The PTI Blog

PTI’s Morning Runs with Dee Mullin,  Personal Training Institute’s Franchise Services Director.

Start your morning right with an outdoor run! Runners are strongly encouraged to bring a small water bottle to all outdoor runs.

Thursday, 7/28/2011 – 6am: 2.5 Mile jog – Beginner runners welcome!
Meet at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on 55 4th Street at 5:50am and take a light 2.5 mile jog with Dee. We’ll keep the pace between a 10:30/11:30 minute mile. Walkers are welcome too! This is not a competition; it’s about camaraderie and fitness! We should return to the Marriott by 6:30. Guaranteed to leave you feeling energized the rest of the day!

Friday, 7/29/2011 – 6am: 5k practice run with Jared Fogle!
Meet at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on 55 4th Street at 5:50am and prepare for Sunday’s San Francisco 5k, a 3.1 mile run, with Dee and Jared. Beginner to intermediate runners are encouraged to join! This run will be around a 10:00/11:00 minute mile pace and will leave you feeling confident for Sunday. We should return to the Marriott by 6:30. Even if you’re not participating in the 5k, join us to get some fresh air and an invigorating start to your morning!

Saturday 7/30/2011 – 6am: 5k or 10k run
Meet at San Francisco Marriott Marquis on 55 4th Street at 5:50am for a 3.1 or 6.2 mile morning workout with Dee! Runners should be looking to pace at approx 9:30/10:30 minute mile. The course is a loop, so runners looking to cover 6.2 miles should run the distance twice. This will be a relaxed, longer distance run. We should return to the Marriott by 7:15.

Congratulations to our own Jessica Swanson, Personal Training Institute’s Director of Training.  This past weekend, Jess ran her fastest yet Iron Man Competition in Lake Placid clocking in at 12 hours and 47 seconds.

We’re all so  proud of her and her passion for fitness.  GREAT JOB JESS!

On June 18^th volunteers of Sunrise Day Camp will be holding an Arts & Crafts Drive at Personal Training Institute located at 511 North Broadway in Jericho, from 1pm-4pm to benefit this very special camp.

Sunrise Day Camp, located on the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds in Wheatley Heights, New York, is the only dedicated day camp in the nation for children with cancer and their siblings and is offered completely free of charge.  Having a child with a chronic, life-threatening illness can have a devastating impact on a family, emotionally and financially.  It costs $6,000 to provide a child with a camping experience they will never forget.  Fundraising events and Drives like thes are critical to providing resources needed to operate camp and other year-round Sunrise programs.

Consider making a generous donation of arts & crafts supplies to benefit this very worthwhile camp and help these volunteers out.  Bring some sunshine to Sunrise Day Camp by donating new and unused arts & crafts supplies from the list below.

 

Imagine the joy and healing-power a summer filled with

fun, friendship and hope can offer these kids.

Sometimes these things make the biggest difference… and you can

ART SUPPLIES FOR COLLECTION

Acrylic Paint

Beads (also large wooden beads)

Button making supplies

Canvas boards and canvas

Ceramic tiles (solid colors)

Charcoal

Clay pots to paint (terracotta)

Craft kits

Craft paper (white and brown rolls)

Crayons (all sizes)

Drawing pads

Embroidery string (all colors)

Fabric paint and fabric markers

Fishwire

Foamboard

Fun kid stickers

Glitter

Heavy construction paper (all colors)

Masking tape (plain and colored)

Model Magic (Crayola)

Mosaic tiles

Mosaic tile cement

Paint brushes

Paint palettes

Paint sets (individual)

Picture Frames to decorate

Plaster cloth

Pottery clay (self hardening)

Pottery tools

Scissors (righty and lefty, large and small)

Sharpie markers (black and other colors)

Smocks/aprons

Stick-on foam shapes and figures

Tempera Paint (all colors)

Tie dye materials (for cold water)

Tissue Paper (multicolor)

Watercolor paper

White painter’s hats/headbands (adjustable sizes)

Wire sculpture supplies

Wooden dowels (all sizes)

Woodworking supplies (small hammers, nails, wood, hand vise, small hand held saws, sandpaper

Jericho, NY, May 25, 2011 – Personal Training Institute-Tucson is proud to announce that it has opted into the Joining Forces and Let’s Move! Initiatives launched May 9^th by First Lady Michelle Obama and adopted by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). The program kicks off June 1^st at which time eligible military families can find participating clubs in their area online at www.healthclubs.com.

