccttiinngg new customers.Research carried out on a range of health clubssupports this theory: “AA 22%% iinnccrreeaassee iinn rreetteennttiioonnwwiitthhiinn aa cclluubb ccaann mmeeaann aann iinnccrreeaassee iinn pprrooffiittss ooffuupp ttoo 2200%%..” [Source: IHRSA’s Guide to Member-ship Retention].Obviously this is not the case for all clubs and arange of factors have to be assessed on a club-by-club basis, however there are some commonthemes: the oollddeerr the customer, the more loyalthey are; the club in which the customer ssppeennddssmmoosstt ttiimmee stands a better chance of retainingthis customer; the same goes for the customerwho chooses an aannnnuuaall mmeemmbbeerrsshhiipp option; tthhee

mmoorree tthhee cclluubb iiss uusseedd, the lower the chance oflosing its customers. [Source: IHRSA’s Guide toMembership Retention].

THE SECRET OF THE SUPER PERFORMANCEAs far as the latter point is concerned, this is anextremely helpful tool in terms of customer reten-tion if used correctly, and it was made availableto clubs with TTeecchhnnooggyymm equipment. They decid-ed to focus on customer issues and demands,with the objective of turning themselves into out-right WWeellllnneessss BBuussiinneessss PPaarrttnneerrss for productsand services. They have achieved this through MMyywweellllnneessss,which develops complete solutions for mmaannaaggiinnggrreellaattiioonnsshhiippss with club members (Customer Rela-tionship Management or CRM). These solutions,which include WWeellllnneessss MMaannaaggeerr and the WWeellll--

E

The secret of success in so

many clubs is the correct use

of the Wellness System: in

particular, these clubs

manage to get a large

amount of information that

stimulates the relationship

with their members

A company specialising in

the development of

solutions and services that

aims to support clubs in

understanding customer

needs, configuring their

offering and monitoring

how demands are met

15

by Marc Wielm

Once upon a time, clubs targeted attraction...Now successful clubs want retention

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:39 Pagina 15

nneessss SSyysstteemm, revolvearound the clubs, helpmanage the overall rela-tionship with customersand allow them to achievetruly significant results. How? What is the secretof this success? Easy:tthheessee ssoolluuttiioonnss nneeeedd ttoo bbeeuusseedd ccoorrrreeccttllyy.“Lots of clubs achieve fan-tastic results,” they told us

at MMyywweellllnneessss “mmaaxxiimmiissiinngg tthhee ppootteennttiiaall provid-ed by the Wellness System and Wellness Manag-er. They do this by analysing a wide range ofiinnffoorrmmaattiioonn,, wwhhiicchh ccaann tthheenn bbee uusseedd ttoo mmoottiivvaatteetthheeiirr ccuussttoommeerrss, which is the real key to a club’ssuccess. We have carried out various surveysamongst the clubs using the MMyywweellllnneessss ssoolluuttiioonn,and it turns out that over a 12 month period, theaavveerraaggee rreetteennttiioonn iiss 1100%% hhiigghheerr than in clubsthat do not have it”.

CLUB TESTIMONIALS: AMIDA, THE RACQUETS& FITNESS SPA & GOLF COURSE (TWICKEN-HAM, MIDDLESEX - UK)This facility boasts some impressive figures: itopened in January 2004, with 66,,550000 mmeemmbbeerrss(including children), 44,,550000 ooff wwhhoomm uussee WWeellllnneessssSSyysstteemm on a regular basis. “Thanks to this tool wehave a retention rate of 6633%%,” says MMiilleess HHiillll, theclub’s general manager. “We believe this result isdue to the combination of a ggrreeaatt ffaacciilliittyy andttoopp--nnoottcchh ssttaaffff who are trained to offer aa ttoopplleevveell ooff sseerrvviiccee aimed at retaining our cus-tomers”. Has the WWeellllnneessss SSyysstteemm helped AAmmiiddaa to

achieve this result? “Certainly. We recentlylaunched a new retention initiative targeting ournew customers (although it is also open to ourexisting members),” explains Hill. “It’s called ‘ThePathway to Wellness’ and involves four contactswith new members in the first four weeks of theirmembership.This is intended to help us develop a comprehen-sive overview of their lifestyle, a personalised pro-gramme, supervised workouts and a dedicatedcontact for reaching member objectives. Earlyresults have been very encouraging”. The Wellness System is beneficial to both trainersand customers alike: trainers feel the feedbackfrom the Wellness System is useful for seeing whois sticking to their workout programmes and forunderstanding in advance which members mightneed extra attention.The mmeessssaaggeess function enables club staff to com-municate with members, but is also appreciatedby members as a means of encouragement.“But the System’s biggest plus point is being ableto access and interact with the workout pro-gramme ffrroomm aannyywwhheerree uussiinngg tthhee iinntteerrnneett,” con-tinues Hill. “Members can see their exerciseresults both in the club, or anywhere else, byusing the new website. They can keep track oftheir activities ranging from classes to golf. More-over, instructors can define classes and add themto the workout programme”.

16

'The Wellness System has

to be explored and all its

potential has to be

valorised': thinks Mascia

De Col, owner of Cuerpo

It has 10 tennis, three

badminton and four squash

courts; 200 workout stations;

an aerobics room; an indoor

bike room; golf course (9

hole); Wellness and Pilates

rooms; a cutting-edge spa

with 25m pool; bar;

restaurant and children’s

area. The chairman is

Graham Thomas

'Thanks to this System, our trainers can see who is sticking to

the training programme and assess beforehand who is likely to

give up', says Miles Hill, general manager of Amida-UK

M Y W E L L N E S S

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 16

WELLNESS SPORTING CENTRE (TURIN)“We are using the WWeellllnneessss SSyysstteemm and WWeellll--nneessss MMaannaaggeerr,” says the owner of the WWeellllnneessssSSppoorrttiinngg CCeennttrree, TToommmmyy CCiieerrvvoo,,“and we are veryhappy with it. I decided to computerise the entirecentre when I realised how much potential theequipment had, which works for us 24/7. I highlyrecommend that club owners learn to ttrruusstt IITTand get into the mindset that, with ttrraaiinneedd staff,technology can be extremely beneficial. Havingsaid this,” continues Ciervo “we do realise thatthe WWeellllnneessss SSyysstteemm iiss nnoott aa ccoosstt bbuutt aann iinnvveesstt--mmeenntt. It has given our bbuussiinneessss a means to gen-erate income, and we are more likely to retainour customers as a result”.How have customers taken to this change? “Theolder members have accepted it as a positivechange in their training habits, whereas thenewer members started using the TGS key: inany case, we spend the induction eexxppllaaiinniinngg aalllltthhee iinnss aanndd oouuttss of its use. We decided to giveeach customer a ‘wweellllnneessss ppaatthh’ which changesthroughout the week: for example, it starts withpower training, followed by cardio work, spin-ning, swimming and finally into the music room.There is no way anyone can get bored and thereporting function within the Wellness System isparticularly useful! As far as maximising the useof our facilities is concerned, the TGS allows usttoo mmoonniittoorr aanndd bbooookk tthhee vvaarriioouuss rroooommss, whichensures that one room isn’t over-crowded whenanother room is empty”.What do ttrraaiinneerrss think about these IT tools?“They are beginning to discover that they havemore time available to dedicate to ssaalleess,” addsCiervo. “What is more, we can monitor customerprogress closely and provide them with useful

assessment tools. Thesetools, which includecchhaarrttss, are very popularwith customers joining usfrom other facilities whodon’t offer this system.The result? A retentionrate of 6688..88%%!

ASSOCIAZIONE SPORTIVA CUERPOC/O CENTRO BEAUTY VILLA GIULIA(JESOLO, VENICE)“I think that the features of the Wellness Systemshould be ffuullllyy eexxppllooiitteedd,” says the owner ofCCuueerrppoo, MMaasscciiaa DDee CCooll: “thanks to this system,my partner, SStteeffaanniiaa BBuurraattoo, and I are able torun the facility alone (there are 150 out of 200active members, editor’s note), offering our cus-tomers an efficient, personal service: in a wordwe maximise qquuaalliittyy. We believe that we have hiton a wwiinnnniinngg ffoorrmmuullaa, which we definitely don’twant to change. Even our customers appreciatethis and our reward is their loyalty, with most ofthem working out four times a week. Thanks tothe WWeellllnneessss SSyysstteemm, we have programmed allTGS keys with 2-3 different workouts for eachmember,” concludes De Col “that way they don’tget bored. Another crucial element is the rreeppoorrtt--iinngg function, which clearly shows us what resultsare being achieved”. ■

For more information visit the websiteswwwwww..wweellllnneessssppoorrttiinngg..ccoommwwwwww..bbeenneesssseerreevviillllaaggiiuulliiaa..ccoommwwwwww..aammiiddaacclluubbss..ccoomm

I n c r e a s e i n r e t e n t i o n f o r u s e r s

o f t h e W e l l n e s s Sy s t e m

% gr

eate

r ret

enti

on

2 %

m o n t h s s u b s c r i b e d t o t h e c l u b

1 %

3 %

5% 5%

7%

9%10% 10% 10%10%

9%

0 %

5 %

1 0 %

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2

Wellness Sporting Centre is a structure of

1,400 m2, employing 32 people

The chart below shows that

good use of the Wellness

System by club staff will

lead to a 10% increase in

retention over 12 months

'The Wellness System is not

a cost but an investment,'

says Tommy Ciervo, owner

of Wellness Sporting Centre,

Turin. 'We have it work 24/7

for us and our retention

rate today is 68.8%'

