By 2022, the number of fitness app users is expected to surpass 353 million people. AppDeveloperListing.com ranked the top app developers that help brands create top-performing software for the growing number of consumers in the health and fitness industry.

NEW YORK, March 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --By 2022, the number of fitness app users is expected to surpass 353 million people.

Health and fitness apps can help the growing user base find a workout regime, track their general health conditions, make appointments, get timely feedback during their workout regime or promote a healthy lifestyle in other ways.

AppDeveloperListing.com, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with app developers, identified the best developers that work with businesses in the health and fitness industries to create high quality, user-friendly applications.

The top health and fitness app developers are:

1. Anadea 2. BeCurious Studio 3. Blue Label Labs 4. BoTree Technologies 5. Code Inspiration 6. Decipher Zone Softwares 7. DigiGround 8. FOONKIE MONKEY 9. ICON Worldwide 10. IIH Global 11. Kind Geek 12. KWebmaker 13. Lloyds Design 14. metajive 15. Next Big Technology 16. QArea 17. Reinvently 18. Riseapps 19. SingleMind Consulting

Brands can search and compare the best health and fitness app development agencies based on their location, team size, rates and budget on AppDeveloperListing.com.

About AppDeveloperListing.com: AppDeveloperListing.com is a directory of carefully screened and ranked app development companies in the US and abroad. Once vetted and approved by experts, the companies are listed by categories: technical, OS and industry expertise, as well as location.

SOURCE AppDeveloperListing.com

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The Top Health and Fitness App Developers, According to App Developers Rating Platform - Yahoo Finance

Lean out, tone up, get ripped... they all mean the same thing: body recomposition.

If you've ever said something like "I want to tone up" or "I want to lean out," you were referring to body recomposition, even if you didn't know it. Body recomposition -- or altering your physique by burning fat and gaining muscle at the same time -- is a different approach to health and fitness than the typical weight-loss mindset.

Many people think that true body recomposition is impossible because of this conundrum: To reduce your body fat, you have to eat fewer calories than you burn. But to build muscle, you have to eat more calories than you burn.

Your body is smarter than you may give it credit for, however, and by keeping a close eye on your diet (specifically when you eat what) and your training, you can absolutely lose fat and gain muscle at the same time.

Read more:The best at-home fitness equipment in 2020

Body composition refers to your body fat percentage and lean mass percentage.

Your body composition is the ratio of fat mass to lean mass in your body. Sometimes, body composition is used interchangeably with body fat percentage, but body fat percentage is just one part of your overall body composition.

Lean mass includes muscle, bones, ligaments, tendons, organs, other tissues and water -- in other words, everything that's not body fat. Depending on what method you use to measure your body composition, you may see water as its own percentage.

Read more: The best body composition scales for 2020

Body recomposition refers to the process of changing your ratio of fat mass to lean mass -- that is, losing body fat and gaining muscle mass. The goal of body recomposition is to lose fat and gain muscle simultaneously, unlike the traditional approach of "bulking and cutting" in which you intentionally put on a lot of weight first (muscle and fat) and then go through an intense calorie deficit.

When your goal is body recomposition, ditch the scale and use a tape measure for a better idea of your progress.

Body recomposition isn't about weight loss; it's about fat loss. On a body recomposition plan, you may maintain your current weight or even gain weight -- remember hearing "muscle weighs more than fat"?

Muscle tissue is in fact denser than fat tissue: The more muscle mass you gain, the more you'll weigh, even if you lose fat at the same time. What changes, instead of weight, is your physique. As you progress through body recomposition, you may notice changes in your body, such as an overall firmer look or that your clothes fit differently.

For example, I weigh exactly the same now as I did before I started exercising and eating healthy. I wear smaller clothes, however, and my body has more muscle tone than it did before. I also feel much stronger than before I began a strength training program (a nonaesthetic benefit to body recomposition). So you can ditch the scale, because it doesn't differentiate between fat loss and muscle loss, and weight loss isn't the primary goal with body recomposition.

There's one caveat to consider, though: If you want to lose a large amount of body fat and don't intend to put on much muscle mass, you may lose weight in the long run.

Read more: 6 health metrics that are more important than your weight

Because you're trying to do two things at once -- lose fat and gain muscle -- you can't treat a body recomposition plan like a fad diet. Healthy weight loss and healthy muscle gain both take a long time on their own: Put them together and you're in it for the long haul. The slow, steady process of body recomposition offers sustainable results, though, so you'll enjoy your new physique for as long as you maintain healthy habits.

Body recomposition is a fine balance between building muscle and losing fat.

Body recomposition truly comes down to your specific health and fitness goals. Unlike traditional methods of weight loss -- such as very low-calorie diets or periods of really intense cardio exercise -- there's no real protocol for body recomposition.

There are basic guidelines to follow. To successfully change your body composition, you need:

Read more: 20-minute high-intensity interval training workouts to burn fat

Fat loss ultimately comes down to your calorie maintenance. To lose fat, you must eat fewer calories than you burn. Cardiovascular exercise, or combined cardio and resistance exercise, alongside a healthy diet still stands as the best techniques for fat loss -- there's just no way around the science.

Read more: Eat more, weigh less: These high-volume foods will fill you up on fewer calories

Building muscle requires resistance training.

To build muscle, focus on two main factors: weight training and protein consumption. Strength training is essential to changing your body composition -- your muscles won't grow if you don't challenge them.

