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AFT Features, AFTNews, Rugby, Sport

Game-changing Rugby World Cup 2019 is a record-breaker

• Record 99.3 per cent attendance with 1.84 million tickets sold
• Record 1.13 million people in fanzones
• Record 54.8 million television audience for Japan v Scotland (Japan team involved in top 5 biggest ever television audiences)
• Record 437 billion Yen economic impact
• Record more than 1.7 billion digital video views
• Record legacy programme with 1.8 million new participants
• Record CSR programme with more than £2 million raised for ChildFund Pass It Back
• Record competitiveness with 30.5 average winning margin between Tier 1 and Tier 2
• Record attendance of 70,103 spectators at Yokohama International Stadium for the final

The first Rugby World Cup in Asia draws to a close with South Africa crowned champions and a multitude of records broken in the most impactful and ground-breaking Rugby World Cup in history.

With a record 99.3 per cent attendance across the tournament resulting in 1.84 million tickets sold, in addition to more than 1.13 million people filling the official fanzones and over 400,000 international visitors enjoying the incredible hospitality of hosts Japan, Rugby World Cup once again took its place at the top table of global sporting events.

Japan 2019 also smashed records for fan engagement around the globe with an incredible 1.7 billion digital video views and an estimated worldwide broadcast audience of 400 million, including a domestic all-time record television audience of 54.8 million for the unforgettable Japan v Scotland pool phase match.

World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee can look back on an incredible six weeks of action that saw competitiveness again increase on the field of play with the outstanding performances of Japan’s Brave Blossoms and admirable efforts from the likes of Uruguay, Georgia, Namibia and Tonga contributing to a decrease in the average winning margin between established and developing nations, and demonstrating that the future of international rugby is increasingly competitive.

Off the pitch Japan 2019 has proved to be the most impactful in history with more than 1.8 million new rugby participants across Asia as part of World Rugby’s Impact Beyond legacy programme, while the generosity of the global rugby family has seen a record breaking £2 million raised for the ChildFund Pass It Back initiative, Rugby World Cup’s principal charity partner, benefitting over 25,000 underprivileged young people in Asia via rugby and life skills programmes.

With a record 437 billion Yen economic impact delivered for Japan, the Rugby World Cup has not only shone a spotlight on rugby in Asia but contributed significantly to business and commercial communities.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby World Cup 2019 has been one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time, and certainly the most ground-breaking in terms of bringing the game to new audiences and attracting new fans to the sport we love.

“On behalf of the whole global rugby family, I would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts Japan and the Japanese people for being such wonderful, humble and history making hosts.

“While South Africa will rightly take home the Webb Ellis Cup following their outstanding victory, the amazing performances of the Brave Blossoms undoubtably brought some of the most memorable moments of the tournament.

“The way Japan reacted to the incredibly difficult events surrounding Typhoon Hagibis was a tribute to the resilience and determination of the people of this wonderful country and we continue to think about all those who lost loved ones or were affected by this tragic event.

“Finally, I would like to thank all 20 teams, the players, match officials, organising committee, host cities and the amazing ‘No Side’ volunteers who all played their full part in ensuring Rugby World Cup 2019 will live long in the memory. Japan 2019 has broken records galore and has changed the face of rugby forever.”

Rugby World Cup 2019 Organising Committee CEO Akira Shimazu added: “The incredible action on the field and the amazing response from fans here in Japan and around the world have made the 44 days of competition pass in the blink of an eye. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the players who made the tournament truly special. With their on-field heroics and desire to embrace being in Japan, they have shown the very best attributes of rugby and in doing so, captured the hearts and minds of the host nation.

“Thanks also to all the fans. Your support, energy and enthusiasm has been truly wonderful and like the players, have shown the Japanese public why the global rugby family is such a special, unique and integral part this great game.

“I would also like to thank World Rugby for their partnership in running this tournament. We have worked together in a positive and proactive way, ensuring that the tournament was a major success.

“Finally, I send my best wishes to the people of France for a wonderful Rugby World Cup 2023. We are sure the tournament will be a great success and we offer all possible assistance and support during your preparations.”

As attention turns to the future, preparations are already well advanced for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, with a delegation from the organising committee participating in an official handover at the World Rugby Awards on Sunday 3 November.

