Category Archives: Fitness

AFT Features, Fitness at Work, Men's Health, Women's Health

An Engaged Core gives Better Strength

I’m sure you’ve heard fitness trainers saying this – engage your core, engage your core! Your “core” refers to the muscles that surround your midsection, the part that runs from the top of our pelvic bone to the top of your stomach, wrapping around to your lower back. Basically it’s your trunk area.

Why does your “core” need to be strong? It needs to be not only strong, but also flexible and coordinated to help you in every action and movement. The core area helps us flex, extend, side-bend and rotate your trunk in all directions, as well as keep the trunk stable. Along with your hips and lower back, the abdominal muscles is crucial in keeping our centre strong so that we can use our arms and legs powerfully without hurting your spine.

Why is core engagement important?

A strong core is important in maintaining good physical health. Remember, your core is the building block for your entire body’s posture and overall movement. Once you have strong core muscles, you can improve your balance, coordination and stability, as well as reduce any risk of lower back pain and injury.

Besides athletes and sportsmen, elderly persons can also greatly benefit from having a strong core.

Building the exercise routine

Incorporate practicing core engagement exercises so you can also build endurance around your other muscles. A very simple tip, is to ensure holding a good posture at all times. This simple practice naturally engages your core! So when you’re standing, your spine is more or less in its natural curve. Once you’re used to it, it will become second nature and standing with a relaxed core will actually feel weird.

Six packs equal a strong core?

Let’s start with aspiring towards a lean physique…without a six pack. Most people with six packs are truly inspiring and disciplined; keeping an extremely strict exercise regime and maintaining a planned nutritional schedule and intake. Often pictures of athletes or models parading their six packs are taken during their peak conditions where they have activated both their transverse and rectus abdominus. They don’t usually look like that all year round. In truth, this kind of lifestyle is not realistic for ordinary people like us who do not have 6-8 hours to exercise every day. Abdominal definition is, in many cases, a side effect of being strong and healthy. In other words, strengthen your Transverse Abdominus.

What’s the Tranverse Abdominus?

Transverse Abdominus, or TVA, is the deepest layer of abdominal muscles. It covers our whole torso from ribs to pelvis and from front to back. The TVA muscles are set horizontally like a weight belt or corset and it does not move your pelvis or spine. It helps with your breathing and also helps stabilise your spine, in addition to forceful exhaling of air from the lungs and compress the internal organs.

Why is the TVA so important as a core muscle?

The TVA helps stabilise your spine and is one of the main muscles that helps stabilise the lumbar spine, which is the bottom part of the spine. You can tell you have a weak TVA when you have lower back pain.

When you strengthen your TVA, you not only strengthen your back, which is important for many other activities such as lifting stuff, sitting, walking and many more activities that involve limb movements.

When your TVA is weak your abdominal wall will bulge outwards and your pelvis may rotate and your may increase the risk of a curvature of the spine. In other words, strengthen your core to decrease the risk to your spine. It also helps you to trim your stomach area.

How do you build on the TVA as a core muscle then?

There’s no one magical exercise routine, but a combination of movements that engage the core in a way that works so much better than crunches and sit-ups.

Planks are well known for “working” the core, but some other exercises include pull-ups, jumping, spinning, and rolling.

These movements have one thing in common – and that is, none of them are “isolation” exercises. Basically, in order to do those movements, you need to use your abdominals to maintain your posture and stability throughout the motion.

Core engagement exercise tips

Engage your core while seated

A lot of us sit for long periods of time either at the office or while driving. For this very reason, practising and engaging your core is especially important as you sit down or get up from your chair or car seat.

Step 1: Sit up straight in your chair, with your shoulders over your hips, then let your back relax back against the backrest.

Step 2: Sit up into your original position again and feel that light sense of tension in your abs needed to hold yourself up. It should not be much. Just a light, but deep, engagement. This is the level of engagement you want to have while you walk, run or do any movement throughout your day.

Abdominal Vacuum

Step 1: Sit up tall on a chair. Straighten your spine and place your feet flat on the floor.

Step 2: Draw your bellybutton in toward your spine, engaging your core muscles. Do not hold your breath; instead breathe deeply and evenly.

Step 3: Contract your abdominals or pulse the muscles in and out until your muscles fatigue.

You can practice the abdominal vacuum exercise throughout the day while you are sitting on a chair.

Engage your core – AsiaFitnessToday.com

Abdominal Hold

Step 1: Sit on the edge of a chair with a straight spine and your feet flat on the floor.

Step 2: Place your palms flat on the seat of the chair, curling your fingers around the edge of the seat.

Step 3: Engage your core muscles by drawing your bellybutton in toward your spine. Press down with your hands and draw your knees toward your chest, lifting your feet two to four inches off the floor.

