With fitness industry veteran Brian Weaver recently becoming vice president of sales, FITBENCH is continuing to build its dream team by adding two more sales leaders. Mike Meluch is the new director of sales, national accounts, and Matt Hennessey is the national dealer sales manager, responsible for commercial and consumer sales.
“We’re coming out swinging in 2023, and are really excited to add Mike and Matt to our team of all-stars,” Weaver says. “With their industry experience at innovative companies and their broad relationship networks, we anticipate great things as they further expand the growth of FITBENCH throughout North America.”
Mike Meluch
Meluch previously was the national sales manager at TRX Training, and also served as a territory manager at Free Motion Fitness. A former owner of several boutique fitness centers, he founded and ran Coop Gym in Chicago in the niche market of semi-private personal training sessions.
He also designed and directed goPerformance and Fitness in Chicago, a 10,000-square-foot functional training facility that he grew to 500 members. His first venture, Cutting Edge Fitness Chicago, was one of the first 1-on 1-training facilities in the city in 1996.
“I joined FITBENCH because of the people, the culture, the story, and the vision that embodies the brand,” Meluch said. “I Iook forward to being a part of this amazing team and serving our customers.”
Based in Chicago, Meluch has a B.S. in kinesiology and exercise science from Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.
Matt Hennessey
A 31-year fitness industry veteran, Hennessey joins FITBENCH from Echelon Fitness Multimedia, LLC, where he was the East Coast territory manager and the top revenue producer on the commercial/specialty team in 2021 and 2022.
Previously, he spent 12 years at Octane Fitness, most recently as the East Coast commercial manager, where he was salesman of the year in 2015 and 2019. Hennessey also served as regional sales manager/commercial sales territory manager at Total Fitness, overseeing B2B sales to and managing a group of retail stores.
“I have always loved companies that are founded and based on the principles of products, people, service, and innovation, and FITBENCH checks all those boxes,” Hennessey said.
With a B.A. in political science from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, Hennessey is based in Connecticut.
An Industry Leader
Founded in 2016, FITBENCH is an all-in-one portable, adjustable workout station that houses accessories such as dumbbells, kettlebells, a slam ball, and FITBANDS to facilitate virtually unlimited exercises in a compact footprint. Six premium models for commercial and home use are available today.
The company has accrued six design and utility U.S. patents, with more pending worldwide. FITBENCH today is found in 40 states and 35 countries, and sold direct and through distributors and big box retailers to studios, health clubs, vertical markets, homes, and the U.S military.
About FITBENCH
FITBENCH is the original, all-in-one, space-saving workout bench. With safety and innovation at the forefront, every bench and accessory has been thoughtfully designed to maintain workout intensity and variety, while facilitating quick and efficient exercise transitions. These robust, organized, and portable benches deliver exceptional performance that drive participation at boutique studios, health clubs, and vertical market fitness facilities. At FITBENCH, culture is everything. We are the Benchmark of Fitness.
]]>As FITBENCH continues its impressive growth and further solidifies its position as a fitness industry innovator and leader, the company has tapped the expertise of 25+-year industry veteran Brian Weaver, who joins the team as vice president of sales.
Weaver spent 8 years as a member of the TRX sales team, holding multiple positions including regional sales manager, national sales manager, and, most recently, senior director of sales. He was responsible for overseeing commercial sales for key accounts, regional accounts, dealers, distributors and specialty retailers – both domestically and globally – with revenue targets of more than $20 million.
“Brian comes from one of the most innovative companies in the world, and we’ve modeled FITBENCH on much of what TRX has achieved,” said Tyler Danen, founder and CEO of FITBENCH. “We are thrilled to have him as we kick off a big year. He knows what it takes to bring a company from one product to many, establish strategic partnerships, and develop a rapidly growing team.”
At FITBENCH, Weaver leads North American sales, with a focus on the commercial segment, encompassing national and regional key accounts, franchises, the military, and non-profits, as well as managing the dealer-distributor network. With three direct reports, he also oversees marketing and sales operations.
“What attracted me to FITBENCH was the people, product, and opportunity to make an impact that not only changes the industry but also affects tens of thousands of people as the company expands,” he said. “Plus, FITBENCH wanted me for who I am and what I can bring. You don’t find that too often in business today.”
In addition to his sales experience, Weaver’s professional roles have included executive leadership coach, small business owner, general manager, manager, supervisor, and personal trainer. He has a proven track record in coaching sales teams and individuals to exceed revenue targets, as well as working with leadership team members on company strategy, operations, marketing, and sales.
Weaver graduated with a B.S. degree in human performance from San Jose State University in California, where he played Division 1 men’s soccer, serving as team captain his junior and senior years.
Founded in 2016, FITBENCH today has six premium models for commercial and home use. An all-in-one portable, adjustable workout station, the benches house accessories such as dumbbells, kettlebells, a slam ball, and FITBANDS to facilitate virtually unlimited exercises.
To date, FITBENCH has accrued six design and utility U.S. patents, with more pending worldwide. This versatile tool is found in 40 states and 35 countries, sold direct and through distributors and big box retailers to studios, health clubs, vertical markets, homes, and the U.S military.
About FITBENCH
FITBENCH is the original, all-in-one, space-saving workout bench. With safety and innovation at the forefront, every bench and accessory has been thoughtfully designed to maintain workout intensity and variety, while facilitating quick and efficient exercise transitions. These robust, organized, and portable benches deliver exceptional performance that drive participation at boutique studios, health clubs, and vertical market fitness facilities. At FITBENCH, culture is everything. We are the Benchmark of Fitness.
]]>Article credit: Forbes
By
Home fitness rooms are growing in popularity and sophistication.
Exercise shows up on most New Year’s resolutions lists. Is it one of yours? If so, it may be a source of frustration as well as motivation. Getting to a gym doesn’t fit with your work or family schedule. Waiting on a piece of equipment feels like a colossal waste of time. You prefer your own shower and privacy. Any one of these factors – most likely a combination – could account for the home fitness equipment market predicted to grow at a 5.2% clip in the next five years and, according to a “recent TD Ameritrade survey,” quoted by NASDAQ, “59% of Americans do not plan on going back to the gym after the pandemic.” For those that do return, “87% plan on continuing to work out at home.”
Movement and mobility specialist Michael Jones knows this well. As he told Forbes.com last September, he sees his Atlanta, Los Angeles and Bangkok clients in their homes, both on site as he rotates his home bases, and remotely via the Internet. Close to half of his clients started working out at home during the pandemic, he recalls, and many plan to continue.
“Remodeling requests over the last three years increased when owners realized their existing home fitness spaces were not designed to meet the needs of a family working and learning from home,” points out Barbara Chancey, a Dallas-based expert in fitness architecture and design. Her clients include boutique fitness studios, health clubs and residential spaces worldwide.
Exercise Space Essentials
Jones shares these essentials for clients’ home fitness spaces:
Small Space Planning
“Both the optimal and minimum size for a home fitness space is related to the client’s training goals, required equipment, and the floor space needed to perform certain exercises,” Chancey explains. “With keen awareness, even the smallest home gym can become a single destination for total well-being.” Planning needs to factor in room around the equipment, she points out.
“For strength training, FITBENCH has been called the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of fitness equipment and takes up only a few feet of space,” Chancey comments. “It’s a great solution for even the tiniest of rooms,” she adds.
The designer suggests maximizing vertical walls for expanding a room’s usable space. This can be achieved with a barre, resistance bands, suspension training and a shelf for recovery tools, “making this corner your sweet reward after a long day of sitting at a desk or commuting!” she muses.
Room Essentials
Chancey’s must-haves include:
“Having motorized shades in a space is a nice touch,” observes Kristin Reinitz, a smart home technology integrator in the Minneapolis area. They can also control glare, which can be detrimental to a workout or training session, and reduce the room’s heat.
Connected Fitness Room Imperatives
Jones says a high-speed internet connection is a must for remote training sessions. “This helps limit screen ‘freeze,’ and I can see form and movement in real-time,” he explains. He also likes clients to have a smart TV. Many newer models allow for Zoom-type sessions. “This platform is where I see most of my clients,” he comments.
Reinitz is seeing requests for multiple televisions in fitness rooms, (along with always-popular speakers for those who work out to music). These TVs often tie into a home’s entire smart home system and to fitness equipment, especially cardio gear like exercise bikes, she says. “Having distributed video in a room can make it more costly, but the fitness room has become a staple in home building at the level we generally work on,” she notes.
