PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The TeamUp Fitness Appis the place to find and connect with other fitness gurus and enthusiasts.With the app's emphasis on social interactivity, users are able to meet in-person or virtually with people who make health & fitness a top priority and find partners who are compatible with their fitness goals.App users can find their one true fitness companion - a person who can challenge the user's fitness regimen and help them stay on track with their workout plans through the holiday season and beyond.

In a lot of ways, TeamUp is very similar to some of the most popular dating apps on the market. Each individual user has the ability to create their own personalized profile, specifically designed for fitness enthusiasts to reflect their interests and goals. This, in addition to the messaging and connectivity features, has positioned the TeamUp Fitness App to be the leading "dating app" of the fitness industry.

"As funny as it sounds, finding a great workout partner is a lot like dating, said Frank Peperno, CMO.

"First, you need to do some research and interact with someone to feel out compatibility. From there, you can determine if that person is going to push you and challenge you in hopes that you improve your overall lifestyle. When it comes to fitness, that level of interaction is what TeamUp brings to the table."

On the TeamUp Fitness App, users can find people in their local area who are interested in similar workouts and athletic activities, including gym workouts, weightlifting, indoor cardio, yoga, Pilates, outdoor running, hiking, sports, and more.The app's ability to connect users with people from around the world can help those looking to make new friends and learn more about fitness during a time at which such activities have become challenging.

To learn more about the TeamUp Fitness App, please visit https://www.teamup.fitness.

About TeamUp Fitness

TeamUp Fitness is a community-based platform that's specifically designed for fitness enthusiasts and fitness professionals. Members from all over the world join the platform to meet new friends, workout partners, fitness professionals and nutritionists. TeamUp has positioned itself to be the leading "dating app" of the fitness industry.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Tiffany Kayar [emailprotected]

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get-matched-with-the-fitness.jpeg Get Matched with the Fitness Companion of Your Dreams

SOURCE TeamUp Fitness

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Synq.Fit, a smart bike for your whole family, comes with a subscription to curated, instructor-led fitness activities along with live sessions and immersive scenic rides.

New Delhi, 15th Dec 2020:In this COVID-era, where movement is restricted and venturing out is more out of necessity than choice, Health, immunity, and fitness have become the top concerns for everyone. To address these concerns, DIY Fitness Pvt. LTD. is launching a first of its kind, Synq.Fit Bike in India on Dec 15th, Tuesday. Lockdowns and social distancing measures have forced fitness and wellness to take a back seat with gyms either being closed or operating in a limited capacity. A solution to this situation is the Synq.Fit, and presently it is one of the best at-home exercising equipment that can meet your and your familys lifetime fitness needs. The trend for home exercise is on the rise and the Synq.Fit bike will provide users with a whole new way of experiencing connected fitness in this digital world with a monthly subscription to trainer-led live workouts and archived workouts for up to 4 people in a household.

In the last few years, work from home has gained momentum in India, but this nature of work has also blurred the lines between personal and professional lives. While work from home is fabulous for work-life balance, it can lead to many fitness issues in individuals. I believe that technology has an answer for this situation,saidPratik Sud, Co-Founder, Synq.Fit.

Synq.Fit bike is equipped with a LargeInteractive, Full HD Touchscreen Display along with Bluetooth & Wi-Fi connectivity. The bike also comes with an on-demand video library of fitness routines, and the company will also be conducting live sessions every day. With features like zero noise belt drive and multilevel magnetic resistance Synq.Fit bike proves to be a great example of the combination of both technology and fitness. The Synq.Fit bike will also come with a 3-month free subscription to interactive, trainer-led live workouts and archived workouts for up to 4 people in a family/ household.

During this pandemic where any surface if unsanitised can be a source of infection, why be dependent on shared equipment at a gym when you can replicate your fitness routine in the comfort of your home with a wide range of interactive, trainer-led workouts streamed live on the Synq.Fit bike. Furthermore, the launch of the smart bike is in sync with the efforts of the fitness industry innovating to provide solutions for the health and safety concerns of the populace. These solutions are usually customised to match the work from home lifestyle that has hit the peak since the pandemic but has been growing since the past few years.

