South Dakota Y Puts Expansion on Hold 

RAPID CITY, SD -- The Rapid City (SD) YMCA is calling it quits on a proposed $13.2 million expansion to its facility. After two years of fund-raising, the Y had raised about $8 million. ...

More Employers Offer Incentives for Health 

WASHINGTON, DC -- Major U.S. employers using incentives to promote employer-sponsored health and wellness programs rose from 62 percent to 71 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a recent survey by the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and IncentOne. ...

Pennsylvania Club Settles with AG Office 

YORK, PA -- The owners of Leader Health and Fitness, which abruptly closed June 9, reached a settlement with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General to send club and pool members refund checks. The office expects to send out the checks later this summer, according to The York Daily Record....

Diabetic Numbers Rise 

WASHINGTON, DC -- More than 24 million people, or 8 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes, according to new 2007 prevalence data estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number represents an increase of more than 3 million diabetics in approximately two years. ...

Schools Named Finalists in California Challenge 

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Seventy-five California schools were recently named finalists in the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports’ 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition....

Bally Plucks New CEO From 24 Hour 

By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor

CHICAGO -- A loss for 24 Hour Fitness is Bally Total Fitness’ gain. Bally announced today it has appointed Michael Sheehan as its new chief executive officer, effective July 1. Sheehan had been the chief operating officer at 24 Hour since 2005 and was with that company the last seven years, also serving as an executive vice president....

Crunch Hires President 

NEW YORK -- Crunch has hired Michael R. Jacobs as president and chief financial officer. Jacobs has more than 25 years experience in operational management, retail development and corporate expansion. He will oversee the management of Crunch’s 30 locations in the United States. ...

Life Time Increases Credit Capabilities 

CHANHASSEN, MN -- Life Time Fitness announced Wednesday a new $34 million credit facility to provide permanent financing for its corporate headquarters in Chanhassen, MN, and a fitness club in Overland Park, KS....

Alaska, Arkansas Finish 1-2 in President’s Challenge 

BLOOMINGTON, IN -- Alaska and Arkansas are near the top of the alphabet in the United States. They also are at the top of the recently completed President’s Challenge national fitness competition. ...

Cowboys Owner Helps Renovate Boys & Girls Club Gymnasium 

ARLINGTON, TX -- The owner of the Dallas Cowboys helped give the gymnasium at the Arlington, TX, Boys & Girls Club’s main branch a makeover in an effort to combat childhood obesity and encourage children to stay physically active....

Ys Get Unique Visitors 

EASTON, NJ, and BEAVERCREEK, OH -- Two YMCAs recently had unique visitors to their facilities. The Family Y of Easton, Phillipsburg and Vicinity (NJ) had a bear cub on its grounds, and the Beavercreek Y (OH) had a deer in its pool....

Oklahoma City Navy Hosts SEAL Fitness Challenge 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Forty-eight individuals gathered in Oklahoma City earlier this month to see if they had what it takes to be one of the Navy’s most elite, a Navy SEAL....

Boy Dies After Drowning at Life Time Pool 

AUSTIN, TX -- A 4-year-old boy died Saturday after he drowned the day before in a Life Time Fitness swimming pool....

Pennsylvania Club Shuts Down 

YORK, PA -- Leader Health and Fitness in York Township, PA, abruptly closed Monday, leaving several hundred members out in the cold as the summer pool season heats up....

Clubs in Iowa Affected by Flooding 

By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor, and Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor

DES MOINES, IA -- This week’s floods in the Midwest, particularly in Iowa, have affected for-profit and nonprofit fitness facilities throughout the state. While some fitness centers have reduced hours or programming, others have closed due to water damage or evacuation orders....

Tennis on the Rise; Aerobics Declines 

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL – Tennis participation is on the increase, but aerobics participation has declined, according to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA)....

Boxing and Fitness Club Owner Commits Suicide 

KLAMATH FALLS, OR -- The owner of Klamath Falls Boxing and Fitness died from an apparent suicide Monday, the same day he was to report to jail on sex charges involving a 15-year-old girl, according to multiple media reports....

U.S. Health Club Memberships Decrease in 2007 

By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor

BOSTON -- In 2007, the United States had 41.5 million health club members, according to the “2008 IHRSA Global Report: The State of the Health Club Industry” from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. ...

Florida Toughens P.E. Standards 

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill on June 2 expanding physical education at the elementary and middle school levels....

Boy Dies in Apparent Drowning at Nashville YMCA 

NASHVILLE, TN -- A 7-year-old boy recently died in an apparent drowning after going down a curling water slide at the Donelson-Hermitage YMCA in Nashville, TN. ...

Convicted Steroids Dealer, Girlfriend Found Dead 

PLANO, TX -- A Dallas County (TX) medical examiner ruled today that David Jacobs, a personal trainer and convicted steroids dealer, committed suicide Thursday by shooting himself twice....

New Fashions for Navy Fitness 

ARLINGTON, VA -- When it comes to fitness fashions, the Navy is on the cutting edge. On May 30, representatives from the Navy Uniform Matters Office and Navy Exchange Command unveiled a prototype of the Navy’s Physical Training Uniform (PTU) Running Suit at the Navy Uniform Center in Arlington, VA. On the same day, sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in Portsmouth, VA, were issued the first set of the Navy's new physical training (PT) uniform....

Snap Fitness Announces Minority Equity Investment 

CHANHASSEN, MN -- Last month, amid rumors that Snap Fitness was for sale, CEO and founder Peter Taunton said he had no desire to sell a majority share of the company. But Taunton did not rule out finding a minority partner. On June 3, the company announced a minority equity investment from Summit Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed....

IHRSA Moves on Washington, DC 

By: Pamela Kufahl

Washington, Dc Last month, more than 140 health and fitness industry leaders from 26 states gathered in Washington, DC, to speak with their respective...

Americans Lack Confidence to Administer CPR/AED, Survey Says 

By: Stuart Goldman

Dallas In Correlation with the inaugural National CPR/AED Awareness Week, which took place June 1-7, the American Heart Association released a survey...