Tony Payne, Co-CEO of Technogym Mauritius and Indian Ocean Islands, talks to Investor’s Mag about the global Technogym Business and why it has chosen to increase its investment in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean Islands.
Featured in Investor’s Mag, 23rd Edition, Dec 22 – March 23
As far as wealth is concerned, there is no greater asset than health. As with financial investments, investing in your health requires commitment and consistency over the course of many years. However, the benefits are priceless, and these benefits can be realized almost immediately.
Tony Payne, Co-CEO of Technogym Mauritius, explains that Technogym has been committed to promoting wellness, a lifestyle based on regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, and a positive mental attitude, for over 35 years. Technogym’s ethos is rooted in the ancient Roman saying, “mens sana in corpore sano” – Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, with an innate ability to balance business and social responsibilities.
“Wellness has always been an integral part of Technogym’s inspiring philosophy, which applies not only to products and digital innovations, but also reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability. In a global scenario where lifestyle-related pathologies represent the primary cause of premature deaths and pose a significant threat to the future sustainability of both public and private health-care models, wellness and prevention represents an opportunity for all stakeholders – Government, companies and citizens – to build a sustainable model for socio-economic development” , says Tony Payne. According to him, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, smoking, and stress: are part of a wide range of harmful patterns with economic, social, and health implications that are so widespread that they can be compared to a pandemic; therefore, innovative and effective strategies are necessary to combat this problem urgently.
Data collected by the World Health Organization indicates that chronic diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyles (noncommunicable diseases) are the leading cause of premature death worldwide; in addition, the number of overweight individuals has exceeded the number of undernourished individuals since 2008. It is estimated that 41 million people die each year due to chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), accounting for 71% of all deaths; 15 million of these deaths occur prematurely between the ages of 30 and 69, while more than 1.6 million die solely as a result of inactivity, and Mauritius is no exception to this trend, states Payne.
In addition, the scientific literature supports the fact that regular physical activity improves people’s health and quality of life. There are several indicators of the benefits of physical activity highlighted in prestigious scientific journals, including:
- The general population should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week in order to prevent chronic diseases.
- It prevents dementia and Alzheimer’s by delaying their onset and reducing their risk by 47%.
- It significantly reduces mortality rates associated with cardiovascular diseases.
- For people at high risk of developing diabetes, it reduces this risk by 58%.
- It reduces the risk of osteoporotic fractures by 48%.
- Depressive states are improved by 30% and anxiety is reduced by 48%.
- Research has shown an inverse relationship between physical activity volume and the risk of developing cancer (breast, colon, prostate, lung cancer).
Through its research activities and its complete ecosystem of products and programs, Technogym has supported physical activity’s role as a medicine for many years. Furthermore, Technogym has been chosen as a partner in a number of projects and institutional initiatives aimed at promoting physical activity as a means of prevention and as a means for treating numerous diseases. Among these are Exercise is Medicine, as well as EuropeActive.
As far as Exercise Is Medicine is specifically concerned, Technogym has been a partner of this initiative for more than 8 years. Such a notable campaign is promoted by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association, the two most important American associations in the field of physical exercise and health. The American Medical Association brings together all American doctors with the aim of setting treatment standards, while the American College of Sports Medicine is the world’s leading sports medicine association.
Researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine partnered with Technogym to draw up a series of protocols for the treatment of numerous diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis by means of specific exercise programmes; on the other hand, the American Medical Association has made its training and information channels available to promote the prescription of these therapeutic protocols among doctors.
The Mauritian population is becoming more and more health conscious and there is a large increase in the number of people of all ages participating in physical exercise, as noted by Payne. In addition to the growth of commercial gyms on the Island, there is also an impressive demand for corporate wellness programs, as business leaders increasingly value the importance of wellness in increasing employee productivity, creativity, and reducing stress and absenteeism. Wellness in hospitality and residential estates, as well as wellness tourism, remains a major trend worldwide, and Mauritius is at the forefront to take advantage of these developments.