Synq.Fit is the brainchild of three serial entrepreneurs, namely Pratik Sud, Rajat Sahni, and Sameer Joshi. Pratik Sud is the founder of Synq.Work a co-working firm and incubator. An alumnus of The University of Houston, he has previously founded two technology solutions Doctor On Call and QuickDoc to help people find proper care. Rajat Sahni has founded two of the most credible market research companies, namely, HBG knowledge services and TIP Knowledge services. An alumnus of IMT Ghaziabad, Sameer Joshi is the Founder and CEO at TIP Knowledge Services. Together, the three entrepreneurs have diverted their energies to bring a fitness movement in the country through the amalgamation of fitness, digital media, and technology.

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This Connected Fitness Bike is set to become India's biggest health and wellness trend of 2021 - TechnoSports

On the December 9 episode of the Outside Podcast, host Michael Roberts had the pleasure of some one-on-one time with Apple CEO Tim Cook at Apple Park. Cook talked about the newest Apple Watch, Apples venture into the health and wellness space, and his own outlook on health and fitness.

When hes not in the office steering a global tech giant to success or receiving accolades for his exemplary leadership (or responding to emails from fans like you!), Apples CEO likes to work out and step outside for some fresh air.

Even though Cook believes diversity is the future of [his] company, Apples foray into the health and wellness industry with the Apple Watch was completely unplanned.

Today, the Apple Watchs health-related functionality is key to its tremendous success, and also became the perfect segue for Apple to move into this new market with products like the upcoming Fitness+ online training platform.

Cook says hes obsessed with fitness and works out on the daily, and that he absolutely loves spending time in nature. Describing Tim Cooks job as high-pressure would be an understatement, so it comes as no surprise that he sees being outdoors and completely unplugged to be like a palate cleanser for the mind.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook Talks Apple Watch, Health and Fitness on 'Outside' Podcast - iPhone in Canada

The pandemic has put a spotlight on the health and wellness industry, which was already on an upswing even before COVID-19. In recent months, home fitness brands have thrived and self-care brands have flourished as consumers sought to tame coronavirus-related anxiety. Yet, with a vaccine in sight, health care brands are already plotting their next moves to maintain brand strength and continue to forge consumer connections in a rapidly changing environment.

At Ad Age Next: Health and Wellness on Feb. 11, executives in the health and wellness sector will discuss how their brands have changed in recent months, and what lies ahead. The livestreamed event will examine the trends that are here to stay and those that may have been simply pandemic-related fads.

Jeremy Tucker, chief marketing officer of Planet Fitness, will discuss how the fitness chain has adapted to the COVID-19 crisis and what the plan is for 2021.

Esi Bracey Eggleston, executive VP and chief operating officer, North America, of beauty and personal care at Unilever, will talk about how Unilever and its personal care brands are integrating wellness into marketing.

And Doug Sweeny, chief marketing officer from One Medical, will speak on a panel about the new doctors office and what that means for both brands and consumers. Other topics to be discussed include how brands are tapping into the self-care movement, and what role technology plays for food and fitness marketers.

To learn more, click here.

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Find out what's next in health and wellness - AdAge.com

An Ultra-light, Slim Smartwatch With its trendy, minimalist look, every element of the ultra-light and slim smartwatch has maximum impact. The Amazfit GTS 2 mini features an Always-on 1.55-inch AMOLED Display[1] with a 301 ppi resolution.

The Amazfit GTS 2 mini's thin 8.95mm body is made from light but tough aluminum alloy, so your powerful fitness companion weighs just 19.5g[2].

There are more than 50 specially designed watch faces to suit your mood or outfit, and you can also make your smartwatch a true reflection of your personality by uploading a photo and customizing the display with the editable modular dial.

Effortless Total Health Management Make the most of all the amazing features packed into this compact and stylish smartwatch, and keep track of important health metrics.