M Y W E L L N E S S

17

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 17

ECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICSKKiinneessiiss is a mmoodduullaarr ccaabbllee ddeevviiccee solu-tion with cutting-edge characteristicsthat make it totally unique. The four

modules - ‘AAllpphhaa’, ‘BBeettaa’, ‘GGaammmmaa’ and ‘DDeellttaa’ -were designed for a complete workout of allparts of the body. Kinesis ensures totally freemovements for both the body and the mind.Two innovative systems ppaatteenntteedd by Technogymsimplify the moves. In particular, ‘FFuullll GGrraavviittyy’technology makes it possible to control resis-tance and this level of resistance varies as aresult of changes in individual movements.Not only does this device stimulate individualmuscles, but also kinetic chains. The areadefined by the 33DD PPuulllleeyy SSyysstteemm, which ismade up of sliding chains, enables movementover three levels and ensures minimum effortfor the user.Thanks to the 336600°° mmoovveemmeenntt, the user can per-

form flowing rectilinear, diagonal and circularactions, without the cables interfering with anyparts of the body, especially in the case of moreforceful movements.Each cable is hooked to an easily adjustablestrap and the straps are positioned to enablethe wwrriisstt ttoo mmoovvee ffrreeeellyy. Each cable is indepen-dent, therefore a single weight pack, which isadjusted according to the user, and will allowseveral people to train on the same module atthe same time.

AN AVANT-GARDE TRAINING METHODKKiinneessiiss stands as aa nneeww wwaayy ttoo wwoorrkk oouutt, whichnot only involves individual exercises, but also asequence of movements and routines. Whilstexercises work on a specific group of musclesand can be performed at various levels of diffi-culty (possibly only enhancing a user ’sstrength), movements, on the other hand, work

by Gianluca Baldini and Luca Ravaglia

P R O D U C T S

Kinesis, the movementrevolution

Kinesis is Technogym’s

solution for a new

movement experience in

a new space designed to

stimulate relaxation,

concentration and free,

natural movements

18

T

A new experience in a new space. At IHRSA 2005, Technogymlaunched the solution that will change our perceptions ofphysical exercise. And the initial feedback is that it is hot!

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 18

on several muscle groups across a range of lev-els, ensuring stability and flexibility. Routineshave the added benefit of combining exercisesand movements. OOvveerr 225500 eexxeerrcciisseess aanndd mmoovveemmeennttss can be per-formed on KKiinneessiiss. These can be demonstratedwith ‘KKiinneessiiss VViissuuaall LLeeaarrnniinngg’, a cutting-edgewall-mounted multimedia application using atouch screen video. This software works in thesame way as and integrates with Technogym’sWWeellllnneessss SSyysstteemm. Another programme, called ‘PPeerrssoonnaall KKiinneessiissSSooffttwwaarree’, allows the trainer to access clientrecords on a PDA, as well as movie clips show-ing how to perform movements and exercises. Itis a handy portable support, which allows train-ers to interact with their clients.

NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAIN-ERS AND CLUBSKKiinneessiiss provides operators and trainers newopportunities for ggeenneerraattiinngg rreevveennuuee and mmoottii--vvaattiinngg users. How? The ppeerrssoonnaall ttrraaiinneerr benefitsby having access to this hhiigghhllyy ssppeecciiaalliisseedd ttrraaiinn--iinngg tthhrroouugghh aa lliibbrraarryy ooff wwoorrkkoouutt pprrooggrraammmmeess.In addition, the trainer can also teach ssmmaallllccllaasssseess on Kinesis simultaneously, as the systemcan be used by several users at the same time.This provides the trainer with additional rev-

e n u e - g e n e r a t i n gopportunities. OOwwnneerrss can uussee aannyyssppaaccee that mightpreviously havebeen wasted orunprofitable, whichcan be aaddaapptteedd orccoonnvveerrtteedd to houseKKiinneessiiss. The ffiinnaann--cciiaall ppeerrffoorrmmaannccee ofKKiinneessiiss can be mea-sured in no time atall , since the con-cept of total body

movements using ad hoc routines, circuits andprogrammes, means that training sessions areshorter (even only 30 minutes long). This meansa hhiigghheerr rreettuurrnn oonn iinnvveessttmmeenntt oovveerr aa sshhoorrtteerrppeerriioodd ooff ttiimmee for owners. The fact that KKiinneessiissenables small groups to work out at the sametime, means that owners not only achieve highfinancial performance, but also see iimmpprroovveeddccuussttoommeerr ssaattiissffaaccttiioonn and ultimately, rreetteennttiioonn.

INITIAL MARKET RESPONSEThe feedback received following the initialinstallations indicates tthhaatt cclluubb oowwnneerrss aarree vveerryyiinntteerreesstteedd in KKiinneessiiss. The desire for owners toreap the financial rewards of KKiinneessiiss (demon-strated through a series of pilot trials) is almostovershadowed by the enthusiasm of the trainersand satisfaction of the end users.Comments about Kinesis as a solution havebeen very positive. The SSaannttaa MMoonniiccaa EEqquuiinnooxxcclluubb was the first to install KKiinneessiiss in the US. “Imust admit that initially I was rather scepticalabout this product, but I soon realised that ourcustomers were drawn to it,” admitted PPeerrssoonnaallTTrraaiinniinngg MMaannaaggeerr,, TToonnyy BBrroowwnn. He talks aboutthe new workout method offered by KKiinneessiiss: “Ineveryday life, a lot of our movements do notinvolve sitting down. That’s why it is importantto work s tanding up and using our bodyweight”. On the benefit of the ‘3D Pulley Sys-tem’ he adds: “Customers can work smoothly,without straining themselves”.

P R O D U C T S

'Kinesis Visual Learning'

can be consulted using

a touch screen video

application that

demonstrates the user’s

exercises, movements

and routines

The patented 'Full Gravity'

system (illustration on the

left) makes it possible to

control resistance even using

different levels of

movement. The patented '3D

Pulley System' (photo right)

allows users to make flowing

rectilinear, diagonal and

circular movements, with

minimum effort

19

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 19

The club’s customers seem pleased: “I’ve beentold how easy it is to feel resistance throughoutthe entire area of movement. Customers canwork muscles that do not ordinarily get muchstimulation, using many of the out-of-the-ordi-nary exercises”.The same point was emphasised by JJeeaann--LLoouuiissTTaalloo,, TTeecchhnniiccaall MMaannaaggeerr aatt LLeess TThheerrmmeessMMaarriinnss,, MMoonnttee CCaarrlloo, who says: “We were verysurprised at the endless range of exercises avail-able on KKiinneessiiss. For example, we perfected spe-cial routines for working lateral muscles out.Exercising in an upright position means a higherlevel of proprioceptivity and, thanks to rotationsand bending, all the abs are exercised”. Whyopt for KKiinneessiiss for such an exclusive club? “Mak-ing it available to all our members was a wayfor us to stand out from the competition, byoffering an innovative, original solution”. Heconcludes: “KKiinneessiiss is an extraordinary productand the reaction proves it”.

Positive feedback has also been received fromthe Italian club UUnniivveerrssoo SSppoorrttiinngg CCeennttrree,, PPrraattoo..AAlleessssiioo NNeenncceettttii,, tthhee cclluubb’’ss oowwnneerr, comments onits popularity amongst trainers: “In the past Ihad trouble keeping our trainers, but now it isdifferent because they are motivated by this newform of exercise and are excited about the possi-bilities KKiinneessiiss offers them. Trainers even spendtime comparing notes and discussing new rou-tines amongst themselves. This has been a cul-tural development for all technical staff”.As far as financial performance is concerned,he adds: “Thanks to the one-hour circuits creat-ed for ten people, the investment pays for itselfin no time.” Some closing considerations comefrom successful case histories: “My club haschanged its image. Word-of-mouth in townfrom those who tried the KKiinneessiiss experiencewas the best form of advertising. You need toiinnssttaallll iitt iinn yyoouurr ggyymm aanndd ttrryy iitt oouutt ttoo uunnddeerr--ssttaanndd hhooww ggoooodd iitt iiss”. ■

KINESIS, MOVEMENT BECOMES DESIGNIn the context of physical exercise as it is commonlyperceived, KKiinneessiiss is a revolutionary concept. This isprimarily because the main idea behind Kinesis is tointerpret space in a new way, and use technologyand innovation to work out – all within a totallyunique environment. This was the essence behind the design for the ‘KKiinneessiissWWaallll’, a space where physical exercise is merged withinterior architecture and where the sensationstransmitted by natural materials are combined withthe functionality of movement.

Light oak or wengè wood, dimmed lighting and colourtherapy, aromatherapy and music therapy, floor matsthat conjure up images of the East: these are some ofthe details that epitomise the Kinesis room. Thesedetails blend perfectly with the ‘KKiinneessiiss WWaallll’, whichcontributes to creating an atmosphere of wellbeingand concentration, to stimulate the user to movefreely and naturally.KKiinneessiiss was designed as a modular system and candefine a space in a functional way, as is dictated bynew forms of WWeellllnneessss DDeessiiggnn.

