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Adding resistance bands to at-home workouts growing East Coast fitness trend

Published

4 years ago

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Sara Ericsson

COVID-19 threw a wrench into much of 2020 and shifted the world, including gym spaces, to our homes.

With this shift came at-home working and working out, with anyone looking to maintain fitness having to do so within their own walls. This time seems to have also spurred interest in different workouts and fitness tools, with Google data showing resistance bands were the most-Googled exercise tool in 2020.

Data shows interest in resistance bands – essentially, elastic bands commonly used for strength training – peaked in March and April, which coincides with the pandemic’s first wave in Canada.

It’s something Nova Scotia-based personal trainer Rick Horsman says makes perfect sense for a couple of reasons: first, because the tool is easily accessible and plastered across social media, and secondly, because it’s easy to add to any at-home workout.

“Gym gear is very expensive but you can spend very little on resistance bands and get a great workout at home,” he says.

Denee Gallant Ramsay led virtual gym classes over Zoom when her Rustico gym, Eternal Fitness, was shut down during the first wave of COVID-19. She says many of those workouts included resistance bands, thanks to their versatility and affordable prices. - Contributed
Denee Gallant Ramsay led virtual gym classes over Zoom when her Rustico gym, Eternal Fitness, was shut down during the first wave of COVID-19. She says many of those workouts included resistance bands, thanks to their versatility and affordable prices. – Contributed

An affordable option

Horsman doesn’t remember a time when resistance bands weren’t a part of the workout scene and he says they’ve been around for all of his 14 years in the fitness industry.

Horsman is the personal training and resistance training leader representative for the Nova Scotia Fitness Association and also runs his Rick My Trainer fitness studio in Cole Harbour, where many of his classes incorporate resistance bands.

“Resistance bands are great mainly because they are accessible, affordable, and versatile,” he says.

The tool is one that many other trainers incorporate into their personal and class workouts, in a variety of ways. Prince Edward Island gym owner Denee Gallant Ramsay used resistance bands in her live virtual classes over Zoom when her Eternal Fitness gym in Rustico was closed during the pandemic’s first wave.

Gallant Ramsay, whose fitness classes provide individualized programming in group settings, says resistance bands provided a simple and effective solution to at-home workouts and allowed these classes to still be individualized, with each person using their band in different ways.

“These bands are the best bang for your buck. They are convenient and cheaper than other gym equipment,” she says. “These mean you don’t need a bunch of weights to get different resistances.”

Who can use them?

Resistance bands come in different sizes, shapes, and levels of resistance, with each being intended for different skill sets and uses. Horsman says common types include loop bands and tube bands with handles. Others, like heavy-duty monster bands, are more of a niche category.

Gallant Ramsay says this range means there is a resistance band for everyone and every ability, meaning they can be used to assist an athlete attempting a pull-up or a senior in physiotherapy or rehabilitation, and are great for all ages.

“There are bands with very light resistance, which can be used by seniors or individuals who maybe have an injury and need a light resistance. As long as you keep proper technique and body positioning, anybody can use them,” she says.

Other common uses for loop and tube resistance bands include leg and glute workouts, or bicep curls. Horsman says that with the variety of bands comes a variety of workout possibilities, meaning band users should take some time and research different routines that might work for them.

“Generally, it’s a low-impact and potentially low-intensity alternative for the general public,” he says.

At the start of the pandemic, East Coast residents began searching for ways to use resistance bands in at-home workouts. - RF Stock
At the start of the pandemic, East Coast residents began searching for ways to use resistance bands in at-home workouts. – RF Stock

Not the only solution

Horsman says resistance bands are a tool that can be very gentle or really tough, depending on how they’re used. This is why he says it’s key to research routines before attempting them.

The personal trainer also cautions against using resistance bands as a single tool in fitness, as using any one exercise without combining it with others can have serious ramifications.

“You don’t build your house with only a hammer,” says Horsman.

Roy Sullivan is the owner of Reps Fitness gym in St. John’s, N.L., and says he recommends people view resistance bands as a great compliment to their existing fitness regime, as the tool should be one of many elements incorporated into a workout.

“If someone biked all the time, it’s a very one-directional view of working out. We should also walk, jog, row, ski – you’ve got to mix it up and keep your body guessing,” he says.

Sullivan says the only major drawback of resistance bands is how the tool becomes more resistant as it is used, meaning the further someone pulls a resistance band, the harder they have to pull. Sullivan says this increased resistance can lead to asymmetrical muscle growth.

“If I have a resistance band and I do a standing bicep curl, and curl it towards my shoulder, the resistance gets stronger as my arm goes up – it’s not consistent throughout the entire movement,” says Sullivan.

Fitness and pandemic

Whether it’s a workout that includes resistance bands or not, Gallant Ramsay says finding a routine that you enjoy is vital to maintaining a fitness routine.

“Fitness is about longevity, so find something you enjoy, whether it’s dance, workout videos, or one-on-one personal training sessions through Zoom,” she says. “If you don’t like it, you’re not going to do it.”

Horsman says a fitness routine can be a great way to help control or get rid of stress, which he says many people are likely facing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. He says the added benefit of finding a workout regime and sticking to it can also give someone a feeling of accomplishment.

