Contact:
Matthew Hendison
Chief Officer, Marketing & Entertainment
My Gym Enterprises
818-907-6966 x115
mhendison@mygym.com

My Gym Seeks Candidates for “The My Gym Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Health & Fitness Award for 2012″

Individuals can recommend their local children’s fitness advocates on the My Gym Enterprises’ Facebook and Twitter pages

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. (Grassroots Newswire) <Date> – My Gym Enterprises (MGE), a leader in children’s fitness, announces The My Gym Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Health & Fitness Award for 2012, designed to recognize one individual’s commitment to the cause of children’s health & fitness. MGE believes that this award will draw attention to the work of the nominee and the public or not-for- profit organization which he or she serves.

To identify a pool of candidates for this award, MGE is asking its Facebook and Twitter fans and followers to recommend a friend, coworker, family member or other individual in their local community who works to promote children’s health and fitness at a public or not-for-profit organization. MGE will then consider these recommendations and select one individual to receive The My Gym Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Health & Fitness Award for 2012. MGE will announce the name of the Award recipient on their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/mygymfun) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/mygyment) on March 12. That recipient will, in turn, be asked to recommend a public or non-profit organization to receive a $1,000 donation of products and/or services from MGE.

“We hope that My Gym’s friends and families will take the time to recommend someone they know who is working in our communities to champion this important cause,” said Matthew Hendison, Chief Marketing & Entertainment Officer for My Gym Enterprises. “We believe that it’s critical to encourage children to develop healthy habits early as the foundation for a healthy lifestyle as they grow.”

Anyone may recommend an individual for the award by following My Gym Enterprises on Facebook or Twitter and then posting a link on My Gym Enterprises’ Facebook wall or Twitter page to the public or not- for-profit organization where their nominee is an employee or volunteer. Posters are asked to include a comment with their link about why they feel this individual should receive this recognition.  MGE will consider all recommendations and select the individual they believe is best qualified to be The My Gym Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Health & Fitness Award for 2012” recipient.  While the number of recommendations an individual receives will influence the choice of the award recipient, it will not be the sole determining factor. In making their selection, My Gym Enterprises will consider a number of other factors including, but not limited to, the nature of the comments posted about an individual.

“We hope that The My Gym Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Health & Fitness Award for 2012 will grow in stature over time and provide all of our local My Gym children’s fitness centers with a platform to promote the ideal of selfless community service in the interest of children’s health and fitness,” said Hendison. “We also want to shine a light on the many public schools, charitable organizations, public service institutions and private (not for profit) organizations in the communities where our gyms are located that serve children’s needs in the area of health & fitness.”

To learn more about My Gym and “The My Gym Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Health & Fitness Award for 2012″, please visit our website at www.MyGym.com or join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mygymfun or Twitter at https://twitter.com/mygyment.

About My Gym Enterprises

Established in 1983, My Gym is the #1-ranking fitness center destination for children with 200 locations worldwide, including international locations in Hong Kong, France, and Brazil among others. More than 30 additional locations are planned to open worldwide in the next 12 months. My Gym combines innovative, early physical education/pre-gymnastics classes with state-of-the-art facilities to empower children – ages 6 weeks to 13 years – by helping them acquire the skills, confidence and positive self-image needed to become healthy young adults. My Gym’s award winning, structured, noncompetitive, and age-appropriate classes enhance children’s overall physical development through games, music, exercise, sports, gymnastics, puppets, special rides, and fun. The children gain strength, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor proficiency, agility, flexibility and social skills. The My Gym television show, “My Gym At Home” airs on BabyFirstTV, a 24/7 commercial-free channel focusing on children’s development. For more information, please visit www.MyGym.com.