Its versatile configuration means it can be fitted intoalmost any available space (from as small as 34m2).As no two facilities are designed in the same way,neither is Kinesis, which is why clients can choose froma number of possible combinations: with all themodules aligned against the wall, supported back-to-back or with a curved layout. A wide range of stylishaccessories, combined with the intelligent use oflighting makes the experience gained in these facilitiesunlike any other.

P R O D U C T S

Photo top, the Kinesis

installation at Les Thermes

Marins, Monte Carlo.

Exercising in an upright

position means a higher

level of proprioceptivity

and, thanks to rotations

and bending, all the abs

are stimulated

FLEXIBILITY

STAB

ILIT

Y

STRENGTH

MIND= CONTROL OF MOVEMENT

20

The objective of Kinesis is to move mind and body in order to re-establish a balance

between the two. Strength, stability and flexibility are combined using controlled

movements

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 20

KINESIS AT IHRSA 2005: AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESSTTeecchhnnooggyymm chose the most qualified and prestigiousappointment in the Fitness & Wellness industry’scalendar to showcase KKiinneessiiss. In just four days,1,400 international operators from all over theglobe booked a trial session. Judging by the interestshown and initial comments from sectorprofessionals, the product seems destined to be ahuge success globally. In the US, in particular,KKiinneessiiss is seen as the product that will set thestandard for the quality expected in terms ofphysical exercise, design and innovation.To demonstrate to trainers exactly whatopportunities KKiinneessiiss offers them, TTeecchhnnooggyymmorganised three seminars, held by respectedindustry ‘institutions’. Dr. CCeeddrriicc BBrryyaanntt, in chargeof certifications for the respected American Councilon Exercise (AACCEE), introduced the theme in aconference entitled ‘ABCs of Functional Training’. Heoffered an operative definition of the fact of“allowing the neuromuscular and skeletal system torespond efficiently to physical stimuli by training inan environment that allows movements on all levelsof operation”. Master of Science, CChhuucckk WWoollff, member of theAmerican College of Sports Medicine (AACCSSMM), on theother hand, focused on the range of equipment forfunctional training, emphasising how KKiinneessiiss enablesusers to work out in a more complete way than usingisotonic machines, traditional or elastic ropes(Chuck Wolf, pictured in the centre, during hisseminar editor’s note). Finally, Dr. MMiicchhaaeell AA.. CCllaarrkk, president of theNational Academy of Sports Medicine (NNAASSMM),

highlighted the contribution of functional trainingin correcting postural problems that are increasinglycommon amongst club members.During the event TTeecchhnnooggyymm was the proud sponsorof the keynote speech by an outstanding sportspersonality: PPhhiill JJaacckkssoonn (photo below, with thePresident of Technogym, Nerio Alessandri, editor’snote). Jackson is currently the US basketball coachwith the most titles to his name, no less than nniinneeNNBBAA cchhaammppiioonnsshhiipp wwiinnss, of which six were with theChicago Bulls and three with the Los Angeles Lakers.

As an expert in winning, Jackson gave a conferenceon the theme of ‘Creating Championship Teams’,emphasising how in sport, and equally in business,‘teamwork’ is a fundamental aspect for all clubstaff, including management and IT personnel, ifthey want to be the best. TTeecchhnnooggyymm also organised a parallel VIP Session withPhil Jackson, which was attended by a limitednumber of international guests who were given theopportunity to talk directly with the NBA’s mostfamous coach.

Several people can work in small groups at the same time,

in the various ‘Kinesis Wall’ modules.

This optimises the support of the personal trainer

supervising clients.

The characteristics offered by Kinesis make it the ideal

solution for anyone interested in moving in a new and

more stimulating way, such as the elderly and those who

are out of training

P R O D U C T S

21

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 21

or the very latest in exercise accessories,you can’t ignore TTeecchhnnooggyymm’’ss WWeellllnneessssTToooollss, a complete range of equipmentcomprising the WWeellllnneessss BBaagg,, PPaadd,, BBaallll,,

WWeeiigghhttss and RRaacckk. The WWeellllnneessss BBaagg, which includes weights, elas-tics, ankle straps, foot straps and an exercisemanual, contains everything you need ttoo eexxeerr--cciissee,, nnoo mmaatttteerr wwhheerree yyoouu aarree. The WWeellllnneessssPPaadd is used for ssttrreettcchhiinngg exercises and unfoldsto a length of 120cm. Its added value lies notonly in its functionality, but also in the ssppeecciiaallppoocckkeett ddeessiiggnneedd ffoorr tthhee WWeellllnneessss BBaagg. Thesetwo products combine to form a ppoorrttaabbllee ggyymmthat only weighs 22..55 kkgg and can be easily trans-ported using the handy shoulder strap. The WWeellllnneessss BBaallll (editor’s note: introduced inissue 18/2004 of ‘Wellness Magazine’) is a ssppee--

cciiaall iinnffllaattaabbllee bbaallll designed to provide an origi-nal way of performing a variety of ssttrreettcchhiinnggand ttoonniinngg exercises. The WWeellllnneessss WWeeiigghhttss comprise of two dumb-bells, available in 1kg and 0.5kg options,which thanks to the aaddjjuussttaabbllee Velcro ssttrraappss,can also be used during other activities suchas aerobics or jogging. As is the case with theother accessories, the weights can be eeaassiillyyccaarrrriieedd using a ccoonnvveenniieenntt bbaagg fitted with aspecial compartment.Finally, the eelleeggaanntt WWeellllnneessss RRaacckk holds a set ofeight 2kg and eight 0.5kg disks. Two ‘jolly han-dles’ are also provided, which can be used as1kg weights or as bars for loading the disks,made secure with a lloocckk. The maximum load is10kg for two dumbbells and 13kg for a singledumbbell.

by Luca Ravaglia

P R O D U C T S

This innovative range of accessories designed by Technogym combines quality, technical efficiency and versatility

Wellness Tools:fitness on the go

F

22

The complete set of Wellness

Tools comprises Wellness

Bag, Pad, Ball, Weights and

Rack. Even the smallest

details have been analysed,

to provide users with a

coordinated range of

elegant equipment

Wellness Bag accessories are easy to assemble

and use. Note the attention to detail such as the

chrome clips and the virtually indestructible

rubber used in the elastic

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 22

THE PURSUIT OF DETAILEvery last detail included in the WWeellllnneessss TToooollssis the result of thorough research into lluuxxuurryyiitteemmss, ffrroomm tthhee ddeessiiggnn ttoo tthhee mmaatteerriiaallss. Thematerials have been selected from a range ofunusual sources to satisfy the hhiigghheesstt ssttaannddaarrddssof qquuaalliittyy,, dduurraabbiilliittyy,, ssaaffeettyy and ssiimmpplliicciittyy.Take the WWeellllnneessss RRaacckk for example. The disks,with their hi-tech look, are made from steeland, like all the metal parts on the WWeellllnneessssTToooollss, are chrome-plated in the same way asthe finest taps and fittings.The shiny surfaces have been created using aspecial processing technique, for aann eelleeggaannttddeessiiggnn tthhaatt llaassttss.The seals on the other hand are made fromnautical silicone, a sweat-resistant materialdesigned to retain its thickness, colour andtransparency for years to come, besides beingcompletely odourless. The safe and reliablelloocckkiinngg ddeevviiccee, which has been designed toensure that the disks can be loaded andunloaded easily, uses the same mechanism asppaarraacchhuutteess and FFoorrmmuullaa 11 ccaarr sseeaattss.

The WWeellllnneessss BBaagg and PPaadd feature qquuaalliittyy ffiinn--iisshhiinnggss, such as chromed clips, Cordura trim-mings and laser-etched leather inserts, a trib-ute to the style for which Italian leather andfashion are renowned.The ssppeecciiaall rruubbbbeerr used in the elastic in theWWeellllnneessss BBaagg is the same used for rreehhaabbiilliittaa--ttiioonn pprroodduuccttss, popular for their high resistanceand durable properties.

A VERSATILE LINE SUITED FOR DIFFERENTREQUIREMENTSThe quality and versatility of the WWeellllnneessss TToooollssmake them an ideal accessory for lluuxxuurryy hhootteellrooms, an oorriiggiinnaall aanndd uusseeffuull ccoorrppoorraattee ggiifftt tohelp keep executives fit, or an additional featurewithin personal training areas at eexxcclluussiivvee ffiitt--nneessss cclluubbss. In fact, the WWeellllnneessss TToooollss are idealaccessories for ppeerrssoonnaall ttrraaiinneerrss, who arealways on the move. ■

Our thanks to Ivan Faedi, Product ManagerHome Fitness Equipment and Tools for his assis-tance

P R O D U C T S

As soon as they hit the market, Wellness Toolsimmediately became a must-have. If Louis Vuittongave them as Christmas presents to their top managerslast year to encourage the concept of CorporateWellness, it should hardly come as a surprise thatprestigious magazines have described them as a‘must-have’ accessory. For example, the Wellness Bag was one of the winnersof the exclusive Design Awards 2004 by internationalmagazine Wallpaper, whilst the natural lifestyle

magazine Organic Style called it the “world’s smallestgym”. And the world-famous fashion bible, Vogue,recently included the Wellness Rack among theessential objects for fitness in its ‘Pulse’ section. The defining moment for Technogym, however, camewhen the Hilton International Europe chain of hotels,whose headquarters are based in Paris, decided toinclude kits comprising two Wellness Bags, twoWellness Pads and a Wellness Rack in the ExecutiveFloor suites of its 48 hotels.