AFT Features, AFTNews, Beauty & Health, Features Singapore, Fitness, Men's Health, Wellness, Women's Health

A moment with Will Skinner, CEO of UFIT Singapore

The CEO of UFIT looks so young you may mistake him for an inexperienced person trying to make it in the fitness industry. However, Will Skinner has more experience than you and I combined. This former professional rugby player brings over his years of rugby experience into the commercial aspect of fitness. Of this, he says “I feel like I never made a switch.”

“Yes, I was in the office a little more, but I was still involved with something I love, and so always want to do my best and expect the best from others,” he added.

He says that there is a lot that can be learned from sports and business, and he doesn’t think his approach to business is any different from during his sports days. “I’m sure all the guys I work with get fed up with me using sporting analogies day-to-day – whether it be recruiting and growing a team or academy like Alex Ferguson or developing our own culture like the All Blacks – sport-to-business synergies and comparisons are endless. If it makes me think I’m managing Manchester United or the All Blacks then I’m happy, too.”

Physical Exercise

The main gym at UFIT Club Street

As for physical exercise, he says “Physical exercise is highly important as part of a wider approach to general health, but it’s also equally important to get the balance right. We encourage everybody to also look at their nutritional journey and that is why we have a team of nutritionists on-hand at every (UFIT) Hub to get you on track. Whether you need advice on weight loss, clinical nutrition or sports nutrition, this type of holistic view of looking at fitness will enable you to ignite that fire and take you to the next level.

However, if you are new or hesitant to begin exercising, don’t despair. Will says that UFIT understands your struggles. All you have to do is to take the first step to go to UFIT and they will help you. “We have the ability and skill to support and guide you and to make that journey fun, so that you want to stick to it and keep coming back for more,” he says.

It may sound dubious to some but don’t let that stop you from getting healthier and fitter as UFIT is systematic and starts from the very basic.

The Approach

Step into UFIT Club Street Hub to begin your transformation journey

UFIT’s approach is not strictly focused on fitness alone but on one’s overall health. They believe that everyone is unique and therefore requires a unique approach accordingly to their needs. It is safe to say that UFIT is not your typical one-size-fits-all gym, but rather one that offers a full end-to-end service.

“Everybody starts with a health consultation with the Hub Manager. This is an in-depth analysis of their body composition and identifies various health metrics to highlight any imbalances in their body and discrepancies in lifestyle. With this data, we are able to suggest an appropriate fitness and wellness plan as we have the best information to plan this person’s journey. Our holistic approach allows us to determine whether we need to take them back to a position of health and/or fitness or to take them to that next level if they are an elite athlete and have the ability to dedicate themselves to a sports performance lifestyle.

Our clients also undertake mobility tests at their first session with a trainer or therapist and this helps to identify imbalances that might impede their progress or that we have to be mindful of.

Everything we do is bespoke and enables us to test and track a person’s progress whatever stage of the journey they are at.”

Injuries

Now, if you have had prior injuries UFIT would be able to assist you too and it is something that Will Skinner knows a lot about as it was a neck injury that put him into early retirement from professional rugby.

“Rehabilitation and recovery have always been a part of our services. Our trainers are highly qualified and take this approach very seriously with regards to ensuring everybody performs exercises correctly, takes time to recover and gets the right level of professional support when needed. We opened our first dedicated Physiotherapy Clinic at Raffles Quay in 2016, went on to open one-north UFIT Clinic in 2017, and Orchard UFIT Clinic in 2018. This allowed us to build a team of the absolute best Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Sports Massage, Pilates and Rehab specialists in Singapore, on hand at all times to help recharge our clients.

The three new Hub destinations are also carefully structured so that Physio and Rehab services are fully integrated into our offering, with Club Street having nine dedicated treatment rooms within the same building as our fitness studios. Therapists and Trainers share patient notes and can easily refer clients back and forth between teams, using our bespoke UFIT Online Coaching Platform, for the best care they can provide,” says Will.

The male changing room at UFIT Club Street

Founded in 2011, UFIT was set up to deliver a higher level of personal training than what was available in Singapore at the time. Starting with one gym at Amoy Street, it quickly expanded to become the country’s largest independently owned fitness community. The business is multi-award winning and offers Personal Training, indoor and outdoor Group Training, Physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation related services, and Nutrition alongside its other businesses, Youth Academy, Retreats, Education and Corporate Performance.

Recently, the fitness centre celebrated a decade by opening its new integrated Hub at Club Street, Singapore.

