The IHRSA Convention countdown…

With just over fourteen days to go until the 30^th IHRSA Convention, we are ‘preparation San Francisco’ here at the FIA.

The line-up of speakers and events promises to be one of the best yet.

Often viewed as a “bit of a jolly” to the States, we are determined that this years trip comprises a robust educational itinerary which builds skills and educates industry peers.

That’s why, for the first time this year, we’re providing a mentoring programme for operators to aid this. Key issues such as medical wellness and the female market, will be presented and debated, and brand new fitness trends will be demonstrated, such as Batuka (personally can’t wait to have a go at these new latin-inspired routines)!

There are some fantastic keynotes to look forward to also – Al Gore’s Chief speech-writer; Daniel Pink, will look at the science of motivation, best-selling author and business innovator; Tony Hsieh looks at delivering happiness and host of the “Amazing Race”; Phil Keoghan reflects on his “near death” experience and consequent life philosophy of making the most of every opportunity - sounds like a not-to-be-missed inspirational guy!

Outside of this full-on educational itinerary there’s plenty more to look forward to…

The trade show will be brimming with new products and previously unseen suppliers – can’t wait to have a ‘nose’ at what’s new in the industry!

The FIA will also be running some exciting networking events outside of the IHRSA schedule to provide a chance to kick back, catch up with industry peers and sample (quite literally) the culture of beautiful San Francisco…

All FIA members are invited to our “Welcome to San Francisco” Drinks Reception on Monday 14^th, where we will toast to jetlag and a packed week ahead…

On the Tuesday, before the Convention kicks off, we will be hosting a Wine Tasting Tour around California’s wine country – sampling some of the greats and enjoying lunch in the wine caves at Rutherford Hill. 

To find out more about any of these events and get booked on, just drop me an email or check out the FIA website.

Look forward to seeing you all at Heathrow for some early morning, bleary-eyed banter before the learning and fun begins!

Hayley Bevan, Events & Sponsorship Manager, FIA

Hayley@fia.org.uk

@HayleyBevan

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/hayleybevan

New Initiative For Disabled

Did you know that only one in 15 people with a disability regularly play sport, compared to one in five non-disabled people.

That´s why we decided to partner with Leonard Cheshire Disability and Sport England this January for ‘Yoodo Sports’, an initiative (piloting in Yorkshire) to help people with disabilities take up and enjoy physical activity

I am pleased to see so many FIA members throughout Yorkshire supporting the campaign by offering discounted and/or trial memberships for local people with disabilities and those with a long term health condition. It’s essential that we make physical activity accessible to everyone – regardless of age, sex or ability.

Yoodo Sports brings disabled people together with activity ‘buddies’ – people who may or may not have an impairment themselves but want to help others play sport or be active. It’s a fantastic way to get more people moving through support and encouragement.

The Yoodo Sports pilot in Yorkshire will run in Leeds, Bradford, Richmond, Catterick, Kirklees, Huddersfield, Northallerton and Thirsk and be rolled out across England in 2012.

I look forward to seeing how it develops.

Dave Stalker, Executive Director, FIA

Prescription Fitness

What has the storm over the Government’s proposed NHS reforms got to do with the fitness industry?

There are some serious discussions to be had about what the Coalition wants to do to the NHS but for us in the fitness industry, the proposals provide a massive opportunity.

In a couple of years time GP’s will hold the purse strings. They will decide where to send patients and where to spend the money.

What is the single most urgent and effective thing that people need to do to improve their health and reduce the risk of disease? We all know the answer is ‘exercise’. What is more 85% of the population visit their GP at least once a year and increasingly GP’s are going to be pressurised to get them to exercise. And there is our opportunity.

The fitness sector has what the population needs in order to be healthy. GPs are going to have to recommend exercise more and more to get people fit. And if that needs money, the GPs will have it in their pot.

There’s never been a more important time to get to know our local doctors and persuade them of the benefits we, as an industry, can bring to people; to keep them well, to keep them out of hospital and if they do get ill, to help them recover more quickly. It is a win win situation!

Dr John Searle (OBE), FIA Chief Medical Officer

Introducing Ageing and Rehabilitation - “Untapped Markets” Seminar series…

One in four people born today will live to be over 100.

Based on current trends that number is set to rise by nearly 60% over the next 25 years.

With these stats in mind, isn’t it staggering to think that we, as an industry, don’t have more of a targeted and powerful strategy to engage with this ever-burgeoning demographic?

The guy who knows this market better than anyone is David Sinclair, Head of Policy and Research at the UK International Longevity Centre, and one of our speakers at the upcoming seminar – “Untapped Markets: Ageing and Rehabilitation” sponsored by BalanceMaster. David will be setting the scene of the current and projected demographics that could essentially be your future members.

Not only will the seminar show you where these gaps in the market lie, but our expert speakers and Chair, FIA’s Executive Director David Stalker, will show you how to engage with them.

Dr John Searle (FIA CMO), Bob Laventure (Consultant to the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health) and David Smith (GB Athlete) will also be providing valuable contributions.

This is the latest in the FIA’s new line of topical seminars. With a few places remaining on the seminars (taking place in Luton and Birmingham at the end of this month).

I look forward to seeing you there and learning together how we can work together to get these groups moving.

To book your place click here, or just give me a tinkle!

Hayley Bevan

Events and Sponsorship Manager
Email – Hayley@fia.org.uk
Twitter - @hayleybevan

Reinforcements needed - Supersized (and STRONG) ambulance service

‘Fit and abnormally strong’ are the latest additions to the job spec of the UK ambulance service. Not only so they can respond quickly and tend to the deteriorating health of the nation…. but so they can also transport the obese to hospital. And they WILL need to be taken to hospital…..

I was bemused, if a little concerned this week to hear that the ambulance service have revamped their fleets with heavy duty wheels chairs, stretchers and lifting cushions to transport the ‘larger’ patient to and from hospital. What a sad and somewhat wasteful reflection on the state of the nation’s health and fitness.

Bariatric ambulances have even been introduced into some regions, costing us, the tax payer up to £90,000 a time! And it seems there will need to be more in the pot where that came from - figures point to a 30% increase in hospital admissions for obesity and a 40% increase in bariatric surgery over the last few years.

Surely money would be better spent in prevention as opposed to accommodation?

Treatment and SOLUTIONS versus infrastructure adjustments. Whatever next – larger plane seats, train seats, theatres seats, changing rooms, school desks…? I could go on….

With 24 percent of men and 25 percent of women in the UK now obese, we can’t ignore the problem, but is changing our entire infrastructure really the best solution? Money well spent?

Smoking and alcohol abuse sit alongside obesity as a major cause of disease but we have a smoking ban installed … we have put taxes on alcohol consumption….. THIS is support towards positive behavioural change…. And its working.

Support is key to tackling the obesity problem and our industry is at the forefront of delivering it. The problem is not obesity. The problem is the CAUSE of obesity. I am talking about a lack of physical activity and poor diet. We HAVE to get more people moving and eating better.

We mustn’t sit back and accept the problem…. And we’re not. We are doing great things working with the medical professional through the Joint Consultative Forum, the Government through Change4Life, industry through the Responsibility deal. We have to work together.

Medicine is not the answer. Surgery is not the answer. The solution is at the very heart of our industry. Exercise, diet - energy in and energy out. Support and customer care.

How can we make our offering more appealing to the obese or overweight? Physical activity for all…

The supersized footprint has to stop here.