The blood-oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurement[3] function lets you monitor this vital indicator. Test your SpO2level when you feel unwell after intense, sustained physical or mental activity, to get a better understanding of your physical condition.

The Amazfit GTS 2 mini will issue warnings such as an elevated resting heart rate alert if needed, and the 24-hour high-precision heart rate monitoring function supports industry-leading in-depth tracking of heart health[4].

Optimal performance starts with quality sleep, so the Amazfit GTS 2 mini assesses your sleep quality by analyzing the light, deep and REM[5] sleep stages during the night, and even naps over 20 minutes during the day.

The Amazfit GTS 2 mini also offers female cycle tracking to predict the length of subsequent menstrual cycles, identify fertile days.

Utilizing the power of the innovative PAI health assessment system, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini gives users a single-value PAI score that's calculated by processing complex data.

With the Amazfit GTS 2 mini, you can keep an eye on your stress level.

The Amazfit GTS 2 mini features over 70 built-in sports modes including running, cycling, swimming, and other popular indoor and outdoor sports. While you work out, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini can provide notifications about exercise stages, conditions and heart rate zones[6], and will generate a sports data report in the Zepp App after you complete your workout. When you're on the move, the Bluetooth music function lets you control your music without pulling out your phone.

Intelligent Understanding and Assistance Other handy functions include a Pomodoro timer to boost productivity, quick stress-reducing guided breathing exercises, a Bluetooth camera[7], and 5ATM[8] water-resistance.

All this and 14 days[9] of battery life with typical use means you can manage your health and lifestyle efficiently, without worrying about carrying around a charger for two weeks. If you're a heavy user you may have to recharge every 7 days, but when you only engage in basic usage, you can go up to 21 days between charges.

In the US, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini costs just USD 99.99 and is available for pre-order on Amazon from 15thDecember 2020.

In South Korea, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini is also available for pre-order on 15thDecember 2020. Priced at KRW 99,000, it will be available at Auction and GMarket.

In the UK, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini costs GBP 79 and is available at Argos from 25thDecember 2020.

In India, the Amazfit GTS 2 mini costs MSRP 6,999 and is available on Amazon from 26thDecember 2020.

[1]Always-on Display: When the screen is illuminated, it displays system content. When the screen is in standby mode, it displays the time. This function requires users to manually set "Always-on Display". The user can switch this feature on or off through the watch.

[2]The weight of the surface body was measured in lab conditions. The actual weight may be slightly different.

[3]Blood-oxygen level can affect various organs. If the level is too low, it could lead to dizziness, headaches, or cardiac arrest. This product is not a medical device. The measurement data is intended for reference only and cannot be used to perform professional diagnosis or monitoring of any medical conditions. Additionally, data accuracy will be affected if the sensor area makes contact with skin that is tattooed, pigmented or deep-toned. To measure SpO2 level, please keep your arm still.

[4]This product is not a medical device. The test data and results are for reference only and cannot be used to diagnose or monitor any medical condition. In addition, the accuracy of the data will be affected by tattoos or other pigments on the skin, darker skin tones, hair, movement and sweat from sports, etc.

[5]The rapid eye movement period, also known as REM, is the basis for the normal biological rhythm and life-sustaining of mammals. It accounts for about 20%-25% of the entire night's sleep cycle. It is characterized by rapid eye movement and low frequency mixing, frequency brain electrical activity, and muscle tension relaxation. The rapid eye movement phase is the sleep phase related to dreams in the sleep cycle.

[6]Heart rate cannot be monitored while swimming.

[7]The Bluetooth camera function is only compatible with some mainstream mobile phone devices.

[8]According to the GB/T 30106-2013/IOS 22810:2010 standard, the waterproofing reaches up to 50 meters. water. A variety of factors can affect the waterproof capability; the lab condition 50 meters' water-resistance test is only for reference. This product is not suitable for high-speed water sports and diving sports.

[9]Heart rate monitoring and sleep monitoring enabled (monitoring 10 minutes at a time without assisted sleep monitoring), 90 minutes of outdoor workouts per week, "Lift-to-wake" 200 times a day, 50 notifications and two blood-oxygen measurements every day.