“I feel very strongly about taking part in this worthwhile program,” says Craig Jackson, owner of Personal Training Institute-Tucson (photo, right with his wife Miki). Craig served seven years as a US Army Paratrooper, which included a deployment to the Middle East during the first Gulf War. In fact, this year marks the 20th Anniversary of Desert Storm. Jackson adds, “Fitness training combined with nutrition guidance can inspire smart lifestyle choices, positive self-esteem, improved health and so much more. These healthy results can really make a wonderful difference for military families who have already made so many sacrifices.”

PTI-Tucson will be offering free memberships to spouses and teenage children of deployed Reservists and National Guardsmen. These memberships will include three months of Body Basic that includes two strength training session each week with unlimited cardio, as well as nutrition counseling every other week. After the initial three-month program, participants can take advantage of unlimited cardio training with periodic body composition testing. PTI is also offering program discounts to active military and veterans. PTI-Tucson is located at 7625 North Oracle Road, Suite 145 at the Oracle Crossing Shopping Center.

For additional information, contact Craig or Miki Jackson at 520-297-8280 or Tucson@personaltraininginstitute.com.

PERSONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE: PTI has been changing lives since 1987 by combining its proven integrated program that encompasses one-to-one strength training and customized nutrition counseling for every client. Ranked in Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500,” PTI was also named among “Top 50 Franchises – for franchisee satisfaction” by Franchise Business Review. This results-oriented franchise is growing nationwide to help members and owners to achieve their goals. Visit www.ptifranchise.com for more information.

CONTACT: Carol Kur, MSRD, Co/founder of PTI at 516-342-9064 x16 or ckur@personaltraininginstitute.com; or Karin Machusic, PR Consultant to PTI at 925-524-4334 or kjmachusic@msn.com.

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Jericho, NY, May 23, 2011 – In her fifth race to benefit Strength for Life, Dee Mullin of the Personal  Training Institute was joined by colleague Jessica Swanson, former longtime PTI client Denise Chapman and current PTI client Nadine Schiavo and eight other members of their relay team “Running from (Celebrity) Rehab with Dr. Drew,” as they ran around the clock on May 13^th and 14^th in the 31-hour Ragnar Relay Series race that covered 197 miles from Bethel to Westchester. The weather held out for the racers, with special credit to PTI’s director of training Jessica Swanson, who ran despite battling poison ivy and a sinus infection. The team ran at a 9:33 mile pace, which is below the 11:00 mile average for this grueling relay http://www.ragnarrelay.com/race/newyork). Dee and two friends raised $1,100, and Denise Chapman raised $810 for a team total of $1900 benefiting Strength for Life, a nonprofit organization that provides free exercise classes and wellness weekends for cancer patients and survivors at locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“I am inspired by Maggie, a client of Strength for Life,” said Ms. Mullin. “She is battling cancer of the appendix and is making tremendous strides thanks in part to the wellness programs provided by Strength for Life.” Fitness training combined with good nutrition can be hugely beneficial to cancer patients, giving them a sense of control in a devastating situation and providing them with more energy and an enhanced quality of life.

Maggie has been part of the Strength for Life program for more than one year. She had a second surgery in December 2010, yet she has gained remarkable endurance and strength through her workouts at Strength for Life. “… I don’t know if you two (Strength for Life co-founders) realize that you have changed my life forever. I will drop everything to make sure that I go to the exercise on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. Your encouragement helped a lot. I always feel great after exercise, and I get to see all of my friends including both of you.” ~ Maggie

Fitness is all in the family and work culture for Ms. Mullin. Mullin started her career as a personal trainer with PTI and is now responsible for PTI’s franchise development and support. Her mom, Jacqui Errico, a certified Cancer Wellness Specialist and Health Fitness Instructor/Personal Fitness Trainer is the co-founder of Strength for Life, which was founded in honor of Evelyn Knapp, Co/founder of PTI, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2005. Evan Kaplan, President & CEO of Personal Training Institute, is a member of Strength for Life’s Board of Directors and Carol Kur, Co/founder of PTI is on the organization’s Medical Advisory Board.

Strength for Life is currently seeking sponsors for its 2^nd annual “Evelyn Knapp’s Run to Remember” event, which is scheduled November 20, 2011 at Sunken Meadow State Park. According to the race organizer, they expect 1000+ registrants this year, especially since the course is one of the most challenging in the Northeast and last year’s event was professional and timely. Sponsors receive name and logo placement on marketing materials that are distributed to thousands of potential racers throughout Long Island, as well as publicity on Strength for Life’s website, placement on race day apparel and mentions in all pre-race and post-race publicity. To learn more, visit: http://strength.engineroomdm.com/NewsEvents/FundraisingEvents.aspx.

PERSONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE: PTI has been changing lives since 1987 by combining its proven integrated program that encompasses one-to-one strength training and customized nutrition counseling for every client. Ranked in Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500,” PTI was also named among “Top 50 Franchises – for franchisee satisfaction” by Franchise Business Review. This results-oriented franchise is growing nationwide to help members and owners to achieve their goals. Visit www.ptifranchise.com for more information.
Strength for Life provides exercise classes, equipment and wellness retreats to cancer patients on Long  Island at no cost to participants. Founded in 2007, the race honors the memory of Evelyn Knapp who lost her battle with breast cancer at 40 years old. As an exercise physiologist Evelyn knew the benefits of exercise and personally experienced how it helped during treatment. We became Certified Cancer Exercise Specialists hoping to share the information and empower cancer patients/survivors to feel their absolute best and regain their ‘strength for life’. After our first breast cancer support group presentation we knew we had to offset the costs somehow because cancer patients have astronomical costs even when they have insurance.

Strength for Life has recently been featured in Long Island Business News, featured on FIOS1 ‘My LITV” and ‘Live it UP’ Ch. 55 and honored by Long Island Press ‘Fortune 52’ celebrating Long Island’s unique and inspirational women. With that recognition comes growth and greater need for funds to maintain the programs at no cost.

CONTACT: Carol Kur, MSRD, Co/founder of PTI at 516-342-9064 x16 or ckur@personaltraininginstitute.com; or Karin Machusic, PR Consultant to PTI at 925-524-4334 or kjmachusic@msn.com.

 

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Today,  Personal Training Institute of Fort Wayne Indiana wins the prize for Facebook of the day.  Not that we have a winner every day, but we thought that this one needed special mention.  Great job Jacki and the Fort Wayne team.  Check out them out!!

The following article was published in Rye Brook Westmore News,  Friday, October 15 , 2010.  This is a great story, but just tells it the way it is at PTI.

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear

As I have hit middle-age, I have been appalled to find that my metabolism has come to a screeching halt. I know I need to eat less and exercise more, and I have had trouble carving out the time to exercise. This really translates to: I have not been able to summon up the motivation I need to stick with any kind of regular program.

I often mail packages from the Post Net in the Rye Ride Shopping Center and had noticed the Personal Training Institute next door. The idea of one-on-one training was intriguing.

I knew that I could get back in shape by myself and felt that I should. Seeking help felt like a cop-out. After all, hadn’t I completed the New York City Marathon in under 4 hours?! (YES, but that was – shudder – 30 years ago!) Whatever I could do on my own, I just wasn’t doing.

It was only after my husband’s visit to the cardiologist, which included a rather stern warning that he needed to become more physically fit, that we went to see what it was all about. We signed up that day and somewhat reluctantly made a 6-month commitment.

My expectations were pretty low. I did not expect the personal encouragement and support that I find each and every time I show up for my twice-a-week session. I am energized by my routines (which change on a regular basis), I so greatly appreciate each trainer and how they help me reach my full potential. Several months into our membership, we have lost weight and are getting stronger by the week. And my husband, who is diabetic, went from needing insulin with each meal to being just about off insulin altogether.

Our workouts are challenging, and the package includes a regular visit with their staff nutritionist. She helps with ideas for maximizing our goals (eating complex carbs before the workout and protein afterwards, for example) and tracks our weight and various measurements. IT is pretty cool to be losing fat and gaining muscle! And it is much easier to make better food choices when we are putting so much effort into strength training.

There are teenagers who come to work out, and there is a 94-year-old gentleman who always comes in with a smile and a great attitude. On days when I am just not in the mood to exert myself, he inspires me.

I just wanted to share this resource that we have right in our own backyard – which is continually improving our quality of life. It has been a hugely positive experience for us.

Hinda Bodinger

24 Bonwit Rd., Rye Brook

Published in Rye Brook Westmore News, Vol. 46 No. 42

Friday, October 15 – Thursday, October 21, 2010

No it’s not another PTI opening, this time it’s all about the car.  Development Agent Jacki Trevino with her daughter Jade arrived at the recent Subway Field Meeting and Expo in 1st class.  What could be better than the PTI car?

On Friday June 4 the staff of PTI HQ had a visit from Lisa Oak, Managing Director of Franchise Brands, LLC.  Since August of 2008, PTI has been partners with Franchise Brands of Milford Ct.  Lisa and Evan spent the morning at a Franchise Forum hosted by Harold Kestenbaum Esq., then came back to the office to meet with the staff.  Also shown here is Carol Kur,  M.S.R.D. who is one of the original co founders of PTI and is a key member of the management team.