Group Fitness Archives - Thrive Carolinas

Presidential Fitness Challenge: The One-Mile Run

July 15, 2026

Blog, Exercise, Fitness, Group Fitness, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle

By Nancy A. Palermo, MD We know that when it comes to fitness, Americans are not doing well. Only about 28% of adults meet the physical activity guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and even those recommendations represent a relatively modest goal. That's one of the reasons we introduced the Presidential Fitness Challenge this summer. While earning the Presidential Award is all in good fun, the real objective is to challenge ourselves to become stronger, healthier, and more resilient. This week, we're focusing on one of the simplest and most powerful fitness tests: the one-mile run. Why Running Still Matters Only about 15% of Americans run regularly, meaning roughly 85% do not. Here's the encouraging news: if you're getting out and running, even if you have to...

Why 10,000 Steps a Day Isn’t the Magic Number

August 4, 2025

Blog, Dr NP, Exercise, Fitness, Group Fitness, Health, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine

By Nancy A. Palermo, MD You’ve probably heard the popular health advice: “Get 10,000 steps a day.” But is this daily step goal rooted in science? The Origin of the 10,000-Step Myth Surprisingly, the 10,000-step recommendation didn’t come from medical research; it originated from a Japanese pedometer marketing campaign in the 1960s. Since then, it’s been widely adopted by health apps, fitness trackers, and wellness guidelines—despite lacking clinical evidence. What the Research Really Says A 2023 meta-analysis published in The Lancet reviewed multiple studies from 2014 onward, analyzing the impact of daily step counts on chronic health conditions. The researchers found that significant health benefits occur at much lower step counts than 10,000. In fact, just 7,000 steps per day was associated with the following risk reductions (compared to 2,000 steps/day): ...

Healthy Habits to Maintain During the Holidays – Part 1

December 3, 2024

Dr NP, Group Fitness, Health Hints, Healthy Eating, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine, Uncategorized, Weight Management

Mindful Holiday Health Tips Part 1 – Healthy Habits to Maintain During the Holidays Written by: Nancy Palermo, MD Edited by: Thrive The holiday season can be challenging for anyone trying to make healthy choices. With added time constraints, many of us struggle with exercising, maintaining healthy sleep habits, or limiting the intake of processed and sugary foods that abound at this time of year. The added burdens of financial, political, and social stressors can crack our resolve and discipline even more. Many of us enter the holiday season with extra padding, and we must focus on what we can control to maintain our well-being. While we cannot control whether it will be a white Christmas, if our flight will be delayed, or what food our families might serve...

Group Classes: A Prescription to Tackle the Mental Health Epidemic

September 17, 2024

Exercise, Fitness, Group Fitness, Health, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine, Yoga

In May of this year, the Surgeon General, Dr Viveck Murthy, gave an advisory on our epidemic of loneliness and isolation. He laid out a framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection in this rather extensive, wordy PDF. He details recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connection in the lives of individuals and communities across the country to improve mental and physical health. It turns out we were already doing all of the things at Thrive, but let’s think about how they might help our overall health. We are still struggling with the downstream effects of the COVID epidemic. One of the most noticeable impacts on society is the decline of mental health. We struggled before the pandemic due to...

YOGA as Medicine

September 20, 2022

Exercise, Group Fitness, Health, Healthy Life, Lifestyle

Yoga has taken the western world by storm. In a 2012 “Yoga in America” survey by Yoga Journal, it was estimated that over 20 million Americans regularly practice yoga. Now that number is estimated to be over 37 million. The first U.S. yoga studio opened in California in 1947. Now Yoga studios are popping up in all communities. In the US, you can perform yoga in heat, with rock music, and even in the company of pets, goats, or children. Westerners, however, still regard the practice of yoga as an alternative form of exercise. Initially, they are drawn to the physical attributes of the practice, yet with time they recognize the mind-body benefits that go well beyond physical fitness. There is a lengthy menu of yoga...

Yoga

Foundation Training Spotlight: Josh Brigham

December 14, 2021

Group Fitness, Healthy Life, Lifestyle Medicine, Thriver Spotlight

Josh joined Thrive in 2020 and has shared the benefits of Foundation Training ever since! We're glad to have him here. Sign up for a class and get your muscles to act in concert with one another! What's your name? Josh Brigham What is your superpower at Thrive? Spinal hygiene expert! What's so special about Thrive? It is an honor to work with a group of physicians who truly understand the importance of healthy movement and fostering an environment of education and wellness Where did you grow up? Charlotte, NC Any Activities/Hobbies outside of Thrive? Yoga, biking, guitar, and reading If you could recommend one thing to someone new coming to thrive it would be? COME TO A FOUNDATION TRAINING CLASS! :) What is your definition of Functional Medicine? Treating the body as a whole! Getting to the root...

foundation training Josh Brigham