SOUL Electronics Debuts World’s First AI Earphones with Gait Analysis
Fitness lifestyle brand in partnership with Beflex Inc. debuts world’s first AI earphones with Gait Analysis, monitoring running form and providing real-time coaching to maximize performance
LAS VEGAS – (January 9, 2017) – SOUL Electronics, a global leader in consumer audio designed for the active and fitness-oriented lifestyle, today announced two earphones powered by Beflex Biomech Engine which monitors running form and provides real-time coaching to maximize running performance and minimize potential injury. SOUL Electronics and Beflex Inc. implement Gait Analysis into their new range of earphones which is commonly used in sports biomechanics to help professional athletes run more efficiently and also make improvements on their gestures to lower risk of injury.
Paired with an iOS or Android AI analyst app, runners are able to track and analyze runs to improve performance over time. CES attendees can experience the next generation of sport earphones from January 9-12, 2017 at Showstoppers (Booth #D2), Eureka Park (#51653) and a private suite in the Venetian.
RUN FREE PRO BIO Features:
- Measures running performance and safety level, while providing real-time voice coaching to guide runners through training
- iOS or Android AI analyst app tracks and analyzes runs to improve performance over time
- Measures speed, distance, cadence, step length, step width, vertical oscillation, head tilt angle, stance/flight time, shock, maximum leg force, balance, and consistency. .
- Boasts SOUL’s signature sound with Bluetooth version 4.0 system
- Sweat proof function gives added protection from sweat and water
- Ergonomic interchangeable ear locks give the perfect seal
- Boasts up to 8 hours of playback time with one charge
- Includes different ear tip sizes for the perfect fit
- Retails for $149.99
BLADE Features:
- Equipped with bio-sensors to monitor heart rate, elevation, cadence, speed, time and location
- Measures speed, distance, cadence, step length, step width, vertical oscillation, head tilt angle, stance/flight time, shock, maximum leg force, balance, and consistency.
- Smart Touch Pads allows runners to adjust volume, playlists and make calls with one touch
- Measures running performance and safety level, while providing real-time voice coaching to guide runners through training
- iOS or Android AI analyst app tracks and analyzes runs to improve performance over time
- Boasts SOUL’s signature sound with Bluetooth version 5.0 system
- Sweat proof function gives added protection from sweat and water
- Ear hook design for a secure fit
- Includes different ear tip sizes for the perfect fit
- Retails for $249.99
“Gait Analysis was formerly conducted with full equipment in a specific environment, but with Beflex Inc.’s technology, the technology can now be implemented in our earphones through a method called ‘Advanced Markerless Gait Capture’,” says Patrick Tang, CEO, SOUL Electronics. “By eliminating the markers, we are able to bring a range of earphones to market that make sport and fitness junkies’ lives easier, maximizing their workouts and providing them with the best technology to improve performance over time.”
"Beflex Inc. is a company developed by a team of young, professional research engineers keen on Gait Analysis and Biomechanics,” says Juho Jung, CEO, Beflex Inc.. “This is an exciting moment to announce our partnership with SOUL as they are the world's first brand to apply the technology to their earphones and we are confident that this collection of earphones are going to be the next generation of sports wearable accessible to mass markets."
For more information about SOUL Electronics or to view their entire product line, visit
www.SOULElectronics.com. CES attendees can experience the next generation of sport earphones from January 9-12, 2017 at Showstoppers (Booth #D2) and Eureka Park (Booth #51653).
About SOUL Electronics
SOUL is a global leader in consumer electronics and manufacturing, with a rich history in delivery innovative technology and concepts including high quality audio, noise cancelling, and wireless products. Renowned sound engineers and Grammy award winning artist Chris “Ludacris” Bridges created the first headphones together. Our team is accustomed to pushing the envelope in making the best audio products for every lifestyle at affordable prices. We represent a vision for innovative superior features-driven designs with state-of-the-art acoustics, and a stylish appearance that can be found in SOUL’s past and future products. For more information, visit
www.soulelectronics.com.
About Beflex Inc.
Founded in 2016 by professional researchers at KAIST in Korea, Beflex Inc. developed the world’s first biomechanics solution that extracts accurate running form information based on head motion data. Beflex Inc. is working to integrate its unique solution to all types of head mounted devices and to provide profound activity data and coaching that is related to running form to improve performance and reduce injury risks. The vision of the company is to bring sports science that is only available to elite sports players to all sports enthusiasts and to lead a new paradigm shift in the new generation of sports wearables to come. For more information, visit
www.beflex.co.
12 Wellness Holidays to Make You Healthier in 2018
The New Year has just begun which brings more focus on health, fitness and well-being as you look ahead to a year of possibilities. Welcome the new year and make one of your resolutions to make time for a health or fitness holiday. Whatever your goals in 2018, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists will find a break to meet your wellness needs; be it detox, meditation, yoga, sports or sleep, you can be as sociable or as solitary as you wish. With the support and assistance of experts available in some of the world’s most beautiful locations, choose a wellness holiday to make you healthier this year.
