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According to the Pew Research Center, Generation Z — those born after 1996 — have been coined “the first generation of true digital natives.” This generation has grown up in a digital world, more technology-focused than anyone in the recreation field has experienced before. For this reason, all campus professionals need to be evaluating the technology offered in their facilities. As such, below are three different types of technology to invest in this year to attract new students:

Sprint 8

According to the Sprint 8 website, the program is an efficient, fat-burning HIIT workout that gives participants a complete cardio exercise experience, including warm-up and cool-down, in just 20 minutes. Most people see results in eight weeks or less.

The complete workout is:

• 3-minute warm-up and 2.5-minute cool down
• 30-second sprints
• 90-second active recovery intervals

Rachael Finley, the director of Campus Recreation at York College of Pennsylvania, shared her team ran a successful challenge pre-COVID-19. They plan to get the program up and running again once more restrictions lift for indoor workouts. “What I loved about the Sprint 8 program — which really aligns with our motto — is it’s for everyone,” said Finley. “And our motto is campus rec is for ‘every body.’ It doesn’t matter where you’re at in your fitness journey, Sprint 8 is for you.”

Other than the low time commitment, Finley said the technology aspect of the Sprint 8 program was one of the biggest attractions to students. “Students loved it, and we can run the program because we have Matrix equipment,” she said. “It’s easy to come in and hit a button on our treadmill, elliptical or bike and be on your way. You don’t have to time anything or think, and that’s the piece that was really appealing. The technology feature really played a huge role in it.”

InBody 

InBody is a body composition analyzer that conducts 15-second tests to measure fat mass, muscle mass and body water, all by standing on a device and holding hand electrodes.

Caleb Powell, the head personal trainer for Recreational Athletics at Drexel University, said his department’s InBody 270 is used a lot with at least one or two sessions a week. And one of the biggest ways they market the device is with the phrase, “Not all Pounds are Equal.”

The goal of leading with this phrase is to help students change the way they see their weight. It can be a very sensitive topic for many students. The Inbody device allows users to understand their health by seeing how much muscle, fat and water they have instead of relying on a number on a scale.

EXTRA CREDIT: Here’s how another university uses body composition testing.

“You’re going to have two people essentially weigh the same amount and look totally different depending on the muscle and fat makeup,” said Powell. “The biggest thing is letting people understand it’s not a handheld thing, or some gimmick, it’s actually science. In fact, it’s the second-best measurement of bodyweight fat and muscle distribution, with hydrostatic testing being the first.”

In terms of the technology, Powell described the InBody device as very simple, user-friendly and non-intimidating. “It’s a great tool to involve people with their health because it’s not intimidating,” he elaborated. “Using calibers can be intimidating whereas with the InBody, you walk in and are fully clothed. I think it’s more inviting to the student body.”

Another added plus of the InBody technology is every test includes a full-page result sheet printout. It details muscle, fat and water measurements, and highlights specific areas to focus on. Powell shared he uses this information during personal training sessions and it’s an added bonus to show participants and guide next sessions.

SA WELL+

SA WELL+ is an all-encompassing software system that works with the SportsArt ECO-POWR line. It includes energy production tracking, machine usage stats, an error device manager, and a local and global watts-produced leaderboard.

The leaderboard is one of the biggest attractions of this technology. It enables a facility to display top energy producers with real-time data on energy generated. In addition, those users can truly visualize their energy — an increasing trend among new college students.

According to a report by First Insight, “73% of Gen Z consumers surveyed were willing to pay more for sustainable products, more than every other generation. And, despite being the youngest cohort with many still in school, they were willing to spend the most in added costs, with 54% saying they would pay more than a 10% increase in price for a sustainably made product.”

With stats like this in mind, Ruben Mejia, the executive vice president of SportsArt America, shared a few ways recreation facilities can incorporate this technology and engage more of their Gen Z students.

“Users can record their workouts on our app and scan the QR code on the machine to get real-time data on their phone,” explained Mejia. “It’s basically a workout log with the added benefit of knowing how much electricity you yourself have generated.”

EXTRA CREDIT: Check out this additional green technology and how to use it in your facility.

This can be a huge marketing benefit for any facility as the social media-savvy generation is likely to share their contributions with their followers online. Additionally, it allows creative opportunities for the fitness center itself. Mejia shared examples such as prizes for the top five electricity-generating users during specific time frames and hosting promotional events to generate X amount of electricity for a common cause.

“I always tell people to advertise the fact they’re offsetting their carbon footprint with fitness equipment,” said Mejia. “And the gym is now a contributor to the overall sustainability mission. It comes down to getting the word out and bringing people together to say, ‘We’re doing something good here. Why don’t you help us in doing that as well?’”  

Brittany Howard

Brittany is an editor at Peake Media. Reach her at brittany@peakemedia.com

New cardio equipment in the USF Campus Recreation Center allows users to convert their workout into electricity. USF is the first college or university in Florida to have 12 SportsArt ECO-POWR treadmills, ellipticals and indoor cycles. Each one-hour workout can power a desktop computer for at least two hours. Users can keep track of their progress through a digital leaderboard that displays real-time data on how much electricity students generate on the equipment.

“It’s nice to see USF taking steps towards cleaner energy overall,” said Parker Klay, fourth-year student and user of the SportsArt elliptical. “We should have more of these. We have a very active student body and should take advantage of it.”

The machines are sleek and simple; no energy-consuming television monitors or motors that start the motions for you. As people power the machines, energy is produced and provided to the recreation center through a storage bank. The USF Department of Recreation and Wellness received support from the USF Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) to purchase the equipment because the initiative aligned with USF’s commitment to sustainability by reducing energy consumption to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Parker Klay (right) works out on the SportsArt elliptical.

“It’s a great student experience and chance for them to give back,” USF Recreation and Wellness Director Jay Souza said. “In the world of sustainability, these machines are pretty cool because it’s a tactile piece, and not only do you burn calories, but you’re helping to offset our power consumption.”

Programming and energy-generating competitions using the new equipment are being planned. Depending on student feedback and further support from the SGEF, USF’s other recreational locations could receive sustainable equipment in the future.

