Heartline Fitness Systems

Michigan Should Make Fitness A Priority

2012-02-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Guest commentary by Dr. John Kilbourne makes a strong case for making child obesity a major platform for Michigan and Michigan's governor Rick Snyder. The numbers continue to be mind boggling.

Shortly after Rick Snyder was elected governor of Michigan, I had a guest column published in The Grand Rapids Press; “Rick Snyder’s biggest challenge is how big we are,” Nov. 27, 2010.

The column encouraged Gov. Snyder to take bold steps to get Michigan back into shape. During his first year in office, Snyder has become a spokesperson reminding residents everyone has a responsibility to help Michigan fight its high rate of obesity. In addition to his Obesity Summit and his introduction of Pure Michigan Fit, he has taken a pledge to eat more nutritious foods, and exercise.

While I applaud the efforts of his first year, he can and must do more.

Gov. Snyder needs to expand Pure Michigan Fit to include comprehensive wellness programs for every K-12 student. And these wellness programs cannot resemble the traditional physical education programs many of us experienced during our years in public schools.

Physical education continues to lose its rightful place in education and beyond. School systems, including colleges and universities, continue to reduce or eliminate physical education requirements and programs.

According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 7.9 percent of middle schools and 2.1 percent of high schools provide daily physical education. They also found 22 percent of schools do not require children to take any physical education and nearly half — 46 percent — of high school students were not attending any physical education classes.

At the college or university level, one must look hard to find any school, including Grand Valley State University, that requires physical activity or a fitness/wellness class as part of its general education requirements.

Adding to the aforementioned reductions and eliminations of physical education programs are the ever-present negative feelings and stereotypes that continue to damage physical education’s reputation and dampen our abilities to procure a rightful place in education. For example, while serving as a college professor in Massachusetts, my students and I lobbied at the state House for more quality physical education in public schools.

Too often, the senators and representatives we were speaking with shared the awful experiences they had in physical education classes as students. More damaging are the present-day antics and sadistic personality of the physical education teacher Sue Sylvester on the popular television series “Glee.”

The program Gov. Snyder needs to support for our public schools is W.E. — Wellness Education.

W.E., like its title, is an inclusive, comprehensive approach to wellness education in schools. It will include physical education teachers open to change, the medical community, school nurses, health educators, school administrators, classroom and university teachers and faculty, parents and guardians, the food service industry, churches, community organizations, the business community, the media and, most importantly, students of all ages. Solving the current health and fitness crisis in Michigan will require cooperation with many folks on many levels.

Like with any new beginning, efforts must be made to nurture positive growth and development. Colleges and universities will need to restructure their former physical education teacher preparation programs so the next generation of wellness educators have appropriate knowledge and experiences in a comprehensive approach to health and lifelong fitness.

In addition, school districts will need to provide the necessary resources to help current physical education teachers learn about and implement this new model. Teachers will need additional knowledge and experiences in health and nutrition, lifelong fitness (yoga, Pilates, martial arts, dance, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning and outdoor education), exercise and sport psychology (motivation, team building and leadership) promotion/marketing, social work (community outreach) and technology (Kinect, Wii, HopSports, etc.).

A day for an elementary school wellness educator might include:

• Teaching first-graders a playful approach to the fundamentals of locomotor movement.

• Introducing short brain-break movement exercises in a third-grade classroom.

• Meeting with fifth-grade teachers on lesson plans that incorporate dance into a unit on Africa.

• Collaborating with the school nurse on individual wellness plans (IWPs) for those students who are overweight or obese.

• Hosting a local business leader for lunch in the school cafeteria.

• Taking a fourth-grade class on a nature walk to discuss, with their teacher as the guide, the biology of their neighborhood.

• Meeting with the district’s technology person on creation of a Web-based W.E. support system.

• Concluding their day with a meeting after school with parents and guardians about incorporating W.E. into the upcoming school Halloween party (movement activities and nutritious food).&

Gov. Snyder needs to lead at every level of state government and support with funding this transformation. Wellness education can move Michigan through this next century and beyond.

John Kilbourne, Ph.D., is a professor in the department of movement science at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, a former strength and flexibility coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and author of “Running With Zoe: A Conversation on the Meaning of Play, Games & Sport.”

Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit Contest Winners Announced

2012-01-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

Henkel North America, subsidiary of the major German conglomerate, has thrown its hat into the ring on the fight against childhood obesity through its "Help Get Kids Fit" program. Like Highmark's fitness and wellness grants, Henkel is also giving out $10,000 grants to qualified U.S. schools. Thanks Henkel and read on....

Three schools will give the gift of fitness to their students thanks to the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit contest. Henkel Helps, in cooperation with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, awarded one elementary, middle and high school with $10,000 each to improve youth fitness. The winning schools submitted nominations answering the question, “What would your school do with $10,000 to improve youth fitness?”

The schools also were asked to create a two-minute video describing how their school would help get kids fit. Winners were chosen by the public through online and text voting.

“The lack of funding in physical education programs is a major issue in the United States,” said Natalie Violi, director of corporate communications at Henkel. “Fostering healthy habits is important and Henkel is proud to do our part in helping kids get fit.”

The winning schools of the 2011 Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program are:
• Elementary School—Calcedeaver Elementary School in Mount Vernon, Ala.
• Middle School—Middletown Middle School in Middletown, Md.
• High School—Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky.

The Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit Contest is aimed at helping schools, communities and families nationwide address the urgent health and fitness crisis among our nation’s youth, while acknowledging the budget crisis faced by schools across the country. Each year in the U.S., only $764 per school is spent for physical education programs to develop lifetime fitness and activity skills.

While only three schools can win the Henkel Helps Kids Get Fit contest, every school can win the fight against childhood obesity by joining the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, supports more than 13,000 schools nationwide in their efforts to create environments where physical activity and healthier foods are available to students before, during and after school. Any school in the U.S. can join the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program at no cost at www.HealthierGeneration.org.

Henkel also awarded a $5,000 sweepstakes to one deserving family that is dedicated to improving their health and fitness habits, but may lack the resources to do so.

To learn more about the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit contest and winners visit www.HenkelHelps.com.

Henkel in North America
Henkel markets a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands in North America, including Dial® soaps, Purex® laundry detergents and softeners, Right Guard® antiperspirants, got2b® hair gels, and Loctite® adhesives.

About Henkel
Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries, and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 48,000 people and reported sales of $20.07 billion and adjusted operating profit of $2.27 billion in fiscal 2010. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX and the company ranks among the Fortune Global 500.

Get Fit: What Does It Mean to Be in Shape?

2012-01-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

A terrific article by Emily Sohn of Discovery News pointing out that there are five key areas to consider when you are trying to get fit and they aren't necessarily focused on losing weight. It's a new year, time to get out and get fit!

As we move into another year, many people plan to renew their annual resolve to get in better shape. From there, the details get murky. For some people, efforts to get fit involve eating fewer sweets. Others focus on adding more weight to the bench press, running further on the treadmill or getting to yoga class more often.

Science, it turns out, is equally undecided about what it actually means to be physically fit, with studies pointing to a variety of measures that can affect health outcomes in many ways.

How Stuff Works: Use the BMI Index Calculator

The good news, according to a growing body of research, is that you don't need to get skinny or run an ultra to improve your health. Even if your BMI is on the high side, a simple walking program can drastically reduce your risk of heart disease and other ills. And people who exercise the least have the most to gain by simply getting off the couch.