The Activators (www.TheActivators.net) is a motivational group designed to give kids the confidence that videogames just can’t impart.  They were launched by My Gym Children’s Fitness Center, (www.MyGym.com).  Comprised of four My Gym teachers who sing and dance, while engaging in comedy and exercise, the Activators teach kids to embrace their health and well-being.  Kids can log on to www.TheActivators.net and have fun with The Activator’s videos as they demonstrate their Exer-Sillies. Kids can also sign up to make a pledge to be an Activator themselves and stay fit (a promise to stay healthy).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

Stacey Levy

Davis Public Relations

Email: stacey@davispr.com

Cell: +1.310.418.2714

Office: +1.818.986.0323

Workout Routine from The Activators Can Help Kids Earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award

Fitness entertainment group from My Gym Children’s Fitness Center offers 30 minutes of fun warm up activities to get kids moving

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. (Grassroots Newswire) <Date>  - As official advocates of The President’s Challenge and to help combat childhood obesity, The Activators have created a fun workout routine for kids to help them achieve the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). The Activators are a recently launched children’s fitness entertainment group formed through My Gym Children’s Fitness Center.

Get your kids away from the TV, out to the park, in the backyard or over at a friend’s house to do The Activators’ Daily PALA Workout. This half-hour warm-up is a perfect start to the hour of exercise kids need each day to earn their PALA certificate. Go to http://www.theactivators.net/pdf/presidents-challenge.pdf to download your Presidential Active Lifestyle Activity Award Worksheet from My Gym and The Activators.

Each exer-silly below has a 30-second demonstration video your kids can view on your smartphone!  Get fit and have FUN everyday with:

1. Lotsa’ Pasta (3 minutes) – Warm up with Lotsa’ Pasta! When you do Lots a’ Pasta you can turn your arms into make believe pasta.  It’s simple, just relax your arms and make them real loose, then wiggle them around up and down and all around, just like pasta. It’s silly and fun. Try it.
1. Want to see an example of Lotsa’ Pasta? Text LOTSA to 21534.
2. Silly Circles (3 minutes) – Anybody want to do Silly Circles?  Not just normal circles but big, crazy, silly ones. Start with your arms at your side then swing them both up and over your heads and back to where they started. Do it 5 times. Wait, stop. Try it again but this time go backwards!
1. Want to see an example of Silly Circles? Text SILLY to 21534.
3. Freeze Frame (3 minutes) – Lets’ play Freeze Frame!  Start by jogging in place. Then whenever you feel like it, yell “FREEZE” and try to stop and not move. Do it again. Did you move? Do it three times. Now have mom or dad test you and have them yell freeze! Did you move?
1. Want to see an example of Freeze Frame? Text FREEZE to 21534.
4. Rocketeer (3 minutes) – Rocketeer is tons of fun and helps build your leg muscles. First you have to bend your knees and get down real low. Then, count to three, jump up high and blast off!  Try it three times.
1. Want to see an example of Rocketeer? Text ROCKETEER to 21534.
5. Kicksters (3 minutes) – Kicksters are easy! First jump in the air and while you are way up there, kick your feet behind you and move your arms. Then, land right back on your feet and try it again, this time higher. Try it three times.
1. Want to see an example of Kicksters? Text KICKSTERS to 21534.
6. Ribbits (3 minutes) – What says “Ribbit?” A cow? A dog? Nope a frog! It’s fun to jump like a frog. First, squat down and get real low. Then, take a big jump forward landing on both feet and squatting back down low. Try it three times and see how high and far you can jump.
1. Want to see an example of Ribbits? Text RIBBITS to 21534.
7. Loosy Goosy (3 minutes) – Let’s start to cool down and get Loosy Goosy. Just relax and let your arms dangle, let your chin touch your chest and bend your knees just a little. Don’t fall asleep! Wake up and jump high in the sky! Do it again five times.
1. Want to see an example of Loosy Goosy? Text GOOSY to 21534.
8. Kickstand (3 minutes) – Kickstand is fun and great for your leg muscles. It also helps you to have better balance. First, place your hands to your side. Then bring just one leg up, and kick it out. Be careful not to fall over.  Try it five times with your right leg, then do it five times with your left leg.
1. Want to see an example of Kickstand? Text KICKSTAND to 21534.