Sponsored by Motion Project

When 23-year-old Dawson Broad dove headfirst into a pool on Independence Day, he couldn’t have foreseen the resulting injury that would change his life, leaving him unable to walk with limited mobility in his upper extremities.

While recovering in the hospital, the young student athlete learned through social media about Buffalo’s newest rehabilitation facility, Motion Project: The Natalie Barnhard Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Recovery.

Dawson hoped the Center’s state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge approach to rehab could help him ambulate and work towards becoming more independent.

Typically, spinal cord injury (SCI) patients participate in acute rehabilitation in the hospital. There, the patient’s baseline ability is defined, and exercises and tools are provided to manage life from that baseline. Once discharged, outpatient therapy works to maintain that standard.

Motion Project helps the injured exceed their established baseline and work on strength, balance, agility and motor skills to become increasingly independent and able to live at an optimal level.

In November, Dawson and the Center staff worked together to set initial goals for him. With a C5 and C6 injury like his, movements small and large once taken for granted take on a new level of difficulty. Each gain is a notable milestone.

Natalie Barnhard, the Motion Project’s founder and president, notes that the Center approaches therapy with a different mindset.

“The difference at Motion Project,” says Barnhard, “is that we get individuals out of their chairs, use activity-based therapy, and offer the most advanced equipment within hundreds of miles.”

She says the Center does more strength training, varies exercise selections, and has new, technologically sophisticated equipment that gives clients the opportunity to move more on their own without worrying about safety.

“We push our clients, like Dawson, to reach their dreams and get back to living fulfilling lives after a traumatic injury.”

Dawson’s regimen includes therapy that utilizes the Center’s advanced equipment.

The ZeroG, a robotic body weight support system, helps him regain his balance until he’s rehabilitated enough to take advantage of its ability to support gait training.

Parallel bars featuring a VibePlate allow for whole-body vibration, which will ultimately increase his bone density and reduce muscle spasticity while improving his balance, posture and muscle strength and tone.

A futuristic-looking robotic device called The Lokomat provides Dawson with intensive physiological gait rehabilitation, enhancing the kind of neuro-regeneration that reconnects the circuits of the brain and spinal cord. Using an integrative software system, The Lokomat allows the Center’s trainers to tailor exercises to the individual.

Madonna ICARE is a motor-assisted elliptical trainer facilitating synchronous upper and lower limb movement that simulates a natural walking pattern, improving muscle activation in Dawson’s legs.

“We have seen such progress in his recovery,” says Melissa Conklin, recovery specialist at Motion Project. “Not only can Dawson complete exercises he didn’t think he’d be able to accomplish when he first arrived, but he can also propel a manual wheelchair, which requires incredible strength and muscular endurance for someone with a cervical level injury.”

In just a few months Dawson has developed the trunk strength to sit upright while completing other tasks and improving his balance enough to begin working on transferring from a seated position to the floor. He’s also gained strength in his legs which has allowed him to re-teach his body to regulate its blood pressure, something many new SCI patients must work to regain. He’s also begun to stand with support for long periods of time, a major achievement.

Dawson will return to school shortly to finish his master’s degree in accounting and get back to studying for the CPA exam.

“Motion Project has brought something to the area that is very special,” says Dawson. “Having someone to talk to who understands your injury and who helps you and motivates you through these super hard workouts is so impactful. I don’t know where I’d be or what I’d do if I didn’t have access to Motion Project.”

---

Motion Project, The Natalie Barnhard Center

Cheektowaga | 716-668-4724 | motionprojectny.org

SHELTON — A Shelton nonprofit rehabilitation center has managed to not only survive, but thrive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moving with Hope — long known for providing affordable care to those diagnosed with debilitating physical disabilities — received about $600,000 in COVID relief funds. Owners Tad and Joanne Duni invested the federal money in state-of-the-art equipment and hiring experienced staff for the 10-year-old center.

“I thought we would never get this chance again, so we went for it,” said Tad Duni, who hosted U.S Rep. Jim Himes last week for a tour of the facility, now located on Controls Drive.

“We invested the money to further develop our real-world working public health model to help people living with disabilities and COVID-long-haulers regain health, skills and independence,” Duni said. “We’ve made Moving with Hope the best-equipped outpatient clinic in Connecticut.”

Duni added the facility’s “cupboard is full. Now we just need to let everyone know what we offer.”

When insurance-based services stop short, Duni said, Moving with Hope focuses on continuing the client’s journey to recovery. Duni said the organization’s clients receive more than six hours of rehab and other support strategies each week. Pricing is about $55 per hour, he said.

In the year prior to the pandemic — which forced shutdowns and limited services — the Dunis’ team of eight full-time and five part-time employees provided more than 24,000 hours of direct client services.

Moving With Hope has since expanded its services to include skilled occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology. The additional services will complete the Dunis’ community-based model goal of providing the best opportunity for people seeking optimal recovery, health, wellness and independence, he said.

“Moving with Hope provides life changing rehabilitative services to those who are recovering from a serious injury,” Himes said. “I got to see that work up close. Best of all, I saw how the federal government has supported the critical mission of their team during this pandemic.”

Himes noted that $350,000 in state-of-the-art equipment and $80,000 in additional staffing and training were both made possible by the CARES Act.

“Thanks to Tad and his colleagues for showing me how they’ve put this money to good use,” Himes added.

Duni also used the relief funds to purchase equipment, such as the Madonna intelligently controlled assistive rehabilitation elliptical (ICARE) trainer, which helps physically challenged individuals and those with chronic conditions regain or retain their walking ability and levels of physical fitness.

Also, among the 25 new pieces of equipment is the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill, which uses air to unweight patients, enabling greater comfort and mobility without impeding natural gait mechanics.

Duni said the AlterG® integrates patented, NASA differential air pressure (DAP) technology, a precise air calibration system, and real-time information in rehab and training. Duni said AlterG enables patients to move unrestricted and pain-free — restoring and building muscle strength, range of motion, balance, function, and fitness.

“There are only a handful of these in the state,” Duni said.

Moving with Hope also offers a virtual reality physical therapy occupational system, Duni says, which is the only one of its kind in the country.

Duni said the technology is in place, along with the quality staff, in what is a model for similar facilities throughout the state and country.