Repeat this exercise as many times as you can during a one-minute interval.

How about other times when we are not sitting or exercising?

Keep your core engaged lightly and gently during any and all movement: when you first get out of bed (with a gentle stretch), while walking, getting into and out of your car, at the office at your desk, and most definitely while you run or walk or do any kind of fitness activity, standing in line, cooking dinner, even while brushing your teeth.

When you focus your mind on your core several times a day, you are in touch with a deeper part of yourself, in the present moment.

Reminding ourselves to keep our core engaged

Make it a game…how many muscles can you engage in any movement if your core is engaged. Feel the difference in how you move when your core is or is not consciously employed. How about setting an alarm on your phone, with a ring tone that is unique to remind yourself to engage your core?

Revisiting the benefits of breathing right

You might not think about something that happens so automatically as breathing, but it can make all the difference in your workout – especially when doing stomach exercises. Breathing out at the right time tightens your ab muscles and engages your core, so you get more out of your workout. Proper breathing technique can also give you more stamina while on the exercise mat. When exerting yourself, it can seem like a natural reaction to hold your breath. Don’t do this! Keep breathing otherwise you could get dizzy and faint.

Proper Technique

Improper breathing techniques could interfere or delay your ability to get the most out of your ab workout. To get the most oxygen from your lungs to your muscles, it’s important that you draw air deep into your lungs. This is accomplished using a technique known as abdominal breathing.

Abdominal breathing helps you fill your belly with air to get the optimal amount of oxygen into your body. If you’re only pulling air into your chest, you may not get the oxygen you need during a workout.

Ok, some people will say that they breathe with their lungs. This is okay as long as you can feel your abdominal muscles move.

The problem arises when you use your upper chest to breath as this more often than not causes or makes chest pain worse.

Chest breathing are shallow and rapid or fast breaths. This is a stress response and can lead to hyperventilation, which is bad for those with stress and anxiety. You can use abdominal breathing to control your nervous system and encourage your body to relax. When your body is relaxed, it brings a range of health benefits.

Take a quick at the last issue of Running Malaysia where we touched on Breathing. Proper breathing helps you to lose weight as well. So when you’re strengthening your core, don’t forget to breathe.

Photo: All rights reserved, Copyright, 2016, Go International Group Dotcom Sdn Bhd. Article compiled by Nikki Yeo – Co-founder AsiaFitnessToday.com and ACE-certified Fitness Trainer.

References:
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/abdominalcorestrength1/ss/AbAnatomy_5.htm
http://www.chirunning.com/blog/entry/all-day-core
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Breathing_to_reduce_stress?open
http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/tighten-stomach-sitting-6831.html
http://www.breathing.com/articles/chest-breathing.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/8757467/How-to-breathe.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/405255-breathing-techniques-for-stomach-exercises/
Fitness, Fitness at Work, Wellness

A little about N.E.A.T, Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis for the Office

What is N.E.A.T?

Over the past few years, researchers have begun investigating the time we spent awake or at work which is approximately 110 – 115 hours per week, as a weight loss solution, rather than the few hours a week spent trying to exercise. The results are impressive as they provide so many opportunities to achieve effective and sustained weight loss without complicating our lives, finding more time to exercise, doing things we may despise, or even exceeding our own comfort levels or abilities.

We call these expended calories N.E.A.T (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) or NEPA (non-exercise physical activity) and it is the energy expended for everything we do in our daily lives that does not include sleeping, eating, or exercise; and ranges from simple things like standing and fidgeting to moving about.

N.E.A.T can be a great way to add movement into your daily lives without breaking a sweat!

Even breathing can help towards burning fat. When you breathe deeply, and slowly, you will work your diaphragm. It takes years to master breathing techniques, but it’s never too late to start. Most of us breath in only 1/5th of the oxygen we need. According to Pranayama Yoga practitioner, breathing master and author of ‘The Art of Breathing’ – Dominique Lonchant, “Most of the time we breathe too superficially and insufficiently. Of all the organs, the brain needs the most of oxygen,”. He believes that many illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes occur because of a lack of oxygen!

Engaging your core is another way. But first, let’s start by defining what “the core” really means because it means differently to different people. Usually it refers to the muscles that surround your midsection. It is from the top of our pelvic bone to the top of our tummy and it’s all the way around to our lower back. It’s basically our trunk area. In this instance, we refer specifically to the abdominal muscles located in the front of your body, or the tummy area. To be more specific, the core needs to be strong, flexible, and coordinated to help us in our every action including running.

The core helps us flex, extend, side bend, and rotate our trunk in all directions, as well as keep the trunk stable. Along with the hips and low back, the abdominal muscles keep us strong in our centre, so that we can use our arms and legs powerfully and without hurting our spine.

When sitting, standing or walking, it’s important to be aware of your core area and to strengthen it because it’s the core that holds your poise.

