All posts by admin

When Fitness is Essential

June 19, 2020Eventsadmin

France joined Italy and Spain in “lockdown” last night, limiting all “non-essential” travel. These extreme measures are in order as European nations attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Health Clubs are taking a hit as people avoid large gatherings and practice “social distancing”. Large chain “budget” gyms that base their business model on a huge number of customers are going to suffer for a few months.

The CDC publishes guidelines on best practices to stay safe. It requires putting “distance between you and other people.” There are no issues meeting these guidelines at Fay’s Fitness as there are no large gatherings. There are only about 40 of us total and, with the exception of HIIT class, no more than a few people work out at one time.

In my self-defense classes, I teach “Prepared, Not Scared”. My reaction to issues like this latest crisis is to get educated. As I mentioned in a previous blog, having a robust immune system is the best defense against this disease. Subsequently, I ordered three books from Amazon about boosting the immune system.

Book 1 – Immune System Diet Plan – arrived yesterday. Guess what? Exercise is a key to building a powerful immune system. Of course it is.

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Stacking Blocks

May 31, 2020Events, Ron's Blogadmin

Feeling a little off?

You’re probably thinking it’s normal. Your routine has been upended. No more work. No more going to church. No more going to the gym. No more connecting with others, at least physically.

And you’re right – you should feel a little off. Big changes in a short period. Plus you’re being reminded every time you don the latest wardrobe addition to cover your mouth and nose that things are way different.

But what’s to worry about? The government has your back. They’re sending you freshly printed money in the way of stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits to satisfy your ‘needs’.

But that’s not enough.

Many people understood that there would be consequences of the lockdowns, but no one knew just what these consequences were going to be. Looking at the stock market lately, most investors think things will be back to normal in a jiffy.

I doubt it.

Your Pyramid Blocks are Shifting

Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” theory is a useful tool to help us see just how the coronavirus has changed our individual worlds.

The theory is that needs on the lower levels must be satisfied before you can move up to higher level needs.

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Memorial Day, Every Day

May 23, 2020Ron's Blogadmin

It’s difficult to imagine why someone would sacrifice their life for their country.

Many have done it and some are still doing it today.

But why?

With Memorial Day coming, I’ve thought a lot about this lately. Four decades ago when I was 18 years old and enlisted in the USAF, I would have died for my country. Born to a veteran father and raised by WWII veteran stepdad, it was the honorable path to put your life on the line for our country. I enlisted in the USAF during peacetime, so risk was low, but I knew the possibilities and was mentally prepared.

I was ready, but I don’t believe I really thought it through. Brainwashed? Maybe. Probably.

When you enlist in a branch of the Armed Forces, you take an oath. The oath promises to defend the Constitution and obey the President through the chain of command. Frankly, I knew little about the Constitution when I signed up. What I knew was that we were a free country and that a lot of people gave their lives to keep it that way: 406,399 in WWII, 36,516 in Korea, and 58,209 in Vietnam to name the recent major conflicts at the time.

These men and women gave up everything – but why?

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Obesity is an Underlying Health Risk

April 14, 2020Ron's Blogadmin

In identifying those at high risk for the COVID-19 virus, the initial focus was on age and comorbidities such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes and hyperlipidemia (e.g. high cholesterol). Early data supported that these were the big threats for someone that had the virus.

With more data, some are concluding that age and obesity are the two main concerns.

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We are closed but you still need to exercise!

March 18, 2020Events, Ron's Blogadmin

Fay’s Fitness joined all other gyms in New York State and closed per Governor Cuomo’s direction on March 15, 2020.

What do we do now?

We adapt.

For our HIIT class patrons, I came up with the following workout: Workout Anywhere

Here’s my video showing the exercises: FFI Exercise Video

I made a timer video as well: Timer Video

The Finisher for the workout is doing squats per Moby’s Flower (Bring Sally Up): Here it is!

Fay’s Fitness people can borrow a band from the gym. Either type – ones with or without handles – will work!

Have fun!

Ron

An Important Time to Be Healthy

March 4, 2020Ron's Blogadmin

Much of the information protecting us from Coronavirus COVID-19 is about preventing the spread of the disease. The CDC has posted resources on their website to educate us all on how to do our best to keep the virus contained.

Prevention is the first line of defense. But what if the virus cannot be contained? What happens if it spreads uncontrollably and we are all subjected to it?

If all the attempts to contain the virus fail, it will be up to our body’s natural defenses to fight it off.

One of the most difficult challenges with containing the virus is the wide variety of effects in has on different people. Many carriers exhibit no symptoms. Others that have the virus have symptoms no worse than a cold.

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Are You Ready for Anything?

February 29, 2020Eventsadmin

This was our theme for 2019 and below is the poem I wrote for Facebook.

More appropriate today than ever

Ready for Anything
Ron Fay, Fay’s Fitness

Prepared for disaster there is no better way to be
But what is the best way is the question I forsee
Of all the things that can happen when things go awry
From stock market crashes to zombie apocalypse Oh My!

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I Want an Active, Productive, and Vital Retirement – That’s Why I Do Yoga.

February 24, 2020Events, Ron's Blogadmin

Our Yoga Instructor. Elise, gets it.

She’s from a Western New York blue collar family. Her dad is a pipe fitter. When it comes to helping “normal” people appreciate the benefits of yoga, she’s a bridge.

“Just start moving. The rest will come.”

I used to be semi-flexible 10 years ago when I did Taekwondo. Over the years, the joints stiffened up and the muscles ached. I exercise regularly, but warm-ups were painful. Takes a while to get going.

That was before Yoga.

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Exercising with Injuries

February 18, 2020Ron's Blogadmin

So I tore something in my elbow. Probably a tendon.

One thing I learned early in my exercise career is that injuries should never shut you down. In fact, they are opportunities.

I witnessed a young gymnast breaking his foot during practice at UC Davis. Being on the gymnastics team at a college, you don’t have the opportunity to just sit out for 3 months and heal. Your condensed 4 year career will likely be over. This particular gymnast was back at training in 2 weeks – cast and all. I thought he was amazing prior to the accident – until I saw him do a one-legged front flip!

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