In support of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition is challenging Americans of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to achieve their PALA. The PALA requires youth participants, ages 6-17, to engage in physical activity for 60 minutes, five days per week, for six out of eight weeks. Adults should participate in 30 minutes of physical activity for the same duration. All participants who complete the PALA will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the co-chairs of the President’s Council, Drew Brees and Dominique Dawes.

For more information on The Activators or to watch more fun videos please visit www.TheActivators.net or “like” our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mygymfun?ref=ts#!/Activators.

To read more about My Gym, the leader in kids’ fitness and activity with 225 locations worldwide, please visit www.MyGym.com or “like” our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mygymfun?ref=ts

# # #

The Activators Offer Fun Fitness Tips for National Physical Fitness & Sports Month

Children’s Fitness Entertainment Group From My Gym Gets Creative to Get Kids Moving

SHERMAN OAKS, CA–(Marketwire – Apr 26, 2011) – Did you know that National Physical Fitness & Sports Month is just around the corner?! Spring into action this May with The Activators — a recently launched children’s fitness entertainment group formed through My Gym Children’s Fitness Center.

Get silly, get fit and have FUN with these 5 creative tips from The Activators:

• Get in the Game! – Kids love to play so use your imagination and create simple games to make everyday activities like walking fun. Some well-known games are Eye-Spy, follow-the-leader, counting objects and not stepping on cracks in the sidewalk.
• Explore Outdoors! – Whether you’re exploring the backyard together or heading to the park, make exploration an exciting activity. Pretend to be pirates on a treasure hunt, imagine you’re on a jungle hike or go for a bike ride with the entire family!
• Just Dance! – No one has two left feet when they’re dancing with their kids, so put on some upbeat tunes and dance the afternoon away!
• Play Dates! – Be social! Meet up with other families and play games together like Frisbee, soccer or basketball. Or if your little ones are still too little, an easy game of catch will do the trick.
• Hero at Home! – If you find that most of your free time is spent on household chores, find a way to make them interactive. If you’re sweeping, mopping or vacuuming, why not teach your little one how they can be your big helper and your hero at home!

For more information on The Activators please visit www.TheActivators.net. To read more about My Gym, the leader in kids’ fitness with 225 locations worldwide, please visit www.MyGym.com.

When she announced her new Let’s Move campaign last month, first lady Michelle Obama focused on encouraging more physical activity for children and better nutrition through healthier food choices in schools. The campaign has the backing of several corporations and industries as well as federal agencies and the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.

Add one more industry to the list of supporters for the Let’s Move campaign: the health club industry. Within days of the announcement, the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) applauded the initiative.

“Mrs. Obama’s pragmatic, compassionate and hands-on approach to solving the problem will serve as an inspiring example on which all of us can model our efforts,” says Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president and CEO.

The health club industry already is helping get kids fit and curtailing childhood obesity. Currently, more than 22 percent of commercial health clubs offer children-specific programming, according to IHRSA, and almost 20 percent offer a kids-only section of the club. All told, health clubs serve more than 4.8 million members under the age of 18, including 1.13 million between the ages of 6 and 12 and 3.11 million between 13 and 17.

Further, the number of children using health clubs to exercise has increased 108 percent since 1990, according to IHRSA, and the number of first-time health club members under the age of 18 has doubled in 10 years. Also, 33 percent of fitness professionals teach kids’ classes, and 55 percent offer one-on-one personal training to youths aged 18 and younger.

Clubs designed specifically for the physical development of children also have turned into industry-recognized companies. Clubs such as The Little Gym and My Gym have made Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list the past few years. Another club, Fitwize 4 Kids, received Entrepreneur’s attention a few years ago.

“Anything that’s out there that’s going to supplement and encourage physical activity, the better,” says Phil Lawler of PE4life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enhancement of physical education programs. “My biggest concern with all these different types of models is to make sure we let kids be kids. We’ve got to make sure that fun is a major factor, even with health as our objective. If we turn them off to exercise, we’ve failed dramatically.”

