YMCA's and Curves' Adoption of Breakthrough Computerized Coaching and Measuring System Launches the Dawn of Preventive Healthcare by Gyms
Curves international and the YMCA simultaneously adopted a breakthrough technology that coaches and motivates exercisers, digitally records their activities, and numerically grades their health and fitness conditioning.


    MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA, November 12, 2008 /Canada PR News/ -- Curves International has this month begun rolling out its version of a new automated coaching system called "Curves Smart". Earlier this year, YMCAs in both Des Moines and Guelph Ontario have also instituted their coaching systems called "Smart Track." Both versions are powered by an emerging technology called MYTRAK which is fast becoming the de facto standard of exercise motivation and measurement.

The fitness industry is embarking on a new era of intelligent exercise machines that are more appealing to the general population. By urging the out-of-shape to exercise in their
ideal fitness zones, a simple 30-minute workout yields even greater health benefit to reduce preventable diseases and stem the rising tide of healthcare costs.

The new technology "Is essentially a computerized personal coaching system that gives you precision designed workouts, moment to moment feedback, and a monthly report card to keep you motivated", explains Gary Heavin, Founder and CEO of Curves International, "That's a huge breakthrough in fitness as we know it."

The system automatically recognizes the member at each machine, their reps, exertion, heart rate, range of motion, and tempo. There is a user friendly dashboard that gives immediate feedback using a red, yellow, and green light metaphor. Green means good, yellow means push a little harder, and red means you're pushing too hard.

Vernon Delpesce, the CEO of the greater Des Moines YMCAs adds, "The biggest thing is the recording of the sessions, and the simplicity when a person is using the equipment, the way the lights come on to show you if you are doing it well, or if you are doing it just O.K., or if you are not doing it well at all."

According to fitness pioneer Heavin, seminal changes in the fitness industry occur only once every decade. He should know since he launched the last major change, that of the 30-minute express gym industry, whereby Curves succeeded in getting 4 million women off the couch and into a gym for the first time.

Heavin recalled that the automated coaching idea is something, "I have been thinking about for a long time". He gained experience years ago with "an artificially intelligent humanoid coaching system" at a previous company before he ever founded Curves. Curves International went on to invest millions of dollars in R&D working with Baylor University on new machines with built in intelligence, but recently found a better solution by collaborating with MYTRAK which could retrofit intelligence onto existing machines to keep costs down.

The intelligent core that makes all this possible is powered by MYTRAK - invented by a Toronto-based company that has perfected a way to add intelligence to all forms of exercise machines. It is able to translate human movement and exertion into meaningful and graphical health data.

The Impact on the Healthcare System
It's axiomatic that active exercise can curb the spiraling costs of healthcare. According to the CDC, roughly 75% of healthcare spending pays for illnesses which are preventable. The solution is to motivate people to adopt sustainable exercise by removing the intimidation factors that have hitherto kept them away.

The typical health club model, now in its 26th year, is out of synch with those that need exercise the most, the overweight, the deconditioned and the sedentary populations that avoid intimidating gyms filled mostly with narcissistic twentysomethings and thirtysomethings.

Luckily, for the 86% of the population that are non-gym-goers, there have been two welcome oases of endearment, Curves and the YMCAs. Here, the out-of-favor can feel sincerely welcomed and encouraged to improve their health. Now with the added intelligence layer, Curves and the Ys can further advance the health of ordinary people while still adhering to their user-friendly mission and a 30-minute maximum workout.

The new systems monitor the workouts, translates the data into charts and graphs and make the information readily accessible to physicians, insurers and employers for trend analyses.

"The data that comes from Curves Smart is going to help us to give empirical evidence to the insurance companies," said Heavin, "So that they could further their commitment into wellness and move away from just treating illness."

A Universal Measurement of Health and Fitness Conditioning
As there exists numeric means of measuring a health biomarkers such as blood pressure and cholesterol, a vital metric is emerging as the new standard of measurement of fitness state, called a Performance Index. The Performance Index is automatically calculated by MYTRAK and offers additional motivation for health improvement as users see their number improves.

"We created the Performance Index to provide a universal outcome measurement value that can be analyzed by the individual exerciser, fitness staff, personal trainers, medical experts, insurers, and employers." Said Reed Hanoun, founder and CEO of MYTRAK Health System.

Of the index, Heavin summarized, "We think it will be a new standard to measure health. It will become accepted both in the healthcare industry, but also in the educational realm."

The Emergence of Networks of Exercise Providers
The availability of networked health clubs for employers have been around for years. But memberships do not, per se, translate into improved employee health; employees have to actually attend and sweat for health benefits to accrue.

To promote a healthier population, many employers would gladly adopt a reward or rebate system if gym exercise could be verified. But, to date, it has fallen apart because it relies solely on employee honesty and self-reporting

Now, health clubs using MYTRAK can digitally verify exercise completion and efficacy. Any user on any machine, anywhere, can have their measurement data stored and forwarded via a network grid. The Performance Index serves as the universal gauge of health and fitness state.

In addition to offering Smart Track at one of his YMCAs in Des Moines, Delpesce is also building a medical based wellness center that will be operational in September 2008. There will be exercise equipment outfitted with Smart Track to provide health data back to referring physicians.

As Delpesce explains, "To be able to provide them with this data, on a regular basis, so when their patient comes back in to see them, they can discuss that with them, and they will have that data right in front of them...That is where we see the real value in the tracking mechanism."


About MYTRAK Health System
MYTRAK Health System of Mississauga, Canada has developed a state-of-the-art health system that is transforming the fitness industry into a key role in disease prevention and health cost reductions. The technology aides in health benefit/program delivery entry points, automated coaching, data tracking, activity measurement, internet connectivity, record storage, and outcome reporting all streamlined to meet the needs of everyone that benefit from healthy lifestyles. The company is in the process of establishing networks of participating exercise providers consisting of both for-profit health clubs and non-profit fitness centers. Phone (888) 431-8626 or visit www.mytrakhealth.com .



Press release distributed by FitCommerce.com (860) 961-4987

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