Latest news with #Centr
CNET
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Get Up to $300 Off This Chris Hemsworth-Inspired Strength Training Program and Equipment for Memorial Day
Health and fitness are a big part of most people's lives. But with our busy schedules, it can be hard to find time to fit in a trip to the gym or a workout class. Not to mention the high costs that typically come with those options. A great way to get your body moving is to work out at home, and an online workout subscription can help you prioritize your fitness goals. If strength training is one of your goals, Centr is one of CNET's top-rated workout subscription apps. And right now, the company is having a Memorial Day sale which takes 20% off a 12-month subscription and select workout equipment. Centr is known as the app created by actor Chris Hemsworth, and it's our favorite workout subscription app for strength training. The app offers strength, Pilates, HIIT, cardio, mediation classes and more and has tons of programs with various coaches to guide you through your workout. Along with this, you'll find recipes, wellness advice and more to give you a well-rounded fitness journey -- since the goal of the app is to help "center" your life through your workouts, meals and daily routine. A one-year subscription normally goes for $120, but you can save 20% right now, dropping that price down to $96 for the year, or $8 per month. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. If you're trying to spice up your home gym with some equipment, you can take also advantage of Centr's Memorial Day discounts on gear. One of the most important things to have is a bench. Centr's bench is multi-adjustable and is made to last with heavy-duty upholstered pads for comfort and a steel, single-welded frame for durability. Normally $600, you can get it for $180 off, bringing it down to $420. If you're looking for some weights, the 300-pound Olympic set with the bar is a solid choice. It comes with 16 plates, from 5 pounds to 45 pounds, plus the bar. It's usually $700, but a nice 15% discount brings that price down to $594. And if you're more of a runner, the Runr-S treadmill comes with 25 prebuilt programs and 5-color heart rate zone displayed on the 10-inch screen. Get yours today for $1,439, saving you $160. Centr will also throw in three free months of access to its subscription app with the purchase of equipment. If you're looking for a new speaker or headphones to play some music during your workouts, take a look at the best Memorial Day headphone and speaker deals to add to your cart right now. Why this deal matters Centr is one of our favorite workout subscription apps, and the company sells solid equipment as well. At its usual price of $120 per year, this Chris Hemsworth-based workout app is already relatively affordable, but a 20% off discount sweetens the deal. The Memorial Day sale ends on May 29 so grab what you need now before all the deals expire.
AsiaOne
22-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Second Oval Office ambush by Trump could make foreign leaders think twice , World News
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump turned down the lights in the Oval Office on Wednesday (May 21) and made South African President Cyril Ramaphosa the target of his latest geopolitical ambush of a foreign leader in front of television cameras. In an extraordinary scene clearly orchestrated by the White House for maximum effect and reminiscent of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit in February, Trump confronted Ramaphosa with false claims of genocide against South African whites, including allegations of mass killings and land seizures. It was another display of Trump's apparent readiness to use the Oval Office, historically reserved as a place of honour for foreign dignitaries, to embarrass visitors from less-powerful nations or hold their feet to the fire on matters he is fixated upon. Trump's unprecedented use of the presidential setting for such displays could prompt foreign leaders to think twice about accepting his invitations and risk public humiliation, a reluctance that could make it harder to cement ties with friends and partners that are also being courted by archrival China. Patrick Gaspard, a former US ambassador to South Africa under President Barack Obama, said Trump had turned the meeting with Ramaphosa into a "shameful spectacle" and "savaged him with some fake snuff film and violent rhetoric." "Engaging on Trump's terms never goes well for anyone," Gaspard, now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress think-tank in Washington, wrote in a post on X. The Oval Office meeting had been billed as a chance to reset strained relations between the US and South Africa, especially after Trump's imposition