It’s great to aware that non-exercise activity thermogenesis (N.E.A.T) can contribute towards your fitness regime. Well, it’s a good start anyway:)

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A little about N.E.A.T, Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Quote Source: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/?p=1081&preview=true. First published 2 May 2017.

References: 1. Levine, James. “Nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT): environment and biology.” American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism. no. E675-E685 (2004). 10.1152/ajpendo.00562.2003 (accessed December 15, 2013).

AFTNews, AFTNews, Fitness, Fitness

Les MILLS Lands Top International Brand Award

Kiwi fitness leader crowned one of Fast Company’s 2023 Brands That Matter, alongside leading global companies such as General Motors, Intel and NFL

Global fitness leader Les Mills has been honoured as one of 2023’s Brands That Matter by authoritative business and innovation media title Fast Company.

The prestigious annual list celebrates companies and non-profits that have built cultural relevance and impact through compelling branding and efforts that naturally extend their presence into communities.

Fast Company announced last week (3 October) its third annual Brands That Matter list, heralding brands that communicate and demonstrate brand purpose. These companies and nonprofits have built cultural relevance and impact through compelling branding and efforts that naturally extend their presence into the community.

The final list – which includes the likes of General Motors, Intel and NFL – recognises brands that give people compelling reasons to care about them, and offer inspiration for others to buy in. All have found an ability to forge an emotional connection with customers, whether leading on the environment or pop culture, engaging B2B customers, or responding meaningfully to current events.

Les Mills won plaudits from the judging panel for “breaking down barriers to entry” into the fitness space through in-club workouts, streaming platform LES MILLS+ and Virtual Reality. The company was also praised for its commitment to fostering fitness innovation and embracing CSR through its partnerships with UNICEF and Trees for the Future.

Clive Ormerod, Les Mills Group CEO, said: “Our brand is a reflection of everything we do and all we stand for in helping people live healthier, happier lives. So, to see Les Mills recognised alongside some of the world’s most iconic companies is a very proud day for everyone involved in our mission.

“We see this as a big win for all of our fitness industry partners – especially clubs and Instructors – as it proves that fitness is becoming a key pillar of pop culture and a mass mainstream movement with growing momentum.

“A strong brand pulls people towards it, creating a halo for those associated with it, so we’ll continue our efforts to grow the brand and bring us closer to our goal of a fitter planet.”

Fast Company editors judged each brand on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity, and business impact to compile the list.

“The scale and scope of honourees this year is incredible,” said Brendan Vaughan, Fast Company’s editor-in-chief.

“At first glance, there might not be much in common between brands like M&M’s, Dungeons & Dragons, and health tech platform WellTheory, but the thread that binds them is a commitment and purpose as a brand and relevance to their audience, whether that’s through fun, games, or healthcare.”

Click here to see the complete list. The Autumn issue of Fast Company magazine is available online now and will be on newsstands as of 10 October 2023.

 

ABOUT LES MILLS ASIA PACIFIC

Les Mills is the global leader in group training and creator of over 23 signature programs including RPM®, BODYBALANCE®, BODYPUMP®, BODYCOMBAT®, BODYSTEP® and BODYATTACK®, as well as Limited Edition Collection workouts such as LES MILLS STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT™ and LES MILLS SHAPES™.  Les Mills workouts are delivered by 130,000 certified Instructors in 21,000 gyms across 100 countries, as well as via the LES MILLS+ streaming platform and Virtual Reality (VR).

 

Les Mills Asia Pacific offers the Ultimate Group Fitness Solution to keep members connected to your club, and to reach new audiences with omni-channel fitness solutions.   For 25+ years, Les Mills Asia Pacific has been providing group fitness and team training solutions in Australia and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Maldives, Guam, Laos and Papua New Guinea.

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AFTNews, Features Australia/NZ, Features Australia/NZ, Features Australia/NZ, Fitness

Four reasons to study fitness in Australia

Via PRNews/GIG

Fitness is a thriving sector in Australia. The country has quickly become one of the top destinations, for individuals wanting to further their education. Sport, whether for recreation or health and fitness, has become an inseparable part of Australian culture. The fitness industry is continuously growing, and this is reflected in the demand for fitness jobs over the last few years. Because of their love of sports, Australian institutions are an excellent fit for international students who want to learn about the science of exercise and sports.

If you want to further your education and career in fitness, keep reading to learn why studying in Australia is the best choice for you.

Diverse programme selections

One of the many benefits of studying fitness in Australia is the variety of programmes offered by Australian institutions.  With these diverse options, individuals can choose a programme that aligns with their interests and goals.