Payne explains that Technogym has been a leader in the field of wellness for over 35 years. It was in 1983 that the company’s founder, President and owner, Nerio Alessandri, at the age of 22, designed and built his very first piece of gym equipment in the garage of his house in Cesena, Italy. As a leading brand in fitness, sport, and health products, digital technologies, and services, Technogym is now a publicly traded company listed on the Milan stock exchange and has become a household name worldwide.
A total of over 2300 people are directly employed by Technogym, half of whom work at Technogym Village, a wellness campus in Cesena, and the remainder at the 14 subsidiaries throughout Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, South America, and Africa. The Company is further represented by over 80 exclusive distribution partners to cover all the territories in the world. In more than 100 countries, Technogym trains 55 million people each day in 85,000 wellness centers and 400,000 private homes.
Technogym has always been driven by innovation, anticipating industry firsts and trends as technology evolved over the years, launching the first fitness software in 1996, the first internet-connected equipment in 2006, the first cloud-based industry platform in 2012, and the recent launch of Technogym Live, the on-demand video training platform dedicated to fitness, sport, and prevention.
Technogym’s design is one of the distinctive characteristics of the company which, over the years, has won over 50 international design awards such as the Compasso d’Oro and the Red Dot Design Award, highlights Payne.
With Technogym’s offer, people have the convenience of connecting to their personal training experience anytime, anywhere: at home, in the gym, at work, at hotels, at the doctor, and even outdoors. Technogym’s offerings are centred around the Technogym Ecosystem, consisting of connected smart equipment, mobile apps for end users and operators, and highly personalised on-demand training programs.
Technogym’s modular solutions enable wellness professionals to provide their customers with the same Wellness Connected Experience wherever they wish: gyms, hotels, corporate offices, residential estates, medical practices, schools and even private homes. A significant part of Technogym’s mission is to provide operators with all the tools they need to achieve their goals: from financial services to interior design guidance, as well as after-sales support and marketing assistance. Moreover, both operators and private individuals can take advantage of the most comprehensive range of gym equipment available in the world, including: cardio training, strength training, functional training and group activities.
Payne confirms, it is guaranteed that anyone choosing Technogym products will train on equipment of the highest standard, just as a professional athlete would. Due to the wide range of products and services offered, Technogym is able to assist individuals in achieving their sporting and well-being goals. Technogym products can be used to achieve weight loss, strength training, back strengthening and flexibility exercises, and much more.
As Payne illustrates, from beginners to professionals, our products are designed to meet the needs of all types of users. By using Technogym Ride and Skillrow, for example, users can hone their cycling and rowing fitness and skills. If the goal is to lose weight, or simply to stay fit, Technogym treadmills, such as the MyRun or Skillrun, provide the perfect solution. Meanwhile, the Pure range of products has been designed and conceived for those who want to train and improve their strength, and reach their maximum athletic potential. Technogym offers a number of specific formats for those who prefer to train in an engaging, social environment, such as Group Cycle Class and SkillAthletic Classes. Last but not least, Technogym equipment is distinguished by its quality, ease of use and safety, making it a valuable asset in rehab and medical settings.
Technogym is also the training platform of choice for champion athletes and sports teams around the world. The company serves Juventus, Inter, Milan and Paris St. Germain in football to mention a few, and has worked closely with Ferrari and McLaren in Formula 1.
Technogym – the world leading brand in products and digital technologies for fitness and wellness, Official Supplier of the last 8 Olympics, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020, and globally recognized as the reference brand for the athletic preparation of champions from all over the world – trained 28 of the 32 teams participating in the Soccer World Cup in Qatar providing the most innovative equipment for their athletic training.
In addition to the +10 years partnership with the Brazilian national team and the most recent collaboration with Uruguay, Technogym was in Qatar to support the training camps of also France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Argentina, England, United States and many other teams providing them with customized digital products and training solution to meet players’ specific training needs. In fact, spot-on athletic condition of every player is an essential requirement that can really make the difference in a high-intensity event like the soccer World Cup where all teams must perform at the top of their game.
Payne concludes. Technogym’s goal is to make Wellness accessible to everyone, everywhere, regardless of age, ability, and training and performance goals.
Santé Wellness International can assist you with your bespoke Technogym Wellness Solution with our expert wellness consultants in Mauritius by calling +230 5814 1407 or emailing yovan@santewellness. mu.