AFT Features, AFTNews, Fit Tech & Gadgets, Fitness

Fitbit to be acquired by Google for over US$2 billion

AFTNews – Wearables technology company Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT) announced earlier in San Francisco that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Google LLC for US$7.35 per share in cash (it was last trading at US$7.18), valuing the company at a fully diluted equity value of approximately $2.1 billion.

“More than 12 years ago, we set an audacious company vision – to make everyone in the world healthier. Today, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved towards reaching that goal. We have built a trusted brand that supports more than 28 million active users around the globe who rely on our products to live a healthier, more active life,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “Google is an ideal partner to advance our mission. With Google’s resources and global platform, Fitbit will be able to accelerate innovation in the wearables category, scale faster, and make health even more accessible to everyone. I could not be more excited for what lies ahead.”

“Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created terrific products, experiences and a vibrant community of users,” said Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President, Devices & Services at Google. “We’re looking forward to working with the incredible talent at Fitbit, and bringing together the best hardware, software and AI, to build wearables to help even more people around the world.”

Fitbit pioneered the wearables category by delivering innovative, affordable and engaging devices and services. What’s interesting is that the wearable offers users an immersive experience from the wrist to the app, designed to help users understand and change their behavior to improve their health. Because of this unique approach, Fitbit has sold more than 100 million devices and supports an engaged global community of millions of active users, utilizing data to deliver unique personalized guidance and coaching to its users. Fitbit will continue to remain platform-agnostic across both Android and iOS.

Earlier in August this year, Fitbit announced that it was supplying Singapore residents with free fitness trackers in a collaboration with the Singapore government. Singaporeans who registered, would receive a free Fitbit Inspire band if they committed to paying SGS$10 a month for a year for their latest offering; the Fitbit premium coaching service. The program should be rolling out now.

Fitbit products are sold in 39,000 retail stores across 100+ countries around the globe. Powered by one of the world’s largest databases of activity, exercise and sleep data and Fitbit’s leading health and fitness social network, the Fitbit platform delivers personalised experiences, insights and guidance through leading software and interactive tools, including the Fitbit and Fitbit Coach apps, and Fitbit OS for smartwatches. Fitbit’s paid subscription service, Fitbit Premium, uses unique data from its users to deliver actionable guidance and coaching in the Fitbit app to help achieve personal health and fitness goals of users. Fitbit Health Solutions develops health and wellness solutions designed to help increase engagement, improve health outcomes, and drive a positive return for employers, health plans and health systems.

In its press statement, Fitbit added that consumer trust is paramount and that privacy and security guidelines have been a part of Fitbit’s DNA since day one, and that will not change. Fitbit assures that it will continue to put users in control of their data and will remain transparent about the data they collects and why. The company assures that it never sells personal information, and Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.

The transaction is expected to close in 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Fitbit’s stockholders and regulatory approvals.

Qatalyst Partners LLP acted as financial advisor to Fitbit, and Fenwick & West LLP acted as legal advisor.

We researched a little more information about Alphabet, the holding company of Google and found a message from its CEO, Sundar Pichai speaking on its third quarter 2019 financial results, “I am extremely pleased with the progress we made across the board in the third quarter, from our recent advancements in search and quantum computing to our strong revenue growth driven by mobile search, YouTube and Cloud,”.

“We’re focused on providing the most helpful services to our users and partners, and we see many opportunities ahead.”

“Our businesses delivered another quarter of strong performance, with revenues of $40.5 billion, up 20% versus the third quarter of 2018 and up 22% on a constant currency basis,” said Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google. “We continue to invest thoughtfully in talent and infrastructure to support our growth, particularly in newer
areas like Cloud and machine learning.”

Exciting days ahead for the Fitbit brand.

Source: AsiaFitnessToday.com News Network

Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fitbit, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found www.fitbit.com/legal/trademark-list. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

AFT Features, AFTNews, Sport

Lee Xin Ni shines at 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge

When I was 13, I had just entered high school and it was a new school too! I was trying to adjust to not only a new school but a higher level of education. To be honest, at this age I was just trying to go with the flow and trying to find a foot in society. But this is not the case for Malaysia’s Lee Xin Ni.

I thought I was awesome making new friends in a new school but Miss Lee is cooler than that. This 13-year-old has been busy playing table tennis. So busy that she recently won her third singles match win at the 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Wladyslawowo, Poland.

This Under 15 player is part of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hopes team and her recent win meant that her team is going into the final round to meet team Europe.