Fitness Room Enhancements
“Being that the fitness room is now a highly-designed space, a very important element is lighting,” Reinitz observes. “Imagine being able to tune your light to match the type of workout you are doing. The way I want a space to look and feel for a high intensity bike ride or strength training session in the morning is very different from an end of day yoga session where I’m working to transition to evening.” Smart lighting enables that flexibility and control.
Smart climate control is another definite plus in a home fitness space. “Being able to walk into the room and, with the hit of just one button, the lights turn to the right temperature for your workout, TVs turn on to the show you watch, the shades shut for privacy and tunes start pumping into the speakers. There are systems that also can work with your HVAC system that monitor and control air quality,” the integrator says.
“While not required for residential spaces, adding an automated external defibrillator (AED) and first aid kit are important nice-to-haves, along with an emergency button to call 911,” Chancey suggests. “Whether feeling lightheaded or full-blown chest pain, seconds matter in saving lives.” The designer also likes a “small refrigerator stocked with chilled eucalyptus towels, scented air, and recycle bins for towels and empty water bottles.”
Noise Issue
Those heart-pumping tunes, coach instructions or just the vibrations from a treadmill can be a problem for the home’s other residents. “We do a lot of acoustical wall treatments,” Reinitz shares. “These can be entire walls or just portions.” Fitness room floors are often covered with acoustically-friendly rubberized material, she notes. “That can help absorb a lot of sound.” Insulating all the walls before sheetrock also helps, she says.
Adaptability
“Home gyms that accommodate ‘adaptive athletes’ of all ages is a growing need,” Chancey states. “We’re designing spaces for clients with spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s, ALS, or other limitations that require specialized equipment,” she says. “Equipping a space with thoughtful features for all stages of life is the essence of inclusion and gives new meaning to the cliché, ‘fitness for all.’”
Last Words
“We are excited that the fitness space is becoming a more important and highly designed part of the home,” Reinitz declares. “I think the automation industry is just starting to scratch the service when it comes to health and wellness.”
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New MZ-Smart Station from Myzone® Includes FITBENCH® Workouts
Designed to deliver an even better exercise class experience, the new MZ-Smart Station from Myzone, debuting this month at the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) 2022 Trade Show, is including FITBENCH workouts among its 1300+ individual instructional videos.
MZ-Smart Station is a series of screens that can be displayed in any workout area to instruct, organize, and engage an unlimited number of exercisers in up to 12 stations. Providing station-to-station direction for every exercise, the system leads participants through circuit workouts and features Myzone heart rate monitoring to display each individual’s heart rate, percentage of maximum heart rate and intensity zone on the screen.
Furthermore, Smart Station displays exercisers’ effort tiles on each screen as they move from station to station, thereby providing constant feedback, ongoing motivation, and friendly competition to deliver maximum results and foster community.
This valuable digital technology frees fitness professionals to focus more on form, coaching, and motivation while enabling them to monitor each participant.
Supplementing the Myzone content are a wide variety of FITBENCH exercises, which clubs and studios can take advantage of for instant expert programming utilizing these all-in-one, popular workout benches and their tools, including dumbbells, kettlebells, slam balls, and FITBANDs. Trainers and instructors can capitalize on the FITBENCH movements to vary classes, provide novelty, and incorporate unique challenges.
"We are very excited to have our instructional videos included as this premium new Myzone platform launches,” says Tyler Danen, founder and CEO of FITBENCH. “Gyms and exercisers will benefit from access to a wealth of FITBENCH exercises to complement their current workouts and create new programming.”
Check out the MZ-Smart Station and FITBENCH content June 22-24 at the Myzone booth (#1623) at the IHRSA 2022 Show. MZ-Smart Station can support any combination of Myzone screens, and is included as part of the Myzone V3 Software license fee.
About Myzone
Myzone is a unique wearable fitness brand that rewards effort rather than ability, motivating its users to feel good about exercise and work harder. Myzone uses inclusive, game-based mechanics and social elements to build communities together on the Myzone app. Myzone creates personalized zones for each user, based on their maximum heart rate, which means anyone can compete together on a level playing field.
Myzone develops accurate wearable technology, to provide engaging and motivational experiences, which support behavior change to make exercise habits stick. Myzone is used by two million people and already represented in over 9000 facilities in 84 countries. For more information visit www.myzone.org.
About FITBENCH
FITBENCH is the original, all-in-one, space-saving workout bench. With safety and innovation at the forefront, every bench and accessory has been thoughtfully designed to maintain workout intensity and variety, while facilitating quick and efficient exercise transitions. These robust, organized, and portable benches deliver exceptional performance that drive participation at boutique studios, health clubs, and vertical market fitness facilities. At FITBENCH, culture is everything. We are the Benchmark of Fitness.
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Dubai’s Premium Platform Studios Showcase Digital Workouts with FITBENCH
Highlighting its exceptional digital exercise experience, The Platform Studios in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is teaming up with FITBENCH at IHRSA 2022 – the annual global convention and trade show of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.
Named the Best Boutique Fitness Studio in Dubai for four years in a row, The Platform Studios joins FITBENCH in Booth #1512 on the trade show floor June 23-24 at the Miami Beach Convention Center to raise the digital exercise ante and showcase a novel hybrid fitness collaboration. Throughout the show, The Platform Studios will livestream its HIIT classes from Dubai and on-site, which exercisers in the booth will participate in by following along on screens.
“Through engaging live sessions, our motivational coaches know how to bring the best out of participants, ensuring they walk away from every workout feeling the joy of exercise,” says Stewart Miller, CEO of The Platform Studios. “We only collaborate with innovative and forward-thinking partners, and with FITBENCH, our community will get all of the benefits of exhilarating full-body workouts via video.”
Workouts will capitalize on the versatility of the all-in-one FITBENCH FREE, which is equipped with:
“We are thrilled to partner with The Platform Studios, which is equipping all of its locations with the FITBENCH FREE for innovative, effective training that delivers results,” says Tyler Danen, owner and CEO of FITBENCH.
The Platform Studios’ premium Platform.Fit app houses digital FITBENCH workouts as well, for convenient access anywhere, anytime, in a hybrid approach that offers a motivating sense of community even outside the boutique. FITBENCH customers also get free access to this app for high-energy live workouts and a library of on-demand videos in a variety of exercise modalities with the studios’ team of expert coaches.
At the trade show booth, visitors also can experience the FITBENCH ONE, FITBENCH STUDIO, FITBENCH PRO, FITBENCH YBELL, and FITBENCH FLEX.
About FITBENCH
FITBENCH is the original, all-in-one, space-saving workout bench. With safety and innovation at the forefront, every bench and accessory has been thoughtfully designed to maintain workout intensity and variety, while facilitating quick and efficient exercise transitions. These robust, organized, and portable benches deliver exceptional performance that drive participation at boutique studios, health clubs, and vertical market fitness facilities. At FITBENCH, culture is everything. We are the Benchmark of Fitness.
About The Platform Studios
The Platform Studios is dedicated to bringing the joy of exercise with every workout, and this high-end brand has been awarded Best Boutique Fitness Studio of the Year at Dubai Fit Awards for four years in a row. With locations in Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Marina, the company is opening new studios in Dubai Hills Mall and Al Reem Abu Dhabi in September 2022. Building a driven and energized fitness community in Dubai, the state-of-the art studios offer HIIT, cycle, strength and core, barre, yoga, Pilates, and boxing classes.
]]>Life Fitness NZ is proud to announce that their team has secured the distribution for FITBENCH in New Zealand.
FITBENCH is fueled by creating superior fitness experiences with its innovative products. These products have been designed to keep workout intensity high and allow for quick exercise transitions in a safe and neat manner.
All benches come fully loaded with commercial-grade weights and functional workout equipment. They are robust, organized and portable, making any FITBENCH the perfect choice for class environments and small group training.
The addition of FITBENCH to the Life Fitness NZ suite of brands adds yet another option for group and functional fitness. The addition complements the already vast fitness equipment options that the group offers commercial and consumer customers.
Colin Walker, General Manager for Life Fitness NZ is excited about this new addition “We are pumped to be partnering with FITBENCH and bringing this game-changing innovation to the New Zealand fitness market. I have been fortunate to have seen and used FITBENCH at various trade shows over the years and have always been a fan of the compact design and versatility that make it ideal for virtually any fitness space you can think of”.