“There is a huge return on a small investment when it comes to exercise and health,” said Tim Church, director of preventative medicine research at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.

“When someone goes from running 10Ks to running marathons, they haven’t improved their health,” he said. “But when you go from being a full-blown couch potato to being a regular walker, you have really reduced the risk of bad things happening to you -- I would say on the order of 35 to 50 percent, maybe more.”

Researchers have been narrowing in on these five key areas to consider as you plan your yearly lifestyle makeover:

Cardiorespiratory Fitness

The word fitness didn’t enter the lexicon of scientific research until 1970, when scientists at the Cooper Institute in Dallas began testing people to see how long they could last on treadmills as the grade of the running surface was set to steeper and steeper angles.

When people do well on the treadmill test, they are said to have a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness, which refers to the ability of their heart and lungs to withstand exertion without getting winded.

That term was quickly shortened to just “fitness,” Church said. And hundreds of studies in the intervening decades have linked high cardiorespiratory scores with positive consequences, including lower rates of heart disease, stronger bones, lower risk of certain types of cancers, lower blood pressure readings, and a smaller chance of dying early.

In a study of more than 14,000 men, published earlier this month in the journal Circulation, Church and colleagues found that people who maintained or improved their level of fitness over the course of six years were much less likely to die in the next 11 years compared to men who let their fitness levels decline. For every step gained in fitness (measured in units called metabolic equivalents, or METs), the men’s risk of dying from cardiovascular disease dropped by 19 percent.

NEWS: Benefits of Exercise Add Up Throughout Life

Those benefits were the same regardless of whether men lost or gained weight during the study period, said lead researcher Duck-chul Lee, a physical activity epidemiologist at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health in Columbia.

“People worry a lot about weight gain and they try really hard to lose weight,” Lee said. “But in terms of mortality risk, changes in fitness are more important than changes in body weight.”

Today, elite athletes use the same kind of treadmill test to measure VO2 max, which shows how efficiently their bodies convert oxygen to fuel. But for the average resolution-maker, Church said, it’s simply worth doing enough aerobic exercise that you don’t get winded when walking up stairs or attempting other everyday tasks.

Specifically, the American College of Sports Medicine’s new guidelines recommend that most adults do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least five days a week, and three 10-minute bouts of movement are just as good as one that lasts three times as long. For 20 minutes, three days a week, the activity should be vigorous. Good cardiorespiratory choices include running, biking, swimming, basketball, dancing and walking.

Muscular Fitness

While decades of fitness research have focused on aerobic exercise, only recently have scientists begun to investigate the benefits of weight lifting and other forms of strength training. These activities appear to be particularly important as we age, because adults naturally begin to lose muscle mass once they reach their 40s.

Studies show that strength training can help combat metabolic conditions like diabetes. Working muscles adds bone mass, and it’s good for the heart and joints. Weight training can also preserve a high quality of life into old age, allowing people to do simple things, like getting on and off the toilet or carrying bags of groceries in from the car.

Two or three days a week, the ACSM recommends that adults put major muscle groups through resistance exercises with free weights, machines that use stacked weights or even resistance bands that allow joints to move through a full range of motion.

Flexibility

Stretching alone won’t make anyone fitter, and flexibility is a distant third in importance compared to cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, Church said. But staying or becoming more limber can be an important part of an overall fitness regimen, especially for older people.

Yoga, stretching and related activities that fall into a category called “neuromotor exercise” can enhance balance, agility and coordination. That reduces the risk of falls, which can lead to debilitating injuries.

The ACSM recommends holding stretches for 10 to 30 seconds at the point of tightness or slight discomfort -- at least two days a week and as often as every day.

Before intense exercise, however, research shows that static stretching can lead to injury. Instead, use gradual and dynamic movements to warm up.

Body Composition

As much as people like to set weight-loss goals, there is no such thing as an ideal body weight for anyone, said Arthur Frank, medical director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program in Washington, D.C.

And even though many scientists now argue that fitness neutralizes many of the dangers of being overweight (see above), losing small amounts of weight in gradual stages can be hugely beneficial for people who are obese.

One reason is that intra-abdominal fat tends to come off first and that kind of fat is linked to the worst health consequences. Losing weight also increases mobility, making it easier to exercise. In turn, exercising makes it easier to lose weight.

“You can normalize your weight but still be a couch potato, and you’ve accomplished something but not enough,” Frank said. “You’re going to have a much more difficult time maintaining your weight unless you get fit.”

The Mind

Muscles, bones and hearts aren’t the only body parts the benefit from exercise. In study after study, even people with severe medical conditions report feeling dramatically better after starting an exercise program. For everyone, exercise has the potential to lower levels of depression, stress and anxiety.

“I jokingly say that 90 percent of aerobic exercise is above the shoulders,” Church said.

“Whereas smoking is bad for every single cell in the body, exercise is pretty much good for every single cell in the body,” he added. “Everything we look at, every little molecule, I’m always surprised by the benefit that exercise has.”

Heartline Acquires BNT Fitness Services

2011-12-29T04:54:00.000-08:00

Gaithersburg, MD, December 29, 2011 – Heartline Fitness Systems has acquired Woodstown, New Jersey based equipment repair company, BNT Fitness Services (“BNT”). Owned and operated by Nate Hiles, BNT Fitness Services has been providing fitness equipment maintenance services to the Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey region since 2009. Nate has been factory certified by a number of leading manufacturers including Precor, Life Fitness, Nautilus, Landice, and Matrix. Prior to forming BNT, Mr. Hiles was a senior service technician for Leisure Fitness for 12 years, and was responsible for building Leisure’s northeast service operation. Beginning in 2001, Nate and three other techs grew Leisure’s northeast service operation from $100,000 to $550,000 in 2009 when the original Leisure Fitness shutdown.

BNT marks Heartline’s third service acquisition in the past two years, having purchased Fitness Worx in January and RL Repair in March, 2010. While Fitness Worx complements Heartline’s southern Virginia and North Carolina strategy, BNT accelerates Heartline’s growth in the northeast. “Given our commitment to the northeast market, it was time to raise our investment level in the region,” says Heartline’s president, Bob Burgess. “At the end of the day, our service group is what drives our sales operation!”

Jeff Shipman, Heartline Technical Services’s president agrees, “Given the company’s northeast sales and service success over the past year, it was time to up the ante in the region.” “This investment is consistent with Heartline’s heritage of building a strong service operation to support a growing sales entity.” “Additionally, we have bolstered our coverage in Pennsylvania by hiring John Shipman in Philadelphia, PA and have restructured our management team with Jim Kennedy assuming leadership responsibility for the northeast.” Both Nate Hiles and John Shipman will report to Mr. Kennedy.

For more information about Nate Hiles and other members of the Heartline team, please visit:

http://www.heartlinefitness.com/company/companyteam.html

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s direct sales network, the company distributes Heartline®, Life Fitness®, Star Trac®, FreeMotion®, and Paramount® products in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: Marriott Hotels, Lincoln Properties, Kettler, Paradigm Companies, The JBG Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

---Heartline---® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

Heartline Updates District of Columbia Sales Presence

2011-12-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

Gaithersburg, MD, December 28, 2011 – Heartline Fitness Systems is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Loughman to the firm’s sales team. Ms. Loughman now becomes Heartline’s DC Territory Sales Manager. For the past year, Megan worked as Heartline’s call center manager and has been in the fitness industry for several years. She graduated from Waynesburg University with a degree in Biology, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Exercise Science. In the past, Ms. Loughman managed a non-profit wellness center, worked as a Post-Therapy Rehab specialist, and a Personal Trainer. Her experience has given her a well-rounded industry viewpoint, enabling Megan to accurately match solutions to most customer problems and situations.

