10A - Elevator Pitch No.1

Zenergy Cycling Studio - where mind and body can connect through cycle, meditation, and wellness.

https://youtu.be/XpxS9WcOpCs

Footnote:
My Attire: Despite it not being deemed "professional", I thought it would be appropriate because it is the attire I will be wearing at Zenergy Cycling Studio.

9A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Who: After conducting more interviews to understand the potential of a Wellness Cycle Studio, I concluded each individual has their preferences on different work out practices and the surrounding environment.

• Male Market: I interviewed two males about cycle and yoga classes. One has been to a cycle class and really enjoys it; but never has been to Yoga. The other has never been to both, but works out regularly for stress relief. He concludes many collegiate men believe there is a stigma to group fitness classes being filled with females only. Therefore, there is a different markets to target her. Males want the same sense of belonging in a community with the experience to connect their mind and body.
• Low Cost Market: One interviewee states finances causes the most stress in her life. If she has to pay premium for these services, she might not even sign up for them. Therefore, there needs to be cheaper alternatives or occasional "free rides."
• Spiritual Market: Besides community and physical well being, two other interviewees stress the importance of incorporating spirituality, mediation, and prayer into the practice. Since not everyone partakes in the same religions, I see a difficulty arising here. Therefore by offering a niche class dedicate to faith aspects (i.e "Faith Through Strength") or possibly community group classes/bible studies after the workout.

What: Through these interviews, I concluded participants who focus more on physical well being can alter these classes into a stressor. Obsessive workout disorders can occur thus causing a mental health issue. This diverges from the mission of the product. In addition, people can feel accomplished after a workout but then over stress themselves back into reality. For some, these classes can be more of a temporary change than a sustainable one.

Why: The need for stress relief and connectivity of mind and body is for the vulnerable. Many people find it hard to admit they need help and seek excuses. In addition, many lack an understand of what help can look like or how they may feel after trying a cycle class out. Many of those outside the boundary are uneducated on the increase productivity and stress relief these services can provide. Those who are within the boundary, already see this as a potential solution to aid to their stress.

	Inside the Boundary	Outside the Boundary
Who:	Female and Male College Students Graduate Students Professors Staff Parents Gainesville Community Members	Males who believe in the Female Group Fitness Stigma College students who cannot afford these services Those who are out of shape and lack a understanding of Cycle, Yoga, and Meditation
What:	To help one feel a sense of accomplishment and to motivate them to take on their day To increase positivity and mindfulness To offer consoling, supports, and help To connect mind and body to thus increase productivity To offer an outlet as stress relief To be a supportive community	To completely end mental health issues and stress To completely manage one's dimensions of wellness To completely improve or transform the mental state of a participant To completely change one's body definition
Why:	People feel a lack of support in their community People realize they are stress and need to reconnect within themselves College is overload too much and one needs a break from reality Lack of mind and body integration

8A - Solving the Problem

       My product ideas has to do with stress management in relation with mind and body amongst college students. Today, many people use wearables to assist with management of the body and to provide assistance with stress management. From the interviews, many people rely on exercise and meditation/prayer to manage their stress. They enjoy these solutions. It is a break from their reality, provides them with community, and a time for themselves.  Below are a few versions of this idea:

1.    Wellness Cycling Studio The studio creates dynamic form of group exercise that fuses indoor cycling with meditation and wellness. The environment encourages a new fitness and lifestyle culture that promotes positivity in and out of the studio. The classes caters your workout to your mind and body, leaving you feeling energized and rejuvenated after every single class. Rides allow one to escape from reality while incorporating meditation with a focus on you and creating an empowering community.

2.    Faith through Strength Workout Community Like the service about, this is a fitness related solution. A fitness club with a focus on bible studies and empowering through faith. Many people have either time to work out or time for a bible student. There seems to be a trade off with one or another. To incorporate, community, faith, and exercise – a forum can be created which groups people who enjoy faith and certain exercises together. Prior a class, they can dedicate 10 minutes to prayer. During the class, participants can relate their struggles to Christ’s struggles. And after, offer praise for their life, strength, and Savior.

3.   Interactive Agenda:

Unlike the other two proposed services, this is a product to assist with stress management. Prior ordering the product, customers will take an online quiz asking them questions about stress, priorities, preferences, and life goals. The configured data would output a uniquely designed tangible (or online) planner with reminders, quotes, and ways to maintain a balanced lifestyle in efforts to manage stress.

