FITNESS SPORT No 1 year 2007

The internationally recognised STRENFLEX Fitness Test

FITNESS TEST

Sylvia Gattiker 11.2.1956 Born in Vienna, Austria 1962-1966 Primary school in Vienna 1966-1970 Secondary school in Vienna 1970-1972 Fashion college in Vienna 1972-1977 Business college in Vienna leading to university entry qualification 1980-1983 Business Studies course at the Business University in Vienna 1972 Austrian Champion in the Olympic eight-events competition and Austrian Cham pion on the asymmetric bars 1974 participation in the World Champion ships in Varna, Bulgaria 1972-1982 Member of the Austrian National Team 1972-1982 Many titles at county, federal, na tional and international championship level 1983 Publication of the book „AEROBICS“ 1990 -1992 Four times Swiss women‘s Aero bics Champion Participation in the first aerobics World Cham pionships in San Diego, USA 6th place at the European Championships at Rimini, Italy 1993 -1996 International FISAF referee and member of the des international technical commitee 1983-2004 Further training and education in the fitness field. ACE-certified, diploma in structor and fitness consultant, Schwinn cy cling instructor, pump, aerobics, slide and step instructor, Pilates mat work instructor, Gravity Group Fitness, Gravity personal training and Gravity Pilates instructor Gym owner since 1983 2004-2005 Managing director of Oasis Health and Fitness Clubs, Austria 2005 VfgÖ referee (Association for the pro motion of fitness sport in Austria) 2005 Adviser in Austria and Switzerland on the Gravity Training System for Efi Sports Medicine 2005 Opening of the first Gravity Training Studio in Europe, oasis Total Body Solution in Aarau. 25 years in the fitness industry European President, STRENFLEX Consultant and trainer in the fitness sector with emphasis on group fitness and STREN FLEX. Primarily involved in the development of STRENFLEX and the STRENFLEX fitness test . Promotes the sport of STRENFLEX, manages and presents the international and national championships Holder of the first STRENFLEX Fitness Award and the STRENFLEX GOLD Fitness Badge Mother of 3 grown sons.

What‘s our physical condition? Are we really as „fit“ as we make out or believe? And are we fit overall or just in one partic ular „pet area?“ To answer these questions STRENFLEX has devised a „fitness test“ that assesses strength, endurance and flex ibility in a simple way. If the required crite ria are met then the sports badges Bronze, Silver or Gold are awarded respectively. This signifies that we represent a genera tion with an all-embracing and serious approach to fitness. One of the most vital tasks of our indus try is to know the customer’s goal, to establish his/her current fitness level, to support him/her in achieving that goal and measure progress. If the customer wants to look good then his goal is to lose weight and gain muscle. Maybe he/she is more concerned with health – they may belong to a group with a higher risk of heart attacks – and this is what that leads them to us? The important issues for us are whether the customer is actually pre pared to start doing something, whether he wants to start right away or needs to be pushed a little, has he already started training etc. The answers to all these questions and the results of the STREN FLEX test are a good means to evalu ate the customer’s level of fitness. And earning one of the STRENFLEX badges can provide that additional motivational push. The STRENFLEX fitness test shows people their current level, which deficits they might have and what area needs particular attention. Then it’s on to step 2: Implementation through training. And step 3: Monitoring progress/success. Again the STRENFLEX test may be used here.

If perhaps the sports badge was not achieved at the first attempt then it will surely be possible, following a suitable period of serious training, for the cus tomer to finally earn the Bronze badge. It becomes clear that by striving to achieve the next badge grade the motivation to train regularly can be increased. The STRENFLEX fitness test, though sup ported by scientific evidence, doesn’t purport to be a scientific medical test. The aim of the test is to provide the user with a simple means of establishing and controlling his/her individual perform ance levels in respect of strength – endur ance – and flexibility. The test result helps in the selection of suitable exercises for individual training programmes, in con trolling the amount of exercise and as a motivational factor. It’s important for the test to be carried with a simple method ology and without a large oranisational burden and expensive equipment. This alone will guarantee wide acceptance of the test. Overall fitness is tested, based on the three pillars of strength – endurance – and flexibility. STRENGTH Strength testing is extremely important in order to establish a basis and to pinpoint potential muscular dysbalances or defi cits. Dysbalances or unbalanced exercise automatically evolve into unbalanced muscle performance. This considerably reduces muscle co-ordination, leading eventually to a change in movement pat terns which in turn can affect joints and cartilage. Performance and wellbeing suf fer and injuries or postural deformities can manifest themselves as a result.

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