“Megan is the consummate professional, and although we lost a terrific customer service manager, we gained an excellent sales consultant, allowing Megan to continue her accent in our organization,” says Bob Burgess, Heartline’s President and CEO. “Given the firms sales growth over the past several years, it was important for Heartline to gain further coverage in the DC market.” “Heartline’s Mid-Atlantic sales manager, Jason Malecki, will continue to be responsible for the Maryland and Virginia markets.”

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s direct sales network, the company distributes Heartline, Life Fitness®, Star Trac®, FreeMotion®, and Paramount® products in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: Marriott Hotels, Lincoln Properties, Kettler, Paradigm Companies, The JBG Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

---Heartline---® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

COMCAST NOW OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO FITNESS CENTER TV ENTERTAINMENT

2011-10-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

Excellent article by Broadcast Vision, describing a new cable TV option for amenity fitness centers. This continues to be a fluid situation for the fitness industry, as cable providers have moved from analog to digital signals, cardio manufacturers have been under pressure to catchup and handle these new digital feeds. Although, a more expensive solution, Comcast's MDTA box alternative allows the fitness center customer to connect their RG6 CATV feed directly into a cardio machine. As a result, the exerciser is able to use the cardio machine's entertainment console without having to use a cable box and remote control to change channels.

TO HELP WITH DIGITAL CABLE BOX REQUIREMENTS

It has been brought to our attention that Comcast is now offering an alternative solution to help with the digital box requirements. Until now, your choice was to install a cable box per TV or modulate the system. Modulating the system can be quite costly for many club owners and the cost varies depending on how many channels you want to offer since a cable box is required per channel.

The new product from Comcast is called an MDTA Multiplexor. This product is installed where your cable feed comes into your building and basically un-encrypts your signal allowing your TVs to pick up channels as they once did in the past without the need for a cable box and remote per TV.

Below is the information that was provided to us from Comcast. Please note that we are not representatives of Comcast and the prices below are to be used as reference only and is based on a commercial services account type. Bulk customer pricing is a different pricing structure. Pricing and product availability is based off of your location and requirements. Please contact your local Comcast dealer for specifics.

• 1 MDTA Multiplexor required per facility.
• Cost is around $250.00 per month to lease. The unit is currently not for sale.
• Currently does not broadcast in HD. If HD is required, an HD box at a cost of $12.95 per month would be needed per TV.
• Comcast is requesting that the facility have at least 15 TVs before considering the multiplexor as an option.
• Additional costs include:
o Install Costs – pricing varies
o Monthly Service Costs – varies between $80.00 to $140.00 per month depending on the service. A service for channels 2-99 would be $80.00 and up. A service for channels 2-160 would cost $140.00 and up.

Sample cost:
Club wants the cable service allowing them access to 2-99 Channels - $80.00 a month.

Club needs 40 TVs to be un-encrypted: Cost of MDTA Multiplexor $250.00 a month lease. Installation costs would be extra.

Club wants 20 of the TVs to broadcast in HD: $12.95 each monthly = $259.00

Total Sample Cost (monthly) without installation: $589.00

Safety issues under scrutiny in high school weight training

2011-09-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

Excellent article by Greg Rosenstein, USA Today, as it relates to high school weight room safety and strength coach certification. Given the signficant shift to Olympic lifting in high school facilities over the past fifteen years, the attention to safety and certification is required more than ever.

When Boyd Epley walks into a high school to examine its strength and conditioning program, he says he often comes across a far too familiar scene where a teacher is propped back in his chair reading a newspaper while students lift weights on their own. For Epley, director of coaching performance for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), those instances reinforce what his organization says is a major problem.

"It's absolutely ridiculous what is going on," he said. "When you put a coach or physical educator in the mix, and they don't have the proper background and is not certified, it could get out of hand and the athlete is at risk. The certification is a big deal for us. A lot of coaches in school systems don't recognize the need." While a lack of proper educators and programs plagues many schools, others are on track. Nine recently were named received 2011 NSCA Strength of America award winners. Mike Nitka, the strength and conditioning teacher at back-to-back winner Muskego High School in Muskego, Wis., said the award represents years of hard work. "I really had to sell to the administration that this is good for our kids," Nitka said. "They are starting to compete with fewer injuries so we can keep them on the court and field." Nitka said the improvements in the weight room have translated to on-field success. After hiring certified instructors and implementing the NSCA's training regimen, the school won the All-Conference Sport Trophy two out of the past four years.

According to the NSCA, a coach can become certified by earning at least two approved continuing education units in the past two years and conducting a yearly educational program for all physical education and coaching staff. A program can qualify for national recognition by posting emergency plans, conducting daily inspections, having a certified instructor present for all workouts and requiring students to participate in strength and conditioning classes.

Epley believes the problem in high school strength and conditioning programs stems directly from the instructor. He said many do not have the NSCA certification to properly teach high school students and, as a result, their poorly planned programs are putting athletes at risk. "You don't open the door to a swimming pool unless a lifeguard on duty is certified and knew how to handle life-threatening situations," Epley said. "The same is true with the weight room. "You should never open the door to a weight room unless you have personnel on hand that can handle all of the situations. It could become dangerous."

Last August, following a preseason football workout, several McMinnville (Ore.) High players were sent to the hospital after they developed triceps compartment syndrome, which can impede blood flow, and rhabdomyolysis, a muscle injury that can lead to kidney failure. Oregon health officials cited the workout and its conditions as contributing factors.

Jay Hoffman, President of the NSCA, said many of class instructors tend to be coaches that are not competent enough in terms of training knowledge who often put students through programs too advanced for their age group. "Young individuals should not be doing the same program that the local professional team or college team is doing," Hoffman said. "The instructor needs to be able to make adjustments for that particular athlete and their level of maturity." Hoffman and Epley both say the Strength of America Award can help generate motivation for schools to change their poor habits and limit situations such as what happened at McMinnville from happening.

"Strength and conditioning is a lifetime sport," Hoffman said. "With the issues that we have with obesity, if we can start at an earlier age to get people to be smarter in terms of exercise and nutrition, we have a chance to be a healthier country."

Life Fitness Awards Commercial Fitness Dealership To Heartline Fitness Systems For Mid-Atlantic Sales and Service

2011-05-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Gaithersburg, MD, May 16, 2011 – Heartline Fitness Systems is pleased to announce a new partnership with Life Fitness. Initially, Heartline will provide Life Fitness sales and service coverage in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and to the following vertical markets—multi-housing (apartments and condominiums), residential property management, office management, fire & rescue, police, and active living. The addition of Life Fitness adds the final piece to one of the strongest commercial dealer brand line-ups in the fitness industry,” says Bob Burgess, President of Heartline Fitness Systems. In addition to Life Fitness, Heartline is also a commercial distributor for: BH Fitness, Freemotion®, Heartline® Strength Systems, Nautilus®, Paramount®, SCIFIT®, Star Trac, and York Barbell.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the breadth of our brand offerings and our new partnership with Life Fitness,” says Mr. Burgess. “After experiencing Life Fitness’s Chicago, IL manufacturing facilities last month, I know why they are the industry’s global leader of fitness products--they are absolutely driven by product quality.” “To my knowledge, Life Fitness is the only fully-certified ISO-9001 company in the fitness industry.”

