Say hello to this ultra high energy, Toronto-based Kinesiologist, strength coach and track coach. Phew. Alicia has devoted her life to helping people reach their goals in fitness, sports and life. It’s pretty clear Alicia’s beat goes on and on.
Loop 2 Activity Tracker helps you find the time to be active, giving smart guidance and cheering you on every step of the way.
What’s new in Loop 2?
It’s upgraded with a super soft silicone wristband, smart notifications* and vibrating inactivity alerts for extra motivation. Like swimming? So does Loop 2. And of course, it’s heart rate ready. Just sync it with the Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart heart rate sensor to track your workout intensity.
Fitmark is a proud sponsor of the Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA). Through our 1 for 100 Program, we donate a bag for every $100 we net through our web sales. This summer we have donated more than 1,000 bags to multiple locations across the country, and in August, another 3,000+ junior backpacks will be donated directly to BGCA in Oakland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, and other cities across America.
The BGCA is an amazing organization that helps children living in economically challenged neighborhoods throughout the United States. By giving these kids a safe community environment in which to learn and grow, the BGCA helps them to develop confidence and self-esteem, offering hope and opportunity for the future. Its many life-enhancing programs include:
Education and career programs
Character and leadership programs
Health and life skills
The arts program
Sports, fitness and recreation
Specialized programs
“From the beginning, we made it a commitment to work hard and grow our company so that we not only achieved our growth projections, but that we also gave back to the community as much as we could,” Fitmark Founder and CEO, Mark Samuel.
In addition to the donations we’re making to BGCA, this year we’ll also be donating more than 500 backpacks to Together We Rise (TWR). This is a unique not-for-profit founded by a brave college student by the name of Danny Mendoza. After he found out that his 9-year-old cousin was living in a car and later placed into foster care, Mendoza knew he wanted to make a substantial difference to the lives of more than 500,000 children in America living in foster care.
“The foster care system can be a confusing and sometimes disheartening place, but through our fundraising and network of passionate volunteers, we strive to give foster children a brighter future, a sense of normalcy and belonging. Events like the National Build-a-Bike Tour, Sports Camps, and Sweet Cases allow foster youth to get out, play, and learn new skills just like any other kid. Our Aging Out program also provides resources to older youth who are leaving the foster care system. We strive to be the helping hand that foster youth need so that they may go confidently onto their futures.”
During the middle of August, just in time for back-to-school, Fitmark’s Founder and CEO Mark Samuel will be donating these bags in person to these two worthy organizations. To celebrate the good work that these organizations do, Mark will also join some special events hosted by BGCA and TWR.
Watch this space for more on Fitmark’s 1 for 100 Program and how we’re helping others create a bright future for deserving kids in need.
Check Out All of The RBC Run For The Kids Ambassadors
Can you spot me? Im excited to be an Ambassador for the RBC Run For The Kids! Have you registered? There is a 5km, 7km, and 15km. I am running the 15km! Challenge yourself and raise awareness.
What Is A Dynamic Warmup And Why You Should Be Doing One
What is a dynamic warmup? Dynamic training is exercise that stimulates real life body movements. The exercises in a dynamic warm up mimic the exercises that will be performed in the main part of the workout. The movements are usually done against light to moderate resistance in order to improve functional strength, mobility, stability, balance and coordination. Dynamic warm up uses exercises that exaggerate the ability to stay balanced while moving or slightly resisting. This can be done by unilateral exercises that use one leg or one arm. They also can include bilateral, on stable or unstable surfaces, or even by closing eyes.
A dynamic warm up is better than static stretching. With static stretching you lengthen the elasticity of the muscle. In doing so you decrease its ability to rebound as well and limit its ability to perform maximum strength output during the work out. Static stretching should be done once your entire workout is complete to get rid of lactic acid and help with recovery.
It is best to start out with five to ten minutes of a full body cardio machine like an elliptical if you are doing a full body workout. If you are doing a lower body I suggest cycling or running. If it is an upper body workout you may want to warm up on the rowing machine.Once the blood is flowing from the warmup I continue getting them ready for the workout by using different series of dynamic exercises. The dynamic exercises should geared towards what your workout is going to be.
The following are some examples dynamic circuits that can be used. You can combined as many series as you want and do them in any order you would like. Remember this isn’t the full workout and that it is just part of the warm up. Some of the series involve hurdles. If you don’t have any hurdles you can just skip that series.
Series 1(20m)
Alt Arm Rotations Fwd
Alt Arm Rotations Backward
Alt Arm Rotations Fwd Acute
Alt Arm Rotations Backward Acute
Double Arm Rotations Fwd
Double Arm Rotations Backward
Double Arm Rotations Fwd Acute
Double Arm Rotations Backward Acute
Chest Flies Straight Arm
Chest Flies Acute Arm
Series 2 (10 Reps)
Wrist Circles
Trunk Twists
Hip Circles
Knee Circles
Ankle Circles
Sky Divers
Series 3 (10 Reps)
Scorpions
Scissors (Frontal & Sagittal)
Donkey Kicks
Trail Leg Against Wall
Lead Leg Plows
Fire Hydrants
Iron Cross
Series 4 (10 reps)
Hurdle Cross Over
Wall Attack
Inverted Bicycle
Hurdle Seat Change
Trail Leg
Lead Leg
Lead Leg/Trail Leg
Lunge Exchange
Series 5 (10 reps/20m)
Ground Sweep
Lunge Walk
Hamstring Jog/Stretch
Dynamic Hamstring Walk
Grapevine
Series 6(20m)
Same hand/leg(inside heel/outside)
Heel/Toe Walks (In/Out/straight)
Knee-Chest/Heel Butt
Inside/Inside/Outside/Outside
Karaoke leg crossovers
A plank is one of the best exercises that help with core strength. According to www.Bodybuilding.com a plank is and it is also known as a prone iso abdominal exercise. This is is a body weighted exercise and no equipment is needed. It is one of the top five abdominal exercises to use when strength training the mid section to develop a strong, toned, sexy core. The plank is a static abdominal exercise. This means that you simply need to hold the position for it to be effective.
