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FITNESS, HEALTH, WELLNESS

features

Gymtopia series: Life after war

Ray Algar reports on a joint US mission to bring war veterans and communities together

By Ray Algar, Gymtopia | Published in Health Club Management 2014 issue 9

Imagine you’re a 23-year old American soldier deployed to western Afghanistan. Life is highly organised as it’s mission driven. Every day, your life – and those of your comrades – depends on you bringing your ‘A game’ to the battlefield in pursuit of the shared mission. You’re a valued part of a team and, if the day came when you had to sacrifice your life in pursuit of the mission, or to protect a comrade, you’d do it – all would – because you’re a team.

But what happens when the mission ends and it’s time to return home and transition to life as a civilian? Life after war should be a far simpler mission, but for far too many US military veterans it’s one they’re poorly equipped to deal with. Adjusting to the rhythm of civilian life becomes a daily challenge because it now lacks purpose, and those unique skills acquired and honed on the battlefield are not in demand here. For many, this can lead to depression and addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Step up Team RWB
Mike Erwin, a US Army major, had the foresight to recognise that the reintegration of war veterans into civilian life would become increasingly challenging given the rise in overseas deployments; an estimated one million US military personnel will retire or separate from the military in the next five years.

So Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit organisation, was founded in 2010 with its own mission: to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to people in their community through physical and social activity.

War veterans often report feeling ‘disconnected’ when they return home; Team RWB’s vision is to increase the connection between America’s combat veterans and their communities

Team RWB Chapters
The organisation has created local groups, or ‘chapters’, across the United States, and these host regular activities that provide an opportunity for veterans and the community to come together. That may be a weekly running group, hike, ball game or post-race gathering where other war veterans meet each other – but more importantly, where they meet members of their local community, because it’s the sense of
belonging that they truly crave.

Enter Iron Tribe Fitness
Iron Tribe Fitness is a fast-growing American functional training brand that was also founded in 2010. Iron Tribe Fitness does not have members or clients but ‘athletes’, and there are just 300 of them at each gym. These small ‘tribes’, drawn from all parts of a local community, meet as a group for 45-minute classes based on a simple system of full body movements in addition to personal coaching.

A purpose beyond fitness
Forrest Walden founded Iron Tribe Fitness, and from the outset believed the organisation possessed the ability to achieve more than merely transforming the lives of its own ‘athletes’. It operates by the philosophy that fitness has a greater purpose, and its gyms are a platform to help others.

The philosophy is summed up in this statement: “Yes, it’s to teach healthy lifestyles. Yes, it’s to be a leader in results based fitness. Yes, it’s to encourage fellowship within our tribe and global community. But it goes beyond that. It’s to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of the downtrodden, by partnering with local and global charities. Our venue to do this, of course, is Iron Tribe Fitness.

Together we can touch those lives.”

Two school friends re-unite
Jim Cavale joined Iron Tribe Fitness in 2010 as chief operating officer and is a lifelong friend of Mike Erwin, the founder of Team RWB. The two organisations began discussing a collaboration and quickly saw they were a perfect fit.

In 2011, they kickstarted their partnership with Iron Tribe creating an event called ‘Workout For Warriors’ dedicated to military personnel, past, present and future. This involves Iron Tribe Fitness athletes coming together to complete military-style exercises in 11-minute stints, representing the 11 November Veterans Day.

The inaugural 2011 Workout For Warriors raised US$30,000 for Team RWB. This event is now repeated annually, taking place every 11 November, as well as on Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) across all Iron Tribe Fitness gyms.

Workout for Warriors is spreading
As Iron Tribe Fitness grows, so does Workout for Warriors. With 33 gyms now open, approximately US$150,000 has so far been raised to support the work of Team RWB. However, Iron Tribe Fitness wants the idea to spread, and so Workout for Warriors is now run by other American gyms (under a revised name: Workout of the Day with Warriors), thereby raising more funds for Team RWB.

So what can your business do to support war veterans?
Every year, on 11 November at 11.00am, many of us will stop for two minutes to remember the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces – but surely the fitness industry, with its 132 million global members, can do more than quietly stand. So get involved, but remember these war veterans need more than just money: above all, they’re looking for someone to recognise their potential and help them to discover a new mission.

Gymtopia – a place where clubs do social good

Gymtopia was conceived by founder and chief engagement officer Ray Algar, who believes the global health and fitness industry has enormous influence and potential to do good in the world, beyond its immediate customers. The idea of Gymtopia is simple: to curate and spread remarkable stories in which the fitness industry uses its influence to reach out and support an external community in need. It was created with the generous support of five organisations: Companhia Athletica, Gantner Technologies, Les Mills, Retention Management and The Gym Group.