About Life Fitness

Life Fitness is the global leader in fitness equipment. The company manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular equipment under the brand names Life Fitness and Hammer Strength and distributes its equipment in more than 120 countries. Headquartered outside of Chicago, in Schiller Park, IL, Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC).

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: Associa, Marriott Hotels, Kettler, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Paradigm Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

---Heartline---® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems.

---Life Fitness®, Lifecycle®, and Hammer Strength® are registered trademarks of Brunswick Corporation.

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

Life Fitness, 5100 River Road, Schiller Park, Illinois, 60176, Phone: 847-288-3300, www.lifefitness.com

Amenity Fitness Centers – Maintenance and Safety Requirements

2011-03-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

Due to rising liability and lawsuit concerns, the fitness industry continues to step up its focus and educational efforts on overall fitness center design and equipment safety. This is particularly acute in amenity fitness centers that are unsupervised.

The following are general guidelines to use in providing preventive maintenance for an apartment and/or condominium fitness center:

Test TV entertainment equipment for proper operation.
Inspect and calibrate cardio equipment per manufacturer’s recommendation.
Clean cardiovascular equipment per manufacturer’s recommendation.
Inspect treadmill belts and decks for signs of wear, and lubricate as needed.
Remove treadmill motor shrouds and vacuum internally.
Inspect elliptical mechanical parts for signs of wear, and lubricate as needed.
Check/lubricate bike chains, cranks, pedals and straps and replace as required.
Inspection and general maintenance of all strength training equipment, including but not limited to: adjusting cables, belts, pulley alignment, tightening bolts and adjusting range of motion cams.
All of these activities should be monitored on a monthly basis.

Not only is preventive maintenance critical in promoting a clean, organized, and safe wellness facility, but this attention to detail prolongs the fitness equipment’s life expectancy which enhances your fitness center investment. Most light commercial cardiovascular equipment has an estimated four-to-five year life cycle, while full commercial equipment has an estimated seven-to-nine year life expectancy. However, both product categories will not achieve their intended life cycles, unless those products are maintained in a diligent and professional manner. Consequently, products that are not maintained on a regular basis will result in greater short-term mechanical breakdowns (more operating headaches), exposure to potential accidents and liability issues, and early product replacement.

Bottom line, preventive maintenance provides the property management company and property owners peace of mind, not to mention a substantial return on investment.

Latest Investment In Heartline Technical Services

2011-02-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

Due to expansion of the company's service operation, Heartline has created a new division called Heartline Technical Services (HTS), naming Jeff Shipman as HTS's president. In addition, we have made significant investments in overhauling HTS's current service processes. This investment has been critical in continuing to provide the highest level of customer service and quality equipment repair in the region. New technology and value has been integrated into the way we operate today.

Technology

HTS now uses a combination of hardware and web-based CRM technology to bring a paperless service call process to you. We now expedite the service call process by using the wrench icon on our website www.heartlinefitness.com along with a live customer call support center to log complex service issues. This new process allows us to email you a copy of the work order and the invoice, saving time and paper. Other advancements include real-time parts inventory levels which are accessible by our technicians from their net-books. An increased investment in stock parts has been made to speed repair turnaround. Additionally, customer records are now linked to google maps allowing us to pair service visits more efficiently in your area, further increasing response time. Additional services to follow include; customer updates on individual service cases through email reminders and updates on PM contracts as well as ROI tips for new and older equipment.

Value

We understand the value this new system integration will have on our customers now and into the future. A good portion of our customers are conscious of being green which is why we have included a green initiative into our integration allowing us to email your invoice and our technicians to complete and email all work-orders to you directly. Our contract customers have always received preferred pricing and will continue to as we increase our rates in February for contract and non-contract customers. Our new integration advancements now allow you to place a service call 24 hours a day with our web based service call form. Just CLICK the Service Wrench on our website!

Commitment

We are committed more then ever to service growth, development and maintaining our leadership position in service innovation. As a part of our commitment to you, we’ve continued to raise our insurance limits, now standing at 3 million dollars of aggregate coverage. Having the HTS Guarantee is piece of mind. You can absolutely rely on us to keep your fitness centers clean, safe and operational at all times.

Your satisfaction is our guarantee!

Heartline Awards Commercial Fitness Dealership To Baker Sales and Service

2011-02-15T05:07:00.000-08:00

Gaithersburg, MD, February 15, 2011 – Heartline Fitness Systems is pleased to announce that Baker Sales and Service of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania have agreed to become Heartline’s commercial sales and service dealer in Western Pennslyvania. Through Baker’s sales and service organization, the company will represent the Heartline brand of strength equipment, as well as all of Heartline’s distributed fitness equipment, including: BH Fitness, Freemotion®, Nautilus®, Paramount®, SCIFIT®, Star Trac, and York Barbell. Baker Sales and Service have been providing high-quality fitness repair services in the tri-state area for over 20 years.

“We couldn’t be more pleased about entering into a dealer partnership with Baker Services,” says Bob Burgess, President of Heartline Fitness Systems. “We have been building our Western Pennsylvania business base for the past five years, however without a reliable service network traction has been difficult.” “We’re confident our partnership with Baker Sales and Service will help to serve our customers better in the months and years ahead.”

“With most of the major fitness brands already tied up, it’s been very difficult to grow the sales side of our business,” says Chuck Baker, President of Baker Sales and Service. “The partnership with Heartline is a natural—we complement Heartline’s weaknesses, and they ours,” continues Mr. Baker. “Only time will tell, but I’m very bullish on our future!”

About Baker Sales and Service

Founded in 1980 by Chuck Baker, Baker Sales and Service started out as a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation (HVAC) repair company, and in 1990 through a partnership with Jacuzzi, re-focused its service business on the fitness industry, and have never looked back. Baker boasts six certified service technicians, and two commercial salesmen. The company serves approximately a 100 miles radius around Pittsburgh, PA, concentrating on schools, sports franchises (Steelers and Pirates), multi-family, fire and police, health clubs, and YMCAs.

About Heartline Fitness Systems

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: Associa, Marriott Hotels, Kettler, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Paradigm Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

Heartline® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems.

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

Baker Sales and Service, 968 Route 8, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, 15116, 412-486-FITT(3488), www.bakersalesandservice.com

Fitness Center Insurance - What To Look For In Your Service Contractor’s Coverage

2011-01-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

So, you need to hire a service contractor to help with your fitness center equipment, why would you want to worry about the contractor’s insurance? One answer is Risk Transfer.

When a contractor enters your facility to perform work, they can be held liable for injuries or property damage – but you can too! It’s prudent to ask your contractor to prove their general liability insurance, and that you are properly named as an additional insured. Done correctly, the contractor’s insurance company will defend you in cases where the contractor is deemed to be negligent.

When an accident occurs, the insurance company stands behind the contractor’s commitment to manage his job operations safely and deliver a safe work product. The risks you’ve become exposed to during and after the contractor’s operations are effectively transferred to the contractor and to his insurance company. The insurance contract also helps to “guarantee” the financial ability to deliver a competent defense and the “A” rating provides reassurance that the insurance company is viable. A current certificate of insurance (“COI”) provides a written description of the contractor’s insurance and should list your property as an additional insured. The certificate will not give the holder any rights beyond the contractor’s negligence, but it’s reassurance that you’ll be defended in the event of a loss caused by the contractor.