THE LITTLE GYM

The Little Gym, Scottsdale, AZ, offers programs for kids as young as 4 months to 12 years old in areas such as gymnastics, dance, cheerleading, karate and sports skills development. The Little Gym franchisees are not required to have a personal training or physical education background but all franchisees go through a comprehensive program before opening their clubs.

“Our goal is to help children develop a love for physical activity and do what kids love best,” says Paul Dickison, vice president of marketing and brand management for The Little Gym. “They love to have fun, and they love to be energetic and active.”

Annual membership at The Little Gym, which ranked No. 141 on the Franchise 500 list, is $35 for one child and $60 for a family. Members pay for classes on top of that. A 20-week semester can range from $300 to $600 or $700, depending on the location of the club, Dickison says. Birthday parties and “parent survival nights,” where kids stay at The Little Gym while their parents go out on a date, bring in added revenue.

International revenue was down about 8 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 for The Little Gym, and domestic clubs were off slightly more than international clubs, Dickison says. Like all would-be club owners, potential franchisees of The Little Gym have found it difficult to get financing in the face of the recession, Dickison adds, but current franchisees have had success retaining members.

“Parents want to do what’s best for their children,” Dickison says. “We feel that many of the parents that are enrolled in our programs are willing to forgo some of the simple pleasures that they used to experience, such as their $4 latte or frequent trips to restaurants. Even as we rolled into 2009, where the economy was at its toughest place in this recession, we saw an improvement in our ability to retain customers from semester to semester. That being said, we did find it a little bit of a challenge to stimulate market interest with gaining new people into the gyms, but it was a modest impact compared to what other industries are feeling.”

MY GYM

My Gym, Sherman Oaks, CA, is a franchised brand of clubs for children, but it also offers something unique that may be the wave of the future. At a lower-cost franchise fee, franchisees can purchase a My Gym Mobile unit. This allows them to market to between 50 and 75 day care and preschool-type facilities as well as Montessori schools and after-school programs in the franchisee’s protected territory.

The mobile program and the fixed center-based clubs work toward My Gym’s mission of combating childhood obesity and making fitness fun, says Michael Chalovich, chief operating officer of My Gym, which ranked No. 208 on the Franchise 500 list. Because of the tough economy and cuts to physical activity in schools, the franchisees have been able to sell school administrators on their movement class and activity class, Chalovich says.

“It’s been a great bump for our franchisees to run the mobile program,” Chalovich says.

Parents pay around $70 a month for the fixed center, with a one-time $75 lifetime membership fee. My Gym Mobile franchisees can earn about $70 per class for kids ranging from about 2 to 12.

My Gym fixed centers also offer karate/martial arts training, a parents’ night out and birthday parties. Another unique aspect of My Gym is The Activators, an ensemble of teachers, athletes, singers and dancers whose goal is making fitness fun for kids on www.theactivators.net.

“We’re going to continue to work with anybody that we can that will help us get on board with [combating] childhood obesity and keeping kids active,” Chalovich says.

As a corporation, My Gym saw a reduction in revenue in 2009 due to the economy, Chalovich says, but franchisees’ royalty streams grew or stayed steady throughout the year.

FITWIZE 4 KIDS

Fitwize 4 Kids, Coral Springs, FL, separates itself from The Little Gym and My Gym in that it incorporates specially designed fitness equipment for kids. The target market for Fitwize 4 Kids is between 6 and 15 years old.

Fitwize 4 Kids clubs have a circuit setup and functional stations where kids can increase their agility by doing push-ups, sit-ups, squats and medicine ball work.

“The idea of utilizing equipment that’s specifically designed for kids is to make sure safety is always at the forefront of what Fitwize 4 Kids is doing,” says Nick Pommier, chief operating officer. “We’ve created a place that is fun for everyone, the kids all get along, we have a real supportive environment, but the training is focused on real training. It’s not about play. We’re really teaching them skills, lifestyle habits and just giving them the tools that they need to accomplish whatever goals they set for themselves.”