of tariffs, and to defuse escalating tensions over his unfounded accusations of "white genocide" and offer to resettle white minority Afrikaners. After a cordial start to the meeting, Trump, a former reality TV star, ordered the lights dimmed and showed a video and printed articles purporting to be evidence that white South Africans are being persecuted. Ramaphosa, clearly prepared to counter Trump's accusations but unlikely to have expected the political theatre, was attentive and composed as he sought to refute what was presented by his host, but he stopped short of directly challenging or criticising a US president with a reputation for being thin-skinned. "I'm sorry I don't have a plane to give you," Ramaphosa quipped with a smile, referring to the luxury jetliner Qatar has offered Trump as a replacement for Air Force One. His spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told South African broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that "you could see President Ramaphosa was being provoked." "You could see he was having his eye pulled, and he did not fall for the trap," Magwenya said. [[nid:718238]] The White House did not immediately respond to a request on whether the meeting was set up to put Ramaphosa in the hot seat and whether that might discourage other foreign leaders from such visits. Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington, said that while the televised portion of the meeting was a circus, "it never crossed the line into anger or vitriol, so it didn't go off the cliff." Zelenskiy-Trump shouting match That mood stood in sharp contrast to Trump's meeting just months ago with Zelenskiy, which devolved into a shouting match involving both the president and Vice President JD Vance. Zelenskiy, much like Ramaphosa, was there to try to heal a rift in relations and in Ukraine's case maintain US military assistance to Kyiv in the war against Russia's invading forces. But the meeting quickly went off the rails, with Trump accusing Zelenskiy of being disrespectful and gambling with a potential World War Three, and Vance charging that the Ukrainian leader had not shown enough appreciation for US support. The contentious nature of the meeting sent shockwaves through the NATO alliance backing Ukraine's fight against Russia. There may have been less at stake in Trump's meeting on Wednesday with Ramaphosa, but South Africa is a major political and economic player in Africa that counts China as its biggest trading partner, with the US coming in second. [[nid:718166]] South Africa, which endured centuries of harsh discrimination against Black people during colonialism and apartheid before becoming a multi-party democracy in 1994 under Nelson Mandela, rejects Trump's allegations. Trump's confrontation appeared tailored for parts of his political base, particularly the far-right and white nationalist segments that have long pushed the narrative of a "white genocide" in South Africa. By showcasing unverified claims of violence against white farmers and framing land reform as racial persecution, Trump tapped talking points popular in US right-wing extremist circles. Since returning to office in January, Trump has cancelled aid, expelled South Africa's ambassador and resettled some white minority Afrikaners based on racial discrimination claims Pretoria says are baseless. The programme has been divisive as Trump has been largely blocking refugee admissions from the rest of the world. A new South African land reform law, aimed at redressing the injustices of apartheid, allows for expropriations without compensation when in the public interest, for example if land is lying fallow. No such expropriation has taken place, and any order can be challenged in court. "If anybody doubts that the Zelenskiy incident was not completely stage managed by the White House, I think the scales should fall from their eyes," British foreign affairs commentator Tim Marshall told Times Radio in London. [[nid:718268]]
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Chris Hemsworth's trainer Luke Zocchi shaved minutes off his Hyrox time in just five weeks – here's how
