The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Barefoot Running by Dr Craig Richards and Thomas Hollowell was released in March 2011. It covers:

• An overview of what barefoot running is all about, including a closer look at running shoes – and why you don’t need them.
• A thorough transitioning program designed to slowly strengthen and stretch your feet as they acclimate to going barefoot.
• Tips for running on all kinds of surfaces and in all types of weather, along with advice on determining if “barefoot running shoes” are for you.
• Training pointers to help you successfully increase your barefoot running distance and speed.
• Guidance on taking care of your feet, legs, and body to prevent injury and keep you on the shoeless path.

I have personally followed his advice and have found it extremely useful for reconditioning my feet and greatly improving my plantar fasciitis. I also use Newton Trainers to give my feet and legs some variety depending on my training schedule.

Two essential tools to help nurture your feet are the AOK Massage Ball and the Small Hard Thera-Roll

Matt Farley worked with the AOK team for a number of years as a technical specialist and always proved to be a knowledgable ambassador for AOK’s range of proven and trusted products. He has recently launched an independent fitness venture in the Hunter.

Locomotion Health Club, located in the picturesque Hunter Valley Gardens Village is a unique and luxurious gym and health facility. The club offers people who live, work or visit the wine region a fabulous venue to exercise, or simply relax and unwind.

The boutique health club has a range of handpicked strength, conditioning, and cardiovascular equipment.  Visitors or members who join will also have access to the 12.5m heated swimming pool, spa, sauna, showers and tennis courts at the stunning Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens.

Locomotion Health Club

Hunter Valley local Matt Farley is the creator and owner of Locomotion Health Club.   Matt is hugely passionate about all things health and fitness, and has been in the Industry for close to 15 years.  Backed by qualifications in Health & Sports Science and having starting out as an aspiring professional athlete in Singapore, Matt worked internationally and in Australia gaining an enormous amount of experience in the field.

Matt says, “Locomotion Health Club has been in the pipeline for a few years now.  As a local myself, I felt that people who lived in our region needed a health club that was convenient and one that enables them to look after their health and fitness in a more personalised way.”

“From sport specific programming, personal training, fitness evaluations and older adult programs, we are able to assist all ages and fitness levels.   Massage and physiotherapy services are also available.”

“Our staff are highly trained and experienced at helping people reach their goals.  We will also be conducting two annual 12 week boot camp programs that will be a fantastic challenge for members looking to take their fitness outside to the next level.”

“The Hunter Valley is synonymous with world class wines and fine food, but it is important to balance out these pleasures with exercise.  As they say, everything is best in moderation!”

The Locomotion Health Club is located at the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens, Broke Road, Pokolbin.  Opening hours are Monday to Friday 6:00am to 8:00pm and Saturday 7:00am to 12:00pm.

For further information or to interview Matt Farley contact Rebecca Mortimer at Agent99 PR on 0409 362 539 or email Rebecca@agent99pr.com

Sydney – Take Notice! Exercise, Nutrition, Education

Bondi Junction (Sydney) is the home of The Origin Of Energy Studio - a unique new health and fitness studio. Origin Of Energy (OE) offers group & personal training with a difference. All OE members enjoy a training environment that not only teaches them how to move their bodies but offers practical lifestyle coaching with its cafe being side by side with the gym. The Cafe serves a meal of the day (MOD) and the gym serves a work out of the day (WOD). The meal is made from sustainable local produce and the workouts are made of functional movement patterns and corrective core exercises.

Origin of Energy Team

Owners Aaron, Alana & Gus have worked with clients in 1 ON 1 and group training only offering the movement coaching and lifestyle recommendations. “Advising clients to make a change is very different from offering the practical experience. We felt it was more than necessary to combine lifestyle training with exercise to get optimal results. ” Says Aaron McKenzie with 12 yrs experience in the health & fitness industry. OE is making it easy for their members by giving them what they need in a 1 stop shop. This diverse business model also includes fresh raw produce (meats, veges, dairy, poultry, etc), workshops, lifestyle products & also a very practical Cert IV in Fitness program.

OE wants its members to have the best chance to get healthy & for trainers coming through the OE Cert IV in Fitness program to have the best chance of having a healthy diverse business. To check out what they are up to visit www.originofenergy.com

Civic Playhouse hosts this prestigous event. Come and enjoy the charm of Newcastle’s premier small venue for this big event.

Hot on the heels of the largest, and one of the most prestigious, mountain festivals in the world, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour has hit the road, with stops planned in more than 275 communities and 30 countries across the globe.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This year’s tour features a collection of the most inspiring and thought-provoking active, environmental, and adventure mountain films. Traveling from remote landscapes and
cultures, to up close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports, the 2010 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

TO BOOK TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION click here

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is produced by Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre, and features award-winning films and audience favorites from approximately 300 films entered in the annual festival in Banff.

Join Paddy Pallin when the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings the spirit of outdoor adventure to Australia. The Festival has been touring since 1986.

The freeFORM Board is a precision engineered training tool that rolls in any direction and helps to improve functional strength and fitness, enabling users to achieve better results faster.

What sets freeFORM apart?
There is a fundamental difference that sets the freeFORM Board apart from other functional fitness tools.

Its design allows the board to roll both on the horizontal plane , and in any direction.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The benefit is that you stay in full contact with the device while it supports your body weight. And as you approach your end range of movement, you simply change direction, continuing the exercise in a different direction.

Not only can you move forwards, backwards, sideways and in circles, but you can stay in contact while for example you transition from a prone face down position to a sideways lateral position, and then to a face up supine position.

To freeFORM means to be able to train the body and the nervous system in a non linear, non repetitive manner. In daily life and in competitive sport in particular, your body and nervous system are being asked to respond to things you can’t plan for and in some instances, you haven’t trained for. Naturally, the freeFORM Board still allows you to exercise in a linear and structured manner, however its ability to combine motion on the horizontal plane as well as across any direction is totally unique and what drastically widens your training options.

more info >>