The plank should be added into your exercise routine regularly no matter what fitness level you are at. The stronger your core is the less back pain you have, the better your posture will be, and the more stable your body will be in every day positions. The more often the plank is performed in your exercise routine the easier it will be to get a tighter stomach and lean waist line.
How to Plank:
1. Make sure that your elbows are directly under your shoulders.
2. Keep core tight (that means pull the belly button into the spine) and do not hold your breath.
3. Evenly distribute your weight on both the right and left foot and keep your back flat creating a table like position.
4. I always recommend 3 sets of these and to hold for a duration of at least 30 seconds or until failure. According to www.bodybuilding.com if you want to increase the difficulty of your plank, an arm or leg can be raised.
Women's Running Features Plus-Size Model Erica Schenk On Its Cover
"Women of all sizes deserve to be praised for good health and have a presence in the media," Schenk told the mag. "Some women believe that since they have curves they can’t run or shouldn’t run. Running is for everybody, anytime."
Way to go Erica! And congrats on landing the cover! What a great step for women and plus size active women! You are definitely Training It Right!
JABRA INTRODUCES WORLD'S FIRST WIRELESS HEADSET WITH CROSS TRAINING
COACHING AND MUSIC
Jabra Sport Coach Wireless Earbuds and Sport Life App (CNW Group/Jabra)
Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless offers an integrated motion sensor and companion Sport Life app to provide real-time in-ear audio coaching
Toronto, ON - For fans of burpees, lunges, squats and planks who want the added motivation of individual coaching while listening to music, the world's first wireless cross-training audio solution has arrived! The Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless earbuds combine personalized in-ear coaching with premium Dolby sound to get the most out of cross training workouts. The launch of the Sport Coach extends Jabra's sport audio product line, and follows the award-winning Jabra Sport Pulse™ Wireless earbuds that introduced in-ear heart rate monitoring for the very first time.
Key features of the new Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless headset optimized for cross training include:
Best music experience with premium Dolby® sound quality
Integrated motion sensor and advanced Sport Life app provide real-time in-ear audio coaching
Secure fit, lightweight and compact design
Extends Jabra's sports audio product range, pioneered by the award-winning Sport Pulse™ wireless earbuds for runners
Developed to meet the needs of cross training enthusiasts, the Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless creates customized workouts based on over 40 different exercises - either time or repetition-based training - via the Sport Life companion app. The app lets users plan, track, and analyze cross training workouts, choosing exercises from beginner to advanced, with in-the-moment, personalized in-ear audio coaching. To ensure you achieve optimal performance and your overall fitness goals, the integrated TrackFitTMmotion sensor provides advanced tracking of pace, distance, step count, cadence and calories to make every workout count.
"For sports, we are committed to delivering innovative audio solutions designed to enhance the training experience for fitness enthusiasts," says Jabra CEO René Svendsen-Tune. "We started by specifically targeting runners, and now we are taking the next step by delivering a solution optimized for cross trainers. We see clear possibilities for in-ear audio solutions combined with biometrics."
Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless will be available in July for $169.99 at select Best Buy Canada stores, www.bestbuy.ca and www.jabra.ca.
Download photos of Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless here
Watch the video for Jabra Sport Coach™ Wireless here
Jabra is the brand of GN Netcom, a subsidiary of GN Store Nord A/S (GN) - listed on NASDAQ OMX. Jabra employs approximately 900 people worldwide and in 2012 produced an annual revenue which amounted to DKK 2,355 million. Jabra is a world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of a broad range of hands-free communications solutions. With a reputation for innovation, reliability, and ease of use that goes back more than two decades, Jabra's consumer and business divisions produce corded and wireless headsets, plus mobile and in-office speakerphones that empower individuals and businesses through increased freedom of movement, comfort, and functionality.
Introducing The Winner Of The @telus Samsung S6 Contest #telusS6
Train It Right And Telus would like to thank everyone who entered the contest for the #telusS6. There were so many inspiring entries. I hope everyone is working towards their fitness goals!
The winner by random selection was Sue Da Costa. She tweeted "If I win a Samsung Galaxy S6 from @trainitright & @TELUS, I’ll USE IT TO HELP ME REACH MY GOAL OF being a better ME #TELUSS6" I hope that she puts the Samsung S6 to good use while trying to achieve her goal! GO SUE!
Congratulations Sue!
Register NOW for The Train It Right and @ketangafitness Cancun Mexico Trip - Train It Right
Hey Guys!
I am teaming up with Ketanga Fitness to offer you a chance to travel with me to Cancun Mexico January 2016 from he 21st to the 25th! This trip will be all inclusive and will include give aways from sponsors, outdoor excursions and of course training! For more information and to register visit:
What is a dynamic warmup? Dynamic training is exercise that stimulates real life body movements. The exercises in a dynamic warm up mimic the exercises that will be performed in the main part of the workout. The movements are usually done against light to moderate resistance in order to improve functional strength, mobility, stability, balance and coordination. Dynamic warm up uses exercises that exaggerate the ability to stay balanced while moving or slightly resisting. This can be done by unilateral exercises that use one leg or one arm. They also can include bilateral, on stable or unstable surfaces, or even by closing eyes.