The Sports Performance Break – Palacio Estoril Sports & Performance, Portugal
Hitting an athletic plateau is demotivating, but unbelievably common. On the sunny coast of Cascais, luxury 5-star resort, Palacio Estoril, offers sports enthusiasts an opportunity to overcome physical and mental barricades, enhancing performance and refining skill. Utilising treatments such as physiotherapy and Chinese medicine, guests benefit from improved posture and well-being. In addition to an array of fitness classes, the programme focusses on nutritional performance enhancement, providing all the tools necessary to achieve athletic goals.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 5 nights at Palacio Estoril from £1,495pp and £2,100 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, programme, return flights and transfers.
The Luxury Beach Spa Break – Amanpuri Awareness Immersion, Thailand
Amidst palm-fringed, white sand beaches, and architecture inspired by ancient Ayutthayan culture, Amanpuri exudes timeless luxury. The awareness immersion programme, guided by a former Buddhist monk, is a meditative experience encouraging the renewal of internal focus, synchronising the mind, body and soul. Indulgent spa treatments such as cranial sacral therapy compliment the programme, along with unrivalled nutritional support. With spiritual guidance, a 5-star spa, and a private beach on your doorstep, Amanpuri is perfect for those looking for a luxury, yet authentic, beach and spa getaway.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Amanpuri from £6,210pp or £7,815 for single occupancy. Price includes full board with a choice of wellness programmes, return flights and transfers.
The Yoga Trip – The Retreat Costa Rica Yoga, Costa Rica
The Retreat is a Costa Rican haven set amid Quartz mountains and lush vegetation. Master the asana’s and find inner peace with daily private and group yoga practices. For beginners and advanced yogi’s alike, a week of seclusion and serenity will be beneficial both physically and mentally, improving flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as emotional clarity and stress. This healthy yoga escape also includes a hike, wellness workshops, a healing massage and a trip to a local farmers market.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The Retreat Costa Rica from £2,960pp or £4,100 for single occupancy. Price includes full board with a yoga programme, return flights and transfers.
The Mediterranean Healthy Escape – Ayii Anargyri Healing, Cyprus
A boutique hotel amid a valley of mature trees in the village of Miliou, Cyprus, Ayii Anargyri promotes an idyllic location for a healthy healing escape. Restore well-being as you harness the time-tested, natural healing powers of the areas mineral-rich waters. Find profound calmness and tranquillity through hydrotherapy treatments such as underwater massage, and treat ailments in the phlebology, kinesiotherapy, and rheumatology pools. The healing waters are also utilised in spa therapies such as the indulgent mud therapy cocoons and massages.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Ayii Anargyri from £1,860pp or £1,580 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a choice of healing programme, return flights and transfers.
The Family Sports Holiday – Forte Village, Sardinia
A Sardinian paradise for sports loving families, Forte Village will leave guests spoilt for choice. In addition to a plethora of activities such as cycling, football academy, basketball, tennis and boxing academy, fitness lovers can get involved in various activities from Zumba to yoga. Located next to the beach, water babies can also enjoy a range of water sports including paddle boarding, windsurfing, and diving. The kids club can also keep the young ones (and teenagers) occupied whilst you indulge in some ‘me time’ at the spa.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Forte Village Resort from £1,090pp. Price includes half board, return flights and transfers.
The Detox and Pilates Break – Amatara Detox, Thailand
With stunning views out over Cape Panwa, Phuket, Amatara is an idyllic destination for a relaxing detox and Pilates retreat. Following a juice cleanse and healthy eating regime, achieve optimal well-being with treatments such as colonic hydrotherapy, coffee cleansing, manual lymphatic drainage, and detoxifying ayurvedic massages. Gain strength and flexibility with mat Pilates and private reformer Pilates in stunning surroundings. This healthy holiday will give you the chance to experience your most energised and most radiant self.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights with Amatara Detox from £2,845pp or £3,485 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a detox programme, return flights and transfers.
The Trip of a Lifetime – Ultimate Around the World 1 Year Wellness Trip
The Ultimate Around the World Wellness Trip is an unbeatable opportunity, both in terms of experience and luxury. Enjoy yoga on private island ‘parrot cay’ one week, then scuba diving in The Great Barrier Reef the next. Other highlights include ayurvedic therapy in India, hiking in Utah and a guided tour of Istanbul’s architecture. With over 20 stops on this year-long voyage you will become both vastly cultured and a master of your own health and fitness.
Pricing starts from £156,000pp with Business class flights for 12 months around the world wellness trip. Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com)
The Tennis Holiday – Pine Cliffs Annabel Croft Tennis Academy, Portugal
Whether your dreaming of Wimbledon, or simply getting the ball over the net, the Tennis Academy at Pine Cliffs in Portugal is guaranteed to improve your game leaps and bounds. With five group tennis lessons throughout the week, all of which utilise the professionally developed ‘movement and repetition method’ expect to see advances in skill, stamina, and style. Guests also receive an invigorating sports massage, the perfect way to unwind after a morning on the court.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Pine Cliffs from £1,325pp or £1,055 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a tennis training programme, return flights and transfers.