A total eight teams from Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Oceania, Hopes, and host team Poland participated in 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge held from 26 – 28 October, 2019. Players for the tournament were selected from the Continental Junior Championships, World Rankings, or coaches’ decisions from each continent.

Lee Xin Ni has been selected by ITTF to be a member for the 2019 World Hopes Team since 14 August, 2019. ITTF Hopes Programme is a series of events at national, regional, continental and world level featuring education, training camps, competition, and talent identification.

Selected Hopes team players must demonstrate qualities of sportsmanship, such as training ethics, respect for other players, coaches and teamwork.

At the 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge, Xin Ni played in two key matches that helped ITTF Hopes team finished as group champion and thereafter in the semi-finals sealing ITTF Hopes team a Final outing.

In the 3rd group match against Latin America, Xin Ni playing as 3rd singles, beat Latin America player Divina Ding 3-0 (11-4,11-5,11-8). ITTF Hopes team went on to win 4-1 to be group champion. In the semi-finals playoff against Poland, Xin Ni again played 3rd singles and won 3-2 in an exciting, gruelling match, showing her steel despite under pressure to bring in the winning point. Xin Ni won her match 8-11, 12-10,11-8, 6-11,11-9 against  Polish player Ilona Sztwiertnia. ITTF Hopes team went on to win 3-1 against Poland.

Lee Xin Ni (1st from Right) with her ITTF Teammates with their Silver medals.

The rest of Hopes team members are Ser Li Qian (Singapore), Sophie Earley (Ireland) and Emily Tan (USA).

Hopes team, however, lost 0-3 to team Europe in the Finals. Xin Ni did not play in the Final.

Table Tennis Association Malaysia (TTAM) Vice President, Dr. Chin Kuen Liang said, “Although Xin Ni did not get to play in the Final match, she has shown exemplary and commendable attitude and progress. There’s always a tremendous pressure playing in the 3rd singles to bring in the winning point and Xin Ni did it, demonstrating much maturity and skills in the two important matches.”

TTAM’s reinvention exercise, he said which focuses on emulating a “high impact performance” model is showing results.

“We are pleased that TTAM’s plan to have smooth succession of players to become podium abled athletes of world standing, is moving in the right direction,” Dr. Chin added.

AFT Features, AFTNews, Rugby, Sport

Asia’s first Rugby World Cup will leave an important and lasting legacy for tens of thousands of children in the region

  • 25,000 children and youth to benefit from their involvement in rugby for development programme ChildFund Pass It Back
  • More than 1.8 million tickets sold, with 50 per cent increase in opt-in ticket donations in a powerful show of support
  • Over £2 million pledged to ChildFund by global rugby community, including worldwide fans, RWC worldwide partners and merchandise operator
  • Most impactful Impact Beyond programme in Rugby World Cup history
The first ever Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia will leave a lasting legacy for tens of thousands of children from developing communities in the region, as part of World Rugby’s Impact Beyond programme.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the global rugby family, the award-winning rugby for development programme ChildFund Pass It Back will now be expanded to six countries in Asia, giving more than 25,000 children the chance to play, learn and grow through their involvement in rugby.

In addition, donated funds will support emergency relief activities in Japan, with ChildFund and its partners operating in accordance with government authorities to provide assistance to communities recently impacted by the devastation caused by Typhoon Hagibis.

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 has proven to be a very special tournament in every way.

“It has demonstrated the best of rugby and Japan, characterised by family, community and solidarity off the field, and compelling, world-class sport on the field, engaging new fans in record numbers.

There has been a 50% increase in opt-in donation to ChildFund

“With more than 1.8 million tickets purchased, we have seen a 50 per cent increase in opt-in donations to ChildFund, surpassing any tournament in history.

“Coupled with the support of our worldwide partners, more than £2 million has been pledged to a programme that will support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Asia.”

Japan 2019 has already been a breakthrough event with record-breaking levels of game attendance, broadcast audience numbers, and fan engagement across social and digital media.

The pool stage and quarter-finals showcased the best of Japan and the best of rugby on and off the field, with some unexpected results and outstanding performances set to generate many edge-of-the-seat moments for fans watching the upcoming semi-finals and finals.

ChildFund CEO Nigel Spence said: “It has been an incredible privilege to be a part of this global sporting event, and we are humbled by the extraordinary support shown by the global rugby community.

ChildFund aims to improve the lives of vulnerable children in Asia

“The Rugby World Cup may soon be coming to an end, but ChildFund’s work to improve the lives of vulnerable children in Asia will continue, boosted by the support from the rugby family.