Additionally, you can't build muscle without being in a caloric surplus, so you must eat more calories than you burn to promote muscle growth. While all macronutrients are important, protein is especially important for building muscle. Without enough protein, your body will struggle to repair the muscle tissues that get broken down during weight training.

Plus, studies show that a high-protein diet can help with losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time. Research shows that, while in a calorie deficit, consuming more protein than you normally might can help preserve your lean body mass (a.k.a. muscle mass) than being in a calorie deficit without changing your protein intake.

In people who have already been following a strength training program, increasing protein intake and following a heavy weightlifting routine leads to improvements in body composition.

Read more: The 7 most important strength-training moves for building muscle

Body builders are known for their ability to achieve insanely lean and muscular physiques. This obviously isn't everyone's goal, but it's a good example of what's possible with body recomposition.

It sounds confusing that you have to eat fewer calories than you burn to lose fat, but you have to eat more calories than you burn to build muscle. It's actually pretty simple when you learn about the concept of calorie cycling: modifying your calorie and macronutrient intake to match your goal for the day.

The first thing you need to do is figure out your maintenance calories, or how many calories you burn on a day you don't exercise. You can see a certified personal trainer, dietitian or other health professional to find this number, or you can use an online calorie calculator.This one from Mayo Clinic uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, which pros consider the gold standard.

On days that you do cardio exercise, you should consume enough calories to meet your maintenance number. Consuming maintenance calories on a cardio day ensures that you're in a slight deficit to promote fat loss, but not in a deficit so large that your body starts using muscle tissue as fuel. We want the muscle!

Read more: Should you lift weights or do cardio first?

On days that you do a strength training workout for 30 minutes or more, eat more calories than your maintenance number with a focus on protein. Depending on how much muscle you want to put on and how quickly you want to gain it, add 5% to 15% to your maintenance calories.

On days that you don't work out at all, eat slightly less than your maintenance calories -- decrease that number by 5% to 10%. This number is called your "rest day calories."

If you're still confused, think of it this way: Every day, you consume new calories and your body must decide what to do with those calories. Your body essentially has three basic choices: immediately burn the calories for fuel, use them to repair and build muscle tissue or store them as fat.

If you're looking for a body transformation, you definitely don't want to store calories as fat. But you do want your body to use new calories to repair the muscles you broke down during weightlifting workouts.

So, you'll eat more calories (and protein) on weight-training days so your body uses those calories and nutrients to fuel muscle repair, and thus muscle growth. And you'll eat fewer calories on cardio days and days that you don't work out because you want your body to use the fat it already has as fuel -- not to use new calories as fuel.

By combining these two tactics, you can successfully achieve body recomposition.

Ready to hit the gym? Make sure you get the best pair of shoes for your workout.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Body recomposition: How to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time - CNET

Tiffany Ruiz had tried various gyms, apps, workout routines and diets, all in an effort to get fit and lose some weight. None of them worked because none of them kept my interest, she said. Now, Ruiz is working out at least four times a week, thanks to a video game.

In her bedroom, she sprints, squats, stretches and performs other exercises like knee lifts and shoulder presses, all while battling a muscle-bound dragon and its toadies in Ring Fit Adventure, a new game from Nintendo, the Japanese consumer tech giant. I am so focused on beating the high score or conquering an enemy that before I know it, 30 minutes have passed, said the 26-year-old.

Ring Fit Adventure, created for the Nintendo Switch console, is the latest effort by the video game industry to try to entice consumers to get up off the couch and become more active. Developers are folding fitness into games as part of a dual-pronged strategy: to retain players by offering a physical twist on traditional gameplay and to draw in new ones like Ruiz who are looking to break up the monotony of working out.

The campaign appeals to parents and other caregivers worried about the amount of time children spend glued to screens. And the games help counter the stereotype of the sedentary player, sitting in a chair for hours on end. Developers are trying to reach people who want fun and fitness at the same time, said Rik Eberhardt, a programme manager at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys (MIT) Game Lab in the US. They know fitness is good for them, but it can feel like a chore in their busy lives.

Exergaming, a portmanteau of exercise and gaming, has been around since the late 1980s, when Bandai introduced Power Pad, a gray mat with pressure sensors, for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Games now use motion sensors, smartwatches and even virtual reality to track a players movement.

The gameplay has changed, too. Some games disguise fitness routines in the form of role-playing, dancing or other activities such as running from zombies. Others are fitness and health apps that lead users through workouts with gamelike features such as scoreboards, real-time feedback and multiplayer options.

Nintendos Wii game console brought exergaming into the mainstream in 2006. Its Wii Fit game incorporated a balance board so players burned calories through calisthenics and yoga.

Nintendos two main competitors, Microsoft and Sony, followed its lead, adding motion-detecting cameras to their consoles. Games such as Just Dance and Zumba Fitness: Join the Party, which were available on Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony consoles, were breakout successes in the motion era, said Mat Piscatella, an industry analyst NPD Group, a market research firm. Since then, the industry has been overturned by the rise of mobile devices, which allow games to be played on the go.

Consumer expectations have changed dramatically, Piscatella said. People are no longer just playing on their TVs in their living room. They now want to be able to play games whenever and wherever.