Anyone who has signed up for a race, particularly a Hyrox race, knows the months leading up to the event can make or break your performance. And for celebrity trainer Luke Zocchi, these crucial months didn't exactly go to plan. Nose surgery left him unable to train until just five weeks out, then the Australian flew half-way around the world with long-time client and friend Chris Hemsworth to shoot the upcoming Avengers film. Yet, come race day at the London Olympia, a jet-lagged Zocchi snagged something on thousands of fitness fans' wish lists: a new Hyrox PB. The Centr trainer crossed the finish line in 1:17:43 in the pro division. This was his fifth time competing in the fitness industry's most modish event – a gruelling combination of eight 1km running intervals, each separated by a different functional fitness station such as rowing, sled pushes and burpee broad jumps – and it was his best performance to date. So after surgery, a string of nights proffering poor sleep and a busy work schedule which involved bulking up a bona fide superhero, how did he do it? Focussing on running Hyrox is a tricky competition to train for because the demands are so varied. Over the course of a race you'll be running, rowing, skiing (on a machine at least), pushing, pulling, jumping, lunging, carrying and more. However, while there are 16 total work stations in a Hyrox race, Zocchi points out that half of them are 1km runs. For this reason, he focussed on improving his running ahead of the event, and recommends that others do the same. 'Make sure you're incorporating jogging in some capacity into your training at least three times each week, with at least one dedicated running day,' he says. But Zocchi also warns against going too hard, too early. 'I've injured myself so many times in the past by increasing the amount of running I'm doing way too fast,' he explains. For beginners, he recommends starting with this 30-minute session: Brisk walk x5min 10 rounds of brisk walk x1min, jog x1min Walking cool-down x5min Over time, you can skew the ratio of jogging to walking until you are able to run for the entire workout. For the other running days, he did a mixture of tempo runs, long runs and interval sessions. Come race day, this approach allowed him to hold an average pace of 4min 40sec per kilometre. Practising compromised running 'Compromised running' is a trendy term in Hyrox, and simply refers to the act of running on tired legs. Given a race will take you straight from a heavy sled push to a 1km run, this is a key skill in any successful athlete's armoury, so Zocchi became acquainted with the sensation in the lead-up to the event. 'You can be a good runner, but it's a whole different ball game when you've just pushed that sled or done some burpees or lunges – your legs go to jelly,' he says. 'When it gets closer to race day, you have to learn to run compromised, where you're fatiguing your legs and then going for a run.' A simple way he did this was including running as one of the stations in a circuit workout, alongside taxing full-body moves. These can be recognised Hyrox exercises or – if you don't have access to equipment like sleds – a dumbbell squat, lunge or thruster will also do the trick. Following a plan A lot of people make the mistake of taking a running plan and a strength training plan, smushing them together, then having this as their Hyrox preparations. The problem is, if both plans are designed to exist in isolation, it's likely doing them side by side is going to leave your body burnt out by race day. For the five weeks he had to train, Zocchi opted to follow Centr's Hyrox-approved 'accelerator' programme, which comprises five weekly workouts structured to help seasoned athletes push for a PB. The brand also has a 'Hyrox Starter' plan for those newer to the sport. 'I got a quicker time than last time and I only did the programme for five weeks because I had a few things going on; I had nose surgery and I couldn't train,' he says. 'But it all worked out, so all good.' Sticking to a plan allows you to systematically progress your training, leading to incremental improvements which will help you peak on race day, provided you're fuelling and recovering adequately. Building full-body strength If the running portions go awry during a Hyrox race, you can always walk. But if you can't move the sled, you're stuck (unless you take the hefty 24-minute penalty for skipping both the sled push and pull). For this reason, building a decent base layer of strength is always a good idea. Having trained Hemsworth for years and regularly jumped in on his workouts, Zocchi is no stranger to strength training. However, even he came unstuck against the 153kg sled pull during his first outing in the pro division in Brisbane last year. 'I couldn't move it at first, it was too heavy,' he says. 'It took me about seven minutes in the end.' He recommends prioritising compound (or multi-muscle) exercises in your pre–Hyrox strength training sessions to avoid this fate. 'Going for full-body movements is so important because everything in Hyrox is basically a full-body movement,' says Zocchi. 'Then, getting closer to the race, I got a bit more specific and worked on techniques and little improvements I could make. You're dialling in the exercises themselves and getting more efficient at them.' 'If you don't have a sled handy, dumbbell lunges are another way to practice for sled pushes, while dumbbell rows are an alternative for pulls.'