CEO/Founder of FITBENCH, Tyler Danen, explains the importance of this partnership. "Growing our FITBENCH Family to New Zealand has always been in the future plans, but we are so excited to have it come as soon as it did. The team at LFNZ has been easy to work with. We have already crafted a few custom orders for their customers, which should bring a big splash right away," Danen said.
Life Fitness New Zealand will be distributing multiple bench models including the FITBENCH ONE, STUDIO, and YBELL.
FITBENCH is now available for pre-order with stock landing in New Zealand around the middle of 2022.
]]>Legendary Fitness Miami Builds Legends Using FITBENCH
In its quest to enable its members to build the stamina to overcome any obstacle and ultimately reach their goals, Legendary Fitness Miami has had to conquer its own challenges.
The studio first opened in Miami in 2014, and Lazaro Angel Gonzalez (also known as “Mr. Legendary”) purchased it in 2020, just before the onslaught of the pandemic – and the resulting lockdowns, limited indoor gatherings, social distancing, and face masks.
“We lost 80 percent of our membership during the pandemic, and really had to strive to survive this hardship,” says Gonzalez, who also is a Master Trainer. “We moved to an online training program and pushed through until we were finally able to open our doors.”
Now consistently filled with members (known as “Legends”), the 3,000-square-foot facility features group classes, small group training, individual personal training, one-on-one cardio boxing sessions, and recovery and rehab routines. With 12 one-hour classes per day, accommodating as many as 32 to 42 beginners to elite athletes indoors and outside, Legendary Fitness workouts combine dynamic music and dramatic lighting that encourage good vibes only.
The weekly schedule includes two HIIT days, two lower-body days, two upper-body days, and a wildcard workout Sunday. All classes capitalize on four FITBENCH FLEX workout benches, which house six sets of dumbbells (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 pounds); two kettlebells (18 and 30 pounds), and one 15-pound slam ball.
The compact FITBENCH requires minimal floor space, and keeps equipment neatly stored and conveniently at the exercisers’ fingertips.
“We love how multifunctional the FITBENCH is, which is perfect for our clients and the diverse training we offer,” Gonzalez points out. “Our coaches truly appreciate all the different exercises we can incorporate using the FITBENCH. This is a big advantage over a traditional adjustable bench.”
A Compelling Culture
In addition to its legendary sweat sessions, the studio’s environment radiates community.
“Our culture is everything to us, and stems from our experiences and drive to survive,” Gonzalez explains. “We are a family, and every member that steps into Legendary Fitness Miami becomes part of something greater than a gym.”
Described as “one of a kind,” the passionate team at the studio truly distinguishes Legendary in the highly competitive Miami market.
“We want our guests to feel that they are not just a number, but an addition to a second family. We pride ourselves on knowing everyone on a first-name basis, and encourage our members use their time with us to bond with other Legendary family members.”
The ultimate mission is to breed Legends, or members that are inspiring, aspiring, and extraordinary in their own ways.
“Legendary is a movement that represents the next generation of training,” Gonzalez notes.
A Legendary Future
As the company aims to expand this next generation of training, it currently is in the process of opening a second location in Florida, evolving its training programs, building an online platform, and launching an app.
“Despite our tough beginnings, the future is looking bright, and it’s all thanks to our amazing Legends,” says Gonzalez. “Breeding Legends is our specialty.”
Congrats to Legendary Fitness Miami, which won our first March Madness FITBRACKET by earning the most votes out of 64 studios! And at Lazaro’s request, here’s a huge shoutout to the outstanding team that builds the Legends:
Cassandra Baroniel • Solanch Blanco • Olga Bonilla • Gabriel Burrell • Kris Burrell • Emily Castaneda • Lorelys Conforme • Moises Hazenstaub • Carlos Rivera • Janet Youssef
]]>We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyler Danen and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tyler, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The success of FITBENCH truly stems from the people that make up the brand. Since getting the idea off the ground in 2016 we have relied heavily on our close relationships and contacts in the industry. What started as a “light bulb idea” was brought to fruition from the people in the boutique fitness space who helped in perfecting the idea that is now FITBENCH. Every detail of each product we offer was derived from feedback and how we can make the bench the most versatile, space-saving, and safest workout bench on the market.
Now, 6 years later, the success of the brand continues to thrive by nurturing those relationships and seeking out more. We emerged as the first bench of its kind in this market and have created a product category, but instead of owning the brand name – we share it with our customers. We feel that a big part of our success has been from being open to partnerships, allowing our customers to display their brand right next to ours and be an avenue for our customers to feel like the product is truly theirs.
As a company we stand behind our product and our brand giving our customers 100% confidence. Our small but mighty team make up the groundwork of everything we do and we rely heavily on our core values to stay humble and continue innovating the industry.
What should our readers know about your business?
FITBENCH wasn’t built over night. I think there are a lot of fake entrepreneurs out there who tell the “get rich quick” story and that just isn’t true. Owning a business is very similar to starting a bonfire. First you start with the smallest twigs, sticks, leaves – whatever you can get your hands on. In the business case, this is your “big idea”. The next step is the spark – or the first flame on these twigs. This is the “idea” and with a little marketing behind it to introduce it to the industry and the world to see if anyone would be interested in your “idea.” The next step is keeping the fire alive and throwing any wood or fuel on that fire to help it grow while always trying to improve it, grow it, and not let that fire get smaller, but brighter.
This is business to me. We started FITBENCH with an idea – a simple one, but it solved a problem immediately for our industry. What sets us apart is that we started this company with nothing. Our initial investment was $1,000 (which I still have the voided check for) and we grew it along the way. We have been through every single adversity that a business could possibly go through. Every hurdle along the way was just another thing that we had to learn and jump over again…and again. We built FITBENCH for the long game. Every decision we have made along the way was for the longevity of the business, not the quick buck or the quick path to fame.
There are many lessons we have learned along the way, but here are a few bullet points that are the secret sauce to why FITBENCH has the brand longevity that we do.
• Sleep on it – hard emails, decisions or conversations should never be made in the moment. Everything can wait until there is a solid and thoughtful decision.
• Surround yourself with amazing people. We have done this at FITBENCH – our team (in my opinion) is the best in the industry. We not only have a fun, energetic, and young crew, but we all work harder than any other company I have ever been involved with. Truly proud of the team we have created.
• Having a spouse or family that has your back no matter what is the key. I could have never done this adventure if my wife was afraid of taking risks. We have risked everything, but in calculated ways. She is 100% why we can do what we do.
• Have a mentor in your industry… I confide and look for guidance from a long-time industry legend who has seen it all and done it all with a humble set of shoulders.
• Innovate or die. Innovation is the key to success. Copycats have come and gone and new ones will come along the way. Sure, these are all a pain in the butt, but they never have as strong of a fire as we do because they didn’t know how to start it or why they started it in the first place. They eventually have an outdated piece of equipment that wasn’t a great solution in the first place. Innovation always wins in the end.
• Always do the right thing – even if it costs you money. The news that you will always do the right thing, will spread amongst your followers.
• Work hard but enjoy what you do. Life is too short to go to a job every day that just doesn’t get you motivated to roll out of bed.
• Be ALL IN. It is very easy to do a little bit of this, or a little bit of that. Find a little cash over here doing this, or a little doing that. My moto is “if you are not ALL IN, you are IN THE WAY. If you are going to do something, do it 100%.”
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are lucky enough to have visitors quite often at our FITBENCH Headquarters located in Ixonia, WI, about 45 minutes west of Milwaukee and east of Madison. Here are some of the fun things we like to do with our guests… We first like to give them a tour of our building where we can show them around and introduce our stellar team. We take them through all our products and show room to get a feel for our culture. Then we take them to a little restaurant/bar called Von Loppy’s in Ixonia. This place is NOT fancy, but it gives out of town visitors a feel for what small town Wisconsin is. Plus, the food is really good, and Karen and Lisa make a mean Old Fashioned.
In the afternoon, we grab some boat drinks and head out on lake LaBelle for some catching up and a historic tour around the lake. For Dinner, we can dock the boat downtown Oconomowoc at a local Italian restaurant called Bela Su Largo – which has amazing food and a great atmosphere looking out over the lake. Always a fan favorite. After dinner, we usually grab a night cap at a bar around the corner that is known for Wisconsin Drinks, local beers and good vibes called North48.