Zombies, Run! coaches runners to complete hundreds of missions, including one with author Margaret Atwood, in order to escape the zombie apocalypse while running a 5K. In Pokemon Go, players capture creatures in real-world locations using augmented reality and GPS on their phones.

Hoping to build on that trend, Nintendo in 2017 introduced the Switch, which functions both as a traditional console and a hand-held device. Since its launch, more than 50 million Switch consoles have been sold worldwide

Part of the Switch is an acknowledgment that Nintendos main competition is no longer just Microsoft and Sony, but Apple and Google, too, said Philip Tan, creative director of the MIT Game Lab. He added that Nintendo was drawing on its strength in creating games that bridge the digital and physical world. Instead of trying to compete with other console makers with better cinematography, they have created an innovative new console.

The company has focused on games, like Ring Fit Adventure, that use consoles in new ways, said Bill Trinen, a senior director of product marketing at Nintendo. Nintendo wants to create games that encourage people to get active and motivate them to stay active. Trinen added that the company hoped the role-playing adventure format would encourage people to play longer.

Part of Ring Fits popularity stems from its unique controller, a flexible resistance hoop that Nintendo calls a Ring Con. When players squeeze it, pull it or hold it above their head, their movements are tracked in the game.

Other games incorporate new hardware, too. Beat Saber, a music game from Beat Games, relies on virtual reality goggles.

But Ring Fit is attracting a growing number of fans to the gameplay. I love it because it is this fun, goofy story that is way more intense than Wii Fit. It hides the workout, and you cant cheat, said Tristan Scatliffe, a 33-year-old product manager who lives in New York. The first time I played it, I was dripping with sweat.

Late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon posted, on Twitter, a video of himself playing one of the Ring Fit minigames, Spinal Erectors Challenge.

Many exergames promote movement, but whether they increase physical fitness is up for debate. Critics have said they found the exercise routines underwhelming, and a study at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found that Wii games did not help children meet daily exercise requirements.

Some researchers are creating their own exergames. Eefje Battel, a project manager at the Sports Innovation Campus at the Howest University of Applied Sciences in Bruges, Belgium, uses Makey Makey in several of the centers exergame projects for children. Developed by JoyLabz, Makey Makey is an invention kit that allows users to connect everyday objects to the internet via alligator clips and a simple keyboard.

Battel created a version of Tetris, the 1980s puzzle game in which falling blocks are manipulated to fit them in a straight line. In her version, conductors are attached to bananas and other fruit, and children have to run from fruit to fruit to move the tiles in the game.

Regardless of the fun factor, exergames are not without risks, Battel said. One element that is missing in Ring Fit, she said, is a coach to ensure that players are performing exercises correctly and safely. If you are squatting, the system will measure movement up and down, but it wont track posture, she said.

Nintendo is hoping Ring Fit becomes a top-selling game as Wii Fit did in its heyday. Game analysts like Piscatella have not yet decided.

What makes Nintendo unique is their willingness to push boundaries, and when Nintendo is really weird, they are at their best, he said. Ring Fit Adventure could be the biggest thing or not. Its still hard to predict. The New York Times

Originally posted here:
Exergaming: Fun and fitness from the comfort of your own home - The Irish Times

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. Among other benefits, regulating physical activity can have a positive effect on your immune system. Exercise increases the activity of certain immune cells called helper T cells, making the immune system response to viruses more robust.

This is particularly relevant now that we are experiencing an outbreak of a novel coronavirus that can lead to a disease called COVID-19 which causes respiratory symptoms similar to the seasonal flu but can progress to more serious conditions like pneumonia. As the virus spreads, more and more infections, hospitalizations and deaths are counted each day in the U.S. and around the world. At this point, it is reasonable to expect that COVID-19 is spreading in our community, so we should all take steps to protect ourselves from infection and do what we can to reduce the risk of serious illness.

Smart advice from the CDC includes avoiding close contact with people who are sick since COVID-19 can be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The CDC also advises avoiding large crowds where the virus may spread more easily. In fact, many events and gatherings including concerts, sports, meetings and church services have been canceled and some schools are closed. When you are out in public, try to keep a three- to six-foot distance between yourself and others and replace handshakes and hugs with a friendly elbow bump.

The virus can also spread through surfaces, so you can also protect yourself by washing your hands frequently with soap and water and not touching your eyes, nose or mouth. If soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative. The CDC does not recommend wearing a mask or gloves to protect yourself unless you are sick or are caring for someone who is sick.

Good nutrition is also important for optimal immune system function. Deficiencies of certain nutrients can have a negative effect on immune function, so eating a balanced diet is essential. That said, there is no support for boosting the immune system by taking high doses of vitamins, minerals or other supplements, despite the claims made by supplement companies. In fact, the majority of nutritional supplements have not undergone appropriate testing, and for those supplements that have been tested, the results are not consistent with the claims. It is especially important to note that there are no foods, nutrients or supplements that are effective against specific viruses, including the COVID-19 virus. Any claims that a certain supplement can prevent COVID-19 are false!

Poor sleep habits are associated with suppressed immunity and more frequent illness. High levels of stress can also increase susceptibility to viruses. Stress and poor sleep habits tend to occur together, creating a double negative effect on the immune system. Getting enough sleep should always be a priority, especially now.