Three keys to your service contractor’s insurance:

The Insurance Carrier: An “A” rated or better carrier is normally required.

Insurance Coverage and Limits:

1. Insurance limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence are often required, although higher limits may be appropriate for certain sites, operations, or terms.

2. In the majority of situations, a “per occurrence” form is preferred to a “claims made” form. Occurrence policies cover injuries and/or damages that occur during the policy’s period even if the claim is brought later. For this reason, a current certificate should be obtained for the entire time that the exposure exists. Alternatively, if the contractor has a claims-made policy, you would need certificates for any terms during which a claim could be made, perhaps for many years into the future. Which could mean in years where the contractor is no longer in business, or no longer has coverage.

3. The annual aggregate limits should be at least $2,000,000 on a “per project” or “per location” basis.

4. Coverage on the contractor’s policy should apply on a Primary coverage basis.

Additional Insured Status: The additional insured endorsement changes the contractor’s insurance contract; be sure you’re shown accurately with the form number clearly indicated. As an additional insured, you are protected by the contractor’s policy against liability for injury or damage caused by work the contractor does. Verify that the endorsement is for both ongoing and completed operations, and not simply a “premises-only” policy.

As you can see there are a wide variety of insurance coverages available for service contractors. However, it is up to the contractor, their financial position, years in business, and the contractor’s ability and willingness to pay for the best coverage. For further information on this subject don’t hesitate to call Heartline Fitness, as well as seeking input from your attorneys, accountants and other professionals directly. Consultation with your attorney and your own insurance professionals is your best tool for implementing a successful risk management program.

Fitness Suppliers Make Inc. List

2010-09-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Six manufacturers and suppliers to the fitness industry made the Inc. 500 and 5000 lists this year. The lists, which also include eight health club companies, appear in the September issue of Inc.

The 2010 Inc. lists were ranked according to percentage revenue growth for three years from 2006 to 2009.

Ranking highest on the list was Fitness Anywhere, San Francisco, at No. 108. The company had $14.7 million in 2009 revenue, a 2,297 percent growth rate over the past three years. This is the first year the company, which sells the TRX Suspension Trainer, is on the list. The company ranked No. 6 in the Consumer Products and Services category.

Next on the list was Fitness Plus (FitnessRepairParts.com), O’Fallon, MO. The company, which sells replacement parts for fitness equipment, ranked No. 363 on the list with $2.4 million in 2009 revenue. It had a three-year growth of 816 percent.

Mindbody, San Luis Obispo, CA, ranked No. 799 with three-year growth of 378 percent and 2009 revenue of $8.2 million. On last year’s list, the web-based business management and appointment-scheduling software company ranked No. 370.

Software company Motionsoft, Silver Spring, MD, ranks No. 1,172 on the list. Its 2009 revenue was $6.3 million, which was an increase of 253 percent since 2006. The company recently received an infusion of $5.5 million from Edison Venture Fund, Lawrenceville, NJ, for research and development and for expansion.

Heartline Fitness Systems, Gaithersburg, MD, ranked No. 3,166 on the list. The company, which designs, manufactures, and distributes a variety of strength training and cardiovascular systems, had $3.8 million in 2009 revenue and 63 percent growth from 2006 to 2009. The company had been on the list in the past, ranking No. 3,180 in 2009, No. 3,526 in 2008 and No. 3,913 in 2007.

Big Ass Fan Co., Lexington, KY, ranked No. 4,245 on this year’s list. The large fan manufacturer had a three-year growth of 26 percent, coming in at $33.8 million in 2009 revenue. The company ranked No. 2,497 on the list in 2009, No. 1,603 in 2008 and No. 1,371 in 2007.

Heartline Awarded National Purchase Agreement With Associa

2010-09-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

Heartline Fitness Systems is pleased to announce the signing of a national purchasing agreement with Associa Advantage, Inc (Associa) of Chantilly, Virginia. Through this agreement, Heartline will provide commercial and residential fitness equipment and repair services to Associa’s national network of property management companies and their managed communities and residential homeowners. Associa Advantage’s parent company, Associa, owns 49 property management companies that manage over 7,100 communities and serve over 4 million residential homeowners throughout the United States and Mexico.

“We are very pleased to be entering into such a partnership with Heartline Fitness Systems,” says Mike Mallott, Executive Vice President of Associa Advantage. “Our mission at Associa Advantage is to provide the homeowner and associations we serve with extraordinary value on quality goods and services they use throughout the year.” “We achieve this through local, regional and national agreements with companies that provide exceptional pricing, quality and customer service.” “Heartline is one of those companies.” “Through Heartline’s brand partnerships with Icon Health & Fitness and FreeMotion, the company will be offering Associa’s customers the best variety of fitness product and service values on the market.”

“Heartline has had the good fortune of serving Associa managed communities for over ten years, and we’re very excited about the opportunity to formalize our relationship on a national basis,” says Heartline’s president, Bob Burgess. “Together with our key brand partner, Icon Health and their largest subsidiary, FreeMotion Fitness, we’re not only going to be able to serve Associa’s commercial properties with fitness offerings, but through Icon Health, we’re going to be able to provide Associa homeowners unsurpassable values on home fitness products.” “We’re looking forward to a terrific 2011!”

About Associa and Associa Advantage

Associa was founded in 1979 by Senator John Carona, as a small property management company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. After 31 years, Associa has grown to become the nation’s leader in community association management, with 49 property management companies managing over 7,100 communities. Now serving some four million members across North America and Mexico, Associa proudly represents its clients with personal, local service, but with professional, national resources. Keeping with Associa’s national service mission, Associa Advantage was created to provide its membership the very best products and services at the greatest value. In February, 2010, Associa launched the Associa Advantage website offering members discounts at over 3,000 national retail outlets, and bringing on board such commercial trade partners as Lowes, Shaw Carpet, Sherwin Williams, Dal Tile, and Heartline Fitness. In addition to Associa’s trade partner program, Associa Advantage maintains an online magazine chalked full of community content with topics ranging from gardening to home maintenance.

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: Associa, Marriott Hotels, Kettler, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Paradigm Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

Heartline® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems. Associa® is a registered trademark of Associa.

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

Vibration Exercise Training

2010-07-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Increased muscle activation with Vertex™ vibration exercise. The use of the FreeMotion Fitness™ Vertex™ Platform increases muscle activity up to 326% This research examining the influence of the Vertex on muscle activity during exercise, demonstrates: Vertex exercise can increase the amount of muscle activity by 326% over exercise without vibration. High amplitude and 30Hz demonstrated the greatest muscle activity. An examination of the platform movement patterns demonstrated that virtually all movement was in the vertical direction.

Muscle Activation:

In order to cause motion, stabilize the body, or move an external resistance, the neuromuscular system generates force through contracting muscles. The amount of muscle that is activated depends on the task or conditions. Complex movements require greater muscle activation as do movements resisted by heavy resistance. Simple movements or those requiring very precise control rely on small amounts of muscle tissue.

When using exercise as a means of improving muscular fitness, the goal is to overload (place an unaccustomed stress) on as much muscle tissue as possible in the least amount of time. Especially in the beginning stages of training, the nervous system does not recruit large amounts of muscle tissue to perform resistance training exercises. Thus, strength is limited but increases very quickly as the brain becomes more accustomed to the stress of such exercise. Even in heavy resistance training it is difficult to recruit large amounts of muscle tissue among the general population. It takes years of training and preparation before the brain will allow the recruitment of large portions of muscle tissue and generate high levels of force. The result is exercise that focuses on small portions of the body’s muscle tissue and a failure to train muscle fibers that are not recruited. What is needed is a form of exercise that promotes increased muscle tissue activation, enabling more rapid and impressive strength adaptations.