SOURCE Amazfit

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Life Time, a fitness club that features locations in most states of the U.S., has announced in a press release that the company will be including Apple Fitness+ in their memberships. The company says that it is the first health & fitness club in the country to do so.

The new offering will complement Life Time's existing, robust training and fitness programs, elite performers, and comprehensive health and wellbeing services and content offered to its members digitally wherever they are and at its more than 150 Life Time destinations across North America.

This isn't the first time that Life Time has been the first to partner with Apple on something. The company has already been working to bring GymKit-enabled fitness equipment into its locations from as far back as 2017.

Life Time began to integrate Apple technologies into its health and fitness experience starting in 2017 when, in the US, Apple GymKit-enabled cardio equipment was offered first at Life Time, providing seamless Apple Watch connectivity between the device and cardio machine.

Bahram Akradi, Life Time's Founder, Chairman and CEO, says that offering the service as part of the company's memberships is another way to bring quality content to those looking to stay in shape no matter where they are.

"We are rapidly expanding the way the world connects to Life Time through technology with the same high-quality experiences our brand has been recognized for delivering at our athletic resorts for nearly 30 years. Apple Fitness+ brings additional best-in-class content and variety to the ever-growing digital and omnichannel wellness programs, services and content we provide our members."

Members of Life Time will receive their free access to Apple Fitness+ on December 19.

Apple Fitness+ launched today with the latest updates to iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. Those who recently purchased an Apple Watch will receive three months of the service for free. For everyone else, it will cost $9.99 per month, $79.99 per year, or is included in the Apple One Premier bundle.

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Life Time will include Apple Fitness+ as part of club membership - iMore

DUBLIN, Dec. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Fitness Equipment (Cardiovascular & Strength) Market Overview, 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report titled provides a complete in-depth analysis of the fitness equipment market globally along with the historical and forecasted performance of each region. Globally the fitness equipment market has been growing at a rapid pace. The market, which was just concentrated majorly in regions like North-America and Europe has expanded with a rapid growth rate in the potential markets like Asia-Pacific, Latin-America and Middle-East, and Africa.

Countries with improved lifestyles, economic growth, increased spending on fitness activates, etc. have led the manufacturing companies to expand their manufacturing facilities globally. Some of the major fitness equipment manufacturing companies expanded its reach at the global stage are Icon health & fitness INC, Life fitness, Johnson Health Tech co ltd., Nautilus inc, Technogym, etc. This expansion fitness equipment industry has been attributed to the increase in health and fitness awareness majorly among the young and old age groups.

At the global stage, the fitness equipment industry has been generating its highest revenue share from health and fitness clubs. These health & fitness clubs are a major part of the commercial segment of the fitness equipment market. Apart from this, extended facility towards corporate wellness, hotels, malls, and other institutions have let the commercial segment of the fitness equipment market to dominate the market. On contrary to this, in-home fitness has gained much popularity in recent years.

Companies have taken the opportunity to manufacture home-specific fitness equipment to allure consumers' attraction. This includes traditional equipment like dumbbells, weight plates, treadmills, stationary bikes along with modernized equipment like resistance bands & tubes, hydraulic equipment, indoor rowing machine, elliptical, etc. Extension of all such kinds of home base fitness equipment has let the segment to grow with a CAGR of over 4.5% till the year 2019. With the increasing attraction of fitness equipment at home as well as in gyms, the cardiovascular equipment category in the market accounts for the largest share.

Cardiovascular workout equipment facilitates physical activity that the human body can utilize to promote good health, manage weight, and even relieve stress. On the other hand, resistance training, free weight training, cross-fit training, etc. have evolved the way of strength training. Also, the flexible and non-weighted equipment like hydraulic equipment and resistance band has enhanced consumer's workout experience. With the inclusion of a more new line of equipment the strength equipment segment of the market is expected to grow with a CAGR of above 7% till the year 2025.