“Not only will these young people have the opportunity to play the game we all know and love, but they will learn valuable life skills, drive positive social change, and have the potential to break the cycle of disadvantage in their communities.”

In the coming years, ChildFund will continue to partner with Asia Rugby and World Rugby to bring ChildFund Pass It Back to children and young people across Asia.

Ross Mitchell, Asia Rugby’s General Manager, said: “We are excited to be continuing our work with ChildFund and building a new generation of rugby players in the region.

“Together, we can ensure that more girls, children from developing communities, and young people living in rural and remote areas have the opportunity to benefit from the transformative power of sport.”

For more information on the ChildFund Pass it Back programme, visit www.childfundpassitback.org

AFT Features, AFTNews, Fitness, Footwear

Nasi Lemak Shoes by ASICS

The Nasi Lemak has been a staple of Malaysian food for years and you can find it almost anywhere in the country, at any time of the day. There have been a few variations of the famous dish but shoes is a new one.

ASICS Malaysia has announced its first-ever foray into the local sneaker scene with a special rendition of the GEL-KAYANO 5 OG, inspired by the Nasi Lemak dish, presented by local multi-label retail store, Hundred% (hundred percent) and Malaysia’s biggest sneaker event, SneakerLAH, held on 5 – 6 October 2019.

Giving a local twist to the famed retro silhouette of the GEL-KAYANO 5 OG, it transformed an ordinary sneaker into something close to the hearts of many Malaysians by taking inspiration from the nation’s popular dish.

Not quite yummy in the tummy but is as delicious for your feet

This special edition of the GEL-KAYANO 5 OG design represents the vibrant colours of the Nasi Lemak dish to reflect the unity amongst the diverse cultures in Malaysia. Off-white represents the rice and egg white, while green  signifies cucumber. Red reflects the chilli paste, while yellow takes the form of the yolk. The whole palette is finished off with a hint of brown, reflecting the nuts and anchovies.

“What we love about the shoe colourway re-design is that; it centres around the nasi lemak which is a dish that everyone likes and a societal knot that all Malaysians can relate to and instantly love,” said Boon Tib Soom Nik, Country Manager of ASICS Malaysia.

“Through this shoe, we hope to share with everyone that feeling of unity, and to spread the love to all corners of the globe,” he added.

The GEL-KAYANO 5 OG ‘Nasi Lemak Shoe’ was available for purchase at SneakerLAH 2019 for RM599 and had only a limited quantity of 500.

 

Features Singapore, Fitness, Home Gym

Starting your pain-free journey with a postural check

Singapore ranks among the highest in the world for body and head pain, according to the 2017 GSK Global Pain Index which surveyed 19,000 adults across 32 countries. About 85 percent of 500 Singaporeans surveyed reported having experienced head and body pain, with four in 10 suffering body pain every week. The statistics of pain are not just attributed to an aging population, statistics of more cases of knee arthritis plaguing young and active Singaporeans have been on the rise as well.  

There are different degrees of sedentary danger

However, there are hidden muscle groups in our bodies that are under-utilised and sadly in the case of a population growing ever sedentary, completely switched off. For many Singaporeans, the muscles in the hip complex are not triggering, which becomes a major cause of concern, affecting people across all ages and walks of life. 

As the growing number of patients suffering from chronic pain from and without exercise increases, it becomes clearer that a postural check is becoming as important as a health check, and that having a good trainer, who knows the exercises you need to guide you along is the way forward.

Unfortunately, Singaporeans are not as aware of their health as they would like to think. The issues and problems that eventually result in chronic pain are often compounded, and people only get aware of it when pain and discomfort comes and doesn’t go away. Here are some things we can do today to address pain before you feel it and to see how a postural check is essential in helping the muscles in the hip complex.

Understanding the hip complex 

The muscles in the hip complex are part of the human kinetic chain, when strong and mobile, it helps to relieve pressure from your lower back & knee joints (two of the most problematic joints), minimising the chance of injuries.

There is a wide range of movement that is available to our anatomy. In the case of the hip complex, understanding the range of motion that you have is important.

People tend to be stronger in front to back movements (sagittal plane) as seen in when we sit down and stand up. We enjoy a similar level of strength through rotational movements (transverse plane) when we get in and out of cars.