“We need a public health plan in place that addresses the restoration of physical health for the current COVID-long-haulers, the next COVID-19 survivors and for the millions of aging Americans with poor health, disabilities, and poor savings,” Duni said.

Duni said the process can begin with a partial solution — the establishment of dozens of “re-ability clinics” in every state.

“The model does not rely on health insurance to pay for services,” Duni said. “Reability clinics only provide activity-based therapy, using evidenced-based science to implement appropriate mass practice and task specificity.

Duni said, with an aging population, there was a need for up to 20,000 such facilities in the U.S. in the next 10 years.

“There is no system like this anywhere in the country, but there are millions of people in need of what we offer,” he said.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com

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Brian Gioiele

The sports equipment manufacturer SportsArt presented its new G260 rowing machine, a piece of equipment that has a patented micro-inverter that allows users to generate electricity and offset their carbon footprint while enjoying high-intensity training.

With the G260 Rower SportsArt expands its ECO-PWR TM product line . ECO-PWR TM products convert up to 74% of human energy into usable electricity. That means one hour of exercise with an ECO-PWR TM machine can produce enough electricity to power a desktop computer for 2.5 hours.

In particular, the G260 rower features integrated handlebar controls that allow the user to effortlessly adjust resistance levels on the fly. It has an electromagnetic braking system that generates the sensation of rowing on the water.

Its biomechanically focused pedals rotate effortlessly at a pivot point that maintains comfort in the foot and ankle, while minimizing stress on the plantar fascia.

To measure achievement and effort, an LED light changes color indicating the number of watts being generated in real time, providing key information and potential training cues.

In this regard, Rubén Mejía, executive vice president of SportsArt Americas, says: "We constantly challenge ourselves to find ways to expand our portfolio and push the limits of our technology to provide consumers with more opportunities for energy-producing fitness equipment." .

“SportsArt was founded with one goal in mind: to change the world one workout at a time, and to inspire a community movement for better health and wellness, this latest addition to our ECO-PWR TM line does just that,” says Mejía.

In addition, in this line, the executive adds: "SportsArt has been working for sustainable fitness for more than 40 years, and has hundreds of patents for innovations around the world."

 

During the past couple of years, there’s been a lot of coverage regarding the acceleration of technology in the club industry, especially in terms of streaming programming, fitness and wellness apps, CRM-enabled, targeted communications, digital connectivity, and more. As this digital transformation has unfolded, it has created—whether intentionally or not—a powerful form of self-driven member engagement, putting greater levels of choice in members’ hands.

Technology on the Rise

“Due to the impact of COVID-19, the shifting market has somewhat forced the pace of technology adoption, during the pandemic and now,” notes Ruben Mejia, executive vice president, Americas, at SportsArt. “At the onset of the pandemic, gyms were compelled to get creative in serving their members. Many started live-streaming their classes to serve their clients during lockdown, working to replicate the feeling of community in fitness classes. Post-lockdown, clubs are having to compete with what their members have gotten used to, which, in many cases, is using apps to access workouts on their mobile devices at home.”

For proof, he says, look no further than how Peloton’s fortunes shifted during the pandemic. In 2021 alone, its bikes, treadmills, and application-based streaming programming enabled the company to increase its annual revenue by 54%, or more than $300 million. And now Peloton is branching out into strength equipment.

Another big push has come from those previously mentioned apps. In the first half of 2020, fitness app downloads grew by 46% globally and 87 million people in the U.S., or about 30% of adult smartphone owners, used a health or fitness app during that year. Don’t expect those numbers to scale back anytime soon: The global fitness app market size was valued at USD $4.4 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6% from 2021 to 2028. At the same time, the virtual fitness market is slated to grow by more than 33% from 2021 to 2027.

 

Including the Fun Factor

While branded apps help members decide how they’ll interact with their clubs—when they’ll go, what classes they’ll take, and even how they’ll manage their own memberships—interconnected equipment and gamification (note that 52.5% of App Store fitness apps contain at least one element of gamification, including achievement, points, rank, levels and social interaction) are helping them optimize the time they spend in your facility. Entertainment options, the ability to create customized workouts, in-club competition, and more give them the ability to shape what they do, ultimately making their workouts more satisfying and fun. As we all know, a satisfied member is key to retention.

“The gamification aspect, such as member workout progress appearing on a leaderboard, helps users see how they stack up against their fellow gym members, often in real-time through connected equipment. Competition is a great gamification strategy to motivate members,” Mejia says. “Gyms that offer mobile apps can also encourage their members to track their at-home workouts, not only to measure their personal progress over time but to also see how they stack up against their fellow members.”

Gamification is just part of what keeps members connected. The point of apps and equipment interconnectivity, says Mejia, is that they work to put increasingly more choice—and power—into the hands of your members.

Delivering on the Promise

SportsArt offers technology geared specifically to leveraging members’ desire to optimize workouts through a wide range of entertainment options, self-driven programming, and other features that bolster sheer enjoyment and motivation.

Against a backdrop of a pandemic that has shredded supply chains and gym memberships alike, it was mildly surreal to see professional-grade gym machine company SportsArt launch a rowing machine that can pump energy back into the grid. Like a wind turbine or a solar panel, except powered by pecs, deltoids and trapeziuses.

The rower uses a micro-inverter that enables you to put your back into charging your phone, one stroke at a time. The company estimates that to fully charge a depleted iPhone will take about two hours of rowing. That wasn’t the example the company would have given, but for a hot minute, I was excited by using a low-battery phone as a motivator to get on an exercise machine. The handlebar grip has fingertip controls to increase the resistance on the rower and — as you might expect — the heavier the resistance, the more power you generate.

The company showed off its G260 rower at CES in Las Vegas last week, claiming that the machine converts around 74% of the energy you exert into usable electricity. I had a chance to talk with the company’s COO this week, to figure out why it makes sense to use human power to power things.

“In an hour of working out, you could kind of generate up to the same kind of consumption as your fridge — or about 220 watts per hour,” explains Carina Kuo, CEO and COO of SportsArt America — but she admits that you’re not going to be rowing to charge your Tesla quite yet. Also, that isn’t quite the point: “A traditional treadmill consumes about one kilowatt per hour. The idea is that in addition to working out, you’re helping offset your power consumption of the workout.”