A couple of final notes about exercise and the immune system. While moderate exercise can boost the immune system, very vigorous and prolonged exercise can have the opposite effect. You may wonder if it is safe to go to the gym to work out. The COVID-19 virus isnt spread through sweat, but, like any virus, it can be spread through the air and surfaces by infected people, especially in a crowded gym or exercise class. Washing your hands, not touching your face and making sure to wipe down equipment, including weights, is important. That said, this would be a good time to exercise outdoors where the risk of viral spread is lower, and you can get the benefits of exercising in the fresh air and sunshine!

Brian Parr, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at USC Aiken where he teaches courses in exercise physiology, nutrition and health behavior. You can learn more about this and other health and fitness topics at http://drparrsays.com or on Twitter @drparrsays.

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HEALTH AND FITNESS: Exercise and your immune system - Aiken Standard

For nearly five years, New Yorker Amanda Croce has broken a sweat about six times a week at a fitness class. Her preferred instructor is Akin Akman, a former pro tennis player and SoulCycle instructor and now co-founder of AARMY, a boutique fitness program in New York and Los Angeles, launched in 2019. Akman, with his signature deep voice and floppy hair, is among New Yorks top fitness celebrities, a sweat guru who is known as both a trainer and a motivational speaker. As Akin says, there are only good days or great days, Croce said.

But with the coronavirus impacting every aspect of daily life around the world, Croce said goodbye to her regular gym habits as classes shut down and social distancing became the norm for most individuals and businesses attempting to curb the viruss spread and abide by government bans on group gatherings. So on Monday, while socially isolated with her family in Connecticut, Croce opened up her phone to an Instagram Live and started streaming a bootcamp workout led by Akman instead. Its just one of a number of fitness programs and influencers pivoting to remote workouts, and in just under a week, its well on the way to becoming a new normal.

Across the board, virtual workout options have been popping up, from individual trainers offering free classes to studios organizing digital schedules. Check out fitness Instagram or YouTube and youll be bombarded with free content from instructors with avid followings: Rumble Boxings Noah Neiman has a bag-free workout; trainer Jen Selter live-streamed a mat class; Taryn Toomey is offering free at-home version of The Class; Australias super-influencer Kayla Itsines adjusted the routines on her popular program to be home-friendly. Most programs, from Physique 57 to Barrys Bootcamp to Orangetheory, have new free online options from official accounts and popular trainers individually not to mention widely-subscribed preexisting digital programs from Peloton and Nike Training Club.

Croce didnt have any gym equipment, just an old yoga mat thoroughly scratched up by her cat, and a few bricks and bottles of Chardonnay her mom offered her as weights. Still, she came away from the workout buoyant. Everyone was in the same spirit and cheering each other on, even though its through Instagram comments, she said.

Like most other gyms and fitness studios, AARMY closed training centers in New York and Los Angeles over the weekend, prioritizing health and safety in the face of the coronavirus threat, calling it a necessary measure in public statements. But Akman, co-founder and CEO Trey Laird and fellow celebrity trainer Angela Davis decided to take their classes online for the first time, delivering free, live-streamed cycling, bootcamp and specialized workout sessions over social media nearly hourly, starting on Monday, for the foreseeable future.

They are just one group going remote. And theyre reaching bigger audiences: in the first 24 hours, over 18 thousand people had viewed the AARMY classes, according to Laird. (In person, they can host about 60 customers per session; even with each instructor leading five sessions a day, their online reach is exponentially larger.) Recouping the lost incomeclasses start at $38wasnt a consideration at this time, Laird told TIME; they just wanted to get their content out there.

While coronavirus restrictions may be keeping people home, fitness has a role to play in keeping people healthy and happy; its no secret that working out can help manage anxiety. Croce turned to AARMY and other classes to keep her motivated while training for the New York City Marathon, finding the community in particular to be a powerful support. And while thats now out of the question, the online programs are making an effort to fill the gap.

The founders of online fitness site Ob consider what they do almost health work. Katia Pryce of DanceBody calls her classes a daily escape that people are hungry for, even though the ease of an online option doesnt replace the energy vortex of human-to-human connection and the importance of supervision that can be found in her studios in New York, Miami and L.A. (Every instructor said that students should pay close attention to their own bodies and limits while practicing remotely.)

Still, the move to online-only fitness is a shift thats happening very fast. How do you prepare for this? Akman asked, calling TIME from the AARMY facility in Manhattan, to which he was still commuting for filming. Luckily for the gym, AARMY had been planning on launching a digital component this spring. Theyve just expedited the process, and skipped building out a platform to go straight to viewers with the free content. It feels like a time in the world when you just need to put things out to be helpful and positive and inspiring, he said. Clearly, thats hit a nerve: theyve had viewers from countries as far as Spain and Tunisia. Its a nice surprise to see the world connected in a time thats so difficult, Akman added. The experience of the classes is pretty raw, just the instructor in an empty studio shouting encouragement at the screen, and sometimes responding directly to commenters, many of whom hes coached for years.

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I started the class grumpy and alone, not wanting to do it, and not feeling accountable. But then it really felt like I was being held accountable, Croce said. The energy coming from the coaches was huge. The message of resilience and getting through tough times and getting through a challenge: thats something we all can use.