Six of the top 100 universities in the world are located in Australia, including some of the top universities that offer various fitness programmes. Individuals interested in becoming personal trainers can take courses specialising in personal training, while those interested in recreational sports can take a diploma in sport and recreation. This variety enables students to select a course that best meets their interests and career objectives. Moreover, completing an exercise and sports science diploma can lead to a variety of professional pathways both in Australia and abroad.

Dundee Kim seated left, with his team at Fit Education Australia.

Top-notch education

Home to a world-class educational system, Australia has built a reputation for offering high-quality education to the fitness industry, among others.  As a result, Australia’s fitness programmes are well regarded on a national and international level, and this recognition has assisted many graduates in finding jobs related to their subjects of study.

Furthermore, the Australian fitness sector is quite competitive and demands a high level of knowledge and professionalism. As a result, the courses provided in Australia are designed to address these needs and provide graduates with the knowledge and abilities they need to be successful in the field.

Nearly 100 courses from 25 Australian institutes are accredited by Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), the professional organisation dedicated to creating, promoting, and maintaining the careers of tertiary-trained exercise and sports science professionals. This is to ensure that exercise and sports science courses meet a high standard of excellence.

Dundee’s Boxing Gym Brisbane, where you can train with champions

Modern infrastructure with a vast network

From small gyms in the alleyways to big personal training studios, the fitness industry in Australia is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Many gyms and fitness centres include various equipment and facilities, such as cardio machines, weight machines, and group exercise programmes. There are also numerous fitness plans and applications available online. The programmes offer personalised workout plans and diet recommendations that cater to people with specific needs.

In addition, many established companies, such as Dundee and Fit Education, are investing in the fitness industry, providing networking and employment opportunities for graduates. The industry events, seminars, and workshops these establishments organise allow individuals to network and learn from professionals in the field. Networking is vital for individuals just beginning their fitness careers as it may lead to future employment opportunities.

Dundee Kim and team at Fit Education Australia

Growing fitness industry

The fitness industry in Australia is a vibrant and vital component of the Australian economy. Over the last few years, the industry has grown significantly, with a number of new fitness facility chains established nationwide. This comprises smaller fitness studios, indoor and outdoor personal training facilities, health clubs, fitness centres, and fitness franchises.

These businesses offer various fitness and exercise services, including personal training, classes, memberships, and casual gym use. Australians spend an estimated $8.5 billion annually on fitness-related products and services, with the fitness sector alone bringing in $3 billion for the country’s economy. This growth has also resulted in an increase in the number of fitness events, seminars, and workshops, allowing individuals to thrive in this booming industry.

The takeaway

A fitness career can be both interesting and lucrative. The future also appears promising, with studies predicting a 16% increase in fitness jobs by 2024. With such high demand, you must have a solid foundation in the industry. This is where a good fitness education programme comes in. Attending the best fitness institutions in Australia may give prospective personal trainers the resources, knowledge, and abilities they need to succeed in the fitness business.

Dundee Kim pictured wtih Australian Boxer, Jeff Horn.

Text and Photos contributed by Dundee Kim, Founder of Fit Education Australia.

Initially learning the art of boxing to protect himself from bullies, Dundee Kim eventually harnessed his skills to become a two-time amateur boxing champion in South Korea. From there he migrated to Australia to become the Associate Director of International Relations, and then the Regional Director of International Relations at James Cook University. He eventually became the founder of Dundee’s Boxing & Fitness gym in Brisbane.

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Features Malaysia, Fitness, Padel, Sport

Inaugural Volvo Padel Open Crowns First Tournament Champions in Malaysia

  • Christian Didier and partner Mohd Fadli Farish crowned as champions of the Intermediate category in Malaysia’s first and largest padel championship
  • First padel tournament to be held across all three Klang Valley padel clubs, seeing 324 participants from 162 teams battling to the top over two weekends.

The Volvo Padel Open, Malaysia’s first and largest padel tournament, came to a grand conclusion on Saturday after three consecutive weekends, where the best of 324 padel players competed for the title of Malaysia’s top padel team.

Aimed at introducing new players to the sport, elevating the game in Malaysia and growing the padel community, the Volvo Padel Open accepted registrations for three categories – Open, Intermediate, and Women’s – offering a total prize pool of RM100,000 in cash, Volvo merchandise and the opportunity to experience a fully electric Volvo car for up to two weeks.

The champions of the Volvo Padel Open won cash prizes, official Volvo merchandise, a two-week experience with a fully electric Volvo, and the title of the best teams in this year’s Open, Intermediate, and Women’s categories.

The Volvo Padel Open kicked-off in the first weekend of June with complimentary coaching clinics for participants in the Open category, which saw more than 200 beginner players learn the basics of the sport across all three Klang Valley padel clubs – ASCARO Padel & Social Club, Padelground, and PadelKu.

The complimentary coaching clinics offered new and semi-experienced players alike an opportunity to hone their techniques and tactical skills on the court with guidance from professional coaches.