The Safari and Yoga Break – Karkloof Safari & Yoga, South Africa
Combining passions for yoga and nature, this wellness holiday takes you to one of the most exceptional and unspoilt areas of South Africa. During the Safari & Yoga programme at Karkloof Safari Spa, guests experience two game drives, observing wildlife such as giraffes, rhinoceros, and a plethora of bird species. With daily yoga classes, mountain biking, fishing, and guided hikes, finding your connection with nature and developing inner peace has never come more naturally.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Karkloof Safari Spa from £4,650pp or £4,770 for single occupancy. Price is all-inclusive, with a programme, return flights and transfers.
The Sleep Retreat – Lefay Sleep Well, Italy
Regain control over your sleeping pattern on an invigorating sleep wellness retreat overlooking beautiful Lake Garda. Find relaxation and pure bliss with a selection of indulgent, pampering, and holistic spa treatments. Improve your sleeping patterns as you are guided by the energy flow of Chinese medicine combined with locally grown healthy cuisine as you are taken through a journey to better health and peaceful state of mind, ensuring you get a good night's rest.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Lefay Resort & Spa from £2,155pp or £2,640 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, with a sleep programme, return flights and transfers.
The Winter Sun Fitness Holiday – BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness, St Lucia
If you’re looking for winter sun, it’s a struggle to comprehend a destination more perfect than St Lucia with an activity for every type of active traveller. From 7am beach workouts to 8am yoga along with daily spa treatments, enjoy a personalised Fusion Fitness programme designed for you. Achieve optimal well-being with a choice of private activities from tennis lessons, bike rides and sports weight training to ocean sports, Tai Chi, Pilates and meditation.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at BodyHoliday from £2,790pp or £2,810 for single occupancy. Price is all-inclusive, with a Fusion Fitness programme, return flights and transfers.
The Short-haul Health Booster – Six Senses Kaplankaya De-stress & Reconnect, Turkey
Give your health a well-deserved boost this year as you enjoy a selection of indulgent spa treatments including massages and body wraps at Six Senses, Kaplankaya. Disengage from the stresses of daily life as you find your calm with sunrise yoga or a morning coastal walk, then work out your tensions in an invigorating personal training session. Whether it’s a quick break or an extended getaway, this Turkish stay is guaranteed to help you take a step back, finding clarity in the process.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Six Senses Kaplankaya from £1,380pp or £2,300 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, with a wellness programme, return flights and transfers.
For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891
About Health and Fitness Travel
Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.
Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™ BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com
Cancer targeted with reusable ‘stinging nettle’ treatment
- Cancer cells killed more effectively and selectively with a new approach, using a substance found in stinging nettles & ants – new University of Warwick research
- New treatment JPC11 can be recycled and reused within cancer cells to attack them repeatedly – a unique approach in the fight against cancer
- Could lessen side-effects of chemotherapy and overcome increasing resistance of cancer cells to existing drugs
- Research published in Nature Chemistry
Cancer cells can be destroyed more effectively and selectively with a unique new reusable treatment, activated with a substance found in stinging nettles and ants - thanks to new research by the University of Warwick.

Led by Professor Peter J. Sadler from Warwick’s Department of Chemistry, researchers have developed a new line of attack against cancer: an organic-osmium compound, which is triggered using a non-toxic dose of sodium formate, a natural product found in many organisms, including nettles and ants.
Named JPC11, it targets a metabolic process which cancer cells rely on to survive and multiply. It does this by converting a key substance used by cancer cells to provide the energy they need for rapid division (pyruvate) into an unnatural lactate - leading to the cells’ destruction.
Uniquely, this chemo-catalyst treatment can be recycled and reused within a cancer cell to attack it repeatedly.
This unprecedented functional ability to recycle and reuse the compound within cancer cells could lead to future anticancer drugs being administered in smaller, more effective, and potentially less toxic doses - decreasing the side-effects of chemotherapy.
The researchers have been focusing on the potential to use this compound on ovarian and prostate cancers.
Ovarian cancers are becoming increasingly resistant to existing chemotherapy drugs (such as the platinum drug, cisplatin). Since this new research functions in a totally new and unique way, it may overcome this acquired resistance and widen the spectrum of anticancer activity.
Importantly, the development opens up a possibility for a more selective cancer treatment as JPC11 was observed to specifically target the biochemistry of cancer cells, leaving healthy cells largely untouched – another improvement compared to existing platinum-based drugs, which can also attack non-cancerous cells.
Dr James Coverdale, a Research Fellow from Warwick’s Department of Chemistry, commented:
“This is a significant step in the fight against cancer. Manipulating and applying well-established chemistry in a biological context provides a highly selective strategy for killing cancer cells.
“We have discovered that chemo-catalyst JPC11 has a unique mechanism of action – and we hope that this will lead to more effective, selective and safer treatments in the future.”