While AARMY has had to jump quickly into a new paradigm, some platforms were built for this from the beginning. Entertainment publicity pros Mark Mullett and Ashley Mills launched Ob, an online-only fitness streaming platform, in 2018. It has classes across four categories taught by celebrity instructors, all filmed in their New York studio and capped at 28 minutes. Inspired by the Jane-Fonda-style workouts of eras past, their goal has been to replicate the joy of early exercise videos; the contemporary twist is lighting reminiscent of the works of James Turrell. It had already struck a chord with millennials seeking a sleekly designed remote fitness experience, but amid the coronavirus their services are well-adapted for the moment.

Were very agile from a production and content perspective, Mills told TIME. When she was stuck at home over the weekend with her infant and a five-year-old, she realized they needed to put together kids programming. Within days, they had licensed music from Kidz Bop and released child-friendly exercise videos. And noticing a senior relative also struggling to find fitness options, they mobilized to put out senior workouts by the end of the week, with gentle activities that can be done while seated or with limited range of motion.

Movement right now is not only going to keep us sane, its going to keep our bodies healthy and help with our immunity, Mills said. We feel empowered, we feel of service. Its a terrible situation were all in, but we feel very equipped to serve people in the way that they need it. People are responding: Mullett said they were getting thousands of new viewers daily. Trust us, we wish we were on the phone with you under different circumstances, he said. But if youre looking for silver linings, the fact that people are trying something new and looking inward is pretty interesting.

Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here.

Still, adapting to this new reality can be exhausting. Professional dancer Katia Pryce founded DanceBody in 2013 and has been a star instructor ever since, with an Instagram following over 35,000. Students turn to her and DanceBody for cardio that mixes fun choreography with a serious workout. (And hit music: she licenses top songs for her dances.)

As her responsibilities as an executive have grown in the past few years, Pryce whittled down her active dancing hours to just a few per day. But now shes broadcasting six to seven live hour-long classes per day, after shutting down her studios for quarantine. Were gonna get really ripped this month! she told TIME. Pryce had freshened up her livestream service with a new app in January, so this timing was actually kind of perfect, she said. Still, its not exactly a dollar for dollar exchange; everyone understands that. Theres a million things online. She called this moment an anxiety diet for small business owners like her working to stay afloat. While the conditions of her salaried employees havent changed, she isnt able to pay contract workers for hours theyre not logging.

To tide her company over, shes trying to fill a niche with specialized dance classes and private virtual sessions. The upside for her business? New dancers who wouldnt normally commit to attending an in-person class are tuning in, including older viewers and men; she estimated online viewership had gone up 30 or 40% in the first three days. Were seeing more guys getting wrangled into it, because now whoever is quarantined in your home is forced to do your workout with you, she said. Standing in front of a mirror in a bright mirror [in the studio] can be kind of intimidating. Now people are really taking the jump. Its not clear how things will shake out when things go back to normal, but for Pryce, its an opportunity to play an important role. Someone recently said to me, This is basically your Super Bowl. Were working harder than we ever have been.

Shes not alone. Akin said today in the middle of the practice, Sometimes challenges make you focus on what you should be doing,' Laird told TIME. It brings clarity, Akman said. For fitness stars and their programs, its a chance to reach new audiences and convince a quarantined and inevitably bored population to commit to new habits. Nothing will replace the community of in-person sessions, Pryce insisted. But even Croce, a class devotee, recognized the benefits of virtual workouts, even after isolation ends; she can imagine tuning in when her schedule doesnt line up with the studio. As for the instructors? We are surviving, Pryce said. But we are hopefully really close to really thriving.

Please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com.

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Fitness Instructors Are Adapting a New Home Workout Now - TIME

With gyms closed and access to equipment limited, its hard to get a workout in these days. Luckily, there are plenty of simple exercises you can do from home that can have a positive impact on both your health and your golf game.

TPI Certified performance coach Mike Carroll shared his five favorite at-home exercises that are suitable for golfers of all ages and fitness levels. Even better, none of these moves require special equipment.

This is a lower-body exercise that works on mobility, stability and strength. The narrow stance will reduce your base of support and challenge your stability. In this exercise, youre primarily working your front leg, so keep the majority of your weight centered over the middle of your front foot.

Deadbugs are a great exercise for strengthening your core. You need strength in your midsection to be able to effectively transfer power from your lower body to your upper body in the golf swing. During this exercise, its incredibly important to keep your lower-back flat against the ground to ensure youre working your abs.

Theres a reason push-ups are among Joel Dahmens go-to exercises. When performed correctly, push-ups can be extremely beneficial to your overall strength and to the golf swing. To set up correctly for a push-up, place your hands beneath your shoulders and your feet shoulder-width apart. Then squeeze your core and go to the top of a plank.

Be sure to maintain a neutral spine, as demonstrated by the dowel rod on my back in the below video. Your body should move as one piece with a controlled tempo to ensure you are working the right muscles. Essentially, the push-up is a moving plank. To ensure your push-ups are using your full range of motion, your chest and hips should touch the floor on the way down.If doing push-ups is too difficult, elevate your hands onto the side of a sofa, table or counter top. The higher your hands are, the easier the push-up will be.

When you watch the pros, one of the biggest differences youll notice is how well they can separate their hips from their upper body at the start of the downswing. This separation stretches the torso muscles, loading them with power and helping your swing sequence.

During this exercise, make sure you rotate your hips while keeping your upper body still. This is a great way to improve your mobility, which is required to create that all-important separation. You should feel a big stretch in your obliques, the muscles on the sides of your midsection.