Kids can exercise and train at their own pace, and to keep them motivated, ribbons and trophies are awarded after the completion of different exercise tests. Fitwize 4 Kids also holds nutrition seminars, birthday parties and a kids’ night out.

“It’s amazing that a 6-year-old can take this type of information and become successful at anything they want to do,” Pommier says. “They build confidence, self-esteem, discipline. They get better grades in school. They go home and they start telling their parents what to eat.”

Pommier applauds the recently launched Let’s Move program, but he says that clubs like his put the initiative into action.

“They’re saying, ‘Let’s do something.’ But they’re still not saying, ‘Here’s how you do it,’” Pommier says. “It’s still missing the root. People are going to start saying, ‘We need all this. But now what?’ And Fitwize 4 Kids is the now what.”

Big-Box Clubs Offer Programs for Little Kids

Kid-oriented franchises aren’t the only clubs catering to children. Many multi-purpose clubs also offer programming for the little ones as a way to keep the whole family active.

Town Sports International (TSI), New York, which operates My Sports Clubs in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, has a wide range of programs in its Sports Clubs for Kids, located primarily in its New York and Boston clubs. Programs for members and nonmembers include cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, kickboxing, a kids yoga club and general youth sports conditioning. TSI clubs also offer a swim academy, tennis and squash programs, and summer camps.

Life Time Fitness, Chanhassen, MN, offers ongoing junior sports and fitness activities, including a fit academy, rock climbing, basketball, tennis, racquetball and squash. Seasonal fitness classes include martial arts, dance, volleyball and munchkin soccer. Life Time also has swim lessons at its U Swim School, as well as summer camps.

The Field House at Chelsea Piers, part of Chelsea Piers’ 30-acre complex in New York, offers three semesters of youth programming for children 12 months and older. Activities for youth classes include baseball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, dance and rock climbing.

Teens and tweens who are serious about sports can train at Chelsea Piers’ sports-specific BlueStreak training center. Youth programs at BlueStreak include general conditioning, baseball, basketball, hockey, football, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse and running. BlueStreak’s hockey training includes a hockey treadmill on which athletes are harnessed and skate on an incline.

Chelsea Piers has 16 summer camps for kids, four more than it had last year, according to the company.

Children-Only Clubs Could Serve as Role Models for Adult Clubs

Some club operators looking to add children’s fitness programming to their clubs would be wise to look at the children-only club model for ideas.

Michael Chalovich, chief operating officer of My Gym, Sherman Oaks, CA, says his company has discussed designing a child-friendly program for a number of larger fitness clubs.

“A lot of them have the babysitting, but we feel we provide an activity program that can benefit younger children with our expertise,” Chalovich says.

Club operators that want to add children’s fitness programming should make sure they work with an expert and a staff with knowledge about children’s activities, Chalovich says. A club operator should put a plan or program in place and spend a few months developing it before implementing it into the club.

“So you’re not just throwing something up just to throw something up,” Chalovich says. If a program is rushed, Chalovich adds, people may not get the enjoyment out of it, and club operators may not attempt to implement it again.

Paul Dickison, vice president of marketing and brand management for The Little Gym, Scottsdale, AZ, says his company has considered pursuing a co-development idea for operators of adult clubs in which they could develop or license The Little Gym alongside their clubs.

“We view what we do along with what an adult club does as being very complementary,” Dickison says. “If an adult fitness club is trying to implement their own children’s development program, they might want to determine if a babysitting service is all that is wanted by their customer base. On the other hand, if there is a dedicated customer profile that wants their child to develop a lifelong habit of being physically active, the club should consider co-developing or licensing a The Little Gym and positioning it next to their club.”