As a company, SportsArt has been around for 40+ years. It’s headquartered in Taiwan, with its U.S. operations based in Seattle. In addition, the company has offices in Germany and Switzerland, with 300 employees scattered around the world, and sales operations in 80 countries. It is primarily targeted at gyms and robust rehabilitation facilities, but is also evaluating the home market at the moment. In the shorter term, Kuo suggests that perhaps shared gyms for apartment buildings etc. are a better fit for the company

“Especially in the fitness industry the gyms not being able to be open [due to COVID-19] definitely caused this huge uptick in residential sales. That’s an area where it can be really difficult to compete because a lot of times people are thinking about cheaper, but not necessarily looking at the quality. That’s not the area that we’re trying to compete in. We believe in quality,” Kuo explains, and says that the company still maintains exercise equipment that was sold 10-15 years ago, and is still going strong in gyms and medical contexts. “We believe in using the best components, and we cover everything with the best warranty in the industry. I do think being able to have that kind of differentiator in that market is important.”

The focus on commercial machines means it makes slightly more sense for the machines to be power-generating rather than a rower that sits in the corner of your gym, unused, 95% of the time: With more substantial use, the machines can put a dent in the power bill at the gym.

Rocfit has launched the new models of the SportsArt residential line, with a new design and better features, the machines that are part of this line are configured as the solution for those who want to train cardio at home without the need for a large space.

Rocfit has announced the launch of the new models of its SportsArt cardio residential line, made up of a treadmill, an elliptical and two bicycles indicated for home training. These stations, which the company has already successfully marketed in previous years, currently have a more attractive, comfortable and compact design, so that users can have them at home without having to have too much space.

The equipment, manufactured following the same quality standards as the professional machines for SportsArt gyms, also offers a long useful life and has excellent biomechanics, which allows its users to perform each movement with total naturalness.

From the management of Rocfit they point out that "we are very happy to be able to offer our individuals a range of these characteristics, with which they will undoubtedly meet their exercise goals from home and in complete safety".

ECOLOGICAL AND SUSTAINABLE BRAND

SportsArt is one of the prominent names in Rocfit. And it is that, in addition to its residential line, SportsArt has an extensive catalog of professional products. Its commitment to caring for the environment through its machines capable of generating energy, which help gyms save on their electricity bill, fits perfectly with the company's work philosophy; achieve a more sustainable and efficient fitness sector with energy consumption.

For this reason, the union of company and manufacturer creates a consolidated binomial, in which to trust when the objectives of a center or club are also aligned with this way of understanding the industry and training.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – November 5, 2025 –

You can never walk a mile in someone else's shoes, so for me, the most important thing you can do as a leader to create a truly inclusive, representative, and equitable society is to listen with an open heart and open mind to other points of view and opinions.

Asa part of our interview series called "Women Of The C-Suite" , we had the pleasure of interviewing Carina Kuo.

Carina Kuo joined SportsArt in 2014, becoming vice president of operations. Serving as general manager from 2015 to 2018, she improved communication across the company's global branches and reduced operating costs by 20%. Championing staff growth and celebrating individual contributions, Kuo, now the CEO and COO of SportsArt America, has cultivated a collaborative team environment among employees at all levels, creating a family-like culture in which Baby Boomers and Millennials work together seamlessly.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your "backstory"? What led you to this particular career path?

Mydad, Paul Kuo founded SportsArt in 1977 with a mission to leave the world a better place than he found it. In a way, you could say the company and I grew up together. My youth was filled with visits to international markets, and I was exposed to a wide variety of cultures. Looking back now, I realize just how fortunate I was to travel with my family and experience that cultural immersion firsthand.

Growing up my parents made sure my brother and I had as much information as possible so we could form our own thoughts and opinions about the world. This global exposure had a lasting impact on me. From an early age I learned the importance of having an open mind, not to judge or allow someone to judge me based on surface knowledge. Every person and every situation can be multifaceted and is an opportunity to learn and grow, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

I think one of the most interesting things is that I actually didn't join SportsArt immediately, I preferred to learn as much as I could on my own. I earned my bachelor's degree in manufacturing engineering technology, and after college I worked in a variety of fields including aerospace, manufacturing, and even a start-up in the fashion industry.

Taking this non-traditional route was really important to me. It was a big risk that ultimately paid off because I was able to experience and learn all aspects of what it takes operationally to run a business. I worked in a variety of capacities, including those of manufacturing engineer, industrial engineer, and supply chain analyst that allowed me to develop skills that ultimately helped me see beyond my technical skills and background and understand the bigger picture in business.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

The most interesting story has to do with my transition into the fitness industry. Before joining SportsArt, I worked in e-commerce, which is extremely fast-paced and utilized the most recent technology to operate day-to-day. However, in my new role, I quickly realized that our company and industry had been slow to adopt new processes and procedures. For example, we were still writing invoices on paper vs. electronic data management. I was accustomed to running all aspects of company operations through a digital system and to my surprise I had to re-learn how to manually do a lot of things because the technology was not readily available in-house.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The funniest mistake happened to me when I was working a lot with our shipping department. Keep in mind, I was raised in Taiwan, so I'm just not familiar with some cities in the U.S., so one day I reached out to our shipping team to send an order to a client in Cheyenne. However, I totally mispronounced the name of the city! And because I was a new leader in the organization (and the founder's daughter), no one on the shipping team felt comfortable enough to reach out to me and get clarification, they just spent a lot of unnecessary time trying to figure out what city I was talking about. I learned two lessons from this situation. The first is the importance of establishing relationships with team members early on - had they felt comfortable enough with me, they could have asked for clarification on the city and didn't have to waste time figuring out what city I meant. The second lesson was that, as a leader in the company, I needed to become more familiar with the cities in the U.S. that I was going to be working with on a day-to-day basis.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I don't have a single person, instead I have a group of people that I'm grateful for. Over the years my husband as well as my close friends have supported me and helped me stay grounded. This diverse group of successful individuals has provided me with great insight and direction over the years.