However, we are weaker through side-to-side movements (frontal plane) when we engage in more demanding physical activities, such as salsa, or belly dancing. No matter how you look at it, the hip complex is an integral part of many movements that we engage in to get through our day, and the list gets even more detailed.

The planes of movements we have available to the hip complex

Get a postural check done

Similar to a health screening, a postural check is important, it gives you a detailed front, side, and back view. This overall picture gives your trainers and your health coaches insights into any lapses in your posture, to clearly identify the problems you are facing now, and to prevent other issues that could arise from a neglected hip complex.                            

Fixing bad habits

Posture and the way we move is inherently unique between individuals. A good postural check will reveal the bad habits that you are unaware of. 

Here are some of the common ones that we see in regards to the hip complex:

1) Locking your knees when you are standing. Are you aware of the weight shift when you stand? Are you favouring one leg more than the other? Being attuned to the weight shift when you stand, will let you and your trainer know the steps to take to regain a neutral stance.

2) Tight calf muscles. A common problem that comes with a dormant hip complex. Under the careful supervision of a qualified trainer and with a set of exercises done with a wobble board, the tightness will be gone before you know it. Looking good in heels in useless if you come back home in pain ladies.                            

3) Forward head tilt. Our excessive use of screens and weak back muscles are a primary cause of this.   

4) Forward roll on shoulders, and a rounded back. Being hunched over the desk using the computer for long hours is a key culprit.             

Switching on and off certain muscles

“Activate your core”. The advice we hear from fitness professionals more often these days. Just because your core is fired up during a planking exercise does not mean that it has to be all the time. 

By referring to the postural check, your trainer will be able to gauge from how you move to identify which muscles are overworking, and which ones are overly dormant. This knowledge is invaluable to prescribing the right exercises. Muscles that are unknowingly being fired up all the time, you will eventually encounter issues of muscle imbalance, which can result in unnecessary injury.

In conclusion

The importance of posture and how bad posture can damage you

Singapore’s push for more exercise across the board is a great direction, the Exercise Is Medicine Singapore initiative has been gaining traction, where more medical professionals are subscribing to include exercise as part of their patients’ prescriptions as we see benefits that range from combatting lifestyle diseases to curing chronic pain. The human body is a fascinating and complex machine, able to compensate to still function a detailed article gives us a glimpse of the other ways that our bodies could otherwise respond.

With the advancements in sports science, exercise prescriptions have changed over the years. And the importance of the muscles in the hip complex become ever more relevant to an increasingly digital lifestyle. Understand that everyone is different, the exercises that we should follow through from our postural checks might seem challenging, and the changes look small, but they are ultimately crucial for us to live pain-free.                      

 

AFT Features, AFTNews, Beauty & Health, Men's Health, Travel & Wellness, Wellness, Women's Health

Fight Obesity At Its Core with CGH Earth Wellness

As the pace of the modern lifestyle continues to pick up speed, most people rely on making unhealthier lifestyle and dietary choices as a way to destress. Unfortunately, this has witnessed detrimental consequences on the health of the global population. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 650 million adults above the age of 18 were obese in 2016. In light of World Obesity Day happening on 11 October, join CGH Earth Wellness on a journey back to the simplicity and purity of ancient Indian lifestyles to fight weight management issues and improve overall well-being. 

Holistic Healing

Just as the onset of obesity is triggered by the accumulation of numerous undesirable lifestyle habits, the success of its treatment stems from making strategic changes to various aspects of one’s lifestyle. At CGH Earth Wellness, ancient Indian practices provide the foundation to undergo effective weight loss by heightening mental, physical and spiritual well-being. 

CGH Earth Wellness adopts a holistic healing approach tailored to each individual

With a plethora of treatment possibilities available to combat obesity, CGH Earth Wellness adopts a holistic healing approach tailored to each individual. According to Ayurvedic principles, treating conditions such as obesity requires intervention that considers the crucial totality of our overall well-being. At NABH-accredited Kalari Kovilakom and Kalari Rasayana, consult certified Vaidyas (Sanskrit word meaning “physician”) for an extensive examination of your body to understand your Doshas, or body constitution. Dr. Jouhar, Vaidya at Kalari Kovilakom, shares, “The three Doshas – Vatha, Pitha and Kapha are of equal importance in the aetiology of obesity. The first step in addressing obesity is hence to balance the Doshas. Dosha imbalance stems from the accumulation of toxins in the body and can be reversed once such impurities are removed from the body’s systems.” 