Makes you want to visit us in the summer doesn’t it! We would love to have you!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I first must give a shoutout to WOODWAY USA for allowing me to run the business as a side gig and giving FITBENCH a platform. If it wasn’t for their understanding, FITBENCH might not have been a thing. And to Sean Gagnon, CEO at The Abs Company, for acting as a mentor for me. I went to him on day one and he was gracious enough to show me the ropes, make all the right connections, and guide me in the right path of what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
And without hesitation, to my wife Erin. Her belief in me and my ideas has pivoted the success of the business that wouldn’t exist without her help. It takes a lot of risk to start and run a business – something that people don’t typically understand or witness from the outside looking in.
Erin has been my absolute backbone and has been there for me on every hard decision we have had to make as a company. Starting and running a business with your spouse is no easy task and we don’t always see eye to eye, but we are both 100% ALL IN. We know what this business means for the future of our family, our employees and team, and our customers for providing a solution within group fitness. Our mission is to empower those around us as we continue the journey and wild ride of FITBENCH.
Website: https://fitbench.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitbench/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/27234564/admin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FITBENCHUSA
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI6C7mTIk2p7Kz6jHus7IQA
Every year more and more people are deciding on entering a healthier lifestyle, whether it is getting rid of bad habits, changing their diet, or starting exercising.
We all know how good exercise is or how beneficial it can be for us; it generally improves our body function, mental health, and, my personal favorite, exercise as a stress reliever; some enjoy a nice run, others like to hit the gym, do a workout routine at home, or maybe something a bit different, like a specific sport.
What are the main benefits of a home gym?
There are several benefits of a home gym. The most beneficial factor is it saves time. Membership gyms understand that if a person lives too far away from the gym, that member is more likely to quit than someone who lives just a few miles away.
Next, home gyms save money. There is more money to pay upfront, but once the gym products are paid for, they are yours without any additional payments. Gym memberships will continue until the membership is over. Buying equipment versus paying to use it is like leasing a house or buying one.
Another benefit of a home gym is 24/7 access. Not everyone has access to membership gyms during their operating hours. Owning a home gym allows you to access your workout equipment any time of day or night.
Not everyone is comfortable working out in a public facility. The privacy of a home gym is another great benefit.
Lastly, anything to help reduce excuses to avoid workouts is an excellent benefit of a home gym. Saving time, saving money, 24/7 access, and absolute privacy are great ways to eliminate excuses for avoiding your workouts.
Scott Gutschke from Gtech Fitness
How can you design a home gym in a small space and what are the essentials you would need?
Obviously when space is limited, you need to maximize the space with a small footprint. Multifunctional pieces of equipment are ideal for a small space. The FITBENCH FREE contains all the essentials you need for a workout—dumbbells, kettlebells, slam ball, and resistance bands all neatly packed into one functional piece of equipment. In addition to storing the equipment, each piece can be easily accessed on each side and end of the bench. The bench’s multi-wheel mobility, allows a user to move it out of the way when complete with their workout and quickly roll it wherever it needs to go. The FREE itself is extremely lightweight, so it can be moved from a room to a garage to the park or beach to find a new training space. The best part, the FITBENCH FREE is made 100% in the USA!
Another great tool, the YBell, combines a dumbbell, kettlebell, double-grip med ball, and push-up stand in one piece of equipment, making more exercises possible with less equipment.
Tracee Meyers from FITBENCH
How can you make sure to exercise correctly when working out at your home gym?
The most important thing to remember is that the workout should be correct for you. Not everyone will feel great back squatting or deadlifting. So, don’t feel like you have to do specific movements to get the most out of your home gym.
When you find the right movements for you, learn how you should execute them. You could hire a local coach for one hour. Or, spend some time on YouTube. Take your time with each lift. You’ll avoid injury while getting each move down correctly.
BJ Ward from Born Fitness
What are the essentials you would need to become a home fitness trainer?
Matt from Confessions of the Professions
What is the best way to motivate all the family to work out together at home?
Half of the effort of motivating someone to work out is just getting them to show up! But you don’t even have to go anywhere special to have a fun, engaging experience with your family in a workout. Try taking a virtual live class from home. Choose something that can cater to all levels, like yoga or cardio dance. Even better, you and your family can try 4 live classes with Bande Fitness’ 7-day free trial!
Amaya Becvar from Bande
How can you improve your fitness this summer?
The best way to improve your way to fitness this summer is to simply stay motivated and get into a routine. Set a goal and take the proper steps to reach that goal. Make sure you are eating the proper foods and maintaining a healthy diet. Also, make sure you get adequate rest. Get in the gym and kill it!
Patrick Halloran from Top Fitness Store
What are the benefits of practicing yoga at home and what essentials do you need?
Having a yoga practice at home allows you the freedom to practice in a comfortable environment. You also get to practice whenever you want. You can set a schedule that you can ensure you’ll commit to because it’s convenient and accessible. When meditating at home, you can choose how long you want your practice to be. There are plenty of meditation scripts on youtube and Spotify. You can also meditate in silence and repeat a mantra, or sound or phrase that you repeat, that helps you concentrate.
Alex Tran from Schimiggy Reviews
What are the best CrossFit routines and equipment you can use in a DIY home gym?
The “CrossFit at Home” gym can vary dramatically depending on budget and space, whether it’s in the garage, living room, or outside. At the bare minimum, a set of kettlebells (light/medium/heavy) will take you far. Don’t forget warm-up and mobility equipment like bands, rollers, jump rope, and poles cut from PVC pipe! Next would be gymnastics equipment: dip and pull-up bars and stackable boxes you can jump on. Ideally you’d build the pull-up bar into the wall or into its own rig, ensuring you have enough head and leg space for kipping and muscle-up practice. At this point you can do the majority of prescribed CrossFit WODs. Lastly, if budget and space allows, buy a barbell with a set of plates and rubber mats (horse stall mats work great and are cheap), squat rig, bench, a set of dumbbells, and a rower. With all of this you will be as prepared as any CrossFit Games athlete!
Miles from Foundation Crossfit
What exercises can you do at home to practice your golf skills?
If you could only do one exercise to help you improve your golf game and skills, we would definitely suggest the good old squat! Whether it’s an air squat that only uses your body weight or a barbell squat, increasing your lower body strength is a simple but effective way to increase your swing speed and generate more club head speed to start crushing the ball down the fairway.
Brian Peña from Red Birdie Golf
How can you incorporate a jump rope in different home workouts?
There are a wide variety of home workouts one can accomplish with a jump rope. The best part about a jump rope is it doesn’t require anything but the motivation to get started. You can do squats, jumping jacks, and so much more! Spice your workouts up with a weighted jump rope to start building muscle.
Nathan from Elevate Rope
What equipment would you recommend for practicing playing football at home?
We recommend a ‘Solo Close Control and Skills Football Training Aid’. It’s a relatively simple device with an adjustable strap that fits a range of footballs attached by a bungee to a Velcro wrist strap.
You won’t need a lot of space to practice football at home. It lets you focus on your shooting, passing and ball control without annoying neighbors or ruining your dad’s bedding plants!
Sam from 5aside.com™
]]>Work out, rejuvenate and rest, all in the privacy of your room. The Fit on the Fly Suite features a Peloton Bike, FITBENCH ONE, lululemon yoga mat, and all the classic comforts you’ve come to expect from Fairmont – like the incredibly plush bed.
]]>An article from Fairmont Vancouver Airport
The Fit on the Fly Suite features a Peloton Bike, FITBENCH ONE, lululemon yoga mat, and all the classic comforts you’ve come to expect from Fairmont – like the incredibly plush bed. You’ll also find head-to-toe Fairmont Fit apparel waiting for you on arrival, so there’s no need to squeeze extra gear into your carry-on. Once you’ve worked up a sweat, it’s time to enjoy a Nordic-style hydrotherapy experience, followed by a healthy snack from Fairmont Vancouver Airport’s culinary team.
The Peloton Bike offers access to thousands of classes beyond just spin, including cardio, strength, HIIT, yoga, and meditation – so you can stay inspired no matter your fitness passion. Then take your workout up a notch with the FITBENCH ONE. Stored within the bench you’ll find dumbbells, kettlebells, a slam ball, and FITBANDS, while the top of the bench elevates to eight different positions and doubles as a plyo box, allowing you maximum versatility in your workouts. A lululemon yoga mat and a balance ball complete the room.