This is an excellent exercise to improve your rotation in the backswing and the flexibility of your trail shoulder. Using a golf club will assist your turn and help you go further than you would otherwise. You should feel a big stretch around the ribcage, mid-back and shoulders during this exercise. This is also a great exercise to do before you play a round or hit the range.

Perform three rounds of 5-10 reps per exercise. For the exercises where you work one side at a time, be sure to perform the exercise on both sides.

For more at-home workouts and golf-specific fitness tips, check out the Fit for Golf website and Twitter account.

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Here are five at-home exercises to improve your golf game - Golf.com

Posted: Mar 21, 2020 / 07:43 AM CDT / Current: Mar 21, 2020 / 07:43 AM CDT

WAVY

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) With thousands of enlisted and civilian military staff on and off area bases every working day, the commander of U.S. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic explained the coronavirus pandemic is a single of the largest challenges theyve at any time confronted.

Drastic variations have been made at all 14 bases, such as the 6 in Hampton Roads, according to Rear Adm. Charles Rock.

Till even more notice, visiting excursions are suspended and only mission-vital personnel must be going on foundation.

We have instituted a no-touching plan, Rock reported in a cellphone meeting connect with Friday. Government IDs should be scanned and not handed to staff to stay clear of speak to.

When capable, personnel is inspired to telework to limit the range of personnel bodily current at perform. When at function, management is asking that the Navy actively participate in social distancing.

And clearly it is very complicated for these on a shipboard natural environment to follow social distancing, Rock mentioned.

In get to test to slow the unfold of COVID-19 at sea, Rock said clinical staff is screening all sailors as they occur aboard.

Any individual who has traveled to a region where the outbreak is much more prevalent, any person who has experienced get hold of with a man or woman who contracted COVID-19 and any one who shows signs will promptly be ordered to limit their motion.

If they dwell off-foundation, they will be demanded to self-quarantine for at the very least 14-times.

Those (on-base) sailors, we have arranged or them to go into Navy lodging facilities that meets the CDC tips for isolation, Rock mentioned. includes their have space with no shared frequent parts this sort of as a tub a kitchen area or a laundry.

A 60-day maintain sample for non-mission-crucial vacation, which contains long lasting improve of station orders, short-term and instruction responsibility.

Our priority is the security of our persons and alongside one another I know we will get by way of this really hard time, Rock reported.

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Naval commander says health and fitness of personnel and army readiness continue being equally as vital in the course of pandemic - Mash Viral

Gerren Liles returned from a trip to Italy days before the country went into coronavirus lockdown earlier this month. The New York-based Equinox trainer was set to return to work after a 14-day self-quarantine on Monday.

That was the plan, at least.

Thats the day the gyms were closed, Liles told Mens Health. My expectation was that I was going to go back to work. Now, its basically like Im back on vacation.

Liles is among the more fortunate trainers, with a substantial 32.8k Instagram follower count and a solid base in the at-home fitness space as a founding trainer at Mirror, a $1,495 interactive home gym system that streams a variety of different workouts to peoples homes. But thousands of other trainers have had to pivot from one-on-one client work to video chat services like FaceTime and fitness apps to stay connected with their chargesand to keep some income coming in during this pandemic.

Our industry is one that is all about social interaction and a lot of trainers depend on their studios and gyms to train people, Liles said. A lot of trainers will want to keep their clients in the loop and this could inspire trainers to start their own digital or virtual training business, but the hustle is hard for those doing this for the first time.

At least 15 states have closed all gyms in response to the coronavirus, according to International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). Some counties and municipalities have also moved to close all fitness facilities. Other states like Virginia and Wisconsin have limited gatherings of 10 or more people, which allows gyms to remain open for personal training only.

"The gym industry is being destroyed by this crisis."

In some unfortunate cases, those closures have already amounted to more than a temporary pause in service. There have been real ramifications already for gym employees, in the form of layoffs. IHRSA sent a letter to Congress this week requesting that the fitness industry be included in a future stimulus package to support the more than 425,000 people employed by clubs and studios.

The gym industry is being destroyed by this crisis, IHRSA spokesperson Meredith Poppler said.

Poppler was unable to provide an accurate number for how many fitness professionals are recently out of work, although gyms have quietly or publicly been laying off trainers and instructors in recent days. Anne M. Mahlum, owner and CEO of D.C.-based Solidcore, announced in an email Thursday that her chain of 72 U.S. studios will lay off 98 percent of employees, which includes 137 full-time employees, 97 part-time employees and 397 coaches. The laid off employees will be paid through the end of March.

This is a very fluid situation, added Adam Zeitsiff, president and CEO of Golds Gym, in a statement to Mens Health. Our team members are very important to us and we are doing our best to manage all aspects of our business so we can ensure our gyms are able to reopen as soon as it is safe for our community. This includes our company-owned gyms as well as our locally-owned franchise locations.

Stanley Berry is among the trainers who have gone to Twitter and Instagram to seek to build up a client base that basically disappeared when his Washington, D.C. gym shuttered for at least two weeks. (Berry asked Mens Health not to identify the gym hes worked at for the last three years.)

"I know Im not going to bring as much money because I cant charge normal rates."

A lot of people have been reaching out, Berry said. Im still kind of early, so Im not getting discouraged yet. Ive used FaceTime to introduce myself and train some people. There are lots of folks doing it already. I know Im not going to bring as much money because I cant charge normal rates.