Through a systematic programme that takes place over 14 to 28 days, manage obesity with treatments such as Udwarthanam – a massage designed to remove adipose fat and Vasthies – a medicated enema to improve metabolism. Such processes eliminate excess cellulite deposits and utilise fats effectively, helping to purify the body and prevent diseases for better wellness. 

CGH Earth’s Ayurveda Meal Preparation

Across all CGH Earth wellness centres, a salubrious food philosophy permeates the gastronomic experience delivered to guests. Using fresh, ingredients and produce from local village farmers engaging in good agricultural practices, meal preparation focuses on helping each individual attain a healthy weight as prescribed by the doctors based on the reason behind their weight gain. The culinary team works in tandem with the healing ethos, remaining fiercely dedicated to nourishing the individual’s body and soul with needed goodness and vitality. 

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Testament to the adage, the school of Ayurveda speaks of establishing a deep connection with the self to be better attuned to body signals and rebalance the Doshas to nip obesity in the bud. 

Get in touch with your inner self at SwaSwara, a sanctuary to nurture your Prakruti, the innermost nature of an individual. Located on the serene Om Beach in Gokarana, SwaSwara believes that the combination of yoga and meditation strengthens the body while embracing the inner self, allows the body and mind to converge in a harmonious equilibrium for a deep understanding of the self. 

At Prakriti Shakti, a clinic of natural living or naturopathy, obesity treatments are about both eliminating the root cause and engaging in preventive cure. By integrating the five elements into healing in the form of energy medicine, art therapy, yoga and meditation and more, the doctors in naturopathy healing work on the ‘doctor is the teacher’ philosophy – helping you awaken the innate healing force to repair and rejuvenate your mind and body. For lasting results, guests are advised to incorporate the prescribed personal schedule into their daily lives, one that involves yoga, dietary recommendations and lifestyle changes curated based on each individual’s mental and physical health. 

Rest and Recharge

Dining space at CGH Earth Kovilakom

Beyond taking a holistic approach towards the treatment and prevention of obesity, getting ample rest remains the key to slowing down the growth of rising obesity rates worldwide. With consistent sleep cycles lasting between seven to nine hours each night, the human body is placed under the perfect conditions to restore one’s mental and physical health. 

CGH Earth Wellness firmly believes that the quality of rest is dependent on one’s environment. Across its various retreats, CGH Earth offers the peace and quiet you deserve in your escapade from the hustle of urban living. Be it the gentle caress of the Paravur backwaters at Kalari Rasayana, the pure and unpolluted hills of Panchalimedu that house Prakriti Shakti 2,500 feet above sea-level, or the privacy within the walls of SwaSwara’s villas, enjoy uninterrupted rest in the abode that resonates best with your inner voice. 

AFT Features, AFT Partners, AFTNews

The 2020 TaiSPO, Connecting the Sports and Fitness Ecosystem

The 2020 Taipei International Sporting Goods Show (TaiSPO) will be held at Taiwan World Trade Center (TWTC) Hall 1 on March 5-7, 2020. TaiSPO 2020 will be held in conjunction with Taipei CYCLE, one of the world’s top three bicycle exhibitions. The total number of booths is expected to exceed 5,000, creating Asia’s most complete sporting goods procurement platform. This platform will present the industry’s latest trends to professionals from around the world, creating excellent opportunities for business partnerships.

Growth in global fitness trends points to a strong future market 

TaiSPO 2020 will be the 47th edition of the show

TaiSPO is the best venue for domestic fitness equipment manufacturers to display their latest products and develop business opportunities. TaiSPO 2019 represented the 46th edition of the show, exhibiting fitness equipment, outdoor sporting equipment, diving equipment, water sports equipment, sportswear and accessories, and ball-based sporting goods. Exhibitors showcasing at TaiSPO 2019 included major fitness equipment manufacturers such as Johnson, Dyaco, Tong Geng, Joong Cheen, Strength Master, Intenza, Health Stream, Sports Art, and TONIC FITNESS. Johnson displayed fitness equipment connected with smart technology, featuring digital technology for commercial use, a complete smart solution for fitness clubs and gyms.