Well known for soothing sore muscles, relieving joint stiffness, and creating a sense of well-being, Nordic hydrotherapy is the perfect way to finish your workout. This unique in-room version begins with a hot shower enriched with a bathintentions lavender patchouli shower steamer to increase blood flow and relax muscles. Then, step out of the shower and plunge into a refreshing ice bath to reduce lactic acid build-up and release muscle tension. Finally, wrap yourself in a plush Fairmont robe and relax with mindful breathing exercises as your heart rate stabilizes and you embrace a sense of calmness and clarity. Repeat the hot, cold, relax cycle as needed, and then refuel with a selection of healthy snacks, including fresh fruit and house-made power bars.
The best part, these suites are available year around so you don't need to worry about blistering the cold for another workout while on the road!
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Embracing a mission to empower everyone to unlock their potential, Wellfit is dedicated to providing workouts in a more accessible, affordable, and efficient way. The company recently opened the largest indoor wellness and fitness facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a 75,000-square-foot multi-sport Wellfit at the Circle Mall in Jumerirah Village Circle in Dubai.
Offering innovative technologies, equipment, and programming, Wellfit includes training areas for strength and conditioning, athletic performance, mixed martial arts, boxing, ninja and parkour, padel tennis, group exercise studios, and more. The massive facility also includes recovery rooms, a member lounge, a restaurant, and a retail outlet.
“Active living is core to our strategy and brand positioning, and is a way of life that integrates physical activity into everyday routines, whether at Wellfit or in our communities,” explains Gareth Jones, COO of Wellfit. “We deliver access to programs, information, and technology that foster a healthy and vital lifestyle.”
Knockout Workout
Among the 300 group ex classes each week – HIIT, yoga, cycling, Les Mills formats, and more – are Wellfit’s popular signature sessions, including 60 classes weekly.
The club’s flagship and best-performing signature class is Blackout, a unique HIIT concept developed in-house by expert coaches. This 55-minute immersive experience combines a progressive, structured program of boxing combinations using aqua bags with strength exercises in a dedicated studio equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and world-class audio visuals.
A key component of the Blackout classes is the FITBENCH STUDIO, an all-in-one workout bench that serves as an individual training station and houses four sets of rubber hexagon dumbbells (10, 15, 20, and 25 pounds), one 18-pound kettlebell, one 12-pound slam ball, and three sets of FITBANDs. For additional exercise variety, the bench features 8 incline positions for incline and decline movements, plyo box functionality, and a slot for a FITROPE.
“With its compact design and multi-functional workout capabilities, the FITBENCH STUDIO was the perfect fit,” Jones points out. “Blackout is an exciting class that is both challenging and varied – and a big part of this is due to the multitude of exercises that can be performed using the FITBENCH and its accessories.”
Three to five Blackout classes are held daily, and each accommodates 12 members in the 970-square-foot studio. In fact, Wellfit has increased the frequency of these sessions due to growing demand.
“We’ve received universally positive feedback from members and instructors alike,” Jones notes. “They appreciate the ease of set-up and ability to transition quickly from one exercise to another.”
Plus, the versatility of the FITBENCH is a valuable asset. “The FITBENCH allows our talented team of instructors to program workouts that are fun and constantly changing to challenge members of all ages and abilities – and keep them coming back for more,” Jones adds.
Ultimately, the partnership between this forward-thinking company and FITBENCH is mutually beneficial.
“We developed Wellfit to give our members choice all under one roof,” Jones says. “Blackout is a core pillar in this strategy, and we’re delighted to work with FITBENCH, whose product plays a key role in fulfilling our training objectives.”
Everything for an Active Life Under One Roof
Planning to open at least four more facilities in the UAE within the next two years, Wellfit is ambitiously evolving.
“Where sports and fitness meet innovation and technology, we are the gateway to the best version of ourselves every day,” Jones notes. “Future sites will incorporate this ethos and tailor our offerings to the communities we are serving.”
The Wellfit facility is truly jaw-dropping, and we feel privileged to play a role in revolutionizing physical activity in the UAE. A huge high five to Wellfit for calling on FITBENCH to help enable people to be the best they can be!
]]>In a pandemic-impacted environment, personal exercise space is considered valuable real estate, so when you discover equipment that boasts extreme efficiency by way of physical footprint, neat and tidy organization, and quick and simple transitions between exercises, you owe it to your bottom line to take a look!
FITBENCH® is an innovative, all-in-one, space-saving workout bench that keeps the workout intensity high, by enabling super quick exercise transitions in a safe, neat and efficient manner.
FITBENCH:
FITBENCH has been innovating functional fitness since 2016, making it the original in its category. Fast-forward to today, and FITBENCH still remains unrivaled for its stability, durability and safety.
“Our benches are seamlessly organized by design," says Tyler Danen, Founder and CEO at FITBENCH. "They are robust, portable and fully loaded with functional and commercial grade workout equipment; all of which makes FITBENCH the ideal inclusion for small group training and class environments."
"We are elated to be a part of the prestigious lineup that comes with the name 'Life Fitness'. The experience and clout of the team at LF Australia should be a monumental shift for FITBENCH in the Asia-Pacific region. HUGE thank you for this opportunity, Life Fitness team," Danen said.
“We are excited to partner with FITBENCH® and bring this game-changing innovation to the Australian fitness market. Whether for your home, studio or fitness facility, the FITBENCH® will add a versatile, compact training solution to any space,” adds Paul McClure, Managing Director at Life Fitness Australia.
There are three FITBENCH models to choose from:
FITBENCH ONE®
This flagship model is the bench where it all began! With comfort, stability and durability at its forefront, the FITBENCH® ONE is perfect for HIIT workouts and small group training. It includes:
FITBENCH® STUDIO
The FITBENCH® STUDIO is the premium, all-inclusive workout bench, ideal for boutique studios. The STUDIO is the smallest in the collection, with only four sets of commercial-grade dumbbells, as well as a narrower top and shorter step height, making it perfect for step-ups and other dynamic exercises. The FITBENCH STUDIO contains:
FITBENCH® YBELL
The FITBENCH® YBELL combines YBell Fitness® and FITBENCH to create a smart solution to storing the YBells in an innovative bench design. The FITBENCH YBell fits five sets of YBell Neos, which are 4-in-1 training tools (dumbbell, kettlebell, double-grip med ball, and push-up stand), neatly into one of our patented design.
Included is:
To find out more about the FITBENCH collection and how it can transform your workout spaces, call 1.800.294.0536 or visit www.fitbench.com.
About Life Fitness Australia
Life Fitness Australia is the exclusive distributor of the world's leading fitness brands: Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex and Indoor Cycling Group. Established in 1997, Life Fitness Australia has offices in 6 states with over 100 employees nationally. Life Fitness Australia's proven track record and history of excellence is unmatched in the industry. For more information about the Life Fitness family of brands and products, Freecall 1800 689 622 or visit www.lifefitness.com.au.
About FITBENCH®
FITBENCH is the all-in-one, space-saving workout bench. We innovate safe and space-saving fitness solutions. Our products are thoughtfully designed to maintain workout intensity and variety, while facilitating quick exercise transitions in a safe and neat manner. These robust, organized, and portable benches deliver exceptional performance that drives participation at boutique studios, health clubs, and vertical market fitness facilities. We are the Benchmark of Fitness.
]]>February is American Heart Month. At FITBENCH it’s in our DNA to live an active daily lifestyle and to guide our customers in their journey towards accomplishing their health goals. One of the leading causes of death for both men and women in the United States is heart disease. Most middle-aged and young adults have one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or being a smoker or overweight. Having multiple risk factors increases your risk for heart disease.
Therefore, devoting a little time every day to care for yourself can go a long way toward protecting the health of your heart. Simple self-care, such as taking a moment to de-stress, giving yourself time to move more, preparing healthier meals, and not cheating on sleep can all benefit your heart. And that’s a good thing, because heart disease is largely preventable and focusing on improving your heart health has never been more important. People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
“Studies show self-care routines, such as taking a daily walk and keeping doctor’s appointments, help us keep our blood pressure in the healthy range and reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke,” said David Goff, M.D., Director of cardiovascular sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Understanding how physical activity benefits your heart can be strong motivation to get moving. Below are seven heart benefits of exercise according to John’s Hopkins Medicine.
1.) Exercise lowers blood pressure.
Exercise works like beta-blocker medication to slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure (at rest and also when exercising). High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease.
2.) Exercise is key to weight control.
Especially when combined with a smart diet, being physically active is an essential component for losing weight and even more important for keeping it off. Being overweight puts stress on the heart and is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
3.) Exercise helps strengthen muscles.