Armed with new skills, 113 teams in the Open category then tested their mettle against in round robin group matches during qualifiers on 8 and 9 June, where the 32 top teams across all three padel clubs were shortlisted to compete in the final rounds concurrently with the 48 teams in the Intermediate and Women’s categories.

Open category faced off in heart-pumping round robin matches over two days, which saw the best of each group advance to the final Round of 32 the following Saturday.

On Saturday, 15 June, ASCARO Padel & Social Club was transformed as the venue for the final showdown between 80 finalist teams from all categories, with more than 350 participants and their guests witnessing intense elimination matches that elevated the standard of the sport since its local introduction last year.

 

Chua Tiong Hoey and Aaron Lee Jun Meng were crowned champions of the Open category held over two consecutive weekends, beating out 112 other teams including the mixed doubles runner-up team comprising Mohd Faizal Othman and Intan Sarah Anisah binti Zulgafli in a decisive 6-2, 6-2 set win.

The Intermediate category saw 32 seasoned and experienced teams competing for the highest grand prize worth RM20,000, with Christian Didier and Mohd Fadli Farish defeating Spaniards Oscar Balaguer Cabeza and Daniel Montero Puig in an intense three-set match of 6-2, 5-6, and 6-3.

Malaysians Rachel Mei Ling Yong and Delia Odette Arnold were crowned champions in the women-only category of 16 teams, dominating opponents Hayat Al-Musally and Sofia Yoon Jung Norup in two consecutive sets of 6-5, 6-3 to take home the trophy.

Speaking at the finals, Patricia Yaw, Marketing Operations and PR Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, commented, “Padel is very popular in Volvo’s birthplace in Sweden, and this year we decided to expand our passion for the sport to the entire padel community in Malaysia. We are proud to champion a people-first sport that has strong historic roots that has evolved with exciting, modern gameplay, similar to how Volvo builds upon our long safety legacy with our new electric cars and fully electric ambitions by 2030.”

Patricia Yaw, Marketing Operations & PR Director of Volvo Car Malaysia

Patricia Yaw, Marketing Operations and PR Director of Volvo Car Malaysia (4th from left) with Oliver Cheah and Thomas-Alexandre Ryard of Padelground 1st and 2nd from left); Daniel Liljekvist, Nicholas Caoile and Stan Zabolotsky of ASCARO Padel & Social Club (3rd, 5th and 6th from left); and Michelle Beh and Charl Marais of PadelKu (2nd and 1st from right).

Visit the official tournament leaderboard at https://padel.volvocarmalaysia.com for the final scores.

For more information on the Volvo Padel Open, www.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on  bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram at bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG.

 

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AFTNews, Features Australia/NZ, Fitness

25,000-strong at Dreamhack Melbourne 2023

Record attendance at Australia’s second DreamHack festival in Melbourne for a weekend of gaming, esports & more

The April 28-30th 2023 weekend saw Australia’s biggest gaming, esports, and lifestyle festival, DreamHack Melbourne, return to Melbourne & Olympic Parks with a total of 25,851 passionate fans in attendance across three days (up from 21,000 in 2022). Attendees were treated to a smörgåsbord of activities, including a sold-out Bring-Your-Own-Computer LAN party with $40,000 in prizes, a $16,000 Cosplay Competition, live music performances, an artist alley, the latest tech & games at the DreamHack expo, content creator meet & greets, and educational panels.

Esports fans were treated to a spectacle across two stages in Margaret Court Arena, as Movistar Riders took out the top spot in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ESL Challenger tournament, while The Chiefs scored the win in the League of Legends Circuit Oceania Finals, with over $200,000 awarded in prize money across the weekend. Aspiring professional gamers competed in the Bring-Your-Own-Computer (BYOC) LAN competition across VALORANT, Fortnite, Rocket League, CS:GO, Age of Empires and more.

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos attended the opening ceremony of DreamHack Melbourne 2023 at Rod Laver Arena to welcome competitors, spectators and visitors of all ages to Melbourne.

“DreamHack’s return to Melbourne was a roaring success. The diverse range of content at this year’s festival resonated with fans, which resulted in record ticket sales & attendance – the highest we’ve ever seen in Australia.”

Nick Vanzetti, MD & SVP at ESL FACEIT Group Asia-Pacific Japan.

“We’re incredibly proud of how DreamHack Melbourne has evolved this year, bringing together a diverse range of fans to experience the incredible atmosphere of DreamHack.” said Christoffer Melin, Director DreamHack Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. “It was an honor to be a part of this vibrant celebration, where the passion and energy of our community took centre stage.”