Smart Sports continues to be the leading trend in sports technology

The Smart Sports Area was the highlight of TaiSPO 2019

The Smart Sports Area was the highlight of TaiSPO 2019. Exhibitors included Taiwan’s leading smart clothing manufacturers, Everest Textile, Makalot, Asiatic Fiber and Tex-Ray Industrial, demonstrating the latest smart clothing and wearable devices. Moreover, Korean entrepreneurs from South Korea’s DAEJEON TECHNOPARK participated in TaiSPO 2019 for the first time. Exhibited products included simulated skateboards, golf swing electronic-assisted exercise machines and 4D somatosensory fitness games. These exhibitors are satisfied with the results and will expand their participation in TaiSPO 2020, bringing more sports technology power to TaiSPO 2020.

Sports services and sports event supplies complete the sports industry ecosystem

Beyond demonstrating the latest fitness equipment, TaiSPO 2020 will include more software-based systems, such as fitness courses, sports medical science, membership management, sports technology monitoring, and sports nutrition, linking the entire fitness industry ecosystem together. Furthermore, TaiSPO 2020 manages the ‘Sports Event Supplies’, showcasing Taiwan’s invisible champion – the fact that many international sports games use functional fiber, sports shoes, and sports balls manufactured in Taiwan, highlight Taiwan’s brilliant in the international sports arena, creating a more complete picture of Taiwan’s sporting goods industry.

TaiSPO 2019 attracted over 1,700 buyers from around the world

TaiSPO 2019 attracted over 1,700 buyers from around the world to develop partnerships, including LIFE FITNESS, the top global brand in commercial fitness equipment, TECHNOGYM from Italy, and DECATHLON from France. 80 one-on-one trade meetings were held during the show. Furthermore, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are expected to bring a new wave of business opportunities for Taiwan’s sporting goods and fitness industry.

For more details and information on TaiSPO 2020 and its forums, please visit the official website:

Taipei International Sporting Goods Show (TaiSPO): www.taispo.com.tw

To register for the event, please call the organizer TAITRA:

Tel: 02-2725-5200 ext. 2658, E-mail: taispo@taitra.org.tw

AFT Features, AFTNews, Fitness, Men's Health, Women's Health

PUMA House of Hustle

PUMA House of Hustle was held at Sentul Depot, Kuala Lumpur on 28 – 29 September 2019. The main events were training sessions, 3-on-3 futsal and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments.

 

The training sessions were held three times a day and each had a total duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes. We participated in Session 2 of the first day of PUMA House of Hustle.

They had Animal Flow, Rhythmic Boxing and HIIT for all of the training sessions. We found all of the exercise quite challenging. The movements were a little bit hard to follow but it was fun because we learned new things from Animal Flow and Rhythmic Boxing.

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Animal flow is a training that focused largely around ground-based work and it develops mobility as well as power. Animal Flow is inspired by animal movements and focusses on improving our core stability, overall strength and body awareness without any fitness equipment. Dany found it to be quite difficult as he has not been active the past few months.

Next up was Rhythmic Boxing – a 45 minutes workout slated to be the next generation of boxing where each punch and slide is driven by music beats. This, again, exhausted Dany as the intensity was very high and the movement also quite difficult for him. He didn’t manage to finish the session but was quite impressed with some of the participants that managed to finished the second segment and also the fact that they stayed to continue with the last segment.

The last segment of PUMA’s House of Hustle was HIIT or High-Intensity Interval Training. By this time the boys were quite exhausted but they soldiered on to prove to themselves that they can do it, except for Dany. He tried but faltered quite a few times. Maybe they were inspired to continue with the session as the other participants had not quit.

There was an emcee that was present during the breaks in between exercises. He was great and kept interacting with the participants.

Delicious and healthy Jello

The event was also surrounded by many booths like food, beverage, sports accessories. We got a chance to try a refreshing coconut jelly called ‘Jello’ after we were done with the training sessions. There are many toppings that you can choose like cendol, brown sugar, mango and many more.

Then, we went to the warehouse next door to watch the futsal and basketball tournaments, and other games.  The place was filled with the crowd cheering and supporting each other.

They also had a ninja warrior-like obstacle course, basketball shooting, golf simulator and punching bag.

Overall we had a great and pleasant time in participating in the event. They also enjoyed the vibe around the venue that gave out a cool and chill vibe.

 

From left: Shauqi, Ahmad and Dany

Shauqi loves to play sports such as volleyball and badminton. A coffee lover, he invites readers to have coffee with him.

Ahmad is trying to become a professional e-sports player, specifically Mobile Legends. Follow and like his idn: Schen.

Dany is a 20-year-old who looks 15. Follow this normal lad from KL on Instagram: @danyhaiqal