SYNERGY SPONSORS SPEED WINDSURFING WORLD CHAMPION

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

She’s a world champion, a world record holder, and an osteopath. Proudly sporting a Synergy logo on her windsurfing sail, she is also Synergy’s newest sponsored athlete who not only uses Synergy products, but shares them with her patients at her medical practice in England.

Zara Davis learned the art of windsurfing when she was 13, but took a hiatus from the sport from the time she was 15 until she was 27. Her employer at the time refueled her love for windsurfing and she hasn’t stopped since. She picked the sport back up quickly and even met her husband while lake windsurfing.

In May 2016, at almost 50 years old, Zara snagged her first-ever world championship title in women’s speed windsurfing while competing at the Dunkerbeck GPS Speed Challenge in Fuerteventura. She not only beat out all of the other women in the competition, but recorded a better time than more than half of the men. Zara is also a six-time Europe speed windsurfing champion and is known by many as “the fastest woman on water” with the world records in the speed windsurfing mile at 34.74 knots and held the 500m world record at 45.83 knots (53mph).

“I love the challenge and I love being at sea,” Zara said. “For whatever reason, I found that I have a natural talent for the sport. It takes years to be good at it, but when you’re good at something, you obviously hone in on that skill. I’m using my talent to inspire youngsters, especially young girls, to take up sports and try windsurfing.”

Windsurfing relies heavily on the quality and structure of a windsurfer’s board and sail. Both structures are built and paired to get the most out of the wind current. A speed windsurfer’s sail is about double the size of a recreational windsurfing sail because it needs to harness as much wind as possible. Zara said the physics of a windsurfing sail can be compared to the physics of an airplane wing. The sail needs to be precisely angled to catch and utilize wind for movement.

Don’t be fooled, though. Not everyone with the right gear can speed windsurf. The more wind a windsurfer harnesses, the more difficult it becomes to hang onto the sail. Successfully controlling a speed windsurfing sail and board requires an incredible amount of strength. Zara stands at 6 feet tall with plenty of lean muscle that she must maintain to be successful at her sport. Her stature is a major advantage in the speed windsurfing world.

“The physics of windsurfing is quite a geeky thing,” Zara said. “The only bit you are sailing on is the back of the board and fin, executing in a speed windsurfing race, especially, requires you to be fit and strong and bold.”


There is a level of bravery that speed windsurfing requires, Zara said. Imagine traveling at 50 miles per hour on water, losing balance, and suddenly smacking down on top of the water. That can’t feel good.

“Everything to do with windsurfing is physically demanding,” Zara said. “The hardest thing is balance and stability. You use every muscle in the body all the time. For this reason, it’s demanding on the cardiovascular system.”

To train on water, Zara travels about four hours from her home on Bristol’s coast to the West Kirby Marine Lake. In addition to working full-time, Zara spends up to 15 hours per week swimming, cycling, running, doing Pilates, and doing suspension training. She maintains a nutritious diet, drinks plenty of water, and makes sure high-quality nutritional supplements are always part of her daily routine. Now, that supplement routine includes ProArgi-9+, e9, Phytolife and Mistify. She is a walking example of health to all of her osteopathy patients.

“I work with a lot of elite athletes and I would be very uncomfortable putting anything in my practice that I knew wasn’t pure,” Zara said.

And as an elite athlete herself, Zara knows a good product when she sees one. The in-depth quality testing and strict production standards that Synergy requires in its manufacturing facility make Zara confident that the company’s products will make a difference in her athletic performance and in the lives of her patients.

WATCH ERIC POLAND'S TRANSFORMATION STORY

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Synergy WorldWide traveled to Kentucky to personally congratulate the newest SLMsmart 90-day Challenge Champion Eric Poland and learn more about his SLMsmart journey. A devoted family man and employee of the only Corvette manufacturing plant in the world, Eric lost 40 lbs. (20% of his starting body weight) and 7 inches from his waist. 

Eric’s success of this year sets an important example for many, as this was NOT his first attempt to lose weight. In fact, Eric participated in last year’s SLMsmart Challenge, the year Eva Miller won her well-deserved grand prize. That year, 2015, Eric was able to lose an impressive 20 lbs. but lost momentum halfway through the competition after experiencing family and employment challenges. Remarkably, Eric was able to recommit himself a year later and become the SLMsmart Champion we celebrate today! 

We commend Eric for getting “back in the saddle” this year and claiming the first place prize. Utilizing the Corvette plant’s gym during his breaks, eating a healthy diet of produce and proteins, and incorporating Synergy products into his daily regimen, Eric was able to make his weight loss goals a reality. 

Enjoy the video above to see how Eric and his family have been enjoying the benefits of his newly achieved level of Elite Health.

Watch Eva Miller’s Transformation Video 
Watch Tommy Bethards’ Transformation Video
Watch Justin Hall’s Transformation Video

5 REASONS YOU NEED THE OUTDOORS

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Mountains, rivers, valleys, wildflowers, trees, lakes, wildlife—the outdoors are calling! It’s the perfect time of the year to get outside and enjoy the beauty around you. Did you know that simply spending time in nature is actually beneficial to your mental and physical health? Check out these remarkable benefits you will experience by getting out of your house and basking in the tranquility of the natural world.

1. IMPROVED MEMORY AND CONCENTRATION

Clearly, there’s something about fresh air and an open landscape that does the brain good. Here’s proof. In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, a group of students were issued a memory test and then split into two groups upon completing the test. Both groups went for a walk. One group went on a walk through the forest while the other group went through the city. Upon completing their walks, they took the memory test again. Those who walked through the forest scored higher on the test than those who didn’t.

RESTORED ENERGY 

Researchers call the occasional brain fogs you experience “mental fatigue.” You know, the feeling you get when you completely forget your train of thought. Exposing your mind to natural environments can have a restorative effect on mental energy and focus. There have even been studies suggesting that experiencing natural beauty can elicit feelings of awe and can be a quick way to provide a mental boost. Bring a pack of Synergy’s e9 formula along with you for an extra boost of natural energy.

2. RELIEF FROM DAILY STRESS 

Countless studies have been performed to prove that spending time in nature, even looking at scene of nature from a window, lowers levels of cortisol—the “stress hormone.” Many of these studies have noticed that in connection with stress reduction, spending time in the great outdoors cultivates a positive attitude and mindfulness. As naturalist John Burroughs stated, “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”

3. BOOSTED IMMUNE SYSTEM 

A study conducted in Japan in 2010 asked a group of individuals to camp outside for three days and two nights. Researchers discovered that white blood cell activity increased resulting in white blood cell production. These types of cells kill illnesses, such as cold and flu viruses, and other common infections, so take your daily dose of Mistica and head outside!

4. IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH 

Globally, about 350 million people struggle with depression and one in the three people deal with anxiety. Scientists at Stanford University published a study in Proceeding of the National Academy of Science that shows those who walked in a natural setting opposed to an urban setting had decreased activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain that focuses repeatedly on negative emotions. Many medical professionals are now suggesting nature therapy as part of prescribed mental health regimens.

The benefits of spending time outdoors are overwhelming and life-altering, so put on your hiking shoes, go birdwatching, take a dip in a lake, or relax at a campground with family and friends. It doesn’t matter what activity you choose, just make sure to take advantage of the warm seasons and claim the natural benefits the outdoors has to offer.