Home

A recent study in the International Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health has shown a positive correlation between the number of times people shopped and their health. Men who shopped on a daily basis had a 28% greater probability of living longer while women’s probability increased by 23%.

The study suggests that men have better results due to the psychological benefits of increased interactions with other people and engagement with their community, which traditionally men are less likely to do. Social engagement leads to greater happiness, which plays a big part in longevity.

The study used data obtained from 1,841 elderly Taiwanese people taken between 1999-2000. To get a true perspective of the health benefits of shopping the data set included the frequency people shop as well as their physical, social and economic status and their cognitive functionality. As one would expect the younger people in the group shopped more often.
Many of the benefits derived from shopping come from getting around and being on the move. Given the size and geographic distribution of many retail outlets in the shopping centers, shoppers often have to travel greater distances to reach the desired shops.

Of course, shopping is not the only way to get these great benefits and you shouldn’t rely on this exclusively for your exercise.

An alternative solution to the documented benefits of companionship and exercise you get in a modern shopping center with all the artificial light, devoid of anything natural, is to go for walks outside of these environments. Although it’s great that shopping can provide the motivation to engage in some form of physical exercise it can also be expensive.

It is far better for your wallet if you get healthy by enjoying your local neighborhood. We live in a day and age where we have the most advanced apparel to manage every conceivable weather situation be it heavy rain, extreme heat or freezing temperatures. So there really isn’t any excuse for not getting outside and going for a gentle walk with your friends, family or neighbors – and not just to the shop!

Shopping has evolved into a leisure activity with the modern shopping center operators happy to encourage increased patronage with glitzy and surreal surroundings. While the old adage “retail therapy” can be a bit of tongue and cheek, one can argue that there are more health and psychological benefits that provide a cheaper option than the stimulus provided by these artificial environments.

After 2 years since being contacted by the City of Yarra in May 2008 about whether Fitstyler was conducting Boot camps on the war memorial in Barkley Gardens in Richmond we now have resolution.

In what started as a highly restrictive policy against fitness trainers in the City of Yarra has ended in a more amicable policy “Commercial Fitness Activity Personal Trainers Policy and Permit System” that balances the needs of the local community, park users, commercial fitness operators and the long term sustainability of open space infrastructure.

With the growing popularity of outdoor fitness training, we needed a policy that addresses not only the current but future usage of parks and gardens. More importantly it gives the public confidence in knowing that any fitness trainer undertaking exercise classes will need to have Public Liability Insurance of $10,000,000 and Public Indemnity of $5,000,000 together with appropriate qualifications.

A big thank you to the commercial fitness operators, Kinect Australia, The Age and the City of Yarra officers, in particular Mark Dornau, Greg Anders, Stuart Grant, Jenny O’Brien and Caitlin Ryan. Without their support and belief in the benefits of providing accessible exercise programs to the public, none of this would have been possible.

No doubt there will be similar challenges in the future with councils who have not formally addressed the regulation of their parks and gardens. I can only hope that the process, documentation and outcomes from the City of Yarra can form the foundations and direction for future councils to adopt.

Like I always like to say, persistence overrides resistance, whether it’s trying to lose weight to changing a proposed by-law:))

Who would have thought that even when fighting Zombies, you need to be fit.
A new movie released this summer called Zombieland starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg has a narration by the hero Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) about some hints to cope with getting through life with the Zombies.

Cardio, or physical fitness, is of paramount importantance. Because…. as we all know,. movie Zombies theses days are bloody fast.

So even when trying to out run Zombies, being fit does have it’s advantages, well in this case you survive another day:)))

Yarra Council has introduces a new Personal Trainer Local Law for commercial fitness operators operating in parks across Abbotsford, Clifton Hill, Fairfield, Fitzroy North, Fitzroy, Richmond, Carlton North and Richmond.
Further details can be viewed in our Yarra Council personal trainer permit update.

It’s great to see that after getting an exceptional response from the public, the media and commercial fitness operators we now have a much need local law for any personal Trainer or commercial fitness operators in the City of Yarra.

Unusual Exercise #5 The 50m sprint to your car to catch the number plate of a hit & run vehicle, while being a victim of the incident.
I noticed at boot camp this morning, a person hit one of our clients car as they were attempted to leave the carpark.

Well the person did a U turn and made a hasty getaway as we ran after the car on foot to retrieve the number plate. The damage: a few deep gauges to the bumper bar and a not very impressed Fitmate as she had only just recently purchased the car.

if you’re looking for other unusual exercises involving running, try running through dangerous neighbourhoods

So with people having a relaxed approach to other peoples property, I’m sure if the timing is right, there will be opportunities for your own unusual 50-100 meter exercise sprint.