Professor Peter Sadler, a medicinal chemist at the University of Warwick commented:
“Platinum compounds are the most widely used drugs for cancer chemotherapy, but we urgently need to respond to the challenges of circumventing resistance and side-effects. Our lab is focussed on the discovery of truly novel anticancer drugs which can kill cells in totally new ways. Chemo-catalysts, especially those with immunogenic properties, might provide a breakthrough.
“It will take time to progress from the lab to the clinic, but we are fortunate to have a talented enthusiastic, international team working with colleagues in Warwick Cancer Research Centre across the borderlines of chemistry, cell and systems biology and cancer medicine who are determined to succeed.”
Professor Martin Wills, catalyst specialist at the University of Warwick, commented:
“Although asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation processes are well developed in the materials industry, this research provides the first ever example of it being achieved inside cells using a synthetic catalyst.”
Handedness (molecular asymmetry) is critical to the function of bio-molecules in the body. Proteins, enzymes and our DNA, for example - are handed. Only the correct hand works, in the same way that a right hand does not fit a left-hand glove.
In this case, the osmium compound JPC11, with sodium formate, can selectively produce a molecule of a specific ‘handedness’ – thus manipulating how cancer cells grow.
Dr Coverdale explained:
“The ‘handedness’ of molecules is critical in the body. Our hands are near-identical, but are mirror images of each other. The same can be true of molecules, and in some cases, having the wrong handed molecule can have profound biological consequences.
“We believe that manipulation of the ‘handedness’ of molecules in cells could provide a new strategy for fighting diseases.”
Notes:
The research, ‘Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation by synthetic catalysts in cancer cells’, is published in Nature Chemistry. DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2918
It is authored by Dr James P C Coverdale, Dr Isolda Romero-Canelon, Dr Carlos Sanchez-Cano, Dr Abraha Habtemariam, Professor Martin Wills and Professor Peter J Sadler.
It was funded by the European Research Council, Science City (Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund), The University of Warwick, Bruker Daltonics, the Engineering and Physical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.
Image 1: Dr James Coverdale (L) and Dr Isolda Romero-Canelón (R) working in the laboratory - credit University of Warwick. CLICK FOR HIGH RES.
Image 2: Representation of the organic-osmium compound, which is triggered using a non-toxic dose of sodium formate, a natural product found in many organisms, including nettles and ants - credit Dr James Coverdale/University of Warwick. CLICK FOR HIGH RES.
FOREO Launches New UFO Smart Mask at CES to Revolutionize 2017’s Biggest Beauty Trend
How A Crowdfunding Gamechanger Just Disrupted The Sheet Mask Industry

STOCKHOLM / LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2018: Today, Swedish brand FOREO launched its newest beauty-tech device, the UFO, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas, making it available to pre-order in partnership with
crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The FOREO UFO is described as the world’s first smart mask treatment to offer spa-level facial treatments in just 90 seconds, combining LED light therapy with cryo-therapy, thermo-therapy and T-Sonic pulsations activated via your smartphone.
Face masks were 2017’s biggest beauty trend in skincare, officially the category’s number one searched term in Google and accounting for more than 40% of online sales for beauty companies worldwide. With the launch of UFO (Ur Future Obsession), FOREO is aiming to kickstart a face mask revolution, tackling the core issues of limited penetration, poor facial coverage, and the time spent using them.
“Face masks are the guilty pleasure of millions, but is lying under cold, wet sheets of paper the best we can do for 2018?” Paul Peros, FOREO CEO asks. “After 4 years in development, FOREO’s designers and technicians have proven there is a better way. We’re taking the latest professional beauty technologies available - treatments that can cost thousands of dollars - and incorporating them into one UFO device to unleash the full potential of our face masks. The results are literally out of this world!”
The
FOREO UFO, (Ur Future Obsession) has been in development and shrouded in secrecy for four years until today, where it was unveiled at CES in booth #43534. The UFO is set to retail at 279 USD while the UFO mini, and entry level design, will retail at 179 USD. For the pre-launch phase on
Kickstarter, however, customers can enjoy savings of up to 50% off.
The UFO Features:
- Utilizes hyper-infusion technology, combining heating to open pores, T-Sonic™ pulsations to instantly infuse active ingredients more deeply into the skin and cryotherapy to seal the active ingredients and firm the skin.
- Includes a range of LED light therapy treatments to offer three photofacials, including anti-aging (red LED), brightening (green LED) and anti-acne (blue LED)
- Each treatment incorporates a carefully chosen combination of temperature and pulsation intensity for maximum effect and soothing facial massage
The device works hand in hand with the specially invented UFO-activated sheet masks. These ultra-soft microfiber masks ensure flawless skin from dawn to dusk and each formula pairs with a unique UFO treatment routine designed to give a wake up call, or to help relax when people are ready to call it a night.