Boys and Girls Fitness USA

Some family-oriented clubs are incorporating unique children’s programs into their mix. The Country Club of Fitness Inc., Orangeburg, SC, has a Boys and Girls Fitness USA after-school program at its Muscle Beach Athletic Club in which kids aged 5 to 15 in neighboring school districts are taken by bus to the center. There, they participate in a variety of activities, including basketball, racquetball, swimming, martial arts, miniature golf, aerobics, cardiovascular exercises, and health and nutrition seminars.

The star of the program is a superhero named Captain Fitness, who fights poor nutrition and unhealthy habits in the form of characters dressed as pizza, a hot dog, French fries and bologna. Kids are weighed and measured every 30 days, and the goal for them is to lose a pound a week, says co-owner Andrea Rodriguez. If the results are not met, their parents are contacted.

The fee is about $50 per week for the after-school program, which lasts from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and consists of 20 to 30 kids. Children who cannot afford the fee can qualify for a voucher. In the summer, the program has attracted up to 200 kids, Rodriguez says.

“This is a new program, but it is growing, and we are having some wonderful outcomes,” says Rodriguez, who owns the club with her husband, Ramon, aka Captain Fitness. “Kids are losing weight, self-esteem is going up, energy levels are channeled in the right direction, and parents have told us that their child is doing much better in school.”

My Gym Children’s Fitness Center has launched The Activators: An interactive comedy show for preschoolers – focused solely on physical fitness. The multi-platform series revolves around four talented My Gym teachers, all with their own unique physical skills, whose mission is to engage preschoolers in physical activity. The show premieres on the web at TheActivators.net with plans in store for television, home entertainment, publishing and a nationwide tour. My Gym Children’s Fitness Centers help more than a million children stay active and physically fit each year through its 200+ worldwide locations.

The idea began with a screenwriter-dad who brought his child to a My Gym birthday party in Encino, Calif. Impressed with the talents of the teachers and their ability to keep the kids laughing and moving, he pitched an interactive series that would use comedy to inspire children to be active.

Getting kids to put down video games and have fun being active is not an easy task. Gone are the days when you couldn’t get your kids off of the jungle gym for lunchtime. When you suggest that your children go outside to play, you’re met with a chorus of groans, “But I was just about to make it to level 85 of Wild Dungeon Escape!”

Monique Vranesh, founding partner of My Gym Enterprises, has put together some tips on how to keep kids active during the summer. Monique was instrumental in the formation of the company, which is the leader in children’s fitness with 175 locations throughout the U.S. She gained national recognition for her role as the teacher in “My Gym at Home,” BabyFirstTV’s physical fitness show. As the devoted mother of two young daughters, Monique is thrilled to see her own children benefit from the unique program she helped create.

One of the biggest problems these days is that video game and computer users are getting younger and younger. Kids as young as three years-old are picking up the joysticks and clicking away at computers, especially if they have older siblings whom they wish to emulate. It’s important to catch kids at an early age to teach them about fitness. Monique encourages parents to get creative when it comes to getting their kids moving. Below are just a few suggestions she has for frustrated parents.

n 1. Walk whenever possible; to the parks, to the library, to school, etc. When driving park farther away and walk to your destination.

n 2. Make walking more fun: Collect different objects (flowers, leaves, etc); play Eye Spy or The Color Game. Do tree bark rubbings, leave imprints; count different objects; sing songs; take a teddy bear or baby for a walk in a wagon or stroller with you.

n 3. Play fun outdoor games in your own backyard:

a. Follow the Leader and do different things jump, skip, walk like a duck, etc.

b. Hopscotch buy a mat or use chalk or tape to make the squares.

c. Hoola Hoop even if your child can’t do it, you can jump in and out of it, roll it, drive the giant wheel, make it a space ship around you.

n 4. Dance: This is a super fun way to get them moving and they love it and work up a sweat. Put on their favorite songs and cut a rug.

Monique invites parents and babies everywhere to play together, have fun and discover the many advantages of a steady exercise routine. To learn more about My Gym, or to find a location, visit www.mygym.com.