Whole-Body Vibration and Muscle Activation:

Vibration exercise has been shown to increase strength and power to a degree similar to light- to moderate-resistance training. One theory as to why such training mimics the effectiveness of conventional exercise is an increased activation of muscle tissue during training. Recent research conducted under the direction of Dr. Matthew Rhea, Director of Research for the RACE RxTM Academy of Exercise Sciences, demonstrates that whole-body vibration exercise on the Vertex increases muscle tissue activation during exercise by as much as 326%.

Ten men were prepared with EMG monitors over muscles in the legs. EMG measures the amount of muscle tissue activation and provided a means for comparing the amount of activity with and without vibration stimulus. Measures were taken at low/high amplitudes, 30 Hz. Comparisons of both mean and peak muscle activity were made following data collection.

Muscle activity (µV) with and without vibration stimulus

These data demonstrate that vibration stimulus has a profound effect on muscle activity during exercise. An increase in up to 326% represents the recruitment will dramatically increase the amount of strength/power gains observed following training on the Vertex platform.

Implications for Exercise Prescription:

These data suggest that WBV will enable the exerciser to recruit and train more muscle tissue in less training time. The result is an increased effectiveness and efficiency of exercise programs. Trainers can include the Vertex into training programs to enhance the overall amount of muscle tissue trained.

Recent meta-analyses published by Dr. Rhea and Dr. Pedro Marin demonstrated that vertical movement platforms result in significantly greater strength and power improvements as compared to oscillating platforms. The results also demonstrated that amplitude of 8-10 mm at frequencies of 30-40 Hz were optimal for developing strength and power. Testing was performed on the Vertex (via the use of an accelerometer) to determine the specific movement patterns. This analysis demonstrated that virtually all motion was vertical and amplitudes of 4-10 mm were measured. Therefore, the movement patterns and amplitudes on the Vertex represent an effective form of vibration exercise.

Exercise Benefits of Incline Training

2010-07-01T08:02:00.001-07:00

Applying Exercise Science to Enhance Training Effectiveness on the FreeMotion Fitness™ Incline Trainer

Bioenergetics: The Key to Unlocking Maximally Effective Training

The human body functions through the creation of energy in 3 primary energy systems. Each system utilizes different energy substrates, produces energy at different rates, and enables different physical activities. All three systems (ATP-PCr, Glycolytic, and Oxidative) function at the same time; however, the predominant energy system at work is dependent on the rate, or speed, of the activity. An understanding of energy production can be valuable information for exercise professionals in their attempts to prescribe effective, efficient, and specific training programs.

Most people report that weight loss and increased cardiovascular fitness are their principle goals when beginning an exercise program. Increased muscular fitness and appearance are also high on the list of goals. For the working professional, the over-extended, or the individual not wanting to spend hours and hours at the gym, the search for optimal exercise training is of preeminent importance. This search begins with bioenergetics and, as you will see, ends with incline training on the FreeMotion Fitness Incline Trainer.

In order to enhance cardiovascular fitness, the lungs, heart, blood vessels, muscle tissue, mitochondria, and the oxidative energy system must be stressed. This stress, often measured by heart rate, results in improved function by some or all of the physiological components involved. Research has shown that exercise intensities at or above 75% of age-predicted maximal heart rate are needed to stimulate significant improvements in aerobic fitness. Generally, exercisers must speed up their movement pace in order to elicit such a large increase in heart rate. This increase in speed may increase risk of injury and, as seen below, actually decreases the amount of fat utilized during exercise.

The oxidative energy system is the only system capable of utilizing large amounts of fat for energy. In order to function as the predominant source of energy, the oxidative system requires that exercise be performed at a relatively slow pace. This is a result of the many enzyme reactions needed to transform fat tissue into a usable form. While a person is walking, the oxidative system is able to provide the majority of energy, resulting in fat being utilized to fuel. As an individual begins to run, caloric expenditure increases due to greater amounts of muscle tissue activated in order to propel the body at a faster speed; however, the rate of movement requires a gradual shift from reliance on aerobic energy production to greater and greater reliance on anaerobic energy production. Running at faster speeds results in a larger number of calories being burned but those calories are predominantly from carbohydrate stores rather than stored fat. In order to burn larger amounts of fat, the amount of muscle tissue activated must be increased while maintaining a slower pace of movement.

Enter incline training!

Examining Physiological Changes during Treadmill Exercise

Recent research conducted under the direction of Dr. Matthew Rhea, Director of Human Movement at A.T. Still University, demonstrates the changes that occur when an individual exercises at different speeds and inclines on the Incline Trainer. This research used exercise science tools to measure changes in heart rate, oxygen consumption, caloric expenditure, and muscle activation under different exercise conditions. Among a group of 30 year old adults, walking at 3 mph with 12% incline resulted in the same heart rate at running at 6 mph on flat surface. The slower speed can be beneficial to reduce risk of injury during treadmill exercise while still obtaining the needed cardiovascular benefits.

EMG measures, which identify the amount of muscle tissue activation, demonstrated important changes with the use of incline as well. At 0% incline, only about 20% of muscle tissue was activated in the legs. As incline was increased, muscle activity in the calf, hamstring, and gluteus increased. At inclines above 15%, muscle tissue activation in the legs approached and exceeded 75% of maximal isometric contraction.

Perhaps the most significant finding of this research was the change in fat utilization at slow speeds and high inclines. With increased muscle activation at higher speeds and inclines, calorie expenditure increases. If only speed is used to increased energy demand, the body must use more and more carbohydrates as fuel because fat utilization takes too long. However, with the use of incline to increase demand while keeping the speed at 2-3 mph, physiological measures and calculations such as oxygen consumption and respiratory exchange ration demonstrated that fat utilization increases dramatically. It was hypothesized that the slower speeds allowed the processes involved in fat utilization to keep up with the energy demand. At 2 mph and 16% incline, over 6 calories per minute from fat were utilized. This was compared to less than 2 calories per minute from fat used at 6 mph and 0% incline.

These data demonstrate the increased physiological demands while walking or running at an incline and present several useful applications of incline training. Individuals seeking increases in muscular fitness, cardiovascular fitness, and weight loss can effectively use incline to enhance the effectiveness of treadmill training. The most apparent benefits in these areas occur at inclines above 10%. The FreeMotion Incline Trainer offers a unique treadmill experience with incline and speed ranges exceeding those of traditional treadmills.

Incline
Speed 0% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% 18% 21% 24% 27% 30%
2mph 100 106 110 118 126 132 139 146 155 167 180
3mph 104 112 123 134 150 166 176 186 193
4mph 119 130 141 157 169 183 196
5mph 140 150 169 181 194
6mph 152 173 187 196
7mph 170 186 195
8mph 182 196
9mph 195

Table: Changes in Heart Rate.

Incline
Speed 0% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% 18% 21% 24% 27% 30%
2mph 1.9 2.9 4.5 5.6 5.2 5.3 5.7 6.5 5.8 2.3 0
3mph 2.2 2.6 2.9 3.6 2.6 3.2 4.1 4.6 2.3
4mph 3.0 4.3 3.1 3.8 4.6 2.4 2.7
5mph 2.9 1.9 2.1 2.9 0
6mph 1.9 2.5 0 0
7mph 0 0 0
8mph 0 0
9mph 0

Table: Changes in Fat Utilization (Kcal/min).