In my work, I often talk about how to release and relieve stress. As a busy leader, what do you do to prepare your mind and body before a stressful or high stakes meeting, talk, or decision? Can you share a story or some examples?

For me, the best way to prepare for a high-stress situation is to surround myself in silence. I love to take a quiet walk or go for a swim - this helps me concentrate on the task at hand. Taking that time to do some self-reflecting really helps me - I can focus on the task at hand and the silence also provides me with a sense of calm before heading into a stressful meeting or making a hard decision.

As you know, the United States is currently facing a very important self-reckoning about race, diversity, equality and inclusion. This may be obvious to you, but it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you articulate to our readers a few reasons why it is so important for a business or organization to have a diverse executive team?

I believe that it's important for an organization to have a diverse executive team because each individual will bring a greater depth and breadth of experience and perspective to the table. By having diversity, culturally as well as racially within the company, everyone has a unique point of view that will ultimately help provide a deeper connection to employees, partners and clients.

As a business leader, can you please share a few steps we must take to truly create an inclusive, representative, and equitable society? Kindly share a story or example for each.

You can never walk a mile in someone else's shoes, so for me, the most important thing you can do as a leader to create a truly inclusive, representative, and equitable society is to listen with an open heart and open mind to other points of view and opinions.

I'm reminded of a conversation I had with someone who had a very distinct point of view on immigration, but as an immigrant myself, he was open to hearing my thoughts and I was able to help clarify some misconceptions he had on the immigration process. At the end of the conversation, we were both able to walk away respecting each other's opinion on the topic as well as understand each other's perspectives on the subject.

Ok, thank you for that. Let's now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Most of our readers - in fact, most people - think they have a pretty good idea of what a CEO or executive does. But in just a few words can you explain what an executive does that is different from the responsibilities of the other leaders?

Leaders within an organization typically provide insight to the CEO on the health of the company; however, it's the CEOs duty to take that information and make decisions that affect the overall growth and future vision for a company.

What are the "myths" that you would like to dispel about being a CEO or executive. Can you explain what you mean?

One myth I would like to dispel is that all CEOs are the same. There is no shortage of schools for business people of every specialty: accountants, engineers, information technology, marketers, etc; however, there is no school for CEOs - except the school of experience. Each executive or CEO must take all the knowledge from their past experience and background to develop their own unique over-arching philosophy about how they can best add value and lead the organization.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women executives that aren't typically faced by their male counterparts?

You face a lot of assumptions as a female leader, especially as a younger female leader. And more often than not, these assumptions are made about you before you even speak and that's especially frustrating.

I know as a society, we've made progress toward gender equality but clearly we're not quite there. A 2018 study conducted by the University at Buffalo School of Management found that women hold just 26 percent of executive-level positions in S&P 500 companies. This same study uncovered that showing sensitivity and concern for others - stereotypically feminine traits - made someone less likely to be seen as a leader. Personally, I believe the care, concern, and empathy I show from my leadership team as well as our employees only makes SportsArt stronger.

What is the most striking difference between your actual job and how you thought the job would be?

Going to school you learn about what it takes to be a business leader, you study and profile successful CEOs, so, when I stepped into this role, I initially thought I knew what standard set of responsibilities would include, however, I quickly realized I was wrong and that not every day would be the same. As CEO your job could be anything - your team may need you to help set up a tradeshow booth, or one day you're making HR decisions and the next you could be meeting with your engineering team to discuss the next big product innovation in development.

Is everyone cut out to be an executive? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful executive and what type of person should avoid aspiring to be an executive? Can you explain what you mean?

I absolutely believe that everyone can be an executive, especially if their role is within an industry or category they are passionate about. Leadership isn't a personality trait, it's a skill and skills can be taught, you just must be willing to learn.

What advice would you give to other leaders to help their team to thrive?

As more and more women step into leadership roles, I think it's important that you give yourself grace and let the work speak for itself. By showing grace, to yourself and to your team, you're exhibiting a combination of elegance and confidence, infused with a certain quietness and humility. Grace will help you embrace flexibility and help you learn how to deal with interruptions with understanding, and even laughter. Given the world we live in today, I think grace is something we all need now more than ever.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I try to share my success not only with my colleagues, but also with my friends and family. Additionally, I continue to remain connected with my alma mater to help encourage female interest in science-based careers.

What are your "5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started" and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

The first thing I wish someone would have told me was that not everyone is going to like you or your decisions. As a female leader, we need to put our feelings aside and accept the fact we don't have to please everyone when making business decisions that help the greater good and future growth of the company.

I think my second and third points go hand in hand. I wish someone would have told me it's okay to make mistakes because sometimes, not all decisions are clear cut. As a leader you can't let "analysis paralysis" keep you from making decisions. The reality is, important decisions end up flawed even when you have the best information and intentions. This one time I was dragging my feet on making a decision, because the final answer wasn't a clear cut choice and my delay was actually putting a department in jeopardy because I wasn't making a quick enough decision.

I know I mentioned this earlier, but it's important enough to say again, no matter what job you take, not every day will be the same. The role of an executive within a company is so multifaceted - you will face challenges and situations every day that test your patience, skills, and mindset. What separates a good leader vs. bad leader is how they handle the challenges they face every day. For a long time as an engineer, I just focused on the numbers, it's something that came easy to me, but as a CEO I have to look at the bigger picture beyond the numbers. I have to take into consideration operations, logistics, regulations and solve for the bigger picture.

Finally, executives need to learn how to embrace their soft side. It's about finding a balance between wearing your emotions on your sleeve and practicing traditionally tougher leadership skills. "Soft" skills include the ability to be compassionate, empathetic, sensitive, and human by creating a safe psychological space in the workplace - especially in business today, these are some of the most coveted skill sets in the business world. Leaders need to learn how to embrace and develop these characteristics because creating a workplace environment where everyone feels supported, listened to and trusted can only help your company move forward and succeed in all aspects.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

If I could inspire a movement, I would encourage people to be more empathetic. As humans we should be open because the ability to connect empathically with others - to feel with them, to care about their well-being, and to act with compassion - is critical. This simple behavior shift could help people get along more, work more effectively, and collectively help us thrive as a society.