UFO-Activated Smart Mask Treatments:
UFO Smart Masks are made from soft micro-fiber infused with plant and fruit extracts, concentrated botanical oils and natural flower water. Each mask is paired with a pre-programmed UFO treatment routine to boost their effects. There are two masks currently available on launch including:
‘Make My Day’ Mask
Features Hyaluronic Acid and Red Algae for deep hydration combined with pollution protection for radiant skin. The UFO treatment begins with 30 seconds of Thermo-Therapy and Red LED light to prep the skin and open the pores. The next 30 seconds integrate T-Sonic Pulsations to heighten the absorption of the mask essence. The final 30 seconds switch to a Green LED treatment and lower frequency pulsations, to even skin tone and add that radiant boost.
‘Call It A Night’ Mask
Features ginseng and olive oil to nourish and revitalize - a formula that replenishes skin overnight. The treatment begins with 30 seconds of higher-frequency T-Sonic pulsations combined with Thermo-Therapy and Red LED light, to infuse the essence beneath the skin's surface. T-Sonic pulsations then switch to a lower frequency, with the Red LED light retained and Thermo-therapy disabled, to focus on enhanced blood circulation and restoring skin's elasticity.
App-operated Features:
The UFO can be paired with the FOREO app to get the most out of the device. While the ‘Make My Day’ and ‘Call It a Night’ masks are pre-programmed into the device, the FOREO app gives access to all future mask treatments. In addition, users can reorder masks with a simple click and unlock UFO's full potential by customizing the intensity of all UFO settings to perfectly suit individuals skincare needs.
The app will be available for iOS and Android and can:
- Control the intensity of the T-Sonic pulsations
- Control the light intensity
- Control the heating/cooling
The UFO has all the mutual benefits expected with a FOREO invention including a medical grade silicone body, plus a 100% waterproof design and USB-charging.
"Kickstarter is the perfect place to reach a community open to a genuine beauty revolution,” says Dalia Fernander, FOREO’s Product Marketing Manager. “To succeed, we're wanting to get UFO into the hands of as many people as possible, which is why we're offering up to 50% off the retail price. This way we hope thousands can experience the results and show the world there is a smarter way to mask!"
The UFO is only available for early bird presale through Kickstarter where early adopters and beauty enthusiasts seeking change and innovation can secure
theirs now. The UFO and UFO mini are planned to launch in top retail stores from April, 2018. To find out more and to view the entire FOREO line visit
www.foreo.com.
Sweat For Good and make world history in Toronto
YMCA of Greater Toronto attempts to break GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest exercise ball demonstration/class!

As temperatures drop outside, the gymnasium at the Central YMCA will be filled with over 500 members of the community sweating it out to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest exercise ball demonstration/class on Thursday, January 11, 2018.
Celebrity fitness trainer Eva Redpath will lead the class, with support from the YMCA’s Sherry Perez. This event catapults the YMCA GTA’s “Sweat For Good” campaign into the spotlight to help showcase that when you choose to work out at the YMCA, you are connecting yourself to a larger purpose. At the Y, members not only sweat for themselves, they sweat for others, for positive change, and for the community.
“When you choose the YMCA, you are choosing to be part of an organization that seeks to build the foundation for a healthy, vibrant future for every individual in our community, and our society as a whole,” said Medhat Mahdy, President and CEO of the YMCA GTA. “People may think that all health and fitness centres across the GTA have similar ‘stuff,’ but we have five important factors that set us apart:
- Our broad offering: We offer diverse programs for every interest and stage of life.
- We create a sense of belonging: We bring people together, nurture their growth, and promote inclusivity.
- Our people-first culture: Our dedicated and expert team of staff and volunteers proactively supports members’ health goals; removes barriers to achieving those goals; and believes that everyone has the ability to continually improve.
- We are committed to doing local good: We address community-specific needs and invest in building permanent facilities in communities across the GTA.
- We are a charitable organization: Our Health & Fitness Centres are part of a much larger charitable organization that provides programs and services that make people strong in all sorts of ways — physically, of course, but also mentally and socially.”
The YMCA is the largest charitable program and service delivery organization in the GTA. For more than 160 years and through hundreds of programs, the YMCA offers individuals opportunities for personal growth, community involvement and leadership.
The current GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title boasts 453 participants completing an exercise ball class. The YMCA GTA aims to secure 500 participants to “Sweat For Good” and break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title. To get all the details, please visit SweatForGood.ca.
Guests will also have the opportunity to meet with Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Tewksbury and hear firsthand about how he “Sweats For Good” in support of the YMCA GTA’s mission, and how his experiences have shaped his current role as a global leader in human rights.
YMCA GTA Sweat For Good
Participants
When: Thursday, January 11th, 2018 from 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2V5
Admission: FREE
Media
When: Thursday, January 11th, 2018 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (class: 7:40 – 8:10 a.m.)