DreamHack Melbourne tournament results:

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (ESL Challenger)

1st: Movistar Riders (Spain) – $50,000 USD

2nd: Bad News Eagles (Kosovo) – $20,000 USD

3-4th: Grayhound.Rivalry (ANZ) – $10,000 USD

3-4th: Ecstatic (Denmark) – $10,000 USD

League of Legends (League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO) Finals)

1st: The Chiefs (ANZ) – $15,000 USD
2nd: Team Bliss (ANZ) – $10,000 USD

Cosplay Competition

1st: Zaphy Cosplay $7,500 AUD
2nd: Miss Twisted $5,000 AUD
3rd: Robb Props & Cosplay $2,500 AUD

Images: Supplied

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AFT Features, Features Singapore, Fitness at Work

The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is back as a World Athletics Gold Label Race

Via AFTNN

The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) marks its return this year as a World Athletics Gold Label Race for the first time since the pandemic. The three-day festival, which hosts the International Elite Race and the Singapore National Championships will take place from 1 – 3 December 2023, and is expected to draw up to 50,000 participants. The SCSM 2023 International Elite Race will feature some of the world’s top long-distance runners, as well as top Singaporeans vying for the honour of being crowned national champion at marathon and half marathon distances.

To ensure that participants and spectators have the most enjoyable experience, the running route will include iconic landmarks through the city. More details on the route and road closures will be confirmed closer to the event. Speaking on the launch, Jeff Edwards, Managing Director of Asia for the IRONMAN Group, said, “The positive feedback and success from last year was extremely encouraging, and we, along with our partners are focused on making the 2023 race experience even better. This commitment to improve reflects this year’s theme, ‘Our Race to Go Beyond’, which aims to encourage the community to surpass their own expectations and push their boundaries. Enhancements are in the works not just to the routes, but the overall experience to really go beyond previous expectations. We’re building up event festivities and initiatives to better engage the running community in Singapore and further promote a positive running culture. Apart from the return of the Elite Race, we also have several initiatives planned along the course to provide memorable experiences for runners, spectators and the overall community.” Patrick Lee, Cluster CEO, Singapore and ASEAN Markets (Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and representative offices), Standard Chartered said: “We’re proud to be the title sponsor of The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon for over two decades. It is one the most prestigious races in the region and Singapore’s marquee running event. With the return of the World Athletics Gold Label and the National Championships, we look forward to seeing the best international and local long-distance athletes return to the start line this year. At the same time, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is a race for everyone – bringing people from all walks of life together to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle, while binding our community through the shared values of resilience and determination.” Keith Tan, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, said: “The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, with its world-class athletes and race organisation, continues to set Singapore apart as a leading destination for sports tourism in the region. SCSM is a key highlight in Singapore’s sporting calendar, and I am confident it will offer a fulfilling experience for both locals and visitors against the backdrop of our vibrant city.”

Credit Ironman Group

Similar to last year’s edition, participants will also be able to sign up for the Double Up Challenge, as well as the SCSM TCS Corporate Challenge. For the Double Up Challenge, participants can choose to register for either the 5km or 10km category, combined with a half marathon 21.1km or marathon 42.195km. Upon completion, they will receive their respective event finisher medals and an exclusive Double Up Challenge medal. The SCSM Corporate Challenge will also be taking place this year. Corporate rates are available for companies who wish to participate in SCSM2023.

Organisers, The IRONMAN Group, have also announced the return of the Singapore National Championships, which will see Singapore’s top national athletes compete in the marathon (Open and Masters categories) and half marathon. Each category is limited to a field size of 15 male and 15 female athletes.

To qualify and compete for the prize purse, athletes must be a current member of a Singapore running club affiliated with Singapore Athletics and must have had achieved their respective category’s qualification timing in a World Athletics or National Federation sanctioned race from 1 January 2022 to 31 October 2023. Male athletes running in the marathon category will need to have a timing of 2hrs 45min 00sec or less, while the female athletes will have to achieve a timing of 3hrs 15min 00sec or better.

For the Masters’ category, the qualification timing is 3hrs 00min 00sec or less for male athletes and 3hrs 30min 00sec or less for female athletes.

For the half marathon category, male and female athletes will need to have an official timing of 1hr 15min 00sec and 1hr 30min 00sec or less respectively, within the same qualifying window period. Registration for the National Championships will commence from 27 April and ends on 31 October 2023. All qualifying times submitted will be subject to review and verification, and not all qualifiers will be automatically accepted nor guaranteed entry.

Lien Choong Luen, President, Singapore Athletics (SA) said, “We are excited to be working with the IRONMAN Group once again to bring back the National Championships at SCSM this year. We look forward to witnessing our top athletes competing for the coveted title of national champion, whilst also allowing local runners to experience what it’s like to compete among elites at the region’s marquee event. Beyond the National Championships, we are also looking forward to delivering a race experience that engages the local running community, including community activations supporting the Kids Dash, 5km and 10km events.”