Can you please give us your favorite "Life Lesson Quote"? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I think it's so important that leaders, especially female leaders, embrace the experience. That's why Amelia Earhart's quote "adventure is worthwhile in itself" has always stuck with me.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

I think it would be fascinating to sit down and share a meal with Jane Goodall. Like me, she's a female leader in a male-dominated field; a little-known fact about me is that I'm also a huge animal lover. I admire her drive and tenacity. Whether she is speaking on the connection between the abuse of animals and nature with climate change or speaking on the shifts in thinking and behavior that need to be made to save us, to speaking on the status of women and why equality is so important. Jane Goodall is an inspiring legend.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Charlie Katz

Garrett discusses the power behind the SportsArt equipment, their quality, and their customer service. Tune in to learn how SportsArt has impacted Garrett's studios and why he keeps coming back throughout the years. 

• (0:03) Tell the audience about your background and how Personal Edge Fitness came to be. What makes Personal Edge Fitness different from the competition - what makes you stand out?
• (1:44) You've been a longtime SportsArt customer, what made you decide to upgrade to a newer generation of equipment? What keeps bringing you back to SportsArt? 
• (5:39) What is the biggest challenge facing your fitness business today? 
• (7:21) How have you integrated SportsArt's equipment into your current programming? 
• (9:08) What's been the member feedback once they learn about SportsArt's equipment and what it does for the environment? 
• (10:45) What would you say/recommend to studio owners that may be considering purchasing SportsArt equipment?

  About SportsArt

  With over 500,000 square feet of state-of- the-art manufacturing space, SportsArt designs, manufactures and tests all equipment to rigorous TÜV quality standards. With hundreds of patents worldwide for innovation technologies, such as the fitness first SENZA™ interface or the newly relaunched ECO-POWR™ Series, SportsArt is the leading green fitness partner, developing products that are instrumental to rebuilding and sustaining lives.

   

  If you would like additional information from SportsArt
  please let us know here!

Recently, we’ve heard several stories about top-tier athletes stepping away from their sports or teams to preserve their mental health.

 

Simone Biles curtailed her participation in the Tokyo Olympics. Naomi Osaka, currently ranked number 2 by the Women’s Tennis Association, made headlines when she stepped away from a press conference and then the French Open. Will Craig left the Pittsburgh Pirates and decided to play baseball in Korea.

 

The past year has been stressful for everyone. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 18.1% of adults in the United States have experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year. In addition, the National Institute of Mental Health notes that 7.1% of U.S. adults have had a major depressive episode.

 

As far as post-pandemic plans go, 58% of the respondents to the Mindbody Summer 2021 U.S. Consumer Survey say they have a renewed focus on their mental health.

 

A Clear Tie Between Exercise and Mental Health

 

Although the rise of mental health issues has recently been a major talking point in the media, most reports don’t cover steps that can be taken to improve them. The truth is that routine exercise and rehabilitative training—and being fit—can play a key role in improving mental health and mood.

One unique, long-term study of 152,978 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 from England, Wales, and Scotland reveals a very clear correlation between exercise, fitness, and mental health.

In 2009, the study’s researchers built a baseline for subsequent results by combining fitness tests with standard clinical questionnaires relating to anxiety and depression. After tracking participants for seven years, the study found that those who were classified as having low combined cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength had 98% higher odds of experiencing depression and 60% higher odds of experiencing anxiety. In addition, the data found that a person can meaningfully improve their physical fitness with exercise in as little as three weeks, which has the potential to reduce a person’s risk of developing a common mental health condition by up to 32.5%.

Results from a 2019 JAMA Psychiatry study support and build on those findings.

“We saw a 26% decrease in odds for becoming depressed for each major increase in objectively measured physical activity,” says study author Karmel Choi, a clinical and research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in the Harvard Health Publishing article “More Evidence That Exercise Can Boost Mood.” Choi adds, “This increase in physical activity is what you might see on your activity tracker if you replaced 15 minutes of sitting with 15 minutes of running, or one hour of sitting with one hour of moderate activity like brisk walking.”

 

Not to pile on, but researchers in a Swedish study, Associations of Exercise Frequency and Cardiorespiratory Fitness with Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety, found evidence that more frequent exercise was linked to improved mental health. Respondents who reported exercising at least one to two times per week were less likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety, even after accounting for sedentary behavior, which was measured as the amount of leisure time participants reported spending sitting still.

Boosting Mood in the Real World

If you want to get an anecdotal—and direct—perspective on the impact exercise can have on mood and mental health, listen to someone rehabbing from an injury, to how they respond to what exercise gives them.

• Alex McKiernan broke his T11 vertebra and damaged his spinal cord when a car struck his vehicle from behind doing 60 miles per hour. Suffering what is referred to as a “very incomplete spinal cord injury,” he was paralyzed early on and is slowly recovering. Very fitness-oriented before the accident, Alex stepped on a rehab-modified elliptical machine for the first time nine months after his injury.

After completing three six-minute intervals, “I didn’t want to stop,” he says. “The motor wasn’t assisting me anymore, the body weight support wasn’t holding me up, but I was able to just go because I wanted to do it…. It’s nice to discover the things you can do, because you spend a lot of time thinking about the things you can’t do. It’s another step of independence. You really lose a lot of independence when you have an injury like this.”

• Shauna Hicks, 52, had a life built around fitness. A college basketball player, bodybuilder, and multi-sport athlete, she suffered a stroke at 48. When she first woke up in the hospital, she was told that she wouldn’t be able to walk again.

As she rehabs, getting on the modified elliptical “makes me feel like I’m walking around the track—I love it,” Shauna enthuses. “When it’s time to stop, I ask for five more minutes. You think you won’t be able to do some of the things you used to do. But now, I’m getting back to being me…. I’m getting my old life back in a lot of ways that I never thought possible.”

• Brandon and Tiffany Verzel’s daughter Alexis suffered a traumatic brain injury at 14 months old. It took a couple of years for her to learn how to walk with support. At age four, she began working with the modified elliptical machine with the goal of building her strength and endurance.

“She went from us having to support her with two arms to walk anywhere to two years later, our going to the store and having her walk around by herself for 30 or 40 minutes,” Brandon says. “She now is so much more independent.”