Where: 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2V5
Admission: FREE
Light refreshments will be provided
Visit SweatForGood.ca for all the event details
For more information contact:
Deane Code, Veritas Communications/YMCA of Greater Toronto
E: code@veritasinc.com | T: 416-640-4661 | M: 416-732-4835
Kassandra O’Brien, Veritas Communications/YMCA of Greater Toronto
E: obrien@veritasinc.com | T: 416-482-2617 | M: 289-264-6499
About the YMCA of Greater Toronto
For well over a century, we’ve provided leadership and worked with partners solving complex social problems to create real, measurable outcomes that have strengthened the social health and fabric of our communities. As a charity, the YMCA offers a variety of programs responding to the needs of the community, including education and training, employment and immigrant services, family and youth services, health and fitness programs, child care, and camps. The breadth of our programs, and the diversity of the communities we serve, is the basis of our new Sweat For Good campaign: when you break a sweat with us, you’re showing your support for all of these programs that give everyone their chance to shine. Serving the population of the GTA, Durham, Peel, York, Halton Region and Dufferin County, the YMCA connected with more than 557,000 people across 438 locations last year.
www.ymcagta.org
http://sweatforgood.ymcagta.org
About Guinness World Records
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ (GWR) is the global authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the iconic annual GWR books have sold over 138 million copies in over 20 languages and in more than 100 countries. Additionally, the Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition, first published in 2007, has sold more than 5 million copies to date.
GWR’s worldwide television programmes reach over 750 million viewers annually and more than one million people subscribe to the GWR YouTube channel, which enjoys more than 300 million views per year. The GWR website receives 21 million visitors annually, and they have over 12 million fans on Facebook.
The GWR commercial sales division provides bespoke consultancy services for some of the world’s top brands and agencies to help place record breaking at the heart of their marketing campaigns, employee-engagement programmes, and live and experiential events.
What to Eat Healthy? 5 Ways to Make a Great Diet Plan in 2018

The New Year is here, and you might be working hard on meeting your goals in terms of fitness and nutrition or you might already realize it’s harder than it looks. Goals and resolutions aren’t easy, but that’s what’s so beautiful about them. If they were meant to be easy, you’d change your life without any issues, without any growth, or without any changes. Not only can meeting your goals change your life in the way you mean for it to change your life, it can teach you a lot about patience, perseverance, and it can help you grow. If you want to create a healthy diet plan for 2018, you need some help.
Start with a Goal
You want to eat healthier, which is why you have a diet plan in mind. However, you must have a goal in sight. Do you want to lose weight, feel healthier, or manage a health problem you’re living with? The goal determines the kind of healthy diet plan you’re looking to create. Knowing what you want to accomplish helps you incorporate the right kind of food in the diet plan because not all healthy foods are created equal.
Ask for Help and Accountability
Something positive in any healthy diet plan is accountability. You’re more likely to achieve your goals when you have someone to report to. You don’t want to embarrass yourself by continuously failing to make positive diet choices, and that’s how being accountable helps. With an accountability partner or group such as Plan 7 Coaching, you have someone there for you, someone to listen to you, and someone to help you stay on track.
Start with New Plates
Here’s something you didn’t know would help you meet your diet goals in 2018. Get rid of your large plates. Buy small ones, and learn to trick your body into eating smaller portions using this age-old trick. Your mind things your body is fuller, and it sends that message to your stomach when it sees you eat an entire plate of food. Smaller plates mean your plate looks fuller than it would on a larger plate, and your servings are automatically smaller.
Start Small
Don’t change your entire diet overnight. Instead, change your diet plan a little at a time. Introduce one or two healthy new foods every week. At the same time, eliminate one or two unhealthy items each week. This helps your body grow more accustomed to the changes you’re making rather than overwhelming you with them.
Make a Meal Plan
This one does seem to be common sense, but many people realize just how helpful it is. Make a meal plan, stick to the meal plan, and change your life. You’re more likely to succeed when you know in advance what you’re eating every meal than if you’re left standing in front of the fridge or the take-out menus without a plan.
The new year can be your year if you work hard and make a goal. It’s easier to achieve that goal by breaking it down into smaller goals you can achieve more often. This keeps you feeling motivated and excited, and
Sick To Death - Press Relese
About Sick to Death!
Thyroid disease, and its accompanying symptoms and related disorders, is a very confusing health challenge. The purpose of the Sick to Death! project is to create a resource for health seekers that can assist in confirming that what they are experiencing may in fact be thyroid disease. With the assistance of a huge community, the Sick to Death! project seeks to improve the medical establishment’s response to thyroid disease.
In Sick to Death! Hadleigh-West exposes AbbVie Pharmaceuticals and their drug Synthroid, one of the most profitable and most commonly prescribed drugs for thyroid disease - yet it under treats 90% of people that suffer with this illness. Patients are rarely given options for treatment or even told that there might be a more effective treatment. Sick to Death! uncovers the often ineffective TSH test which leaves millions of people without proper diagnosis for their chronic illness.
Sick to Death! premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival in October 2017 to two sold out shows and was nominated for an audience award. It won three Global Film Awards 2017 “Impact Docs” awards, and Hadleigh-West received a Guggenheim Award to make the film.
After drinking radioactive iodine to kill her overactive thyroid, filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West catapults into illness only to run smack into a complicated medical maze. In Sick to Death! Hadleigh-West exposes her own disturbing, yet determined, thirty-year struggle to regain her spiraling health. After seeing hundreds of doctors who either disregarded her symptoms, misdiagnosed or under treated her, Maggie discovers that her life-long thyroid problem was a fully understood medical issue as early as 1914, yet it’s been obscured by systemic medical corruption, pharmaceutical greed, and physician negligence, leaving more than 750 million people sick and suffering world-wide.