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chris Hemsworth shows off ripped physique as he strips off for intense boxing session while preparing for next Avengers role
Chris Hemsworth is proving once again that he's more than worthy of wielding Thor's mighty hammer. The 41-year-old Aussie actor turned up the heat on Instagram on Thursday by sharing a jaw-dropping video of himself shirtless and working up a serious sweat during a boxing session in his backyard. Clad in just a pair of black shorts and gold training shoes, the Marvel star threw a flurry of powerful punches at a heavy teardrop bag attached to an outdoor home gym setup. 'Avengers pre-game workout,' Hemsworth captioned the clip, which instantly sent fans into a frenzy. The video, set against the lush greenery of his Byron Bay estate, shows Chris' sculpted physique in full display as he delivers quick jabs and hooks with flawless precision - his red boxing gloves a blur with the force and speed of his strikes. While Hemsworth hasn't officially confirmed his return as Thor for the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars instalment, fans were quick to speculate that the post was a not-so-subtle hint that the God of Thunder will be back on the big screen. The 41-year-old Aussie actor turned up the heat on Instagram on Thursday by sharing a jaw-dropping video of himself shirtless and working up a serious sweat during a boxing session in his backyard 'Can't wait for that reunion with Loki,' one follower commented, while another gushed, 'Marvel is nothing without Thor!!' Hemsworth, who has long been known for his gruelling fitness regime, regularly trains with longtime friend and personal trainer Luke Zocchi and often shares glimpses of his workouts online. He also co-founded the fitness app Centr, which offers training and nutrition programs inspired by his own routines. The Hollywood heavyweight has been enjoying downtime in Australia with wife Elsa Pataky and their three children, following a busy year of filming and global promotions. While Marvel fans wait eagerly for official announcements regarding the actor's next blockbuster appearance, one thing's for sure - Hemsworth is in fighting form and ready for battle. Chris is well-known for having a strict exercise regimen, which helps him maintain his superhero physique. In an interview with Australian Men's Health, he said his 'body shuts down' when he doesn't work out. 'I just don't feel good. I like it for a couple of days, then everything just starts to hurt,' he confessed. In an interview with Australian Men's Health , he said his 'body shuts down' when he doesn't work out 'I get achy and there's inflammation, my back's stiff. I'm just well aware that in order for me to live healthier and happier, I've got to keep moving.' He also stressed the importance of developing a workout regimen that keeps you motivated. 'I do a lot of different things. You've got to be an explorer in the world of fitness and exercise and constantly be on the lookout for something fresh,' he said. HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training, which involves short bursts of intense exercises to burn fat. Meanwhile, HIRT stands for high-intensity resistance training, and involves strengthening exercises to build muscle. 'Cheat day today. Decided to treat myself to this extra large donut, gosh it's heavy,' Chris captioned a photo of himself pushing a heavy-looking ring.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Costco's All-in-One Home Starter Gym Makes Working Out at Home 10x More Efficient–and It's Only $700
Some people are blessed to have a basement gym comprising everything they need to complete Monday back days, Wednesday push day workouts, and Saturday leg day workouts. But if you're an apartment-dweller or just don't have a dedicated room for equipment, there's a good chance you're home gym includes a pair of adjustable dumbbells and a few resistance bands. While there are plenty of bodyweight workouts you can do to grow your triceps and chest, at some point, you'll have to up the stimulus to continue to grow. Although the formula for gaining strength will vary a bit for everyone, most research suggests if your training begins to stall or the same workouts become easier, there's a good chance you need to change your workout routine, up your reps, or shift the weight slightly (aka progressive overload). If your at-home workouts are getting stale, Costco is currently selling an all-in-one home gym that's rumored to make working out at home 10 times more you're a parent who can't get to the gym consistently or have a hectic job, Costco's Centr Multi-Gym has just about everything you need for a home gym setup. For just $700, users can complete more than 100 exercises. An adjustable arm press, high and low pulleys, and various handles allow for a multitude of body-party workouts. It's not just upper body either. You can hit your lower half with leg extensions and curls up to 150 pounds. Obviously that weight is limiting for more experienced and advanced lifters, so this is better for those starting out or looking to maintain muscle. When you purchase this machine (which comes with a lifetime warranty), you'll also get a three-month digital membership to the Chris Hemsworth-backed Centr app. It utilizes a team of celebrity trainers to help you hit your goals, be it to get stronger, get thicker, get bigger, or more toned. With the app, you can customize your workouts based on your individual goals. If you want an all-in-one gym for a small space that won't break the bank, Costco's Centr Multi-Gym is a great find. While it won't rival top fitness brands like Rogue, its lifetime warranty and price point are hard to beat.