In one recent scene filmed by the Verzels, a laughing Alexis shouts, “I’m doing it!” as she walks unassisted through their living room.

“She has been given the independence that she needs to let her body start to decide, ‘I can shift my weight now, my ankles need to do this, my arms need to do this,’” says Tiffany.

What SportsArt Brings to the Table

What all these experiences have in common is that they were made possible by SportsArt’s Intelligently Controlled Assistive Rehabilitation Elliptical (ICARE). ICARE is a motorized elliptical machine that provides body weight support. Functioning largely like a standard elliptical machine, ICARE is unique in its ability to adjust to a custom fit for a user’s unique walking pattern. Built-in sensors detect the amount of effort a user is exerting and activate the motor to assist in keeping a constant stepping rate for the duration of therapy. This integrated support and customization allow for longer, more effective, intense therapy sessions.

In terms of functionality, ICARE is modular, with options for forward or backward elliptical cycling, with or without additional bodyweight support, depending on a user’s needs and abilities. This modularity allows ICARE to be used for cardiovascular exercise and lower extremity strengthening for outpatient therapy for a variety of conditions and injuries.

“ICARE is more than rehabilitation equipment,” asserts Ruben Mejia, executive vice president, Americas, at SportsArt. “It helps people envision—and accomplish—what they can do instead of focusing on what they can’t do. It can function as, and looks like, a regular elliptical machine, welcoming those who don’t want others to know they need assistance. ICARE represents everything SportsArt stands for: inspiration, inclusivity, and performance for our shared world.

“At SportsArt, we believe that serving others is more rewarding than serving ourselves,” he continues. “ICARE is a direct extension of that underlying value, allowing us to provide a wider population with access to rehabilitation and fitness solutions.”

To learn more about ICARE and the entire SportsArt line of equipment, visit their website.

MDL Fitness

MDL Marinas – the UK’s largest marina operator – is launching into the health and fi tness market – tell us what’s happening We’re creating a new gym chain under the MDL Fitness brand to optimise our land and property holdings and extend the services we offer our existing customers, while reaching new audiences.

What’s the philosophy behind the new brand? For operators to bounce back and continue to grow from the golden age we were in back in 2019, we all need to provide more than just health clubs, pools or gyms. We must all ensure the experiences we provide tap into the belief systems and ‘wants’ people now have.

PHOTO: TIM MAYER

It has to be about more than just achieving personal goals – it’s about being able to hold your customers’ attention and ensure they have a connection with the values you as an operator hold. MDL Fitness is all about making fitness sustainable and as straightforward as possible. It’s about helping people appreciate new environments they may not have been lucky enough to experience before and ensuring they’re open to people, no matter their personal circumstance.

PHOTO: MDL FITNESS What synergies do you see between the diff erent elements of the business? People are at the centre of everything we do. The more activity we can drive the better people feel and the more profit we make. Everybody wins.

The fi rst MDL gym is sited at the marina in Plymouth Tell us about the fi rst location The first gym, at our marina in Queen Anne’s Battery, Plymouth, has a mix of different types of equipment, where most are capable of converting energy expended by the user into electricity to supplement the building’s power supply.

I chose SA Green Fitness – the UK agent for power-generating equipment line, SportsArt – as our equipment supplier, to ensure each workout reduces our carbon footprint, while lowering power consumption at the facility.

As a marina operator, MDL is championing active lifestyles

It’s a 35-station gym with group cycling and some great free weight and resistant equipment. Screens mounted on the walls and integrated into the website display the power generated – both as a total and from each piece of equipment – allowing people to compete against each other for kilowatt hours produced. This feature along with the panoramic views of Plymouth Sound sets this facility apart from others in the city, creating a USP for this health club.

The addition of a gym to our site at Queen Anne’s Battery also improves the marina offering and ensures people can also start to appreciate that getting out onto the water to increase activity levels is easier than you might presume.

How long has this plan been on the cards? I presented the fitness proposal to my board in May 2020 and the doors to the first health club opened in September 2021. I feel very lucky to have such a forward-thinking and supportive MD and owner and of course the wider board who could have very easily pulled the plug, given the uncertainty of the times we’re in. The launch is happening in part to optimise your landholdings. Will each of your marinas eventually have a health club? We have plans for another three health clubs in the short-term, but will look at all opportunities across our estate. This will include more dry side facilities and more options around the wet side and other activity-led endeavours.

What mix of customers do you expect? We’re open to all. Ignoring the torrid time we all had in 2020, we know that 2019 saw the rate of growth for members and market values grow across the public and private sectors, with the UK reaching over 7,000 gyms with a member base of over 10 million.

I think we’ll get a pretty even split between male and female, with our core demographics being dictated by the local population and with most members aged between 25 and 45. Having said that, we have a good opportunity with the local student market and also with the armed forces stationed nearby, so we could see an increase in penetration for the 16-25-year-old sector. We’re certainly priced to make it affordable.

Putting gyms in marinas will ensure people appreciate getting out onto the water to increase activity levels is easier than you might presume

What’s the price point and how will you upsell? We’re priced at the higher end of the low-cost segment of the market – or more accurately, the good value end. We offer a non-contract membership option which can be paid daily, monthly or annually with the monthly option costing £24.99. Revenues will be grown from online options such as the ability to earn green rewards, general retail and of course some exciting options in the future incorporating more marine-based activities.

What’s your catchment? The clubs will vary but the first location is a 1,000-member club. We expect the base to be local but also expect to see quite a lot of casual use from passing boaters, the local marine industry and contractors. The latent demand is very strong within a two-mile radius of the facility.

Tell us about the eco aspect As an organisation MDL has always had a focus on the development of green, sustainable initiatives, working with partners such as the Green Blue and The Blue Marine Foundation for over 10 years, installing Oyster cages under our pontoons and working with suppliers to ensure products are from sustainable sources wherever possible. With much of MDL’s core revenue coming from our customers’ enjoyment of the marine environment, water quality has and continues to be a big focus, as are the management of waste streams, separation of recyclables and green energy through the roll-out of solar cells. There are, however, more opportunities to develop our green credentials and MDL Fitness is part of bringing these opportunities together, highlighting not only the environmental but also the commercial and marketing benefits to the company. SportsArt is the only manufacturer offering fitness machines that recover energy expended by the user. Using this equipment gives us a green competitive advantage over other suppliers and we plan to extend this project beyond Plymouth

With boat ownership declining since 2009, diversification was key

photo: MDL Fitness

by creating further MDL fitness sites using the SportsArt Eco-Powr equipment in 2022.