A combination of aerobic workouts (which, depending on your fitness level, can include walking, running, swimming, and other vigorous heart-pumping exercise) and strength training (weightlifting, resistance training) is considered best for heart health. These exercises improve the muscles’ ability to draw oxygen from the circulating blood. That reduces the need for the heart—a muscular organ itself—to work harder to pump more blood to the muscles, whatever your age.
4.) Exercise can help you quit smoking.
As smokers become more fit, they often quit. And people who are fit in the first place are less likely to ever start smoking, which is one of the top risk factors for heart disease because it damages the structure and function of blood vessels.
5.) Exercise can stop or slow the development of diabetes.
Johns Hopkins research has shown that when combined with strength training, regular aerobic exercise such as cycling, brisk walking, or swimming can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by over 50% by allowing the muscles to better process glycogen, a fuel for energy, which when impaired, leads to excessive blood sugars, and thus diabetes.
6.) Exercise lowers stress.
Stress hormones can put an extra burden on the heart. Exercise—whether aerobic (like running), resistance-oriented (like weight training) or flexibility-focused (like yoga)—can help you relax and ease stress.
7.) Exercise reduces inflammation.
With regular exercise, chronic inflammation is reduced as the body adapts to the challenge of exercise on many bodily systems. This is an important factor for reducing the adverse effects of many of the diseases just mentioned.
The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that adults should engage in 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week. Alternatively, you can engage in 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity, or a combination of both moderate and vigorous activity.
At FITBENCH we are dedicated to providing our customers with safe and innovative ways to stay moving while also flexing the mind and body. Each FITBENCH is commercial grade and comes fully equipped with ready-to-use dumbbells, kettlebells, slam balls and a fully integrated incline bench top allowing for unlimited exercises and total body workouts. We’ve also developed an app with over 350 guided exercises and workouts that are sure to boost your cardio and keep your heart healthy and happy!]]>
OCONOMOWOC, Wisc. – Jan. 5, 2021 – In a class of its own, the new B_FIT in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is a “smart club” that capitalizes on technology, premium products, and exceptional service to deliver unprecedented member experiences.
Opened in October 2021 by Armah Sports Company as its “avant-garde, progressive brand,” B_FIT is defined by its technology, novelty, and futuristic approach, with boutique-like offerings and personal service in a 40,000+ square-foot facility.
The club includes a gym floor, cardio zone, personal training hubs, athlete area, 82-foot pool, indoor running track, and six studios for boxing, functional training, group cycling, HIIT, Pilates, and yoga.
Helping fuel B_FIT’s popular HIIT studio is the top-of-the-line FITBENCH ONE, a loaded workout bench that is equipped with incline options, plyo box functionality, and built-in storage for six sets of rubber-hexagon dumbbells, two kettlebells, one slam ball, and three sets of FITBANDS.
“The HIIT studio offers some of our most popular classes, and we chose FITBENCH because it is a brand we trust to deliver the exceptional promise and standard that we pledge to our members,” says Fahad Alhagbani, CEO of Armah Sports.
“The FITBENCH matches what we look for, which is superb quality and beautiful design all at once,” he adds. “It’s compact and stylish, which makes it ideal for B_FIT.”
Enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of fast-paced routines, the customized FITBENCH houses a variety of accessories within reach and easy to store for classes of up to 20 people.
“Members simply love the FITBENCH, as do we,” Alhagbani notes. “It’s so versatile and provides so many exercise options without sacrificing space.”
B_FIT also includes the FITBENCH ONE in its personal training area to conveniently facilitate coach-led individual sessions.
Technology-Fueled Playground
On the high-tech front, members access the club through a touchless facial recognition system and can take advantage of various virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) offerings in the Innovation Lab to explore new ways to be active and sample gamification.
As part of its goal to deliver an integrated, seamless digital experience, B_FIT is the first health club in the world that utilizes Amazon’s Alexa, whereby members can book classes and review trainers’ schedules and bios through this popular virtual assistant technology.
Plus, the B_FIT app enables members to view 3-D exercise demonstrations, perform preset workouts plus more than 2000 exercises and activities, and track personal progress.
Total Wellness
In addition to fitness, B_FIT includes a large co-working space that is equipped with high-speed connectivity, noise-cancelling headphones, and MacBook® Pro laptop computers; a café and smoothie bar; HydroMassage lounges; a jacuzzi and sauna; and a nail spa and hair salon (coming soon).
“People are fascinated by the quality of the facility and the overall services offered,” Alhagbani points out. “Feedback has been beyond positive, and sales are consistently growing.”
The company is opening a women’s-only B_FIT in Riyadh in the near future, with plans to expand to 10 more facilities in Saudi Arabia over approximately 18 months.
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Andrea Chapman , a marketing manager in San Diego, Calif., hadn’t been to a proper gym in nearly six months when she finally accepted that her “hiatus” was more permanent. “I had no choice but to do exercises at home, which I wasn’t used to, and that pushed me to finally purchase equipment,” she said. In September 2020, she bought herself a Zeno Workout Bench. The compact gym, which enables her to do more than 75 different exercises using resistance bands, quickly made up for the loss of her studio workouts. “I love its versatility.”
Space-consuming strength-training equipment like weight racks and barbells can be pricey and intimidating—one reason trainers say at-home cardio machines have soared in popularity over the past two years. People default to the easiest thing, and nothing’s easier than spinning your wheels or running in place, said Eric Dannenberg, performance manager for Exos, a human performance brand which trains professional athletes and corporate clients.
But if you want to shed some pounds, strength training may better suit your goals, Mr. Dannenberg said, and it doesn’t have to take up an entire room and weigh a ton. Resistance training can reduce body-fat percentage, especially the visceral fat which wraps around your abdominal organs, as it builds lean muscle mass. This type of training can lead to weight loss even without your adding cardio to the mix, according to a recent systematic review in the journal Sports Medicine.
“When we perform aerobic exercises, like running, we burn calories but we don’t necessarily gain much muscle,” said Rami Hashish, Ph.D., founder of the National Biomechanics Institute. Since strength training builds more muscle—and muscle tissue burns more calories than fat does—“through resistance training, we effectively set up our body to more consistently [burn] calories throughout the day,” he said.
The kicker: You can get all the strength training essentials you need in a compact, functional training kit. Here, four favorites—from a mirror that hides an entire gym to cables that fit inside a backpack.
NordicTrack’s Vault looks like an ordinary wall mirror. But the sleek reflective casing hides training accessories like an exercise mat, yoga blocks and kettle bells. The glass itself is a futuristic touch screen that offers a library of live and on-demand classes and customized training programs. Vault also lets you observe a trainer’s proper form and model it as you move. $2,999, nordictrack.com
This backpack-size device is a condensed version of the hulking gym machines that use weight plates attached to a cable. Switch between 50 resistance settings (from 5 to 300 pounds) with the turn of a dial. To use MAXPRO, just stand or lie on the base. Grab the long bar, handles, ankle or wrist straps to perform over 150 exercises on your own. Or tune into free live and on-demand workouts in the companion app. $979, maxprofitness.com
More space-efficient than a yoga mat, The Arena gym’s high-tech pulley system can generate 200 pounds of resistance. And an internal computer tracks the amount of weight, number of repetitions and speed at which you lift to adjust to your fitness goals. While it won’t replace a personal trainer, Mr. Dannenberg said, it will help with the key strength-training tenet of progressive overload, or gradually increasing the weight, frequency or reps in your workouts. $2,500, goarena.co
The FITBENCH ONE can turn any space into a weight room. With 14 anchor points for resistance bands and a slot for a weighted rope, the 4-foot-wide bench maxes out its real estate. Hiding below the adjustable top are six sets of dumbbells, kettlebells, a weighted ball and resistance bands. “Fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all, so the more equipment you have, the better,” Mr. Dannenberg said. Plus, no more tripping over loose weights. $2,895, fitbench.com
The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by retailers listed in its articles as outlets for products. Listed retailers frequently are not the sole retail outlets.
]]>Written By: Sean Flint, The Boxing Club
Do yourself a favor and get into full swing with a solid kettlebell workout. The biggest flex that a kettlebell has to offer is that a kettlebell’s weight is off-center - making your core and grip work a lot harder. A kettlebell workout also doesn’t require a whole lot of time or space. You can switch things up and work certain parts of the body or go full-body blast.