Like many trainers who work for major gym chains, Berry is learning his existing client base is a tough sell.

Theyve already paid for their training at the gym, Berry said. They dont want to have to pay twice.

Another roadblock: gyms typically have policies that bar trainers from training their existing client base outside their workplace. A spokesperson for Life Time, which is paying its trainers at least through March 29, said that trainersother than salaried managersarent allowed to lead clients on their own for legal and liability reasons.

Displaced trainers and instructors have been quick to explore their virtual options in recent days, as have major gym chains. Planet Fitness, for example, has started to stream workouts to members, while Golds Gym has made its GOLDS AMP app free to anyone through May 31.

"I want people to keep working with their trainers or find another way to support them."

Trainerize, developer of an iOS and Android app by the same name used by gyms and trainers to set up workouts for clients, is close to agreeing on a deal that would create 1 million accounts for a major chain, the Vancouver-based companys CEO and co-founder Sharad Mohan told Mens Health. Mohan declined to specify the chain since the deal was not complete.

While nobody expected this kind of shutdown, its no surprise that gyms are seeking to shift clients to at-home workouts, Mohan said. Its natural that online training is taking off. Its always been a nice to have product for gyms to provide to clients. Its now become a must have.

Trainerize has seen steady growth over the years, but new subscriptions are currently triple the daily levels seen before March 10, according to Mohan.

As bleak as the outlook looks currently, one of the biggest names in the business offered struggling trainers some hope.

When there is something big like a Katrina or an earthquake, the gym stopped being part of the routine for some die-hard clients, Beverly Hills-based personal trainer Gunnar Peterson told Mens Health. This is a natural time to shift and make changes. If you, as a trainer, stay alert and aware, you will find that some people who werent training before will use this shutdown as a way to get their health together.

I always try to stay positive. Thats just who I am as a human being. If you lose a couple people, dont panic because youre going to get some new people. Or maybe those who stayed with you are going to bring new people.

Peterson, the director of strength and endurance for the Los Angeles Lakers, added that this is the time for trainers to be frugal and to study up.

Use this time to get better, Peterson said. Maybe you can use this time to not only create an online presence that will not just keep your income coming in but surpass what you were already making. It can open doors.

"Trainers are streaming workouts for free on Instagram and Facebook Live. Send them some money."

As many trainers take that advice and adjust to this pandemic-forced shift in their careers, Liles said hes trying to spread the word to get people to support fitness professionals, including by using crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe or via direct payments through Venmo and PayPal to offer financial assistance.

I dont want people to take what we do for granted because what we do really benefits peoples lives, Liles added. I want people to keep working with their trainers or find another way to support them. A lot of trainers are streaming workouts for free on Instagram and Facebook Live. Send them some money.

Do you want to help? Listen to Liles, and contact your favorite trainer about how you might be able to support them or others in their network who are struggling during this period. Men's Health will look to highlight as many fitness professionals as possible to support the larger fitness community as we make our way through this crisis together.

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Fitness Trainers Need to Get Paid During the Pandemic, Too - Men's Health

Tea is a beverage appreciated around the world, but Japan is country that really has that appreciation down to an art. Their famed tea ceremonies, influenced by Zen Buddhism, are a traditional activity which turns every step of the preparation and serving of tea into an occasion.

Those who are interested in Japanese tea ceremony, but dont have several hours to put aside for it (yes, they can last that long... more formal tea gatherings can even last up to four hours!), can experience a mini version of the cultural activity at Tokyos Cafe & Dining ZelkovA.

This limited time only tea set may not be as momentous as an actual tea ceremony, but its certainly a casual way to get a little taste of it.

Customers can pour their own hot water out of a Nanbu Tekki cast iron teapot, then use a chasen bamboo whisk to mix their matcha powder into a thick and frothy perfection. The tea provided is Uji matcha and Uji is a famous area in Kyoto known for their high quality tea leaves.

That same fragrant Uji matcha can be found in the accompanying matcha tiramisu. The set also comes with an assortment of seasonal fruit, shiratama, adzuki beans and Okinawan brown sugar syrup.

Cafe & Dining ZelkovA can be found on the first floor of The Strings Omotesando, and the Japanese Tea Set (2,600 yen) can be ordered until July 2.

Source: PR Times

Read more stories from grape Japan.

-- Japanese designer creates incredibly realistic cuddling cat dolls with flesh and bone structure

-- Japanese Elementary School Students Gather For Minecraft Graduation Ceremony After School Shut Down

-- Mothers Day Studio Ghibli Flowers and Card Delivery Set Perfect Gift for Anime-Loving Mums

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Mini Japanese tea ceremony experience coming to Tokyo cafe - Japan Today

Richard Tiffany Gere, popularly known as Richard Gere is a famous American actor and producer. Richard Gere began his movie career in the 1970s with roles in movies like Looking for Mr. Goodbar and Days of Heaven. Richard Gere rose to fame after his role in the 1980 hit film American Gigolo. The role established Richard Gere as a leading man of Hollywood and a global sex symbol. He played notable roles in movies like Primal Fear, Pretty Woman and Chicago, even winning the Golden Globe as a part of the cast of Chicago. As of 2020, Richard Geres net worth is $120 million.

Richard Geres net worth as of 2020 is around $120 million.