I want us to be the UK’s most sustainable marina operator, developing a culture of environmental awareness and care amongst both our customers and teams. The development of a new health club chain is one aspect of that statement.

This activity complements our current energy saving strategy which – until now – has been focused on solar cells. We now have solar installations at our Cobb’s Quay, Ocean Village, Saxon Wharf and Hamble Point marinas. Last year the installations at Hamble Point, Cobb’s Quay and Ocean Village generated 120,346 kwh of electricity. At Cobb’s Quay Marina we’ve saved 44,809kg of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of 969 trees being planted.

This activity reduces our carbon footprint and leads to lower energy costs and all this information will be displayed on a live basis through our website to motivate more reductions in emissions across our portfolio.

Will eco gyms become a new industry category? I very much hope so!

Does being an eco gym operator give you a competitive advantage? It does, but not a happy one. What I really want to see is more operators working with government departments or industry bodies, to see if any Gyms that generate their own power

What are the hard facts of the new MDL Fitness gyms?

Putting into perspective how much electricity can be generated by kinetic equipment, when tested, two SportsArt Eco-Powr bikes used for a collective total of 47 hours produced enough electricity to power a laptop for 74.8 hours or a LCD flat screen TV for 32 hours.

By plugging in its new Eco-Powr treadmills, cross trainers and bicycles into a standard outlet, MDL Fitness will be able to send AC power generated by gym members back through the gym’s power grid to offset its energy consumption and reduce its carbon footprint.

By working out on an Eco-Powr treadmill for an hour twice a week for a year it’s possible to create a CO2 emission offset equivalent to 62 lbs of coal burned, 138 miles driven in a car or 7,197 Smart phones charged.

projects or investments qualify for grant money to help everyone upgrade existing equipment.

I want to see all the big operators move away from the comfortable fitness equipment brands we all know and start talking to the change makers. This is happening in the independent sector with operators such as SO51 fitness in Romsey and some of the UK’s universities, but the bigger operators choose to ignore the option of becoming more sustainable based on kit fulfilment.

Customers of all types are now interested in business sustainability, people – particularly millennials – say they want sustainable products and brands that embrace purpose and sustainability. Indeed,

one recent report revealed that certain categories of products with sustainability credentials showed twice the growth of their traditional counterparts.

In one recent survey 65 per cent of people said they want to buy purpose-driven brands that advocate sustainability, yet only about 26 per cent actually do so. This is a challenge for all of us. How can we operate a business without impacting the environment negatively and still make it work commercially? Each of us can begin to make that journey to zero carbon with forward thinking ideas that are flexible enough to be developed alongside changes in government policy and fitness related legislation.

What persuaded you to leave the mainstream fitness sector and join a marina business? I loved working in the health and leisure markets. Firstly with Esporta where I met my wife Heidi – who incidentally just passed her yoga qualifications and now teaches classes in the area we live – and then with Everyone Active.

Everyone Active is a great organisation. I loved working for their MD David Bibby, I had a great relationship with Jon Senior who was my direct boss for most of my time there. My last couple of years with Ben Beevers as the head of commercial and digital were fantastic.

All the team there are superb and I made lots of connections I continue to engage with. Funnily enough my now new competitor, Dave Greenwood, who runs the Plymouth leisure contract for Everyone Active is one of them.

I also saw an opportunity of being based on the coast with a chance to expand my knowledge and commercial input. The team at MDL are brilliant and the ethos very similar, with many transferable ideals.

What we do as an industry is change lives for the better and we should all be proud of that

Do you think more competition like this will come from outside the sector? I think it already is – where companies have been disrupting mainstream fitness we’ve already seen an increase in retention.

It all started with operators adding in things such as Speedflex (Bannatyne), Blaze (David Lloyd Leisure), thé Yard (énergie Fitness) and Everyone On Demand (Everyone Active).

We’ve also seen Technogym, Les Mills, Peloton and many more driving remote training.

With more and more influencers and experiences available, all operators need to keep focused and keep innovating to remain relevant.

Views of the sea are a benefit of the marina location

photo: mdl fitness

Who designed the club? I first met Roger Eldergill from SA Green Fitness in 2017. I was looking at the idea of portable/temporary gyms that could be sustainable and dropped into low income areas to help get kids and those who couldn’t afford fitness centres interested in activity. So I was chuffed when the initial nod to explore the MDL fitness concept got the green light. Roger pulled together the first iteration and it has grown from there.

Have you created COVID-secure operations? With restrictions now lifted, we haven’t had to implement COVID-secure protocols to the extent that many other operators have over the course of the pandemic – although we’ve obviously worked through it with our marina business.

We’re ensuring everybody acts carefully and remains cautious and when customers visit us, they will notice that our face mask signs remain in place.

Our toilet and shower facilities are fully open and we’re continuing with our enhanced cleaning regime. We’ve also enhanced gym equipment cleaning, with a request that customers also clean their equipment after each use. Hand sanitiser also remains available, while COVID-19 QR codes continue to be displayed around all areas for customers wishing to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app.

What was your advice to the board of MDL when it came to making this investment? I advised that 2019 had been a strong year for the UK private fitness market. All four key metrics had shown year on year growth and reached all-time highs: number of clubs, members, market value and penetration rate.

The private fitness industry had been healthier than it had ever been. However COVID-19 fundamentally shifted the industry, giving opportunity to those in a position to enter the market and act as a replacement for those operators who haven’t survived the period.

Prior to COVID the industry was healthier than ever and one of the only markets to continue growing on our high streets in the last 10 years. So despite COVID, people will continue to want to get active, there is still 90 per cent of the population to go at, we can do it in a sustainable way, so what is not to love? More: www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-fitness

MDL is aware that today’s customers want sustainable brands