Short history lesson: the kettlebell made its debut in 18th century Russia and was used to measure grain and other dried goods. The competition to challenge each other to lift the heaviest ones ended up starting early and found its way to the circus. Fast forward into the post World War II era, kettlebell lifting became a means of training for soldiers and became an official sport. Kettlebells made their way into the U.S. in the 1940s and have since continuously gained popularity.
Kettlebell Training Tips for Beginners
To begin kettlebell training, it is good to learn the basic exercises.
-Swings
-Cleans
-Overhead Press
-Front Squats
-Rows
-Windmills
-Snatches
The best place to start is stabilization. Just like everything else in life, it is always best to start with the basics and build a strong foundation.
Warm Up
The kettlebell provides a really cool and challenging way to light up the nervous system. It encourages a type of communication between your brain and the rest of your body to be responsive to what you are asking of it. Kettlebells bring such an awesome opportunity to work on muscle imbalances / injury and overall athleticism & strength. Since kettlebells can provide such a great workout, it is also crucial that you give the body proper warm up to get the body warm and the blood flow moving.
Devil is in the Details
The main distinguishing feature between the kettlebell and the all-familiar dumbbell is the nature of the off-set load. A kettlebell’s center of gravity is typically six to eight inches away from your grip; therefore, making it more difficult to control. With this knowledge, any exercise is going to require paying close attention to a stricter form for the ultimate muscle activation. Basically - kettlebells encourage you to do the exercise to the best of your ability. And if you can’t or don’t, you’ll know it immediately. A kettlebell is a great way to make sure that you are prioritizing yourself and your form.
Core Strength
Just like keeping great form, kettlebells also make you keep an insanely tight core. For example, while doing a kettlebell swing, you must brace your core to prevent your lower back from rounding at the bottom of the movement. In order to stabilize yourself or fire off harder, your core must be locked tight.
Train for Something
Beginners are prone to poor form, accidentally hitting themselves, or picking out inappropriate (aka too heavy) weight. Figure out why you’re grabbing the kettlebell and what your main goals are in regards to this type of training. Get real with those goals and yourself.
Set Your Swing
Don’t just grab the bell. How you set up your swing matters. Sit your hips back into a hinge, keep kettlebell in front, grab the handle tightly, engage lats and hike the bell back through your legs. As you follow through, remember that the hinge is key for a kettlebell. It is siting your hips back while stretching hamstrings and loading your hips like they are ready to shoot forward.
Breathe
For the maximum results while using a kettlebell, it is just as important to find the proper way to breathe just as it is form. When extending hips up to an upright position (lock), powerfully exhale. When hinging back down, inhale and breathe in through the nose. Working on breathing and form at the same time really requires max concentration.
Step By Step
Kettlebell training is a journey - you’re not going to be snatching crazy weight in a couple of days. You won’t be picking up a heavier set kettlebell and shooting it up to an overhead press or leave without feeling some tension in your wrist after a session. Invest time and knowledge into your progress. Add to your toolbox constantly.
Form + Technique ---> Weight and Reps
Using a kettlebell is a fun and dynamic way to add to your training skillset. You must invest time in understanding and mastering the form before adding more weights/reps. The injury isn’t worth it… ever.
The Kettlebell Set Up
Here’s the deal: if you’ve been around kettlebells a lot or if you are just not ready to fully commit adding them into your routine just yet, it’s all GOOD! The kettlebell gives you enough feedback to challenge you and light up the nervous system.
Warm Up
You can use kettlebells to get the body warm before going into a legit training session by focusing on enhancing mobility, posture, and technique.
Do a Full-Body Workout
Squat, hinge, push & pull. REPEAT. Chose those movement patterns and you’re set for a solid workout. Might even be one of those that brings you to the ground afterwards and you don’t know how you made it, but ya did.
Circuit
If you’re wanting to work the kettlebell into your current training, set up a circuit that will get your heart rate up while enforcing good mechanics.
It’s no secret that the kettlebell is fiercely challenging. It’s also no secret that the kettlebell has a whole bunch of potential benefits from strength, weight loss, mobility, and endurance.
Improve Your Kettlebell Training at The BXNG Club!
Make sure to try a complimentary personal training session here to practice your kettlebell skills.
There’s never been a better time to set up – or enhance – your own home gym. A well-equipped workout space at home provides the ultimate in convenience and can improve exercise adherence.
Whether you use your home gym exclusively or also go to a health club or studio, it’s smart to outfit it with high-quality commercial equipment that will perform reliably for years. Don’t skimp here, or you’ll find that ultimately, you’ve wasted your money.
Invest in the best equipment that will keep you motivated and drive results. We’ve got you covered with these premium top 10 home gym essentials this holiday season as gifts for anyone, including yourself!
As our gift to you, take advantage of these special discounts on the top 10 home gym essentials through January 31, 2022 (except where noted)!
The 4-in-1, versatile YBell facilitates kettlebell, dumbbell, dual-grip med ball, and push-up stand exercises. These compact, portable weights accommodate all fitness levels and workouts with a variety of denominations.
Buy any YBell Kit (4 pieces or more) and get a free YBell Workout Mat with code YBELLFIT.
https://fitbench.com/collections/accessories/products/ybell-fitness?variant=38027031609526
CLMBR is an ergonomically-designed vertical climber for intense total-body, low-impact workouts. It has the potential to burn up to 650 calories in just 30 minutes and can use up to 86 percent of the body's muscles. CLMBR also features a large, high-definition touch display with a built-in sound system; on-demand, instructor-led classes; and key metrics and feedback.
Take $250 off full price using code FITBENCH.
https://clmbr.com/the-machine
The AbCoaster PS500 targets the entire ab region from a supported position. The knee carriage glides along the curved track, engaging the lower abs, then the middle and upper region, for a complete abdominal workout.
Save 15% off the list price using code ABCOASTER15.
https://theabscompany.com/product/ab-coaster-ps500/
This all-in-one workout bench includes six sets of dumbbells, two kettlebells, a slam ball, and an 8-position elevating top for an endless variety of exercises. Available as a stand-alone bench or bundled with accessories, it comes with a FREE 7-day trial of the FITBENCH Train App.
Get 15% off any FITBENCH FLEX model, using code TOP10FIT.
https://fitbench.com/pages/fitbench-flex
Replicating road riding, the heavy-duty Wattbike Pro/Trainer combines air and magnetic resistance to challenge riders, and provides the most scientifically accurate, in-depth workout data to track results and measure progress.
Enjoy $300 off the Wattbike Pro/Trainer by calling 800-WOODWAY with code FBxNYE. NOTE: Offer not available online and expires December 31, 2021.
https://www.woodway.com/products/wattbike-pro-trainer/
By turning a dial, MX Select adjustable dumbbells provide resistance from 10 to 55 pounds each in 5-pound increments – replacing 10 sets of dumbbells – for multiple exercises, easy transitions, and efficient, space-saving workouts.
Save 15% on MX55 Dumbbells using code TOP10FIT.
https://fitbench.com/collections/accessories/products/mx-select-mx55
A blend of egg white, collagen peptide, and plant-based proteins, Transformation Protein is all-natural, keto-friendly, and gluten- and dairy-free. Supporting muscle gains and brain function, each serving contains 30 grams of protein.
Take 15% off with code TOP10FIT.
https://fitbench.com/collections/accessories/products/transformation-protein
The Jacobs Ladder X (JLX) offers four different climbing positions to train different muscle groups at various intensity levels. A redesigned display and dashboard highlight calorie burn, climb rate, total feet climbed, and intensity.
Use code TAva17.4 to get $300 off the JXL and free shipping in the U.S.
https://jacobsladderexercise.com/product/jacobs-ladder-x/
Experience more than 2,000 live and on-demand fitness classes, including HIIT, core, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, and more — all from the convenience of home with the Reflect mirror, which fits nearly anywhere and doubles as high-end décor.
Get 15% off the Reflect using code 839AHFQDMXNW.
https://echelonfit.com/pages/reflect-mirrors
The Hypervolt Go provides portable percussion massage in a light and powerfully small package so you can take it to the gym, on the road, or anywhere for the muscle relief and recovery you need to feel good and keep going.
https://bit.ly/3DuYay5
Have a healthy holiday season from all of us at FITBENCH, and keep pursuing better fitness with your home gym!
]]>FITBENCH Teams Up with GovX During November to Support Salute Our Soldiers, Catch A Lift
Create worthwhile partnerships and give back.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month and this time around, FITBENCH and Stone Creek Club and Spa are highlighting Salute Our Soldiers, a campaign that gives back to US military and vets.