Major companies Icon Health & Fitness Inc, Johnson Health Tech Co. Ltd, Technogym S.P.A, Amer Sports Corporation, Nautilus INC, Core Health & Fitness LLC, Precor Incorporated, Cybex International INC, Life Fitness, True Fitness INC, Tuffstuff Fitness International INC, Iron Grip Barbell Company, Hoist Fitness Systems, Torque Fitness, Tuntari New Fitness B.V,

Aspects Covered in the Report

Segments covered in the market

Cardiovascular fitness equipment

Strength fitness equipment

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summery

2. Report Methodology

3. Global Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 3.1. Market Size By Value 3.2. Market Share 3.3. Global Cardiovascular Equipment Market Outlook 3.4. Global Srength Equipment Market Outlook

4. North America Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 4.1. Market Size by Value 4.2. Market Share 4.3. USA Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 4.4. Mexico Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 4.5. Canada Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 4.6. Rest Of North America Fitness Equipment Market Outlook

5. Europe Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 5.1. Market Size by Value 5.2. Market Share 5.3. United Kingdom Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 5.4. Germany Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 5.5. France Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 5.6. Italy Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 5.7. Spain Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 5.8. Rest Of Europe Fitness Equipment Market Outlook

6. Asia Pacific Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 6.1. Market Size by Value 6.2. Market Share 6.3. China Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 6.4. Japan Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 6.5. Australia Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 6.6. India Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 6.7. Rest Of Asia Pacific Fitness Equipment Market Outlook

7. Latin-America Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 7.1. Market Size by Value 7.2. Market Share 7.3. Brazil Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 7.4. Argentina Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 7.5. Chile Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 7.6. Rest Of Latin-America Fitness Equipment Market Outlook

8. Middle-East & Africa Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 8.1. Market Size by Value 8.2. Market Share 8.3. Egypt Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 8.4. Saudi Arabia Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 8.5. South Africa Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 8.6. UAE Fitness Equipment Market Outlook 8.7. Rest Of Middle-East & Africa Fitness Equipment Market Outlook

9. Company Profile 9.1. Icon Health & Fitness Inc 9.2. Johnson Health Tech Co. Ltd 9.3. Technogym S.P.A 9.4. Amer Sports Corporation 9.5. Nautilus INC 9.6. Core Health & Fitness LLC 9.7. Precor Incorporated 9.8. Cybex International INC 9.9. Life Fitness 9.10. True Fitness INC 9.11. Tuffstuff Fitness International INC 9.12. Iron Grip Barbell Company 9.13. Hoist Fitness Systems 9.14. Torque Fitness 9.15. Tuntari New Fitness B.V

10. Disclaimer

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sab0ij

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

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Worldwide Fitness Industry - The Strength Equipment Segment is Expected to Grow With a CAGR of 7% Up to 2025 - PRNewswire

With the temperature dropping and the winter season beginning this month, many of us will have trouble staying motivated to exercise and stay in shape this time of year.

There are many options to exercise and stay in shape both indoors and outdoors. Exercising outdoors does require more planning and more safety precautions than during warmer months.

Here are six winter exercise tips to keep in mind:

1. First and foremost, set fitness and health goals to keep you motivated.

2. Dress in layers, starting with a lightweight moisture-wicking garment next to the skin, followed by an insulating layer of synthetic material or fleece that will also absorb moisture, followed by a wind-resistant jacket if needed that is semi-porous to let moisture escape. As you warm up, you can remove a layer so you dont become overheated.

3. Wear shoes that have good traction to prevent falls on snow or patches of ice. Be safe, and dont go outside if it is icy.

4. Stay hydrated. You will still perspire as your body warms up from exercise in the cold weather.

5. Head into the wind during the first half of your walk or run, and come back with it during the second half. This will help you avoid becoming chilled from perspiration and the wind chill factor.

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Stay in shape: Beat the winter blues - Lincoln Journal Star

The Apple Watch has gained vital health-tracking capabilities via an update that might help to save users from future trips to the hospital.

The Apple Watch has received an update that could very well save its users from future trips to the hospital as Apple isadding cardio level-related data straight to wearers' wrists. Apple has beenupdating the Apple Watch lately with many of the new features and improvements focused on user health and well-being with this being the most recent.

