In this podcast, we're excited to bring you two expert guests at the intersection of fitness, technology, and education. So many of the leaders we've had on the show have given us a powerful inside look behind the curtain of what fitness tech apps, platforms, and devices are positively impacting our space, but many in the health, wellness, and fitness worlds still have looming questions about exactly how these technologies will plug in into our healthcare ecosystems.
A bigger and even more specific question around fitness technology is how will the education and integration of these new innovations support long term behavior change for our industry's members?
With the rise of technology, how is the academic world answering the call to create that trusted bridge between the knowing and the doing when it comes to applying technology and facilitating positive health outcomes?
We're answering these questions and much more in this episode with fitness technology expert Ted Vickey, for his return to the show from episode 008, and Jessica Matthews, an award-winning and industry leading health and wellness educator.
You'll also learn about applying evidence-based coaching strategies with behavior change techniques to facilitate meaningful lifestyles, how health and fitness pros can collaborate with colleagues in a wide variety of settings to provide an integrative approach to health, and why Point Loma Nazarene University has created the Kinesiology, M.S., Integrative Wellness, to teach students about using technology that provides lifestyle interventions to prevent and effectively manage chronic disease.
About Ted Vickey
For over 20 years, Ted Vickey has immersed himself in fitness technology. Starting as the Executive Director of the White House Athletic Center through his fitness consulting company, FitWell, and continuing with his latest project as a Ph.D. researcher on Social Networking and Exercise at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Ted has proven to be an early adopter and advocate in technical systems and their applicability to fitness.
Ted believes we can take advantage of technology to not only motivate individuals across the globe to get out the door and move but to be in closer contact with healthcare providers.
He is an emeritus member of the Board of Directors for the American Council on Exercise and has consulted with key organizations such as the Department of Commerce, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fruit of the Loom, TSA and more. He is an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Exercise, the largest non-profit accredited certification organization in the fitness industry.
In his role as senior advisor for disruptive health technologies with Canyon Ranch Institute, he is committed to improving the health of all people through the use of wellness and fitness technology, including wearable technology, to enhance and further innovate new and existing CRI partnerships, programs, initiatives, and evaluation. Ted's work with the Canyon Ranch Institute catalyzes the possibility of optimal health for all people by translating the best practices of Canyon Ranch and its partners to help educate, inspire, and empower every person to prevent disease and choose a life of wellness. By education, Ted is an Exercise Scientist, by experience an Entrepreneur, and by passion a Connector.
About Jessica Matthews
Jessica Matthews, M.S., E-RYT 500 is an award-winning, industry leading health and wellness educator. As a seasoned yoga teacher and innovative college professor, she has developed and implemented graduate degree programs as well as comprehensive 200-and 500-hour yoga teacher training programs at the college level in addition to teaching a variety of associate, undergraduate, and graduate-level health and exercise science courses.
A former exercise physiologist and licensed educator based in San Diego, California, Jessica serves as faculty of kinesiology and integrative wellness at Point Loma Nazarene University where she developed the Master of Kinesiology in Integrative Wellness program. She is also a yoga studies professor at MiraCosta College where she co-created the advanced 300-hour yoga teacher training program.
Jessica has a genuine passion and unique ability for transforming people's lives. Armed with a wealth of practical, proven and science-based information through 17 years of work in the health and fitness field, her mission is to positively shift people's perspectives about themselves, their lives, and what they are capable of achieving.
A well-known and trusted expert in establishing and supporting vibrant, conscious awareness of each dimension of well-being, Jessica's holistic approach to wellness is rooted in mindfulness and includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components. Jessica is a top level instructor, accomplished writer, captivating speaker and respected educator.
About PLNU, Kinesiology, M.S., Integrative Wellness
Kinesiology, M.S., Integrative Wellness
At the heart of your interest in the study of holistic health and well-being is a passion to serve others in body, mind, and spirit. PLNU’s one-year, online Master of Kinesiology in Integrative Wellness will prepare professionals who can improve health in the U.S. through interventions in behavior change, nutrition, and physical activity.
No matter how the degree is applied, it can become the vehicle that health and wellness professionals will use to apply evidence-based strategies that facilitate sustainable health behavior change that can lead to weight loss, healthy eating, regular physical activity, stress reduction, and overall improvements to health and well-being. The integration of lifestyle medicine within healthcare systems is not just effective, but powerful and life-changing for individuals and society.
Listen To Episode 038 As Ted & Jessica Uncover
Why PLNU's online Master's in Kinesiology, Integrative Wellness is at the bleeding edge of fitness technology education
What new wellness technology innovations will impact the educational programs in colleges over the next 2 years
What self-monitoring strategies will create impact for students in the PLNU program
Why Ted Vickey believes the current personal training model is not sustainable
The common misconceptions about wellness and fitness wearables
Why the INTL Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching has partnered with PLNU
How to serve millennials with a shorter attention span through technology
Devices and apps that will engage millennials in positive health outcomes
The morphing of fitness trainers into wellness coaching
Why Jessica believes we are now in a time where fitness pros are more empowered than ever before
Exploring: Technology Education For A New Era of Fitness Professionals
Top 3 Takeaways From The Episode
Jessica believes that as an industry we really now have to understand that when it comes to wellness, a lot of the things that will manifest physically often are things that come from what we're dealing with mentally, emotionally, or perhaps even spiritually. This connection is a big step for the fitness industry. First to accept, and secondly, to now work with clients from a "whole person" approach that supports meaningful changes in all of those areas through collaboration with other niche professionals inside the integrative care model.
Point Loma Nazarene's Master's Program for Integrative Wellness is on the bleeding edge of the needed education in fitness technology segment. This knowledge will support corporate wellness program directors to facilitate health change at the workplace and ultimately save their companies money, will support personal trainers and other fitness professionals by using technology to learn how to better lead their clients, and in registered dietitians, RNs, and medical assistants who use the degree to deliver obesity interventions to patients.
Ted & Jessica both believe that it is the education and integration of health technologies that will ultimately lead to a better planet. For anyone who is interested in being of service in our health and fitness world, educational programs like PLNU's online Master's in Kinesiology, Integrative Wellness will support professionals to improve health in the U.S. through interventions in behavior change, nutrition, and physical activity.
Power Quotes From Ted & Jessica
"The iPhone 6 is one million times more powerful than the computer used to put the man on the moon. What I suggest is that we as the fitness industry, the health industry, and the healthcare industry realize this is our moonshot. This is how we can make a difference, and that is by using technology to make a difference in the lives of those that we have the opportunity and the privilege to serve." - Ted Vickey on the Fitness + Technology Podcast
"There is certainly a missing piece in our healthcare system, and honestly, a missing piece in the fitness industry. We really have to understand that we work with "whole people," encompassing the body, mind, and spirit. In order to really impact meaningful changes in behavior and improve health outcomes we must understand the dynamics of what it is that motivates people to make these changes and how they can be sustainable. That strategy essentially boils down to our evidence-based practices." - Jessica Matthews on the Fitness + Technology Podcast
Resources Mentioned On The Episode
PLNU - Online Kinesiology, M.S., Integrative Wellness
Ted's "The Wireless Future of Wellness Is Now" TEDx Talk
FTP Episode #008 Ted Vickey: How New Technologies Are Changing Our Fitness Landscape
Heal App: Interview With Dr. Renee Dua
Jessica's favorite books: Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Tech disruption in the fitness industry by Amanda Vogel
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