Fitness & Training

South San Francisco, Calif. -- September 28, 2026 -- A new HelloNation article breaks down exactly what beginners can expect walking into their first fitness boxing class, drawing on insights from Jim Wilson and Futaba Takashima of Physique Magnifique in South San Francisco, California. No prior boxing experience is required, and skills are built progressively as the class moves along.

Classes open with a full-body warm-up before any punches are thrown

Sessions typically start with light jogging, jumping jacks, mobility drills, and bodyweight exercises to raise heart rate and prepare the shoulders, hips, and legs for movement.

Stance and footwork come before punching technique

Instructors introduce a proper boxing stance to support balance, followed by basic footwork such as moving forward, backward, and side to side.

East Lyme, Conn. – September 24, 2026 -- Chad and Jennifer Sklodosky have opened East Lyme Stretch Zone, bringing practitioner-assisted stretching services to their hometown in Connecticut.

The studio marks the couple's second Stretch Zone location, with a third already in development. Chad and Jennifer met in East Lyme in high school and later married, giving the opening particular personal weight.

Chad Sklodosky Spent 30 Years in Corporate Business Before Switching to Stretching

Before becoming a franchise owner, Chad worked for more than 30 years at a local Fortune 500 company in business administration and operational excellence. He said he was drawn to Stretch Zone for its focus on wellness and its straightforward business model.

New York – September 24, 2026 -- Danimás, the luxury performance brand founded by Dany Garcia, launched its first ready-to-wear collection on September 24, 2026, with prices ranging from $150 to $1,995, available exclusively at danimas.com.

The Fall/Winter 2026 collection spans 28 styles across 60 SKUs

A Fall delivery arrives in September, followed by a Holiday drop in October, with activewear planned for Spring 2027. The line targets what the brand calls the "Athlete of Life" -- women who bring strength training into daily life.

Fit architecture was built on proprietary research into strength-trained bodies

Rather than using conventional fashion sizing, Danimás studied how muscular development affects proportion, garment balance and fit, applying those findings to patternmaking across the collection.

Los Angeles – September 23, 2026 -- Speediance is moving beyond its original smart home gym, unveiling a four-product hardware lineup paired with a new AI experience app now in public beta across 105 markets.

Four devices now cover different training needs

The flagship Gym Monster Ultra offers up to 260 pounds of digital resistance across 33 cable positions, with a vertical high-lat pulldown and adjustable thigh restraint for advanced strength work. The freestanding Gym Monster 3 provides up to 220 pounds of resistance through 19 cable positions without wall mounting, while the portable, 8.2-kilogram Gym Nano delivers up to 220 pounds of resistance along with real-time velocity, power and asymmetry data. The Speediance Strap, a screen-free wearable using greenteg Calera technology, tracks wrist-based core-body-temperature trends to add context on training, recovery, sleep and heat exposure.

Olathe, Kan. – September 22, 2026 -- Garmin has rolled out a free software update for several smartwatches and cycling computers, adding fall detection, hands-free voice commands and new training tools.

Venu 4 owners now get automatic fall detection

The feature, new to the Venu 4 smartwatch, sends a message with the wearer's live location to preset emergency contacts if a hard fall is detected. Users can turn on monitoring all day or limit it to specific activities. The feature requires pairing with a smartphone.

Users can now control watches by saying 'Okay, Garmin'

The update brings hands-free voice control to the fēnix 8 series, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6. Saying "Okay, Garmin" lets users start a timer, launch an activity or turn on a compatible watch's flashlight without touching a button. Saying "phone assistant" pulls up the virtual assistant on a paired smartphone.

Katy, Texas – September 21, 2026 -- Academy Sports + Outdoors is running a monthlong "Brooks Month" promotion from September 21 through October 18, spotlighting the Brooks performance running brand across its stores and online.

Shoppers can choose from more than 50 Brooks footwear styles

The lineup includes popular models like the Glycerin 23, Ghost 18 and Adrenaline GTS 25, alongside new arrivals in footwear, apparel and accessories designed for runners at every level.

A Houston community run kicked off the celebration on September 19

Academy and Brooks partnered with Loose Lace Run Club to host "Roll Call," an event in Houston -- Academy's hometown -- where runners tried Brooks products and connected with the local running community.

Las Vegas – September 21, 2026 -- Amped Fitness has announced plans to open its first Nevada location at 2160 N Rainbow Blvd in Las Vegas, bringing its signature "Amped Universe" concept to the state for the first time.

Rocky Hill, Conn. – September 19, 2026 -- Henkel has opened a sweepstakes for U.S. soccer fans, running from September 16 to November 13, 2026, offering signed U.S. Women's National Team jerseys, soccer balls, and hats from two-time World Cup champion Alex Morgan.

Morgan made 224 appearances and scored 123 goals for the national team. The promotion ties into Henkel's existing partnership with Morgan, which included the release of her 'Letter to a Soccer Nation' in spring 2026.

Winners can also score a bundle of Henkel household brands

Beyond the signed memorabilia, entrants can win Henkel product sample boxes featuring Persil and all free clear laundry detergents, göt2b hair products, Dial bar soap, bodywash and hand soap, and Loctite adhesives.

Berlin – September 11, 2026 -- MERACH debuted its UltraWalk W60 Plus walking treadmill on the first day of IFA Berlin 2026, marking the product's European premiere. The device targets people who want to stay active during long hours of desk work or home-office setups. Buyers who order during the launch window get an €80 discount off the suggested retail price.

Pre-orders run through September 20 at an Early Bird price

The UltraWalk W60 Plus is available for pre-order in Europe until September 20, 2026, at €379.99, down from its manufacturer's suggested retail price of €459.99.

Irvine, Calif. – September 19, 2026 -- Mazda has launched a national program to reward youth sports coaches, giving families a chance to nominate a coach for a free Mazda CX-90 through October 18.

The automaker partnered with youth sports platform TeamSnap on the initiative, which aims to support coaches who go beyond their basic duties to help kids stay engaged in organized sports. Five coaches selected through a partnership with Good Morning America will each receive a new CX-90 in recognition of their local impact.

Families can nominate a coach starting today

Starting today through October 18, parents and youth athletes can submit nominations for a coach via Mazda's nomination page, highlighting one who has made an extraordinary difference for their team.