Read more stories and submit your own: www.Gymtopia.org

IN A NUTSHELL

Project by: Iron Tribe Fitness (Alabama, US)
Website: www.irontribefitness.com
Project status: Ongoing and long-term
Charity supported: Team RWB
Impact: National
Gymtopia keywords: Education, Health & Wellbeing

Sign up here to get HCM's weekly ezine and every issue of HCM magazine free on digital.
Iron Tribe has just 300 ‘athletes’ per club
Iron Tribe has just 300 ‘athletes’ per club
In 2011, Iron Tribe created the Workout for Warriors event to raise funds for Team RWB
In 2011, Iron Tribe created the Workout for Warriors event to raise funds for Team RWB
https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/HCM2014_9gymtopia.jpg
Ray Algar reports on a joint US mission bringing war veterans and communities together through fitness initiatives
Ray Algar, Gymtopia,Team RWB, war veterans, Iron Tribe, charity
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features

Gymtopia series: Life after war

Ray Algar reports on a joint US mission to bring war veterans and communities together

By Ray Algar, Gymtopia | Published in Health Club Management 2014 issue 9

Imagine you’re a 23-year old American soldier deployed to western Afghanistan. Life is highly organised as it’s mission driven. Every day, your life – and those of your comrades – depends on you bringing your ‘A game’ to the battlefield in pursuit of the shared mission. You’re a valued part of a team and, if the day came when you had to sacrifice your life in pursuit of the mission, or to protect a comrade, you’d do it – all would – because you’re a team.

But what happens when the mission ends and it’s time to return home and transition to life as a civilian? Life after war should be a far simpler mission, but for far too many US military veterans it’s one they’re poorly equipped to deal with. Adjusting to the rhythm of civilian life becomes a daily challenge because it now lacks purpose, and those unique skills acquired and honed on the battlefield are not in demand here. For many, this can lead to depression and addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Step up Team RWB
Mike Erwin, a US Army major, had the foresight to recognise that the reintegration of war veterans into civilian life would become increasingly challenging given the rise in overseas deployments; an estimated one million US military personnel will retire or separate from the military in the next five years.

So Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit organisation, was founded in 2010 with its own mission: to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to people in their community through physical and social activity.

War veterans often report feeling ‘disconnected’ when they return home; Team RWB’s vision is to increase the connection between America’s combat veterans and their communities

Team RWB Chapters
The organisation has created local groups, or ‘chapters’, across the United States, and these host regular activities that provide an opportunity for veterans and the community to come together. That may be a weekly running group, hike, ball game or post-race gathering where other war veterans meet each other – but more importantly, where they meet members of their local community, because it’s the sense of
belonging that they truly crave.

Enter Iron Tribe Fitness
Iron Tribe Fitness is a fast-growing American functional training brand that was also founded in 2010. Iron Tribe Fitness does not have members or clients but ‘athletes’, and there are just 300 of them at each gym. These small ‘tribes’, drawn from all parts of a local community, meet as a group for 45-minute classes based on a simple system of full body movements in addition to personal coaching.

A purpose beyond fitness
Forrest Walden founded Iron Tribe Fitness, and from the outset believed the organisation possessed the ability to achieve more than merely transforming the lives of its own ‘athletes’. It operates by the philosophy that fitness has a greater purpose, and its gyms are a platform to help others.

The philosophy is summed up in this statement: “Yes, it’s to teach healthy lifestyles. Yes, it’s to be a leader in results based fitness. Yes, it’s to encourage fellowship within our tribe and global community. But it goes beyond that. It’s to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of the downtrodden, by partnering with local and global charities. Our venue to do this, of course, is Iron Tribe Fitness.

Together we can touch those lives.”

Two school friends re-unite
Jim Cavale joined Iron Tribe Fitness in 2010 as chief operating officer and is a lifelong friend of Mike Erwin, the founder of Team RWB. The two organisations began discussing a collaboration and quickly saw they were a perfect fit.

In 2011, they kickstarted their partnership with Iron Tribe creating an event called ‘Workout For Warriors’ dedicated to military personnel, past, present and future. This involves Iron Tribe Fitness athletes coming together to complete military-style exercises in 11-minute stints, representing the 11 November Veterans Day.

The inaugural 2011 Workout For Warriors raised US$30,000 for Team RWB. This event is now repeated annually, taking place every 11 November, as well as on Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) across all Iron Tribe Fitness gyms.