For years, FITBENCH has teamed up with Stone Creek in Covington, LA to create awareness and raise funds for Salute our Soldiers (SOS). Between corporate sponsorships, push-up challenges, and selling apparel at the Athletic Business Show, SOS has raised over $50,000 to support organizations that give back to vets, military families, and everyone in between.
This year, FITBENCH and Stone Creek are elated to fully support Catch A Lift (CAL), a nationwide nonprofit supporting post-9/11 combat-injured veterans heal their seen and unseen injuries through fitness, nutrition, emotional wellness, and community.
Because both companies are involved in the fitness industry, this was an easy decision to focus their support on CAL for 2021. "Catch A Lift has helped me remain steady and strong in both my mental and physical state of mind. Their support and existence have helped me daily to be a better mother, friend and human. Dealing with PTSD doesn't just go away with therapy, but the tools and support CAL has given me allows me to manage it and get stronger each day despite it,” said a CAL veteran.
To raise awareness and financial support, FITBENCH and Stone Creek each focus on different efforts within their respective communities.
This year, FITBENCH is also donating a percentage of all online sales during the month of November to SOS. Tyler Danen, CEO of FITBENCH, explained how important it is to show gratitude and give what you can. “Despite the craziness that our world is facing, it’s important to remember who has given so much for others and our country. Our team is incredibly grateful for those that have served, are serving, and will serve in our future.”
In conjunction with the donation, FITBENCH has partnered with GovX to make it simple for military, their families, and first responders to receive a 10% discount when shopping their site to stay fit. GovX is an e-commerce platform that works with hundreds of companies to offer exclusive discounts to current and former military, first responders and law enforcement. Their GovX ID verification system allows their members to save on premium brands for free.
“For the last ten years, GovX has offered the best prices on top-notch gear for our members' on and off-duty lives, available exclusively for men and women who serve our country and communities. Building the catalog and growing our community allowed us to launch GovX Gives Back in 2015, our charitable arm that allows us to support service members in more meaningful ways. Through this program we have partnered with dozens of nonprofits, raising money, and advocating for active duty, veterans, and the families who stand by their side. Since launching GovX Gives Back, we have raised over $1.3M for organizations supporting these communities. As this program grows, we're incredibly excited to partner with other mission-driven brands like FITBENCH to make an even bigger impact in the lives of those who serve, no matter what uniform they wear,” said Alan Cole, CEO of GovX.
For Stone Creek, each year they support SOS through their Stars and Stripes Salute, where corporations and members alike donate to earn Tribute Flags. “For 14 days, from November 1st through November 14th, we will fly hundreds of American flags along the property of Stone Creek Club & Spa on Ochsner Blvd. in Louisiana and on their Fitness Trail as a show of our patriotism and support for our American Heroes,” Marvin Gresse, General Manager of Stone Creek said. “[The Salute] is our way of thanking those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.”
Both FITBENCH and Stone Creek Club and Spa are incredibly passionate about moving Salute Our Soldiers forward. And with some tradition and some new components, 2021 for SOS looks bright.
About GovX
GovX.com is for Americans of service. A members-only online destination, the site offers thousands of products from hundreds of brands at exclusive, below-retail pricing. Members include active and veteran U.S. military, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical service professionals and personnel from state and federal agencies. For more information, visit https://www.govx.com.
GovX ID is a digital identification system that securely verifies a customer's status as a current or former member of the US military, American law enforcement, firefighting, first responder, and related uniformed service communities. When enabled on a merchant's website, the digital ID card lets merchants quickly deliver protected discounts exclusively to those who've served. To learn more, visit visit http://www.govxinc.com/verification-solutions.
]]>FITBENCH and YBell Fitness Release All-In-One FITBENCH YBell with One-of-a-Kind Products
OCONOMOWOC, WI AND BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Sept. 28, 2021 – Focused on fitness product innovation, exercise versatility, and space-saving opportunities, FITBENCH and YBell Fitness have developed the latest, all-in-one workout solution: the FITBENCH YBell.
The FITBENCH YBell (bench) combines FITBENCH’s industry-leading compact and functional workout bench with YBell Fitness’ patented, one-of-a-kind, 4-in-1 fitness tools and is positioned to become the preferred solution for fitness clubs and studios.
FITBENCH was born when founder and CEO, Tyler Danen, recognized the opportunity to address the challenges that fitness club members face when trying to use equipment in high-intensity classes. FITBENCH’s answer was an all-in-one, modular training system equipped with a multi-level elevation arm for both decline and incline movements, 360-degree wheeled mobility, and space to neatly store fitness accessories, such as dumbbells, kettlebells, slam balls, FITBANDS, and now, YBell Neos.
YBell Fitness was founded by veteran Australian fitness trainer Aaron “Az” Laurence, and professional industrial designer, Michael “Hop” Hoppe. The patented YBell is a 4-in-1 handheld training tool that emulates a dumbbell, kettlebell, dual-grip medicine ball, and push-up stand for people of all abilities.
“As we have grown our specialty business over the past few years, we have searched for new products that are as best-in-class and innovative as FITBENCH,” said Tyler Danen, CEO of FITBENCH. “YBell Fitness’ game-changing products were exactly what we were looking for.”
The FITBENCH YBell has the complete 10-piece YBell Neo Series of non-slip, non-rust, neoprene-covered YBells with weights ranging from 10 to 27 pounds and a set of snap-proof, nylon-covered FITBANDS. The bench itself offers 11 FITBAND anchor points, an 8-position incline bench with a durable padded surface, and locking wheels for ease of mobility.
“FITBENCH offers an exciting line of high-quality products,” said Mark Livingston, vice president, worldwide sales & marketing, YBell Fitness. “In joining forces, we are able to provide a new workout concept that allows us both to bring our customers a smart and innovative solution for their members.”
Fitness enthusiasts can take advantage of the FITBENCH Train App for easy-to-follow workouts and the ability to track progress. In addition, they can benefit from the YBell App for instruction, workouts, and the opportunity to connect with the larger YBell community.
YBell also offers accredited fitness education programs, with online workshops and courses for trainers and fitness enthusiasts, as well as continuing education credits from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and Fitness Australia. An accredited three-day master instructor course is available as well.
The FITBENCH YBell is sold with all products included and can be purchased directly via https://fitbench.com and https://ybellfitness.com or through select international distributors, U.S. dealers, and specialty fitness retailers. For club and studio select pricing, contact Julio Marshall (julio@fitbench.com) or Mark Livingston (mark@ybellfitness.com).
]]>The FITBENCH Train app is here.
We are incredibly excited to announce our new partnership with PEAR Sports in the creation of our new FITBENCH Train app. From start to finish, PEAR has been able to lead our team in getting the app to the Apple App Store and Google Play.
“With the changing times of more people working out at home, we knew it was time to add a digital aspect to FITBENCH,” said Founder/CEO, Tyler Danen. “We have received a lot of feedback on the fact that it is a cool looking product, but sometimes users are intimidated by the look of the bench. By adding an app where home users can scroll through hundreds of workouts, they are able to see how many exercises can be done with their bench. It is the perfect complement to our new home-focused bench, the FITBENCH FREE.”
Danen and Dave Hannum, of PEAR Sports, have known each other for years leading up to the partnership. Seeing as long-term relationships are a key component of the culture at FITBENCH, this was an easy decision for Danen. The combination of PEAR’s technology, along with their well-equipped team, the FITBENCH Train app is everything the home user will want plus more coming in the future. Innovation is a huge reason that FITBENCH has been so successful, and it is without doubt that the Train app will be ever-changing as well.
The FITBENCH Train app offers an exercise library of over 300 movements, with countless workouts that have been created by Lateef Johnson of FIT Austin, and Jeremiah Evans of Solcioty Fitness, and many other industry professionals. The tile-style workouts allow users to see the exercises being done with detailed explanations should users need help.
Not only can the app be used on smartphones or tablets, but it also connects to wearables, like smart watches. In addition, it can cast to smart TVs so that the user can project the workout onto a larger screen. Users can choose between curated music powered by Feed.FM or can listen to their own music to stay engaged. The ability to track progress and schedule workouts with the calendar function rounds out the FITBENCH Train app.
Both teams at FITBENCH and PEAR Sports are elated to have the app finally come to market. The most exciting times as ahead, as both companies promise to keep making changes and iterations based on customer feedback. Innovation is key!
Get the FITBENCH Train app here:
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April Fools’. Buy your own beer.
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