23

The cover of the prestigious

Wallpaper magazine, which

gave the Wellness Bag one

of its top Design Awards

for 2004

The Wellness Rack blends in

seamlessly with the

furnishings at even the most

exclusive hotels; together

with the Wellness Bag and

Pad, is the ideal Wellness

companion in hotel rooms

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 23

EE VV II DD EE NN CC EE -- BB AA SS EE DD WW EE LL LL NN EE SS SS

Evidence-basedWellness

newsletterTai Chi Chuan

by Silvano Zanuso*

aaii CChhii CChhuuaann (TCC) is a CChhiinneessee form ofexercise, which is derived from mmaarrttiiaallaarrttss folk traditions. TCC was developed inChina in the late Ming (1368-1644) and

early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The move-ments used in TCC are deeply rooted in Taoism,a doctrine that focuses on the pursuit of ppeeaacceeooff mmiinndd and a lloonngg,, hheeaalltthhyy lliiffee through mmeeddiittaa--

ttiioonn and a ccoorrrreecctt lliiffeessttyyllee. TCC is indeed used tosseeeekk ‘‘sseerreenniittyy iinn aaccttiioonn aanndd aaccttiioonn iinn sseerreenniittyy’’. All TCC mmoovveemmeennttss are ssllooww and cciirrccuullaarr,though there are many variations and changeswithin them: eemmppttiinneessss aanndd ffuullllnneessss,, ssttrreennggtthhaanndd ssooffttnneessss,, mmoovveemmeenntt ffoorrwwaarrdd aanndd bbaacckkwwaarrdd,,ssttiillllnneessss. TCC movements are continuous frombeginning to end, and are fluidly interconnected.A number of TCC schools – such as Chen, Yang,Sun and Wu – have developed over the cen-turies. The most classic and complete form ofTCC involves 110088 mmoovveemmeennttss and it requires sev-eral months of regular practice to learn them all.To reduce the learning time needed and makeTCC ‘more accessible’, ssiimmpplliiffiieedd ffoorrmmss ooff TTCCCCwith slightly modified styles were developed. In1956, a meeting of masters convened by the Chi-nese National Council of Sport and Physical Edu-cation defined a combined style called 2244 ffoorrmmTTCCCC, featuring the most representative compo-nents of the traditional schools. Subsequently,the Chinese government and other bodies madeefforts to promote this simplified form amongthe Chinese population, to the extent that it hasbecome a ccoommppuullssoorryy ssuubbjjeecctt in many collegesand universities. Today millions of Chinese prac-tice TCC, indeed it has become one of the mostwidespread forms of exercise, par ticularly

T

In China, Tai Chi Chuan was

originally linked to the

development of self-

defence and improving

physical ability. Later it

focused on the quest for

equilibrium between mind

and body, to the point that

several million Chinese now

practise it

* Exercise psychologist,

qualified at Manchester

Metropolitan University, UK

24

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 24


among the elderly. The practice of TCC, originally related to thedevelopment of self-defense and improving one’sphysical fitness, is now increasingly focused onthe pursuit of balance between body and mind,an aspect that has helped boost the popularityof TCC throughout the Western world over thepast 20 years.

COMMON FEATURES TCC is a form of llooww iinntteennssiittyy,, llooww ssppeeeedd ttrraaiinniinngg.During practice, diaphragmatic breathing is coor-dinated with ggrraacceeffuull, pprreecciissee mmoovveemmeennttss per-formed to attain or maintain a good level of phys-ical efficiency, as well as a state of mental tran-quility. It is most often performed in a sseemmii--ssqquuaattppoossiittiioonn. TThhee iinntteennssiittyy ooff tthhee eexxeerrcciissee iiss eeaassiillyyaaddjjuusstteedd bbyy mmooddiiffyyiinngg tthhee aannggllee ooff tthhee kknneeee:slight knee bending for short periods of time isideal for the elderly, whereas a more pronounced,longer squat is recommended for healthy,younger individuals. Classic TCC – Yang – involves 108 movements,with some sequences being repeated. Eachtraining session consists of 2200 mmiinnuutteess ooff wwaarrmm--uupp,, 2244 mmiinnuutteess ooff pprraaccttiiccee and 1100 mmiinnuutteess ooffccooooll--ddoowwnn. The wwaarrmm--uupp stage is very impor-tant, as it increases the benefits of the practicephase as well as helping to prevent injury; itusually includes 10 movements performed 10 or20 times, to improve range of motion, flexibilityand balance.Training intensity depends on the type of style,posture and duration, and determines the actualresults of training. It is even possible to focus ona few movements, but if improving cardio-respira-tory functions or muscular strength is the objec-tive, it is best to perform the entire series. For many in the Chinese community, TCC is adaily exercise practiced in the local park beforestarting the working day. TCC is a llooww--ccoosstt aaccttiivviittyy because it requires noequipment nor special areas, and can indeed bepracticed aannyywwhheerree by aannyyoonnee. In China, teach-ers supply their services free of charge; in theWestern world however, TCC is taught by instruc-tors in health and fitness clubs and is included onthe list of ccllaasssseess offered.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TCCThe spread of TCC throughout the Western worldhas raised the interest of many researchers con-cerning its impact on health, effects that haveadded to the understanding of the practicethanks to the nnuummeerroouuss ssttuuddiieess published on thesubject. Some recent studies have emphasisedthe benefits for tthhee ccaarrddiioo--rreessppiirraattoorryy ffuunnccttiioonn,,ssttrreennggtthh,, bbaallaannccee,, fflleexxiibbiilliittyy,, sseellff--eesstteeeemm aanndd tthheeggeenneerraall ppssyycchhoollooggiiccaall ssttaattee ooff tthhee iinnddiivviidduuaall.Long-term practice of TCC has indeed beenshown to alleviate the deterioration of physicalperformance in older patients and for this reasonalone it is iinnccrreeaassiinnggllyy rreeccoommmmeennddeedd ffoorr mmiiddddllee--aaggeedd aanndd oollddeerr iinnddiivviidduuaallss. TCC can also be pre-scribed as an alternative form of physical exer-cise for people suffering from cardiovascular,orthopaedic or neurological disorders. The iinntteennssiittyy of TCC – generally medium to low –can be adjusted according to the style followed,the posture and duration of exercise. Partici-pants can choose to perform a complete set ofexercises, or to single out selected movements,as necessary.Studying the literature available, it is clear thatTCC has a positive impact on the pprroommoottiioonn ooffhheeaalltthh, and as such is an excellent form of exer-cise to be promoted in the community.

This is a low intensity,

low speed discipline,

recommended even for

those in the older age

group. It helps to

achieve and/or maintain

a good level of physical

efficiency, but also

peace of mind

25

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 25


The brief review that follows summarises thephysiological effects and impact on the health ofparticipants in TCC programmes, as confirmedby some of the most important research toemerge in specialised literature in recent years.

CARDIO-RESPIRATORY AND METABOLICFUNCTIONSTCC is an activity requiring mmooddeerraattee ccaarrddiioo--rreess--ppiirraattoorryy eeffffoorrtt. An interesting study conducted byDD.. SScchhnneeiiddeerr and collaborators assessed a num-ber of physiological parameters such as heartrate, blood pressure and electrocardiogram(ECG) signals by a tteelleemmeettrryy mmoonniittoorriinngg ssyysstteemmduring performance of 24 form TCC for 20 min-utes. The average heart rate of participants,which was 74 beats/min. before exercise, rose to92 beats after two minutes of exercise, then sta-bilised in a range of 95 to 98 for the remainingtime. The mean peak hear t rate was 104beats/min. Neither blood pressure nor ECG sig-nals indicated any significant change after TCCexercise. These figures, when combined with the findingsof other studies, indicate that performing TCCresulted in hheeaarrtt rraattee rreessppoonnsseess lleessss tthhaann 6600%% oofftthhee iinnddiivviidduuaall mmaaxxiimmuumm,, aatt aann eexxeerrcciissee iinntteennssiittyytthhaatt ddiidd nnoott eexxcceeeedd 5555%% ooff tthhee mmaaxxiimmuumm ooxxyyggeennuuppttaakkee. TCC can thus be described as a mmooddeerr--

aattee ffoorrmm ooff eexxeerrcciissee.Despite the low intensity of this form of exercise,the long-term benefits of TCC on the cardio-circu-latory system are clear. In a number of cross-sec-tion studies (JJ.. SS.. LLaaii et al., CC.. LLaann et al.), youngTCC practitioners had an oxygen uptake (VO2)26.8% greater than that of the sedentary group,and elderly practitioners 18% greater than thatof their peers.Long-term practice helps slow down the declineof the cardio-respiratory function in older adults;in a longitudinal study, JJ.. SS.. LLaaii et al. demonstrat-ed that the aannnnuuaall ddeeccrreeaassee iinn mmaaxx.. VVOO22 wwaasshhaallff tthhaatt oobbsseerrvveedd iinn aa ccoonnttrrooll ggrroouupp.

STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY AND BALANCETCC is performed in a sseemmii--ssqquuaatt position, forwhich ccoonncceennttrriicc aanndd eecccceennttrriicc ccoonnttrraaccttiioonnss aarreerreeqquuiirreedd. Weight is shifted from one leg to theother by slow, precise movements that are some-times non-linear, such as ppiivvoottiinngg tthhee wwhhoollee bbooddyyoorr ttwwiissttiinngg tthhee ttrruunnkk. Some authors have suggest-ed that TCC may increase the repertoire of motorprogrammes stored in the brain, and thereforeserves to improve balance and stability. One study by JJ.. SS.. WWoonngg and SS.. SShhiihh highlightedhow there was no significant difference betweengroups of TCC practitioners and non-practitionerswhen performing simple tests of balance; when

26

Regular practice of TCC

(3 hour-long session a

week) will reduce

tension, depression,

anxiety and mood

swings

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 26


the tests were more complex however,the differences became corresponding-ly apparent. TCC practitioners furthermore performssppiirraalllliinngg mmoovveemmeennttss ooff tthhee uuppppeerrlliimmbbss, helping to develop a ggrreeaatteerrkkiinnaaeesstthheettiicc sseennssee at that level (JJ.. HH..YYaann). A large number of the studies onTCC have been conducted on eellddeerrllyyppeeooppllee. The results of different scientificstudies generally seem to converge,leading to the conclusion that TCCiimmpprroovveess ssttrreennggtthh,, bbaallaannccee aanndd fflleexxiibbiillii--ttyy, thereby contributing to the rreedduuccttiioonniinn tthhee rriisskk ooff ffaallllss (and the consequentfractures to which the elderly are moreprone), as well as, to kkeeeeppiinngg aanndd//oorriimmpprroovviinngg cceerrttaaiinn sskkiillllss, such as thespeed of ambulation, resistance in hold-ing an erect position, keeping andrecovering balance.

TCC also has a bbeenneeffiicciiaall eeffffeecctt oonn tthheefflleexxiibbiilliittyy ooff ttrruunnkk aanndd iisscchhiiooccrruurraall mmuuss--cclleess in yyoouunngg ppeeooppllee. This is thanks tothe stretching routine performed dur-ing the initial stage of the exercise. Vari-ous authors have observed consider-able benefits during ssiitt aanndd rreeaacchh tteessttssand tthhoorraaccoolluummbbaarr fflleexxiibbiilliittyy in TCCpractitioners when compared with con-trol groups.

PERIPHERAL CIRCULATION /PLASMALIPID PROFILE/ IMMUNE FUNCTIONSNumerous studies have shown thatTCC practitioners (particularly olderones) have bbeetttteerr ppeerriipphheerraall cciirrccuullaa--ttiioonn than sedentary individuals, bothwhen resting or exercising. A recentwork by JJ.. XX.. JJiijjaanngg indicated that,after a month of TCC, there was nochange in participants’ total choles-terol (TC), but rather an iinnccrreeaassee iinnhhiigghh--ddeennssiittyy cchhoolleesstteerrooll ((HHDDLL)) aanndd iinntthhee HHDDLL//TTCC rraattiioo.

A study by SS..WW.. XXuu and JJ..SS.. WWaannggreported the positive impact of TCC inssttiimmuullaattiinngg TTSSHH,, FFSSHH aanndd TT33 hhoorrmmoonneess,while another by XX.. SS.. SSuunn et al.observed a ppoossiittiivvee eeffffeecctt oonn tthhee cceelllliimmmmuunnee ffuunnccttiioonn in a group of 30 par-ticipants.

PERCEPTION OF FUNCTIONALIT YAND PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLESTCC also seems to have a positiveimpact on the ppeerrcceeppttiioonn ooff oonnee’’ss oowwnnpphhyyssiiccaall ffuunnccttiioonnaalliittyy (FF.. LLii), improve-ments that can be achieved by practic-ing TCC tthhrreeee ttiimmeess aa wweeeekk. PPeerrssiisstteennccee is a kkeeyy factor in the suc-cess of TCC; it has indeed been demon-strated that practitioners who developa good understanding of its potentialbenefits are the ones who practice itmost consistently.In a recent paper, PP.. JJiinn reported howTCC can bring about an increase innoradrenalin secretions in the urineand a reduction in the levels of cortisol.These variations are thought to helprreedduuccee tteennssiioonn,, ddeepprreessssiioonn,, aannxxiieettyy aannddmmoooodd sswwiinnggss.

CONCLUSIONSScientific literature therefore concursthat TCC is a moderate form of physi-cal exercise that can have a positiveimpact on attaining and recovering fit-ness. When performed at least threetimes a week, it affords compliancewith the guidelines laid down by theAAmmeerriiccaann CCoolllleeggee ooff SSppoorrtt MMeeddiicciinnee forthe maintenance of cardiovascular effi-ciency, strength and flexibility.Its specific characteristics – the slow-ness of movement, the transfer ofweight, the movements themselves –make it a form of exercise especiallysuited to the elderly. ■

TSH stands for thyroid

stimulatory hormone; FSH is

follicle stimulating

hormone, which varies with

the menstrual cycle; T3 is a

hormone that simulates

thyroid activity

Hormone secreted by an

adrenal gland that

regulates blood pressure

Hormone produced by the

adrenal cortex that

regulates use of the

energy substrates

The perception of one’s

own body or part of it

in space

27

Test designed to measure

muscle flexibility of the

posterior kinetic chain

HDL denotes High Density

Lipoproteins (the so-called

‘good’ cholesterol), as

opposed to Low density

Lipoproteins (LDL),

considered ‘bad’

cholesterol

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 27

oollaanndd GGaarrrrooss,, iinn PPaarriiss, is without doubt oneof the most famous tennis clubs in the world.Each year, it is home to the French Openwhere the most talented players battle it out

to become crowned King and Queen of the claycourts and TTeecchhnnooggyymm has the honour of helpingtrain all the players taking part in this prestigioustournament. The venue is also host to the French NNaattiioonnaall TTrraaiinn--iinngg CCeennttrree ((CCNNEE)), which is designed to nurture thedevelopment of talented young players, providingthem with the finest coaches and most advancedtraining methods available.We interviewed CChhrriissttoopphhee CCeeccccaallddii, one of thetrainers working year-round at the CNE, to givereaders of WWeellllnneessss MMaaggaazziinnee an insight into howthe champions of this superb sport train.

WWeellllnneessss MMaaggaazziinnee: OOvveerr tthhee yyeeaarr,, wwhhoo aatttteennddss tthheeNNaattiioonnaall TTrraaiinniinngg CCeennttrree aatt RRoollaanndd GGaarrrrooss?? Christophe Ceccaldi: The CNE is a facility availableto France’s best tennis players, both for training andfitness purposes, as well as for assistance and med-ical check-ups. It is mainly visited by promisingyoung players, members of the national women’steam and category 1 groups of male and femaleplayers, who train throughout the year at the CNEinside the stadium itself. Professional players alsovisit the CNE regularly in between tournaments.WW..MM..:: HHooww oolldd aarree tthhee ppllaayyeerrss aatttteennddiinngg tthhee cceennttrree?? C.C.: The youngest is 13, but on average they arebetween 16 and 20. WW..MM..:: WWhhaatt ddooeess tthhee CCNNEE pphhyyssiiootthheerraappyy ddiivviissiioonnccoommpprriissee ooff,, aanndd wwhhaatt iiss yyoouurr rroollee wwiitthhiinn iitt?? C.C.: There are four massage-physiotherapistsbased at Roland Garros throughout the year. We

work in the medical division in collaboration withthe tennis coaches and athletic trainers. Besidesproviding first aid services, we also monitor play-er rehabilitation programmes.WW..MM..:: WWhhaatt ppaatthhoollooggiieess aarree mmoosstt oofftteenn eennccoouunn--tteerreedd?? C.C.: We mainly have to deal with tendon andmuscle problems as a result of micro-strains inthe shoulders, backbone and abdominals. WW..MM..:: WWhhaatt rroollee ddooeess tthhee TTeecchhnnooggyymm eeqquuiippmmeennttppllaayy iinn ddaayy--ttoo--ddaayy CCNNEE aaccttiivviittiieess?? C.C.: At Roland Garros, all fitness training is per-formed using Technogym equipment. Each playerhas a daily training schedule involving either car-diovascular or strengthening modules (or both), towork on the three qualities indispensable to mod-ern tennis: stamina, strength and explosiveness.

by Paul Alart*

S P O R T & P E R F O R M A N C E

An interview with Christophe Ceccaldi, trainer at the French National Training Centre

