Computer Games That Make You Sweat
A Hit in Fitness Clubs, YMCAs and Schools
SANTA BARBARA, CA, May 14, 2005 - For years
the media have been reporting on the crises America
faces with obesity and inactivity. Our society has changed
and the offerings for maintaining fitness have not kept
up with the times leaving over 85% of the population
without solutions that are congruent with their lifestyles.
Since the migration to interactive technology is blamed
for this vast shift to inactivity, a new industry consistent
with the trends, is emerging in the field of Active
Interactive Computer generated fitness and entertainment.
Fitness training is now merging with entertainment and
functions on the basis of full-body computer games that
make you sweat. Sportwall International, is leading
this movement with several new interactive products.
Their "Active-Interactive" platform merges
entertainment and full body computer games so people
of all ages can have fun while enhancing their level
of physical fitness.
This involves products and curriculum, designed to
engage today's youth in a rounded workout they want
to do. While Sportwall's 20 products vary from toddler
playgrounds to high performance training for athletes,
the one consistent principle behind all Sportwall products
is to engage and sustain interest with the challenge
of a computer game while concurrently stimulating the
hands, feet, eyes, ears, and the vestibular systems.
Playing a Sportwall game combines skill and cognitive
decision making with cardio based activity. Kids have
the opportunity to learn while they get fit. A very
complex way to articulate what happens when children
play or when athletes practice. We stimulate the neurological
system beyond its level of comfort in order to cause
adaptation to a higher level of efficiency. This is
all about the principle of practice makes perfect.
In the words of Billie Jean King, winner of 20 Wimbledon
titles, "When people take a good look at the Sportwall
systems, they'll see the wave of the future. Players
are getting cardiovascular fitness, sports and motor
skills training, and having fun at the same time!"
Cathi Lamberti, CEO of Sportwall International. "Technology
has produced a lifestyle swing resulting in inactivity.
The consequences are being evidenced by the loss of
natural play and resultant increases in obesity, diabetes
and neurological disorders such as ADHD, Autism, and
Dyslexia. Kids are just not 'wiring-up' efficiently
due to the significant reduction in early neurological
stimulation from the loss of traditional play. Our products
provide 'catch-up' stimulation, packaged in the form
of active computer games."
While safer, the extensive use of child carry chairs
is not conducive to developing a child's neurological
system which is primitive at birth and requires stimulation
to develop. Take a child off the floor and off his stomach
and you have reduced all that need to kick, swing arms,
try to lift his head to see what's going on, or try
to roll over; all necessary movement designed to kick
off early 'wiring-up'. Now pop them in front of the
television and we have eliminated the need to do a whole
lot more motor development.
"Most people only really engage new learning when
confronted with the discomfort of not being able to
do something. The more we want to do it, the more tolerant
we are of the discomfort we have to endure to learn.
Computer games contain all the elements to stimulate
participation. All we have done at Sportwall, is to
turn this into a way to get kids fit and learning kinesthetically"
said Lamberti "Natural play engages both the brain
and body, unlike fitness machines that enable you to
watch television while you do it. Kids need their fitness
delivered in a play environment because it develops
the whole person."
Sportwall's new state-of-the-art fitness systems are
proving a hit to kids in facilities around the country.
Here is what people are saying about Sportwall products:
"At David Lloyds, children's participation increased
from 200 to 700 in the first six weeks following Sportwall
installation."
Fergus Ahern, Director of Pte Plc.
England
"We started a program called Fit Kids on Saturday
mornings. Parents are actually bringing in their kids
to sign up because kids are telling Mom they want to
hit on the wall. We have a seen a tremendous increase
in participation. The kids do not want to leave! It's
been a big plus here."
Teresa Smith, General Manager, Pro
Health Fitness
"Kids love this equipment and have so much fun
they don't even realize how much exercise they are doing.
I give Sportwall my highest recommendation and commend
the designers/developers of this cutting-edge equipment
for new hope in the fight against childhood inactivity/obesity."
Wayne L. Wescott, PhD., CSCS, Fitness
Research Director, South Shore YMCA
"Our Sportwall Training Station is used by every
single student as part of their physical education.
They absolutely love it. Teachers never have to cajole
students into using it. With the current youth obesity
crisis we needed a solution yesterday. Sportwall is
it. We have a group of women staff members that use
Sportwall as their own private gym. It makes for a healthier
and happier staff."
Cora JcKowski, Principal
Majestic Elementary School
"The Sportwall Training Station adds a whole new
dimension with unlimited possibilities for skills and
fitness development. It is very easy to operate and
it's benefits are limited only by the user's creativity.
It is well received by elementary students of all ages
and levels of skill. Most noticeable was that the less
skilled participants got the most encouragement from
their team members and showed the most improvement in
both skills and attitude. It definitely improved their
self esteem and motivated them to work hard and do their
best."
Karen Perry-Kaplan, P.E. Specialist
Schofield Elementary School
About Sportwall
Sportwall International, Inc., based in Santa Barbara,
CA, was founded in 1990 to develop, manufacture and
market advanced interactive fitness systems for people
of all ages. Sportwall provides full turnkey individual
and group training systems packaged with programs for
cardiovascular, neurological efficiency, speed/agility,
and motor skills training. Sportwall's Group Fitness
System is a multi-station-based, curriculum-driven system
for instructor-led classes up to 40 in size. Kids train
in teams and receive a fun all-round workout in a half-hour
to one-hour session. These systems work well in shared
locations since they take up almost no space when not
in use. Sportwall Junior Fitness systems are designed
for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs kids.
To learn more about Sportwall visit www.sportwall.com
Lynn Elliott Cannon, Sportwall (800-695-5056 x 104)
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