Incline
Speed 0% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% 18% 21% 24% 27% 30%
3mph 8% 23% 31% 46% 62% 69% 77% 85% 85% 100% 100%
Table: Changes in Gluteus Activation.
Incline
Speed 0% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% 18% 21% 24% 27% 30%
3mph 18% 18% 27% 36% 36% 55% 64% 64% 73% 73% 73%
Table: Changes in Hamstring Activation.
Incline
Speed 0% 3% 6% 9% 12% 15% 18% 21% 24% 27% 30%
3mph 40% 40% 50% 50% 60% 60% 80% 80% 80% 80% 90%
Table: Changes in Gastrocnemius Activation.

Demonstrated Benefits of Incline Training

This research, along with principles of exercise bioenergetics, demonstrates valuable benefits of incline training:
• Increased heart rate and cardiovascular demand without increasing speed to high levels enabling exercisers to increase cardiovascular fitness without increasing risk of treadmill injury.
• Increased muscular demands of walking and running enabling a muscular fitness workout during cardiovascular exercise.
• Increased ability to burn fat through increased muscular activity at a slower speeds accelerating weight loss.

PEP Grant Information and Details....

2010-06-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

Applicant Information

SITE LINK: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/applicant.html

TIMELINE

Application transmittal deadline: July 19, 2010

Current Application

FY 2010 Application
[downloadable files] MS WORD (1161K) | PDF (743K)

Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically using the E-Grants.ed.gov Apply site.

For printed applications contact:
Carlette Huntley
Telephone: (202) 245-7871
E-mail address:Carlette.Huntley@ed.gov

Other Required Forms

You will also need to download the following required Federal forms:

* Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)
* ED Supplemental Information (SF 424)
* ED Budget Form (ED 524)
* Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B)
* Certification Regarding Lobbying (ED 80-0013)
Forms: [downloadable files] MS Word) (37K) | PDF (61K)
* Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL)

Federal Register Notices

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards (FY2010) CFDA 84.215F | download files PDF (76KB) (June 18, 2010)

Tips and Assistance

Technical Assistance Webinars:

Webinar Topic: Technical Assistance (PEP Requirements for the School Health Index)
Date Held: Monday, June 21, 2010
Presentation: [downloadable files] MS PowerPoint (3840K) | PDF (5579K)
Transcript from Conference Call: [downloadable files] MS Word (267K) | PDF (293K)

Webinar Topic: Technical Assistance (Information Specific to School health Index (SHI)
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Time: 1:00PM, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Presentation: [downloadable files] MS PowerPoint (3840K) | PDF (5579K)

Technical Assistant Conference Calls:

* Date: June 29, 2010 (AM Conference Call)
Conference Time: 11:00AM-12:30PM (EST)
Dial-in Information: 1-888-603-7923
Participant Passcode: 6280793

* June 29, 2010 (PM Conference Call)
Conference Time: 3:30PM – 5:00PM (EST)
Dial-in Information: 1-888-603-7923
Participant Passcode: 6280793

* July 7, 2010 (Conference Call)
Conference Time: 1:00PM-2:30PM (EST)
Dial-in Information: 1-888-603-7923
Participant Passcode: 6280793

Grant Application Technical Assistance Resources

Contact

Carlette Huntley
U.S. Department of Education
550 12th Street, S.W., Rm 10071/PCP
Washington, DC 20202-6450
Telephone: (202) 245-7871
E-mail address: carlette.huntley@ed.gov

Federal PEP Grant Applications Due July 19, 2010

2010-06-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

Gaithersburg, MD, June 25, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Education is now accepting Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant applications for the upcoming school year. The grant application process starts today -- Friday, June 18. The application period is very short – just 30 days. The deadline to submit PEP grant submissions is July 19. It is estimated that nearly $40 million will be available for new PEP Grants for the 2010-2011 school year. The PEP Grants are estimated to range from $100,000 to $750,000 with the average grant being $427,000. The remainder of the $79 million appropriated for PEP Grants will be distributed to existing PEP Grant recipients.

The Department of Education proposed revisions to the grant application earlier this year. Then, SGMA and other interested parties submitted comments to the Department of Education on the recommended change. The ‘Final Notice’ on 2010 PEP applications took all comments into consideration and includes several significant changes.

SGMA has previewed the ‘Notice’ and identified several areas applicants should be aware of when completing applications for 2010-2011.

The Education Department will officially issue its ‘Notice of Final Priorities’ and ‘Notice Inviting (PEP) Applicants’ today. The Department of Education has included several key changes to PEP related to:

Nutrition Education
Health Coordination
A Community Liaison

Applicants which participate in the Department of Agriculture’s Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) initiative will be given preference on PEP grant awards.

Additional consideration will be given to PEP applications that include a collection of Body Mass Index information and those that partner with supporting community entities. Applicants who align project goals with needs identified by the school health index will receive preference and applicants must coordinate their program with local, state and federal initiatives.

Entities using grant–related funds, including federal and non-federal matching funds, to improve existing physical education curricula must use the Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT), submit their overall PECAT scorecard and the curriculum improvement plan from PECAT. Applicants enhancing their nutritional curricula are required to complete the healthy eating module of the Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT).

Any equipment purchases using PEP funds must be aligned with the curricular components of the grant’s physical education and nutrition programs. Equipment must be aligned with student- use based on PEP elements applicable to project and curricula. Applicants will be required to sign and submit a Program-Specific Assurance regarding equipment use. Grant applications that do not include signed Program-Specific Assurance document will not be considered.

Grant winners are required to measure student progress on key program indicators identified in the application notice. Information gathered must be protected as appropriate with all federal, state and local confidentiality laws. Additionally, any information collected must be easily available via the PE provider’s or partner’s website.

Grantees must assess and report on physical activity, cardiovascular health, and nutrition. Physical activity will be based on 60 minutes of daily physical activity; cardiovascular fitness must be based on the percentage of students who meet age-appropriate levels using the 20- meter shuttle run; and nutrition is measured by the percentage of students that consume fruit at least two times daily and vegetables three or more times daily.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry. SGMA helps lead the sports and fitness industries by fostering participation through research, thought leadership, product promotion, and public policy. More information about SGMA membership and SGMA's National Health Through Fitness Day can be found at www.sgma.com

For additional PEP Grant and overall grant information, go to Heartline’s website link at: www.heartlinefitness.com/news/funding, or call us today at 800-262-3348 for more information on how to get started.

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our training products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: New Orleans Saints, New Jersey Devils, Marriott Hotels, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court. In addition, Heartline currently represents the following fitness brands; BH Fitness, FreeMotion, Nautilus, Paramount, and SCIFIT.

Heartline(R) s a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

Heartline Fitness Systems Partners with Industry Innovator FreeMotion Fitness for Mid-Atlantic Distribution

2010-04-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

Gaithersburg, MD, April 27, 2010 – Building upon their commitment to deliver the best possible strength and cardio solutions to their customers, Heartline Fitness Systems announces new partnership with fitness equipment innovator FreeMotion Fitness as the exclusive distributor of the company’s strength and cardio equipment in the Mid-Atlantic.