Training to WinRoland Garros

R

28

Roland Garros, held in Paris,

is one of the most famous

world tennis championship

tournaments held on clay

courts and attracts

thousands of fans every year

* Paul Alart is scientific

consultant for Technogym

France

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 28

WW..MM.. :: WWhhaattaarree tthhee bbaassiiccee lleemmeennttss ooffccaarrddiioovvaassccuu --llaarr ttrraaiinniinngg iinntteennnniiss?? C.C.: Obviously

it depends on the time of year, but generally speak-ing it is a combination of ongoing and intermittentwork; we concentrate mainly on the recovery stage. WW..MM..:: AAnndd ggyymm ttrraaiinniinngg??C.C.: Training in the gym is also very specific, as itneeds to complement the work done on the court. Itis made up of two components: one is for overallstrengthening, devised by fitness trainers, and theother is more specific which involves preventive mus-cular work. This is supervised by physiotherapistsand is aimed at combating muscular imbalancesand avoiding the pathologies that typically afflicttennis players (shoulder, back, abdominals etc.).WW..MM.. :: WWhhaatt iiss tthhee mmaaiinn pprroobblleemm tthhaatt yyoouueennccoouunntteerr?? C.C.: Given that this is a daily training programme,it needs to be as varied as possible. The wide varietyof Technogym equipment available helps us to diver-sify the type of work performed during training. Thisis a critical element for us.WW..MM..:: WWhhaatt aabboouutt tthhee rreehhaabbiilliittaattiioonn ooff iinnjjuurreeddppllaayyeerrss?? C.C.: The Technogym equipment has provedextremely valuable in helping injured players.Besides giving them medical care, we get them towork out on the treadmill and the exercise bike,because we can determine the exact amount ofef for t required, it is an ef fective aid in theirreturn to play.WW..MM..:: TToo wwhhaatt eexxtteenntt ddooeess tthhee nnuummbbeerr ooff ssttaaffffiinnccrreeaassee dduurriinngg RRoollaanndd GGaarrrrooss?? C.C.: There are many of us, given that we have tolook after the daily needs of 600 players taking partin the tournament (professional men and women,juniors and veterans). During the event, the numberof physiotherapists increases from four to 28, whoare at the players’ disposal throughout the tourna-ment: there are 21 French ones, two from the ATP,five from the WTA and not to mention two chi-ropodists. WW..MM..:: WWhhaatt eeqquuiippmmeenntt ddoo yyoouu pprroovviiddee ffoorr tthhee ppllaayy--eerrss dduurriinngg tthhee ttoouurrnnaammeenntt?? C.C.: Thanks to Technogym France, we can provide alarge number of machines. In each of the two mainchanging rooms, players have access to a treadmill,

three bikes anda stepper. Inaddition, thereare two bikesand a treadmillbeneath the‘Suzanne Lenglen’ court. And at the National Train-ing Centre, there is another treadmill, three bikes, atop 600 and an ergometer, which adds up to 18Technogym machines for cardiovascular training. WW..MM..:: HHooww mmuucchh iiss tthhee eeqquuiippmmeenntt aaccttuuaallllyy uusseedddduurriinngg tthhee ttoouurrnnaammeenntt?? C.C.: Players use the machines to refine their fitnesslevels, but also to warm up before matches. Almosteveryone uses the bike after a match as an activerecovery exercise. WW..MM..:: WWhhyy iiss tthhaatt?? C.C.: The active recovery phase on the bike is essen-tial because, from a physical viewpoint, Roland Gar-ros is one of the most gruelling tournaments on theinternational circuit. Men’s matches are played tothe best of five sets, and they’re longer than in otherGrand Slam tournaments because of the clay sur-face – this also applies to the women, although theyonly play to the best of three. The overall standard of play has risen, so it isincreasingly dif ficult to win a tournament; werealised that the big matches are won not onlythanks to fitness, but also – and indeed above all –to the ability to recover in time for the next match. WW..MM..:: RRoollaanndd GGaarrrrooss iiss rreennoowwnneedd ffoorr tthhee wweellccoommeeggiivveenn ttoo ppllaayyeerrss ffrroomm tthhee pprrooffeessssiioonnaall cciirrccuuiitt.. WWhhaattiiss yyoouurr ooppiinniioonn?? C.C.: It is true that everything is arranged so thatplayers can perform their trade in the best possi-ble conditions. We are proud of this fact, and weintend to continue setting the highest possiblestandards for tournaments around the world. Fromthis perspective, Technogym France helps us tomaintain this level oforganisation. We arealso pleased to seethat we are settingan example, and thatother Grand Slamtournaments are try-ing to raise theirstandards to matchours. This is benefi-c ial for tennis andeven more so for theplayers. ■

29

S P O R T & P E R F O R M A N C E

Below, Christophe Ceccaldi

watches Gary Lugassy, one

of the best French tennis

players who attend the

French national training

centre

Side photo, Gustavo Kuerten

and, below, Roger Federer,

training between matches

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 29

S O L U T I O N S

s the needs of the health and fitnessindustr y are constant ly changing,TTeecchhnnooggyymm responds to these needs byupdating its product and service offer-

ing on a regular basis , and is p leased toannounce the launch of SSttiillll NNoovvoo, a new servicesupplying ‘as new’ fitness machines and equip-ment to the industry.According to Alessandro Cavallucci, After SalesService Manager at Technogym: “The SSttiillll NNoovvooservice offers previously-owned machines andequipment to a wider range of health and fitnessoperators who are committed to providing theirusers with the most exciting range of equipmentavailable today, but at even better value thanbefore.All the cardio and strength machines are subjectto a rigorous 2222--ppooiinntt hheeaalltthh cchheecckk, making themtotally reliable. All the equipment comes with aone year guarantee, a mmaaiinntteennaannccee bbooookklleett andsseerrvviiccee bbooxx (which includes a strap and heart-ratemonitor for all cardio machines, as well as amaintenance kit).”

THE BENEFITS OF STILL NOVOSSttiillll NNoovvoo equipment comes with an importantset of guarantees. All the machines parts are tteesstt--

eedd and where necessary rreeppllaacceedd (ranging fromcables to display panels or padding). As far ascardio equipment is concerned, an entire tteessttiinnggccyyccllee is followed, which includes an eelleeccttrriiccaallssaaffeettyy cchheecckk ensuring that these essential compo-nents are in perfect working order.Technogym’s project supervisors point out that:“SSttiillll NNoovvoo is not only a service, but a brand newconcept created by TTeecchhnnooggyymm. A team of expertswork exclusively on reconditioning the equipmentand are committed to providing the industry wwiitthhuusseedd pprroodduuccttss,, wwiitthh ‘‘aass nneeww’’ ppeerrffoorrmmaannccee ssttaann--ddaarrddss.”

STILL NOVO MACHINES ARE IDEAL FOR…This service is aimed at operators who would liketo offer their users professional, high-perfor-mance Technogym equipment, whilst keeping aneye on the budget.Facilities considering renewing their own existingequipment can also benefit from SSttiillll NNoovvoo.TTeecchhnnooggyymm offers a service for collection andreplacement of existing machines with new ones,making the upgrade even more cost-effective. ■

Thanks to Alessandro Cavallucci, After Sales Ser-vice Manager Italia, for his assistance

A

After refurbishment, the

Still Novo product is

subjected to 22 careful

checks before being

returned to the market

with a 12-month

guarantee

30

by Marc Wielm

Still Novo – the new service by Technogymproviding ‘as new’ fitness equipment

Pre-owned? Yes, please

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 30

eecchhnnooggyymm makes its presence felt furtheroonn tthhee wweebb: the section dedicated to HHoommeeFFiittnneessss is now available in other languages.

In the wake of the versions in English for the UKand international markets, versions in GGeerrmmaann,FFrreenncchh, SSppaanniisshh and FFlleemmiisshh can now be accessedfrom the site.

The websites feature the entire TTeecchhnnooggyymm rraannggeeooff pprroodduuccttss aanndd sseerrvviicceess ffoorr hhoommee ffiittnneessss, as wellas a host of information on different aspects ofWWeellllnneessss, including articles on eating, training andlifestyles, an in-depth look at news items and com-pany references.

Particular attention is paid to all HHoommee FFiittnneesssspprroodduucctt lliinneess and the most interesting pprrooffeessssiioonnaalllliinneess, such as EExxcciittee.

The section dedicated to WWeellllnneessss TToooollss (see articleon pages 22 and 23: editor’s note) and the pagesexamining each of the products in the line havereceived an impressive number of hits from visitorsin recent months. ■

T

31

The new Technogym home fitness websites

www.technogym.com/consumer Site section dedicated to the Wellness Tools line

www.technogym.com

www.technogym.com/consumerHomepage of the Home Fitness site (international version)

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 31

he Alexander Group is a cutting-edgechain, not only in its native CChhiinnaa whereit is an undisputed market leader, butalso comparable with its Western rivals.