Follow Maggie as she brazenly uncovers the medical corruption and negligence that obscures medical practice – only to find yet another disturbing personal revelation. Sick to Death! is both a call-to-action and a quirky film, which seeks to understand and change this disturbing medical reality.
About Maggie Hadleigh-West
In 1991 Maggie Hadleigh-West made the very first film on sexual harassment in public called War Zone which garnered world-wide attention and completed a first feature of the same name in 1998. Sick to Death! is her fourth film and second documentary. Hadleigh-West is a 2017 Impact Doc Awards winner, a 2013 Guggenheim Fellow Award Winner, 2010 Indie Fest: Audience Impact Merit Award Winner, 2010 Accolade Merit Award Winner, 2009, 2006, and 2005 Alcyon Foundation Fellow, a 2004 New York State Council on the Arts Fellow, 2001 University of Louisville Distinguished Professor Nominee, 2000 Rockefeller Fellow Nominee and a 1998 Berlin Film Festival Caligari Nominee.
Hadleigh-West lives in New Orleans.
Crush New Year health resolutions with food safety tips
from Stop Foodborne Illness
Happy 2018! Many people make New Year resolutions to better themselves. Since the most popular resolution is a
happier life and healthier body, Stop Foodborne Illness reminds goal-setters that “healthy foods” may come with their own health risks. Before kicking off any food-centric New Year’s resolutions, review proper food safety practices.
One of the more popular health trends is the raw vegan diet, which practices eating only or mostly uncooked, unprocessed foods. Being a raw vegan means consuming a lot of vegetables, and plant-based eaters still need to be careful about foodborne pathogens.
- Wash your hands. As always, the best way to prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria is by properly washing hands for 20 seconds before handling food. Review these Quick Facts for Handwashing to learn more.
- Wash produce. Since raw diets eliminate cooking, which helps kill harmful bacteria, it is crucial to wash vegetables thoroughly, even if you plan to peel it before eating.
- Raw sprouts carry more risks. Although containing beneficial vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamins C, A and K, sprouts are also prone to carrying pathogens. Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli—just like sprouts—need warm and humid conditions to grow . To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, cook sprouts when possible. Additionally, children, the elderly, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts altogether.
Another health goal people often make in the new year is cooking more often. In addition to consuming less carbohydrates, sugar and fat, those who cook at home consume more fruits, veggies, whole grains, fiber, calcium and iron.
Before putting on the apron, Stop Foodborne Illness encourages budding—as well as seasoned—chefs to review these food safety guidelines.
- Judging cooked meat by color cannot determine if it is safe to eat. The only way to determine if meat, poultry or seafood is cooked safely is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Check the thickest part of the meat, and sanitize the point in between readings. Learn more about why temperature is important and check out this helpful chart on safe cooking temperatures.
- Raw milk products are unpasteurized. Some claim the lack of processing means it’s more beneficial but the CDC states that the dangers of raw milk far outweigh any perceived benefits. Unpasteurized milk can contain a wide variety of germs including Brucella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. Read more about the dangers of raw milk and raw milk cheeses.
- Keep raw and cooked foods separate. Designate specific cutting boards for specific types of food. And remember to clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces after preparing raw foods.
- Home-baked cookies are so much better! Eating the raw cookie dough, however, is not recommended. Raw eggs can contain Salmonella while flour, a raw agricultural product, typically hasn’t been treated to kill germs like E coli. While your cookies are baking in the oven, read more about the dangers of raw dough.
- Cold-pressed juice is another health practice climbing the ranks of popularity. While there is little to no evidence supporting the idea that raw juice is better, one thing is certain: since cold-pressed juice is unpasteurized, consumers can potentially develop a foodborne illness. Follow these two simple steps to juice safety.
About Stop Foodborne Illness
Almost 50% of Canadians would not want others to know if they had dementia, says new survey
Alzheimer Society campaign aims to end stigma
TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2018 /CNW/ - The Alzheimer Society announced today that while awareness about dementia has increased, stigma and negative attitudes around it continue to persist. The Society is releasing findings of a new survey to coincide with Alzheimer's Awareness Month in January and to kick off its new social awareness campaign – I live with dementia. Let me help you understand – to spark conversations and encourage Canadians to see dementia differently.
The Leger-led survey, which questioned 1500 Canadians between the ages of 18 and 65 online, also reveals that 46% of respondents would feel ashamed or embarrassed if they had dementia, while 61% of those surveyed said they would face discrimination of some kind. The survey also shows that one in four Canadians believe that their friends and family would avoid them if they were diagnosed with dementia, and only five per cent of Canadians would learn more about dementia if a family member, friend or co-worker were diagnosed.