Ever since Apple rolled out themost recent major watchOS update back in September,there have been other updates following in quick succession. The various incremental updates released shortly after watchOS 7 have not only provided much-needed performance optimization, but alsofixed bugs and issues. In addition, Apple dropped an update last month that provided the Apple Watch withseveral new features to compliment those previous updates.

Related: 'Wristcam' Apple Watch Camera: Everything You Need To Know

The latest Apple Watch update aims to bring even more vital improvements, but this timewith a more active approach in encouraging users to live a healthier lifestyle. According to Apple, WatchOS 7.2 puts a lot of emphasis on the health of Apple Watch users, by measuring their cardio fitness levels, and alerting them if the level happens to become toolow. The feature can be accessed through the iPhone's Health app where users will be able to see if their cardio fitness level is rated as high, above average, below average or low. If the level fallstoo low, the Apple Watch will receive a notification. The data gathered in the Health app can also be used to review cardio fitness progress over the entire year.

Apple Watch updates continue to add features that allow the wearable to function more independently without the need of additional equipment and collectively,the improvements and new features help the device take a step closer to becoming a full-fledged personal health advisor. For example, theability toaccess VO2 max readings that usually require specific medical instruments to determine. The data the Apple Watch collects can be a good measuring stick for not only determining current personal health levels, but also indications of patterns that might predict future levels as well.

This makes planning ahead much easier, as users can now create the perfect daily routine tofit their individualhealth goals and see the results of their efforts. The latest Apple Watch personal health updatehas arrived tocoincide with the release ofApple Fitness+. This is a subscription service that provides Apple device ownerswith an easy way to exercise and improve their general fitness levels while at home.

Next: Do You Need An Apple Watch To Use Apple Fitness+?

Source: Apple

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Kyle Encina is a writer with over five years of professional experience, covering topics ranging from viral entertainment news, politics and movie reviews to tech, gaming and even cryptocurrency. During his free time, he indulges in composing melodies, listening to inspiring symphonies, physical activities, writing fictional fantasies (stories) and of course, gaming like a madman!

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Apple Watch Gains Cardio Fitness Notifications: What You Need To Know - Screen Rant

Using technology as a means of behavioural change has long been embraced at Discovery Vitality. From GPS tracking to heart rate monitoring, AI analytics and more, technology has the power to transform lives when plugged in to a wellness model. This is why Vitality has partnered with STRAVA, one of the worlds leading social networks for fitness, writes Dr Mosima Mabunda, Head of Wellness at Vitality.

It was a worldwide phenomenon, but recent Vitality data confirmed that South African lifestyle behaviours were negatively impacted by lockdown. In terms of physical activity, using device workout and points data, we saw a 48% decrease in physical activity levels during lockdown level 5 compared to pre-lockdown.

But I was hopeful after noting that as lockdown levels eased and physical activity options increased, we have seen people resume physical activity. There was a 10% increase in physical activity with relaxed restrictions across the Vitality member base.

Similarly, of the first competitive cycling events for the year saw Team Vitality participate in the Double Century recently. The early morning start in the Karoo mountain town of Swellendam looked like this: eight Team Vitality riders, cycling legend Nic White and I, got onto our bikes, synced our devices with the STRAVA app and off we went for 202km.

We kept updated on our progress over the route, a gentle buzz marking off the milestones and pushing us on. After several hours, we made it to finish line, and celebrated being one of the 36 teams out of 143 who completed the race.

In a year that has seen us quite separate but together in spirit, the race made me reflect on what distinguished 2020 from wartime. It was our social connections that continued despite physical distancing, made possible by technology, of course. Invisible in ways, but so essential that it touches all aspects of human life today.

How Vitality makes tech work toward more physical activity

Using technology as a means of behavioural change is one of the key global trends which we have embraced.

Using the latest technology be it GPS tracking or heart rate monitoring, AI analytics and more we are known to be the innovators in the tech and wellbeing space. Tech interconnects our 20 million members worldwide, with the broad aim of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives.