Alan Goh, Chief Executive Officer at Sport Singapore shared: “We are pleased to see the return of both international and local elite racing at SCSM. This is a testament of the SCSM’s reputation as a world- class event for both professional and recreational runners. According to our annual National Sports Participation Survey, running consistently ranks as one of the most popular sports among Singaporeans. Besides elite athletes competing for a podium finish, we look forward to seeing families, friends and running interest groups out in numbers during Singapore’s largest running event. SportSG will continue to work with our many partners to make sporting events in Singapore unique and an enjoyable experience for all participants and spectators.”

The three-day event will kick off with the Kids Dash on Friday evening, followed by the 5km and 10km on Saturday morning, while the marathon and half marathon categories will flag off on Sunday morning.

Priority registration for SCSM2023 will be open from 26 April at 10.00am Singapore time for SCSM 300KM Club runners as well as marathon participants of SCSM2022. Tier 1 pricing for the marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km and Kids Dash are $113, $95, $76, $58, and $38 respectively. Public registration, as well as registration for the Kids Dash will begin on 27 April at 10.00am Singapore time. In addition, Standard Chartered cardholders will enjoy a 15% discount off registration fees.

To register and for more information, please visit https://singaporemarathon.com.

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Fitness, PRNews

International Health Industry Forum of Boao Forum for Asia Held in Beijing

Via AFTNN

The International Health Industry Forum of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) was held from April 20th-21st in Beijing.

A special forum under the framework of the Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia (GHF), the event was jointly hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and organized by the GHF Organizing Committee and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area  Management Committee.

With the theme of “Global Health: Industrial Development and Sharing”, the forum consisted of more than 20 important activities, including the opening ceremony and plenary session, eight sub-forums, six industry report release events and two closed-door dialogues. More than 500 representatives from politics, business, academia, media, and other sectors attended the forum, conducting in-depth discussions and building consensus around topics such as global polio eradication, cell & gene therapy, digital health, traditional medicine innovation and development, actively addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, equitable access to diagnostic innovation for global health, nutrition and health and the future of healthcare security.

Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, delivered a speech at the plenary session. Other notable speakers featured at the plenary session included Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice Chairman of the BFA; Chen Zhu, President of the Chinese Red Cross Society; Li Baodong, Secretary General of the BFA; Margaret Chan, President of the GHF of BFA; and Shen Hongbing, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Deputy Director of the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control and Director of Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The forum witnessed the release of several academic papers and reports, including Standard Configuration of Rational Use of Antibacterial Drugs in Grassroot Medical Institutions – Village Clinics, the White Paper on the Development Prospect of China’s Mass Health Industry, White Paper on the Layout and Development Trend of the Global Pharmaceutical and Health Industry, New Opportunities for the Modernization of China’s Traditional Medicine Industry, Current Perspective and Future Development on CDMO Market Report, and Innovations for China’s Traditional Medicine Industry Report.

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AFTNews, Fitness, Public Health

Plastic Threatens Human and Planetary Health

Via AFTNN

The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health presents an analysis report presented together with world-leading researchers from the fields of healthcare, the ocean and the environment to quantify plastic’s considerable risks to all life on earth.

Report highlights:

  • Plastic causes disease, impairment, and premature mortality at every stage of its life cycle, with the health repercussions disproportionately affecting vulnerable, low-income, minority communities, children.
  • Toxic chemicals that are added to plastic and routinely detected in people are known to increase the risk of miscarriage, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancers.
  • Plastic waste is ubiquitous in the ocean, on which we depend for oxygen, food and livelihoods, contaminating the water, the sea floor, entering the marine food chain.

The Commission concludes that current plastic production, use, and disposal patterns are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harm to human health, the environment, and the economy. It recommends establishing health-protective standards for plastic chemicals under the Global Plastics Treaty, requiring testing all polymers and plastics chemicals for toxicity before entering markets, as well as post-market surveillance.

These findings put us on an unequivocal path to demand the banning or severely restricting of unnecessary, avoidable, problematic plastic items, many of which contain hazardous chemicals with links to horrific harm to people and the planet.

Professor Sarah Dunlop, Head of Plastics and Human Health at Minderoo Foundation

Dr Philip Landrigan, Director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College is particularly concerned about the lack of progress made by regulators. “Very few details about the identity, chemical makeup, potential toxicity of plastic chemicals are disclosed by plastic producers. In most countries, they are under no legal obligation to do so.”

Regarding marine biology, the Commission’s findings reveal a greater need for measurement of the effects of plastic on marine species, especially concerning the ingestion of micro and nano particles.

Dr Hervé Raps, Physician at Centre Scientifique de Monaco, explains “Plastic waste endangers the ocean ecosystems upon which all humanity depends. Besides their intrinsic effects, plastics can also be a vector for potentially pathogenic microorganisms.”