"These results validate our thinking, that stigma is one of the biggest barriers for people with dementia to live fully with dignity and respect," says Pauline Tardif, CEO at the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "The findings underscore the work we must still do to end stigma once and for all. There is no shame in having dementia. We can't let negative perceptions stand in the way of people with dementia seeking help and support. Life without discrimination is a right for anyone affected by this disease."
To tackle stigma, the Alzheimer Society is letting the experts do the talking—people living with dementia. People like Roger Marple. For this proud father and grandfather, who developed young onset Alzheimer's three years ago at age 57, his diagnosis was a tough pill to swallow. But with time, Roger overcame his initial shock and sadness. He had too many dreams to pursue. "I still do things that have meaning in my life, like getting out, playing golf and travelling. I'll continue to enjoy life for as long as I possibly can to the best of my abilities. Isn't that what we all aspire to do?"
Roger and others invite Canadians to hear their inspiring stories and take a few pointers from them on how to be open and accepting towards people with dementia.
Their stories are featured on a dedicated campaign website, where visitors will also find tips on how to be more dementia-friendly, activities to test their knowledge, and other resources to take action against stigma and be better informed about a disease that has the potential to impact every single one of us.
To help stop stigma and read the full survey, visit ilivewithdementia.ca – and use the hashtag #ilivewithdementia to help spread the word.
Additional survey results
Canadians believe that people with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia are likely to
- be ignored or dismissed (58%);
- be taken advantage of (57%);
- have difficulty accessing appropriate services or supports (56%); and
- feared or met with distrust or suspicion (37%).
Other highlights
- 56% of Canadians are concerned about being affected by Alzheimer's disease.
- Of greatest concern is their fear of being a burden to others, losing their independence and the inability to recognize family and friends.
- Only 39% would offer support for family or friends who were open about their diagnosis.
- Three-in-ten Canadians (30%) admit to using dementia-related jokes.
Quick facts
- Today, over half a million Canadians have dementia (including Alzheimer's disease).
- In less than 15 years, an estimated 937,000 Canadians will have dementia
- Alzheimer Societies across Canada provide programs and support services for people with all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, and their caregivers.
- The Alzheimer Society is a leading Canadian funder of dementia research and has invested to date, over $50 million in bio-medical and quality-of-life research through the Alzheimer Society Research Program.
SOURCE Alzheimer Society of Canada
5 Tips for Healthy Winter Skin:
- Cover exposed skin when heading outdoors.
- Wash with lukewarm water. Hot showers strip oils from your skin.
- Humidify your home.
- Choose your moisturizer carefully; opt for gentile, natural products.
- Use SPF even during the winter.

DreamBelly Butter by Fairhaven is designed to help protect and nourish your skin as it stretches to accommodate your growing belly during your pregnancy.
Product Features + Benefits:
- Combines the healing power of rosehip oil, aloe vera, honeysuckle and grapefruit, to protect and regenerate skin, and provide soothing relief from itchiness
- Provides deep moisturizing from natural butters and oils with no greasy, slippery feeling
- Has the mild, pleasant fragrance of milk and honey
- Contains no petroleum products, parabens, artificial colors or artificial preservatives
Age range: Adult
MSRP: $9.95
Available online: https://www.fairhavenhealth.com/dreambelly-butter

Chapped skin a real concern for winter athletics. Olen Cosmetics has created *the* best solution to this dilemma with their Baby Butz Cream. Not only the safest and most effective diaper rash treatment available without a prescription it’s perfect to use for chapped skin and to protect against the elements. 100% natural ingredients and 30% zinc oxide. Used in hospital neonatal units and many pediatricians hand out samples plus medical professionals have endorsed this cream. No Chemicals, no Alcohol, no perfumes and hypoallergenic.
Age range: Birth+
MSRP: $12.99 (4 ounces), $7.99 (2 ounces)
Available online: www.Amazon.com

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you still can’t get burned especially when participating in snow activities because the snow reflects the sun making sun exposure a real issue in cold climates. Olen Cosmetics and their Sun Blocz 100% natural sunscreen is just what you need to stay protected. 100% Natural Sunscreen, 24.5% Zinc Oxide (non-nano), SPF 50 - UVA+UVB Broad Spectrum, water resistant for 80 minutes, hypoallergenic, doesn’t sting eyes, and repels bugs!
No Parabens, No Phthalates, Reef Safe, No Animal Testing
Age range: Birth+
MSRP: $24.99
Available online: www.Amazon.com

Great for chapped baby & kid cheeks! Winner of the 2017 Baby Maternity Magazine Tocp Choice award and the 2016 Cribsie Awards Academy Star award, BabyIt is a must have for all pregnant moms! Doctor-formulated and paraben free BabyIt is a multipurpose gel that can be used to sooth and heal sensitive areas as well as to moisturize delicate skin.
Product Features + Benefits:
- Safely helps reduce the risk of trauma during childbirth and eases postpartum recovery
- Paraben, glycerol, oil and fragrance free
- pH balanced for pregnant women's sensitive tissues
Age range: Adult Pregnant and Postpartum Women
MSRP: $19.95
Available online: www.MyIsoLove.com