TThhee AAlleexxaannddeerr GGrroouupp was founded by the entre-preneur, TTaanngg YYaa--CChhuunn (better known as CCaannddyyTTaanngg). This extraordinary woman’s adventurebegan in 11998822, when she opened her first site,AArrttss WWoorrlldd, an aerobics and dance centre inTaipei. By 1992, the Alexander Group started totake shape, with the launch of its first ‘multi-func-tional’ centre. Today Tang’s business is the most impressive fit-ness empire in Southern Asia. She owns 3333 cclluubbss,

T

Welcome Wellnessinto the

Alexander Group

family

32

In these photos, severalof the most exclusiveenvironments in theAlexander Group clubs. Personalised services,market segmentation,and new products andservices always on offer,are just a few of theelements that make thisgroup a success

Candy Tang is one of thekey businesswomen on

the worldwideFitness/Wellness horizon

today. Side, the coverdedicated to her by CBI,

a respected sectormagazine

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 32

Beijing's Alexander Club rooms for cardiotraining are installed with Excite products.Close-up of Recline Excite

The resistance trainingrooms at the Alexander

Clubs use equipment fromthe Selection range

comprising the AAeeggiiuuss CClluubb (aimed at business-men), JUN SPA (high level fitness services includ-ing a women’s spa) and AAlleexxaannddeerr CCiittyy CClluubb (themost expensive facility ever built in the world). The Alexander City Club, located in Shanghai, isone of the biggest-ever investments for a fitnessfacility: 55 mmiilllliioonn ddoollllaarrss: “But that guarantees us4,000 VIP members”, Candy Tang proudly states.The AAlleexxaannddeerr GGrroouupp boasts some impressivenumbers: overall, the company employs 11,,990000ppeeooppllee, it has 224400,,000000 mmeemmbbeerrss, offers 11,,660000ccllaasssseess aa wweeeekk (including yoga, Pilates, body bal-ance, body combat and step); the average sur-face ranges from 1100 ttoo 3300,,000000 mm22; ccuussttoommeerrrreetteenntt iioonn iiss rreeaacchhiinngg 8855%%. The company’sturnover is growing from strength to strength:$23.5m in 1999; $41.2m in 2001 (+7.8% com-pared to 2000) and $61.8m in 2003 (+5% com-pared to 2002).According to Tang: “The secret of our success iseffective market segmentation. We offer our cus-tomers a variety of brands, various membership

levels and a widerange of tai lor-made productsand ser vices tocater for theirneeds.We provide ‘spe-c ial ’ cards forcustomers withspecific interests and needs, which can be usedfor spa treatments, at the restaurant or even forphysical therapy.

We constantly innovate and create new productsand services for our customers. In general,women are interested in fitness and servicesrelated to the spa; apart from getting fit, men areinterested in eating well and socialising.”Tang’s motto is: “We listen to people and try togive them the answers. To run a club successfully,you need to march to the beat of society’sdrum.” ■

33

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 33

FFRROOMM IITTAALLYYTECHNOGYM - ONEOF EUROPE’S TOP 10 COMPANIES TOWORK FORFFoorrttuunnee magazine,one of the leadingauthor i t ies on eco-nomics and finance,recently published alist of the best com-panies to work foraround the world. InEurope, TTeecchhnnooggyymmwas among the ttoopp1100. The secret to theirsuccess includes “a

two-hour lunch break, open and direct communi-cation between the company’s management andemployees and a commitment to the community”.The combination of these factors has contributedto Technogym being named one of the top 10companies in Europe to work for, alongside Ger-man energy giant EE..oonn RRuuhhrrggaass, French advertis-ing agency PPuubblliicciiss, Swedish insurance companyFFoollkkssaamm and Dutch financial services providerRRaabboobbaannkk.The magazine explained: “It became clear duringour visits to these companies that what makesthem stand out is their ability to iinnvvoollvvee eemmppllooyy--eeeess iinn aallll aassppeeccttss ooff tthhee bbuussiinneessss and maintain anopen ddiiaalloogguuee bbeettwweeeenn tthhee vvaarriioouuss lleevveellss wwiitthhiinntthhee ccoommppaannyy ssttrruuccttuurree”.

THE ‘LEONARDO QUALITÀ PRIZE AWARDEDTO ALESSANDRI’Technogym’s president NNeerriioo AAlleessssaannddrrii has beenawarded the prestigious ‘LLeeoonnaarrddoo QQuuaalliittàà 22000044’prize by Italian President CCaarrlloo AAzzeegglliioo CCiiaammppii. Thisaward given to businessmen who have achievedsuccess through the combination of Italian ingenu-ity and style. The awards ceremony, hosted by CCoonn--ffiinndduussttrriiaa (the association of Italian manufacturers)and the IIttaalliiaann IInnssttiittuuttee ooff FFoorreeiiggnn TTrraaddee (ICE), wasattended by business figures known throughout theworld, such as, DDiiaannaa BBrraaccccoo (pharmaceuticals),PPiieettrroo AAnnttiinnoorrii (wine), GGuuiisseeppppee MMooddeenneessee (fashion)along with VViittttoorriioo MMeerrlloonnii (home appliances), whowas another recipient of the ‘Leonardo’ prize.

McCARTHY IN TECHNOGYMIIHHRRSSAA’’ss eexxeeccuuttiivvee ddiirreeccttoorr JJoohhnn MMccCCaarrtthhyy recentlypaid a visit to TTeecchhnnooggyymm’’ss headquarters, where heheld discussions with company’s managementteam. At the meeting McCarthy and Technogymreiterated their mutual commitment to collabora-tion in a number of areas, as well as, devising anddeveloping new projects to ensure the growth of theentire sector.

Wellness Lifestyle

Fortune magazine's

cover dedicated to the

ten European companies

for best working

environment:

Technogym is the only

Italian company present

Below, President of the Italian

Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi,

the stylist Laura Biagiotti and

Technogym President, Nerio

Alessandri, with the 'Leonardo

Qualità 2004' award

John McCarthy, IHRSA's

executive director, visiting

Technogym's HQ

34

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 34

VIRGIN ACTIVE CLUB OPENS IN MILANA lavish party, attended by the ecletic businesstycoon RRiicchhaarrdd BBrraannssoonn, marked the opening ofthe new VViirrggiinn AAccttiivvee CClluubb in MMiillaann. Five siteshave now been opened throughout Italy, bringingthe total to 99, generating a turnover, whichmakes the company the world’s fourth-largesthealth club operator. TTeecchhnnooggyymm is a long-stand-ing, reliable partner of the chain created by Bran-son, who has made his name through involve-ment in other sectors, including the music indus-try (Virgin, Virgin Records and V2 Music), trans-portation (Virgin Express and Virgin Atlantic),clothing (Virgin Ware), beverages (Virgin drinks),cosmetics (Virgin Vie) and publishing (Virginbooks).

INNOVA MARKETINGGGuuiisseeppppee RRiiccccii, the renowned expert in Wellnessand Technogym associate has recently publishedthe book ‘IInnnnoovvaa MMaarrkkeettiinngg’. The book looks atthe issue of iinnnnoovvaattiioonn, a critical element inmaintaining development in an increasingly tur-bulent and unpredictable market. Guiseppe Ricci,professor at the UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff UUrrbbiinnoo has workedwith Techngym since 1992, whilst simultaneouslyconsulting and training a number of small andmedium-sized businesses.

FFRROOMM UUKKEXERCISING TO SAVE ON INSURANCE‘‘SSaavvee aass yyoouu sswweeaatt’’ is the slogan launched by theUK’s best-known health insurance company, PPrruu--ddeennttiiaall, which offers discounts of up to ££11,,000000(aapppprrooxx..11,,550000 €) on premiums to those whoembrace the fitness ethic. This innovative initia-tive seeks to reward the better health usuallyenjoyed by people who are ‘fit’. As these individu-als cost less to cover, Prudential passes on thesavings, as a discount on its policies. The dis-count is available not only to those who practicesport, but also to people who maintain a healthydiet. ‘Vitality points’ can be earned by going tothe gym, improving blood pressure levels andstopping smoking. “Pruhealth is not only for thesuperfit”, explains chief executive CatherineMcGrath. “Everything that people do to maintaina healthier lifestyle will mean lower premiums”.

35

The Virgin Active Club environment

is very stimulating and intriguing.

That's why they are synonymous

with success. Below, the Virgin

group founder: eclectic Richard

Branson at the inauguration of the

new Milan centre

35

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 35

Wellness Lifestyle

The resistance training room at the Washington (USA) World's Gym

is frequented by famous athletes and by employees of important

corporations whose offices are nearby. Alongside Selection range

equipment, we can see the huge globe, symbolic of the club and

characterizing its mood

Side, management staff at the McLaren

Racing Stable with top managers from

Technogym UK and clients visiting the

team's new F1 HQ

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH MCLAREN TEAM F1After years of working alongside the FFeerrrraarrii TTeeaamm,TTeecchhnnooggyymm has extended its involvement in F1even further. A new partnership, made possiblethrough the efforts of Technogym UK, was createdby NNeerriioo AAlleessssaannddrrii and RRoonn DDeennnniiss, CEOs ofTTeecchhnnooggyymm and the MMccLLaarreenn GGrroouupp respectively.The two companies have decided to cooperate “onthe basis of the shared values of design, technolo-gy and innovation”.Technogym was chosen by the McLaren Group asits new ooffffiicciiaall ppaarrttnneerr, and the agreement betweenthe two companies has already provided for the cre-ation of an advanced training facility inside the newheadquarters “to ensure that drivers KKiimmii RRaaiikkkkoo--nneenn and JJuuaann PPaabblloo MMoonnttooyyaa and all Group part-ners are able to perform at the highest levels”,announced McLaren executives. TTeecchhnnooggyymm UUKK’smost important clients witnessed first hand this ini-tiative during a visit to the headquarters accompa-nied by Nerio Alessandri and Ron Dennis.