The positive news is that the Commission reports that many of plastics’ harms can be avoided via better production practices, alternative design, less toxic chemicals, decreased consumption.

The Minderoo-Monaco Commission launched during Monaco Ocean Week, was formed to break down the silos in research on multiple hazards that plastic poses to human health, from extraction of its fossil carbon feedstocks through its everyday use, to its leakage and disposal into the environment. Its 48 authors, which include members from the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco’s Medical and Marine Biology departments, and the Plastics and Human Health team at Minderoo Foundation, have presented a detailed analysis of plastics’ impacts across their life cycle on human health, the global environment, the economy, and vulnerable populations.

Download the report.

Learn more about The Minderoo Foundation.

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AFTNews, Fitness, Home Gym

Take your 2023 Results to new levels with these 3 Fitness Trends

Shake up your workouts with these three fitness trends.

1. Smart Home Gyms to Complement In-Club Exercise

Home gyms became a hot commodity during the pandemic and their popularity is standing strong as
people invest in quality equipment to support their at-home exercise efforts. However, while many got
into the swing of convenient home workouts during Covid-19, many people realised that nothing compares to the motivation and energy that comes from working out with others. Now, with the resurgence of live workout experiences, exercisers can enjoy the best of both worlds. The majority of consumers now favour a 60:40 blend between live and digital workouts, with McKinsey research finding the number with hybrid fitness routines grew 41 per cent between 2020 and 2022. The study also found these consumers experienced significantly better results from their hybrid training.

With omni-fitness trending, more people are investing in home gym setups to replicate their favourite in-
gym activities at home, and MindBody’s 2022 Fitness Report (USA) found that 35 per cent of Americans
started going to an in-person fitness class that they first discovered through digital fitness. These savvy exercisers are also adding special one-off exercise experiences to their calendar. At the LES MILLS LIVE London event in October 2022, over 5,000 consumers came together for a thrilling weekend of fitness, and similarly (on a smaller scale) at LES MILLS LIVE Melbourne. The event comprised 40 per cent group fitness Instructors, 20 per cent gym members and 40 per cent LES MILLS+ members who were attending their first live fitness event. Pre-pandemic this type of event was attended predominately by fitness professionals.

2. Gamification at the Gym (or at Home)

Photo supplied by Les Mills

Tech-based workouts have been on the scene for some time, but innovation in this space is accelerating, with a raft of gamified training options and technologically-inspired exercise on the horizon. Gaming authorities report that two out of three Americans are now playing video games at least once a week – doing so to unwind, relieve stress and have fun. These psychological and physical benefits can peak when the gaming is fused with physical activity.

No longer is it just tech companies dabbling in the fitness space, now highly effective science-backed training programs are leveraging virtual reality and being adopted by the masses. Researchers have identified the ability to score exercise points, leader boards, unlockable content, levels, badges, and challenges and quests as the most popular ways bolster workout motivation, so we can expect more of this in the future. Combine this with connected trackers, and thriving online fitness communities, and you’ll have increasing opportunities to enjoy the motivation of a group while you get your fitness fix at home.

Group exercise studios are starting to serve up a new generation of immersive workouts where music, visuals, wearables, and Instructors combine in an exhilarating fitness experience. Down the track, virtual reality machines could soon become more prevalent on gym floors and clubs could offer high-tech cycles and treadmills that push your limits with racing games.

“The cultural convergence between fitness and gaming is sparking exciting collaborations and
innovative products …You can now be transported into the middle of the most popular martial arts workout on the planet.”

Rachael Newsham, Les Mills Program Director.

Meta named Les Mills BODYCOMBAT VR as the Best App of 2022! Get your hands on a virtual
reality headset and then dive into the exciting new world of BODYCOMBAT VR without leaving your
own home! Learn more: LES MILLS BODYCOMBAT on Oculus Quest | Oculus

3. Exercise Snacking

Photo supplied by Les Mills

If you think snacking sounds unhealthy, think again! (AFT Ed. We’re of course talking about fitness here and not nutrition). Small bite-sized snippets of activity are known as one of the healthiest ways to integrate fitness into your life. By peppering your day with short moments of movement it can change your mindset around exercise. No longer an onerous task that you need to schedule, instead you start to enjoy the benefits of exercise – most notably the endorphin rush – multiple times a day, whenever you get a spare minute.

Another reason this trend is taking off is the increasing evidence that breaking your exercise into smaller snack-sized training sessions could be just as good (if not better) than doing lengthier more sporadic training sessions. Research shows that frequency, not volume, drives strength gains. When exercisers choose frequency over volume, it typically leads to improved quality of movement.

Technique is more likely to be superior and exercises are executed with more integrity, so you can expect benefits across the board to be amplified.

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