“People feel better mentally, their blood pressure is often regulated and their stress goes away. The mental health benefits of working out is probably the most beneficial part,” he says.

Sullivan says this boost to a person’s mental health is the least-recognized but most important aspect of a fitness routine. The feedback he hears from his gym members of how their workout routines have helped them manage their stress during the pandemic proves that a routine – and one that includes resistance bands – is a little thing that could help people in a big way.

“Fitness gives you mental clarity and improves your mental health. This is what is most important, especially during these COVID-19 times,” he says.

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Source: – TheChronicleHerald.ca

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Slack researcher discusses the fear, loathing and excitement surrounding AI in the workplace

Published

14 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence‘s recent rise to the forefront of business has left most office workers wondering how often they should use the technology and whether a computer will eventually replace them.

Those were among the highlights of a recent study conducted by the workplace communications platform Slack. After conducting in-depth interviews with 5,000 desktop workers, Slack concluded there are five types of AI personalities in the workplace: “The Maximalist” who regularly uses AI on their jobs; “The Underground” who covertly uses AI; “The Rebel,” who abhors AI; “The Superfan” who is excited about AI but still hasn’t used it; and “The Observer” who is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Only 50% of the respondents fell under the Maximalist or Underground categories, posing a challenge for businesses that want their workers to embrace AI technology. The Associated Press recently discussed the excitement and tension surrounding AI at work with Christina Janzer, Slack’s senior vice president of research and analytics.

Q: What do you make about the wide range of perceptions about AI at work?

A: It shows people are experiencing AI in very different ways, so they have very different emotions about it. Understanding those emotions will help understand what is going to drive usage of AI. If people are feeling guilty or nervous about it, they are not going to use it. So we have to understand where people are, then point them toward learning to value this new technology.

Q: The Maximalist and The Underground both seem to be early adopters of AI at work, but what is different about their attitudes?

A: Maximalists are all in on AI. They are getting value out of it, they are excited about it, and they are actively sharing that they are using it, which is a really big driver for usage among others.

The Underground is the one that is really interesting to me because they are using it, but they are hiding it. There are different reasons for that. They are worried they are going to be seen as incompetent. They are worried that AI is going to be seen as cheating. And so with them, we have an opportunity to provide clear guidelines to help them know that AI usage is celebrated and encouraged. But right now they don’t have guidelines from their companies and they don’t feel particularly encouraged to use it.

Overall, there is more excitement about AI than not, so I think that’s great We just need to figure out how to harness that.

Q: What about the 19% of workers who fell under the Rebel description in Slack’s study?

A: Rebels tend to be women, which is really interesting. Three out of five rebels are women, which I obviously don’t like to see. Also, rebels tend to be older. At a high level, men are adopting the technology at higher rates than women.

Q: Why do you think more women than men are resisting AI?

A: Women are more likely to see AI as a threat, more likely to worry that AI is going to take over their jobs. To me, that points to women not feeling as trusted in the workplace as men do. If you feel trusted by your manager, you are more likely to experiment with AI. Women are reluctant to adopt a technology that might be seen as a replacement for them whereas men may have more confidence that isn’t going to happen because they feel more trusted.

Q: What are some of the things employers should be doing if they want their workers to embrace AI on the job?

A: We are seeing three out of five desk workers don’t even have clear guidelines with AI, because their companies just aren’t telling them anything, so that’s a huge opportunity.

Another opportunity to encourage AI usage in the open. If we can create a culture where it’s celebrated, where people can see the way people are using it, then they can know that it’s accepted and celebrated. Then they can be inspired.

The third thing is we have to create a culture of experimentation where people feel comfortable trying it out, testing it, getting comfortable with it because a lot of people just don’t know where to start. The reality is you can start small, you don’t have to completely change your job. Having AI write an email or summarize content is a great place to start so you can start to understand what this technology can do.

Q: Do you think the fears about people losing their jobs because of AI are warranted?

A: People with AI are going to replace people without AI.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Biden administration to provide $325 million for new Michigan semiconductor factory

Published

14 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.

The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-in-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.

“What we’ve been able to do with the CHIPS Act is not just build a few new factories, but fundamentally revitalize the semiconductor ecosystem in our country with American workers,” Raimondo said. “All of this is because of the vision of the Biden-Harris administration.”

A senior administration official said the timing of the announcement reflected the negotiating process for reaching terms on the grant, rather than any political considerations. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the process.

After site work, Hemlock Semiconductor plans to begin construction in 2026 and then start production in 2028, the official said.

Running in 2016, Trump narrowly won Saginaw County and Michigan as a whole. But in 2020 against Biden, both Saginaw County and Michigan flipped to the Democrats.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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The Internet is Littered in ‘Educated Guesses’ Without the ‘Education’

Published

2 weeks ago

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October 8, 2024

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Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.

The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.

Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.

The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.

Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.

On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.

The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.

More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.

Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:

  • You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
  • This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
  • In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!

Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.

Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.

There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.

Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.

Successful people tend to be secretive.

Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.

Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.

Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.

______________________________________________________________

 

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s

on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.

 

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