Richard Gere has made most of his money through his long and successful career as an American actor. Aside from his career as an actor, Richard Gere has also earned a significant amount of money through his endorsement deals and other lucrative arrangements. Till date, he has promoted and endorsed Marigold Hotel, Hallmark movie, Norman, Fiat, Meals on Wheels, DirectTV and many more.

Reportedly, more than half of Richard Geres net worth is a result of his personal investments. Although he has invested in many profit-making companies, he has not revealed his million dollars investments details.

An anonymous source reported that he earns approximately $85.3 million profit from his investments and savings.

Gere is popular for his roles in movies and TV series including Pretty Woman, an Office and a Gentleman. He debuted in the entertainment industry in 1973 through the movie Chelsea D.H.O.

After that, he appeared in almost 60 movies and TV series including Chicago, Hachi: A Dogs Tale, Pretty Woman, American Gigolo, Shall We Dance, The Jackal, Unfaithful and many more.

As of his recent projects, he has been involved in movies and TV series including MotherFatherSon, and Three Christs.

For his outstanding performances and skills, he has been awarded prestigious awards like Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Career Achievement Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and many more. SO far in his career, he has been nominated for 27 different awards and has won 24.

Furthermore, he was selected as the 2006 Man of the Year and Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine in 1999.

He was interested in Buddhism since the 20s. He learned Zen Buddhism for five to six years under Kyozan Joshu Sasaki. As the Buddhist quote goes, Live simply, give much. Do as you would be done by. Richard Gere is actively involved in several charities as well.

He supported various charitable companies including Dalai Lama Foundation, American Foundation for AIDS Research, Gere Foundation, Robert F Kennedy Memorial, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Meals On Wheels and many more.

Moreover, he endorsed Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign and donated for it.

Currently, Richard Gere resides in a $2 million mansion in the Hamptons. He stayed in a much bigger house before but sold it for $36.5 million.

Actually, the mansion was initially listed for sale at $65 million which was later lowered to $56 million. It ended up selling for $36.5 million. Richard Gere had nicknamed his house Strongheart Manor.

Moreover, a source reported that he owns real estate property of around $12.8 million based on current market rates.

Richard Gere has a wonderful collection of luxury cars from manufacturers such as Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar and Ford. His car collection is valued at $3.2 million.

Well, there is no information about his tax payments but he surely needs to pay bulk as his in income taxes, property taxes and other taxes due to his high earnings. He may have a million dollars insurance plans but the details are not out.

Richard Tiffany Gere was born on 31 August 1949 under the sun sign Virgo.

Gere was raised alongside his siblings; brothers David Gere, Henry Januszewski, and sisters Joanne Gere, Laura Gere, and Susan Gere.

Coming to his personal life, Richard Gere is a married man. Gere married Alejandra SIlva in April 2018. So far, the couple has had a smooth married life.

The couple have a son together. His name is Alexander.

Prior to his current wife, Richard Gere was married to Carey Lowell for 14 years. Gere and Lowell dated for a year before marrying in 2002.

Due to some internal conflict, the estranged couple divorced on 18 October 2016. They have a child together named Homer James Jigme Gere.

Richard Gere was married to famous supermodel Cindy Crawford from December 12th, 1991 to December 1st, 1995.

Im voting for Gore because the other is unthinkable. Which most of us will probably do. I hope all of us. Ive always liked Ralph Nader and would like to see a real third party, but the thought of George Bush as president is unthinkable.

My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.

The Dalai Lama said that he thinks mothers love is the best symbol for love and compassion, because it is totally disinterested.

When His Holiness won the Nobel Peace Prize, there was a quantum leap. He is not seen as solely a Tibetan anymore; he belongs to the world.

From a Buddhist point of view, emotions are not real. As an actor, I manufacture emotions. Theyre a sense of play. But real life is the same. Were just not aware of it.

Well I think on a simple ecological level that the diversity of this planet is important for our survival, that all of our different cultures, people are important to the health of the whole the same way that a species of animal should be saved and at a simple ecology level.

Its nice to have money, but the first thing I did with money was buy my father a snow-blower, because my job was to shovel snow, and I wasnt there to do it any more, so I was able to buy him a blower.

I think most of our religious institutions are pretty corrupt, so theyre not reliable. I think the Christian religion that I was brought up with has very little to do with Christ, really, and more with the institutions that have built up around the church.

I meet human beings who are flawed, who are mentally ill and have enormous problems, but I dont think Ive ever met someone who was a totally dark energy that had no humanity or sense of love or affection for anything in their life. Thats very rare.

I would say that the West is very young, its very corrupt. Were not very wise. And I think were hopeful that there is a place that is ancient and wise and open and filled with light.

Its not enough to say that the Olympics is an athletic contest outside of politics, because its not. The Chinese clearly are using the Olympics to recreate how they are viewed in the world and how they view themselves.

Well I think on a simple ecological level that the diversity of this planet is important for our survival, that all of our different cultures, people are important to the health of the whole the same way that a species of animal should be saved and at a simple ecology level.

Richard Gere is a very famous Hollywood actor who made his mark on the industry with roles in movies like American Gigolo, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, and Chicago. He is also a famous follower of Zen Buddhism and spends a lot of time and effort on charities. As of 2020, Richard Geres net worth is $120 million.

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Richard Gere: Net Worth, Life and Career of the Famous Actor - Daily Hawker