“We are pleased to be partnered with FreeMotion to bring their advanced strength training systems and cardio equipment to the vertical markets of the Mid-Atlantic,” says Bob Burgess, Heartline Fitness Systems president. “Their heritage products - including cable-based selectorized strength equipment and the Incline Trainer – will help us provide a wider array of fitness solution options to our customers in a variety of settings ranging from high schools, hotels, apartment communities and hospitals throughout the region.”

FreeMotion Fitness, the commercial division of Icon Health and Fitness, the largest manufacturer and marketer of fitness equipment in the world, established a reputation for designing equipment that builds strength, flexibility and balance by replicating the body’s natural movement. They brought the first and only full circuit of integrated functional training equipment to the market, and have since rounded out their strength product offering with fixed motion selectorized machines, free weights, plate loaded equipment and a whole body vibration platform.

As a complement to their renowned strength equipment, FreeMotion also offers a complete cardio line of treadmills, ellipticals, striders, Incline Trainers, and upright and recumbent bikes at a variety of price points and feature sets. When incorporated together, FreeMotion strength and cardio products create a complete fitness package versatile enough to entertain, motivate, and challenge users of all abilities to reach their fitness goals.

“The FreeMotion product line is an ideal fit for any vertical market setting, so we are thrilled to be working with a company like Heartline Fitness Systems who specializes in vertical market fitness sales,” says Kevin Farley, director of vertical market sales for FreeMotion. “Bob has assembled a team of veteran fitness industry experts who have established Heartline as a premier partner for vertical markets. FreeMotion is confident that Heartline is the optimal partner to grow its presence in the Mid-Atlantic.”

Heartline will sell all FreeMotion products including the FreeMotion selectorized cable training line, EPIC selectorized and free weight lines, MC2 small group functional training programming, Vertex whole body vibration platform, and the entire cardio line including the Incline Trainer, striders, ellipticals, treadmills, and upright and recumbent bikes. Heartline’s territory covers vertical markets such as high schools, apartment communities, hospitals and hotels throughout the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

About Heartline
Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our training products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: New Orleans Saints, New Jersey Devils, Marriott Hotels, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

---Heartline---® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com

About FreeMotion Fitness

FreeMotion set the standard for integrated, functional training equipment and is raising the bar with the next generation. At the heart of every facility, FreeMotion Cardio's functional design entertains, motivates and challenges users to reach their fitness goals. FreeMotion EPIC selectorized strength and free weights are smooth, refined and strong - built to meet the needs of all your members. The perfect complement to any workout, the FreeMotion Vertex whole body vibration platform features sleek style with outstanding performance. FreeMotion Fitness is passionate about more than fitness equipment. We are dedicated to building strong facilities through competitive financing, quality customer service and comprehensive training - helping owners get the most for their facilities. To learn more about FreeMotion Fitness products, visit www.freemotionfitness.com

Heartline Acquires RL Repairs Services

2010-03-08T07:55:00.000-08:00

Gaithersburg, MD, March 8, 2010 – Heartline Fitness Systems has acquired Dallastown, PA based equipment repair company, RL Repair Services. Owned and operated by Rick Luman, RL Repair Services has been providing fitness equipment maintenance services to the Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware region for the past three years, and is a factory certified technician of Octane Fitness. Prior to forming RL Repair, Mr. Luman was chief maintenance mechanic at Vertis Communications (formerly American Color Print) for 20 years, and was responsible for the York, PA plant’s seven printing press lines. Vertis Communications is a premier provider of targeted advertising and marketing solutions to America's leading retail and consumer services companies.

RL Repair is Heartline’s second service company acquisition this year, having purchased Fitness Worx in January. While Fitness Worx complements Heartline’s southern Virginia and North Carolina strategy, RL Repair accelerates Heartline’s growth plan in the northeast. “Although, Heartline continues to partner with SRS Fitness in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, RL Repair enables us to gain control of our service operation, and plant roots in the territory,” says Heartline’s president, Bob Burgess.

“Given the company’s northeast sales and service success over the past year, it was time to make a more financial commitment to the region,” says Jeff Shipman, president of Heartline’s Technical Services Division. Here again, without a strong service presence that you control, it’s simply puts you behind the eight ball when competing for product business. Mr. Luman will become Heartline’s senior service technician for the region, and will report directly to Mr. Shipman.

For more information about Rick Luman and other members of the Heartline team, please visit:

http://www.heartlinefitness.com/company/companyteam.html

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our training products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: New Orleans Saints, New Jersey Devils, Marriott Hotels, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and The United States Supreme Court.

---Heartline---® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems

Heartline and ProFit Partner to Offer New Amenity Services

2010-02-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Gaithersburg, MD, February 22, 2010 – Heartline Fitness Systems is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Professional Fitness Management LLC (ProFit) to promote education and amenity programming services to the fitness industry. Each service is not only designed to enhance the owner’s fitness center investment, but is aimed at educating its customers on the facility’s overall capabilities and value. “We’re trying to take our fitness solutions to the next level,” says Heartline’s president, Bob Burgess. Post-installation fitness education and services is simply the next logical step in our mind. Today, we believe building tenant community and long-term membership relationships are more important than ever. A state-of-the-art fitness center has fastly become the admission price for most real estate developers building high-rise residential and commercial properties. The Heartline-ProFit amenity packages are aimed at taking a client’s fitness center to the next level, and further differentiating the property.

Initially, the amenity packages will include:

• Grand Opening Services.
• In-Services.
• Guest Promotion Packages To Local Energy Clubs.
• Personal Training Services.
• Group Exercise Programs and Events.
• Preventive Maintenance Service Contracts.
• Facility Management Contracts.

“As always, Heartline’s goal is to help its clients foster stronger, more meaningful, and engaging relationships with their customers through more interactive fitness products and services,” says Mr. Burgess. By teaming with ProFit, we’re now able to provide our customers the comprehensive fitness solutions they need and deserve. In addition to ProFit, Rich Manley and his partner, Bob Wagner, also own all the area Energy health clubs (www.theenergyclub.com).

The Energy Club’s flagship facility is situated in Arlington, Virginia, and they also boast a full complement of executive clubs in Washington, DC and Silver Spring, MD. The Energy Club is a friendly neighborhood gym in Shirlington Village that offers premium services; expert personal training; fun group exercise classes; sports teams; and a variety of outdoor adventures. “At The Energy Club, we pride ourselves on providing the most professional, fun, workout experiences in the Washington-metropolitan area,” says Rich Manley, president of ProFit and The Energy Club. “Together with Heartline, we want to share our expertise and Energy Club assets to help clients of Heartline to raise their total fitness experience,” says Mr. Manley.

For more information regarding our amenity packages please contact Heartline at sales@heartlinefitness.com or by calling us at 301-921-0661.

About ProFit

ProFit is a company dedicated to providing expert consulting, development and turn-key management services to the fitness industry. Led by Rich Manley, president of ProFit and The Energy Club, Mr. Manley has over 25 years of senior management experience in the health and wellness industry. Previous to founding ProFit and The Energy Club, he was president of The Fitness Company, a chain of 78 health and executive clubs.

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our training products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: New Orleans Saints, New Jersey Devils, Marriott Hotels, Kettler, Lincoln Properties, The JBG Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, Paradigm Companies, and The United States Supreme Court.

---Heartline---® is a registered trademark of Heartline Fitness Products, Inc., t.a. Heartline Fitness Systems

Heartline Fitness Systems, 19209 Orbit Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879, Phone: 301-921-0661, www.heartlinefitness.com