       I want to have a service that can be implement on campus nationwide. As of right now, there are similar techniques but the pricing is expensive. Maybe pairing with college Rec Centers  can help with the pricing for students or offering college kids discounted rides in a populated area. Also to create more community, the workout clubs can do charity ride or pair with sororities/ fraternity/ campus organizations. I think many recreation centers (especially on college campuses) would want to implement this. It creates a new sense of empowerment by fusing mind and body. This can reduce stress for students and other community members. People are searching for ways to feel and do better. These community classes creates an empowerment message which enriches the quality of life of others.

Assignment 7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Stress Management Techniques

Opportunity: According to purdeglobal.edu.net, approximately 45% of college students said they experience more than average stress and 87% admit they have felt overwhelmed. This is due to lack of managing one’s unique set of stressors in relation to their mind and body.

- The Who: College students

- The What: Neglecting to manage factors associated with stress, such has finances, academics, health, family, and lack of sleep

- The Why: This creates an imbalance of stressors in their life which can lead to underperformance and other mental challenges.

Testing “The Who” – Besides college students, there is a diverse group of individuals being affected by improperly managing their stress. This group ranges from young girls in high school, to males in college, to middle aged men and even mothers. According to Advisory.com, the highest average level of stress is found amongst millennials and Gen Zs. In fact, these groups of people are more likely to have received mental health care.

Testing “The What” –  The most common stressors for young adults is money, work, and then health related concerns. There are higher average level of stress for this age group people due to more dramatic news reports, high pressures at a young age when the brain is not fully developed, and the use technology/social media. Since there is more external factors and high pressures, many young adults neglect and forget how to manage their mind and body.

Testing “The Why” – The imbalance can create mental and physical disorders. The meal disorders consist of depression or anxiety, while the physical consist of improper nutrition creating high blood pressures, diabetes, and heart disease. Therefore, it is extremely important to balance life and give your body and mind the time and energy it needs to perform at its maximum potential.

Interviews:

1) Young Adult Female heavily involved on campus and about to enter into the workforce From this interview, I concluded many young adults wear wearables and technology to manage their stress by providing them with data on their heart rates, exercise goals, breathing, sleep, and other bodily functions. The wearables provided assistance to the body aspect on stress management. In addition to wearing a wearable, she manages her stress by running and being surrounding by her friends. The things more important in her life is her family, friends, and faith. In addition, she says exercises causes her the least stress; while academics causes the most.

2) Freshman Male College Student

Males and females cope and handle stress differently. I learned males have a lot of insecurities and do not know how to cope. Typically, males channel their emotions out in anger due to a fear of vulnerability. It is hard for one to vocally admit they are under stress. He says he tries to cope with stress by being with his friends. On the other hand, he also said it is hard for him to admit to his friends when he is not okay. The things most important in his life is his family, friends, and faith. In addition, she says exercises causes her the least stress; while his mental state causes the most stress.

3) Older Female Adult Working Full Time

I wanted to interview an older adult to compare and contrast their opinions on why this younger generation has higher levels of stress. She believes she has a grasp on stress management, but the next generations needs more assistance with it due to current pressures put on by themselves, parents and society. Specifically, she thinks college students do not know how to relax, put items in perspective, and disconnect. In addition, she concludes this generation has never been taught to daydreamed, spend time outdoors without structure, to pray/meditate, and just breathe. The things most important in his life is his faith and mental state. In addition, she says faith causes her the least stress; while finances and nutrition causes the most.

4) Young Adult Female in a College Sorority

In her interview, she says college pressures with academics put the most stress in her life. The pressures are increasing each year and makes it extremely complex for students to be human at times. The Universities have expectations and standards they want their students to meet. They set these standards for students to perform well, but in reality it becomes too strenuous. To cope with stress, she jogs, takes time for herself, and reads. The factors most important in her life is her family, friends, and faith; while faith causing her the least amount of stress.

5) Older Male About to Retire

Like the full time working female, I wanted to interview an older male to see his perspective on the topic. He started feeling stressed at the age of 19; when he just started college. He believes the college environment demands a lot of time due to heavy course load and extra curricular activities. It is hard to be constantly performing at a high level of standard. To cope, he prays and commits time to physical activity.  The factors most important in his life are faith, family, and friends, and faith. Faith causing him the least amount of stress and work the most.

What do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before? 

Despite the average high level of stress in our environment, most people are content with the way they manage stress. They just like having different options to choose in managing stress.

Despite having little time for themselves, many involve themselves with an physical activity or a time of prayer and reflection. Combining meditation, faith, mind, with body and physical activity can empower others to feel stronger, to feel value, and to feel like they can manage their lives. People like to be involved with a sense of community and in college many can feel isolated. Creating an empowering community or workout which encompasses faith/meditation and physical activity will aid to the stress management ones needs.