This is part of the reason Vitality has partnered with Strava, one of the richest data sources of tracking physical activity in the world. Strava the Swedish word for strive is an advanced mobile app and social network for athletes, made by athletes. To date, Strava has billions of activities uploaded from 195 countries and seen an average of 1 million athletes join every 30 days.

Strava turns members smartphone device into a running and cycling computer, so they can track and analyse every aspect of their physical activity. The platform also allows members to connect with friends across the globe. It is also home to the worlds largest route and trail resources for runners and cyclists, allowing members to explore new routes and compete with a global community.

When we plug that into Vitalitys Active Rewards platform, magic happens. Using nudge theory, which tells us that people are motivated to make good choices (in this case, move more) when they are rewarded, with Strava, we are taking our behavioural change programme to the next level.

By providing options for how members track exercise, and giving people human connection through tech, we can encourage and reward activity multiples more.

The science behind the fitness connection

We know that exercise may be more important than medicine when it comes to preventing and sustaining good health, particularly in a world that is in the midst of a pandemic. Simply put, fitness can boost your chances of recovering from COVID-19, and from most illnesses linked to physical inactivity.

Multiple studies have linked consistent, appropriate, life-long physical activity to a significantly decreased risk of morbidity and mortality. The positive impact of moderate and high levels of physical activity is undisputed.

World Health Organization statistics tell us that up to 5 million deaths a year could be averted if the global population was more active. At a time when many people are homebound due to COVID-19, new WHO Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour emphasise that everyone, of all ages and abilities, can be physically active and that every type of movement counts. Yet, the data also shows that one in four adults, and four out of five adolescents, do not get enough physical activity. Globally this is estimated to cost US$54 billion in direct health care and another US$14 billion to lost productivity, according to the WHO.

Dr Fiona Bull, Head of the Physical Activity Unit says that more and more research shows how important being active is for our hearts, bodies and minds, and how the favourable outcomes benefit everyone, of all ages and abilities.

Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO adds that Physical activity of any type, and any duration can improve health and wellbeing, but more is always better and if you must spend a lot of time sitting still, whether at work or school, you should do more physical activity to counter the harmful effects of sedentary behaviour.

As Vitality, we have committed to making 100million people 20% more active by 2025 with our network of insurers around the world.We can do this one activity point at a time.

Discovery Chief Executive and Vitality founder, Adrian Gore shared this as the reasoning: For more than 20 years, Vitality has taken a shared-value approach to health improvement by creating interventions that change peoples behaviour for the better. Thats why we have committed to helping even more people become active and we are encouraged by the support of the World Health Organization as this aligns with their Global Action Plan on Physical Activity. We believe the impact will be substantial and far-reaching. DM

This article was written by Dr Mosima Mabunda, Head of Wellness at Vitality

You can join the Team Vitality community on Strava at no cost to connect with other Vitality members, share adventures and get recognised and rewarded for various achievements. Look out for further details towards the end of this year around how you can stand a chance to win prizes every quarter such as running shoes, running kit and fitness devices.

Team Vitality Club is your ultimate running and cycling club experience, at the same membership rate as in 2020, but with more perks and benefits.

When you join theTeam Vitality Club, you will get even more:

As a Team Vitality Club member, you save 50% on Strava membership, allowing you to:

Whats more, if you sign up for Team Vitality running or cycling for 2021 now, you wont pay for the rest of 2020. And, because 2020 was such a challenging year, there will be no membership fee increases for 2021.

Join the Team Vitality Running Club for R399 and Team Vitality Cycling Club for R950. Read more aboutTeam Vitality membership fees, terms and conditions.

Keep an eye on ourFacebook,TwitterandInstagrampages for more updates and information.

Get active. Get rewarded with Team Vitality and Strava.

Vitality (Pty) Ltd Registration Number 1999/007736/07. Limits, terms and conditions apply.

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Tech and fitness: Tackling immunity, health and new frontiers - Daily Maverick