FFRROOMM UUSSAAWORLDS GYM FOR THE CHAMPSWWoorrlldd’’ss GGyymm is a Washington-based health clubwith specifically designed equipment for theirimpressive clientele, which includes professionalsportsmen and women, such as, tthhee EEvveerreetttt SSiillvveerr--ttiippss HHoocckkeeyy TTeeaamm, the SSaann FFrraanncciissccoo GGiiaannttss (base-ball), the coach for the SSeeaattttllee SSeeaahhaawwkkss (football)as well as a number of Olympic rowers. Given itsclose proximity to the financial district, WWoorrlldd’’ssGGyymm is also attended by employees of BBooeeiinngg,FFeeddEExx and UUPPSS.

LATEST NEWS!TTeecchhnnooggyymm equipment has found its way to a num-ber of new locations throughout Italy. The IIttaalliiaannMMiinniissttrryy ooff HHeeaalltthh has created a gym for its employ-ees at the request of Health Minister GerolamoSirchia, a well-known health and fitness enthusiast.Furthermore, a gym has been created at the IInnssttii--ttuuttee ooff SSppoorrttss SScciieennccee, as well as, at the world’smost prestigious opera house, LLaa SSccaallaa in MMiillaann.AArrmmaannii BBaasskkeett, the team re-established by fashiondesigner Giorgio Armani, train using TTeecchhnnooggyymmequipment, as do the crew of Swiss yacht AAlliinngghhii,current holders of the America’s Cup, the world’soldest sporting competition. ■

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 36

CALENDAR

Fairs and EventsWELLNESS TRENDS,

INNOVATIONS AND LEADERSNumber 1, Year 8

EDITORIAL STAFFTechnogym S.p.A.

via G. Perticari, 20

47035 Gambettola (Forlì) - Italia

tel. ++39 0547 56047 fax ++39 0547 650550

e-mail: [email protected]

PUBLISHERTechnogym Group S.p.A.

EEddiittoorriiaall DDiirreeccttoorrNerio Alessandri

MMaannaaggiinngg DDiirreeccttoorrLuca RavagliaEEddiittoorr--iinn--cchhiieeff

Federica MonticelliPPhhoottoo rreesseeaarrcchh

Isabella Farnedi, Rossella RocchiCCoovveerr sshhoott

Maureen LacchiniGGrraapphhiiccss aanndd llaayyoouutt

Melissa Amadori

COLLABORATORSFrancesco Brigidi, Luca Ceccaroni, Franco Cicognani,

Marta Giovannelli, Tess McGregor, Fulvio Sartoni, FedericaVicchi, Marc Wielm, Silvano Zanuso, Alberto Pacchioni,

Don Bacchi, Paolo Saggiorato, Stefano Gabanini, Andrea Campanelli, Gianluca Baldini, Neil Reeves,

Kate Carlisle, Jang Qianlin

PHOTOSTechnogym Image Bank, Donatella Minelli,

Grazia Neri, ICP

WE THANKNatali Aal, Paul Alart, Jemma Baker, Marcel Boots, Gonzalo Camps, Michele De Vincenzo, Lea Giesert, Kari Ingalls, Marta Martìn Gomez, Angela Marung, Helena Shirley, Eva Stefes, Marielle Van Der Wees,

Thomas Zani, Daniele Barbari, Lina Paselli, Daniel Clayton

PRINTED BYARBE Industrie Grafiche S.p.A.

via Emilia ovest 1014-41100 ModenaPRINTED 04-15-05

Press Registry Court of Forlì No.11/98

2-5 May ’05

5-8 May ’05

28 May -5 June ’05

7-9 June ’05

2-4September ’05

8-11September ’05

20-22September ’05

2-5 October ’05

7-9 October ’05

13-15October ’05

14-16October ’05

Spa & Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

Conference

Biomedical

Fitness&Wellness

Fitness&Wellness

WELLNESS & SPA

FIBO

FIERA DEL FITNESS

HEALTH & FITNESSJAPAN

FITNESS FESTIVAL

6th IHRSA LATINAMERICA

LIW

5th IHRSA EUROPEANCONGRESS

MONDIAL REDUCATION

FIT FORM

FIT VAKDAGEN

DDuubbaaii EAU

EEsssseenn Germany

RRiimmiinnii Italy

TTookkyyoo Japan

MMoossccooww Russia

SSaann PPaaoolloo Brazil

BBiirrmmiinngghhaamm UK

RRoommee Italy

PPaarriiss France

BBaarrcceelloonnaa Spain

UUttrreecchhtt Netherlands

FAIR LOCATION DATE TYPE

37

Technogym®, The Wellness CompanyTM, ExciteTM, Multisensorial DesignTM, Track ControlTM,Goal TrainingTM, Wellness TVTM, KinesisTM, My WellnessTM, Wellness SystemTM (figurative),Wellness ExpertTM, SmartKey (3D)TM and TGS Key (3D)TM, Still NovoTM, Wellness ToolsTM,

Wellness BagTM and Wellness Institute (figurative)TM are trademarks owned by Technogym® SpAin Italy and other countries. Kinesis Wall, 3D Pulley System and FullGravity technology,

are patent pending owned by Technogym® SpA in Italy and other countries.

The new Technogym stand presented at IHRSA 2005

MagazineWellness

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 37

Breathing seems like one of the simplest andmost spontaneous actions per formed by ahuman being. But actually there is very little obvi-ous or banal about it.By breathing, we take in ooxxyyggeenn to feed our bodyand mind and then we expel the toxins that havebeen produced. As oxygen cannot be stored, itneeds to be supplied constantly and steadily. It isfor this reason it is important to bbrreeaatthhee wweellll, sothat our organs – including the brain and ourcells – can thrive.Have you ever wondered how aware we areabout our breathing? How do we breathe duringthe day? What happens when we get a fright? Orwhen performing a physical activity?

When resting, an adult male absorbs between440000--550000 lliittrreess ooff ooxxyyggeenn over a 24-hour period,expelling around 300-400 litres of carbon diox-ide. So, how does breathing take place? First ofall, it is important to bear in mind that correctrespiration is fundamental to a person’s physi-cal and mental health. Breathing at a ssllooww,, rreegg--uullaarr rrhhyytthhmm helps restore the balance of thenervous system. Each time we inhale, eevveerryy cceelllliinn tthhee bbooddyy iiss nnoouurriisshheedd aanndd rreeggeenneerraatteedd andeach time our lungs fill with air, our organs aremmaassssaaggeedd aanndd ttoonneedd by the movement of therib cage.

DDiiaapphhrraaggmmaattiicc bbrreeaatthhiinngg is the most preciseform of breathing, as it helps maintain the high-est degree of harmony with the body. It is nocoincidence, therefore, that this is the form ofbreathing used by people practicing aauuttooggeennoouussttrraaiinniinngg, and is also the preferred breathing tech-nique for certain sporting disciplines, such asmartial arts and those requiring concentrationand precision (particularly archery, pistol andshotgun shooting). To monitor whether you are performing it correct-ly, stand in front of a mirror and inhale deeply.Ensure that your shoulders do not rise whilstinhaling, but remain in the same position, while

the inhaled air should ffiillll tthhee aabbddoommeenn. The mainreason why people breathe incorrectly is becausethey only use the upper part of the lungs. Why?Once again, today’s hectic lifestyle is to blame,together with increasing ssttrreessss levels that affectmost of us. Interestingly, children usually breatheusing their whole belly. If we could all learn tobreathe in this way, we would be healthier,stronger, even more relaxed.

People often complain about feeling lethargic,drained and stressed out. Quite simply, wwhheenn aanneemmoottiioonn iiss eexxaaggggeerraatteedd aass aa rreessuulltt ooff aann eexxtteerrnnaallssttiimmuulluuss,, iinnssuuffffiicciieenntt ooxxyyggeenn iiss bbeeiinngg ssuupppplliieedd ttootthhee bbooddyy aanndd mmiinndd: we do not feel as sharp, andour mood is affected as a result. Furthermore,since our breathing is inadequate, the ttooxxiinnssthat have a negative impact on our vital func-tions, remain in the bloodstream. Whilst in thisstate, we feel both physically fragile and emo-tionally vulnerable. LLaacckk ooff mmoovveemmeenntt is one ofthe primary reasons for insufficient oxygen levelsin the blood. But just because you engage insport does not automatically mean that youbreathe properly: this is why it is always recom-mended that you seek the advice of eexxppeerrtt aannddqquuaalliiffiieedd iinnssttrruuccttoorrss.

Here are a few tips for learning how to breatheusing the diaphragm: inhale slowly; the lungs willincrease in volume, causing the abdomen toexpand forwards. In turn, the lower ribs will openslowly because of the air stored in the lower sec-t ion of the lungs. At this stage, even thediaphragm moves downwards, by a force propor-tional to the quantity of air inhaled. Hold yourbreath for a few seconds, and then exhale whilsttensing your abdominal muscles. This will exertexactly the right amount of pressure on thediaphragm and regulate the emptying of thelungs. Perform these movements sslloowwllyy and youwill also be helping to rreellaaxx tthhee mmiinndd.. ■

By the Technogym Study & Research Centre

Stamp your club logo here

Breathing easy

Copy from Wellness Magazine No. 1 Year 8

38

WM_20_EN.qxd 15-04-2005 17:40 Pagina 38

Wellness Magazine 20 2005

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Transcript of Wellness Magazine 20 2005