Workout for Warriors is spreading
As Iron Tribe Fitness grows, so does Workout for Warriors. With 33 gyms now open, approximately US$150,000 has so far been raised to support the work of Team RWB. However, Iron Tribe Fitness wants the idea to spread, and so Workout for Warriors is now run by other American gyms (under a revised name: Workout of the Day with Warriors), thereby raising more funds for Team RWB.

So what can your business do to support war veterans?
Every year, on 11 November at 11.00am, many of us will stop for two minutes to remember the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces – but surely the fitness industry, with its 132 million global members, can do more than quietly stand. So get involved, but remember these war veterans need more than just money: above all, they’re looking for someone to recognise their potential and help them to discover a new mission.

Gymtopia – a place where clubs do social good

Gymtopia was conceived by founder and chief engagement officer Ray Algar, who believes the global health and fitness industry has enormous influence and potential to do good in the world, beyond its immediate customers. The idea of Gymtopia is simple: to curate and spread remarkable stories in which the fitness industry uses its influence to reach out and support an external community in need. It was created with the generous support of five organisations: Companhia Athletica, Gantner Technologies, Les Mills, Retention Management and The Gym Group.

Read more stories and submit your own: www.Gymtopia.org

IN A NUTSHELL

Project by: Iron Tribe Fitness (Alabama, US)
Website: www.irontribefitness.com
Project status: Ongoing and long-term
Charity supported: Team RWB
Impact: National
Gymtopia keywords: Education, Health & Wellbeing

Sign up here to get HCM's weekly ezine and every issue of HCM magazine free on digital.
Iron Tribe has just 300 ‘athletes’ per club
Iron Tribe has just 300 ‘athletes’ per club
In 2011, Iron Tribe created the Workout for Warriors event to raise funds for Team RWB
In 2011, Iron Tribe created the Workout for Warriors event to raise funds for Team RWB
https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/HCM2014_9gymtopia.jpg
Ray Algar reports on a joint US mission bringing war veterans and communities together through fitness initiatives
Ray Algar, Gymtopia,Team RWB, war veterans, Iron Tribe, charity
Latest News
US private equity fund, Providence Equity Partners, is acquiring a majority stake in VivaGym from ...
Latest News
The Bannatyne Group says it has officially bounced back from the pandemic, with both turnover ...
Latest News
There is speculation that Basic Fit will sell the five Spanish Holmes Place clubs it ...
Latest News
While British adults are the most active they’ve been in a decade, health inequalities remain ...
Latest News
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and ...
Latest News
Nuffield Health’s fourth annual survey, the Healthier Nation Index, has found people moved slightly more ...
Latest News
Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to ...
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Company profile: Art of Cryo
Art of Cryo is a new division of a renowned family business with 30 years’ ...
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Company profile: GLL
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As the UK’s leading provider of both leisure centres and libraries, GLL operate nearly 400 ...
Supplier Showcase
Supplier showcase - Jon Williams
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
Everyone Active press release: Amazing Jane Activewear and Everyone Active announce strategic partnership to empower women
In a groundbreaking collaboration, innovative UK-based activewear brand Amazing Jane, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Everyone Active, the premier operator of community leisure facilities in the UK.
Featured press releases
Alliance Leisure Services (Design, Build and Fund) press release: Alliance Leisure transforms under-utilised space into dynamic training hub
Working in close partnership with a number of specialist providers, Alliance Leisure were appointed by East Renfrewshire Council to transform a low occupancy martial arts studio into a high energy functional training arena. The space, branded The Grid, will be used for individual and group training and will enhance the current fitness offering for the community.
Directory
Flooring
Total Vibration Solutions / TVS Sports Surfaces: Flooring
salt therapy products
Saltability: salt therapy products
Snowroom
TechnoAlpin SpA: Snowroom
Cryotherapy
Art of Cryo: Cryotherapy
Spa software
SpaBooker: Spa software
Lockers
Fitlockers: Lockers
Property & Tenders
Loughton, IG10
Knight Frank
Property & Tenders
Grantham, Leicestershire
Belvoir Castle
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
10-12 May 2024
China Import & Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China
Diary dates
23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
Diary dates
30 May - 02 Jun 2024
Rimini Exhibition Center, Rimini, Italy
Diary dates
08-08 Jun 2024
Worldwide, Various,
Diary dates
11-13 Jun 2024
Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore, Singapore
Diary dates
12-13 Jun 2024
ExCeL London, London, United Kingdom
Diary dates
03-05 Sep 2024
IMPACT Exhibition Center, Bangkok, Thailand
Diary dates
19-19 Sep 2024
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Diary dates
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Diary dates
22-25 Oct 2024
Messe Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
24-24 Oct 2024
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Diary dates
04-07 Nov 2024
In person, St Andrews, United Kingdom
Diary dates
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