The Company

International Fitness Promotions Pty Ltd (IFP) is a health and fitness education company for professionals and the general public, and is in the business of providing relaxation and mind/body well being to its customers.

The company produces a range of products associated with the ChiBall exercise concept which include videos, balls, books and aromatherapy.

Monica Linford, managing director, has been conducting Australian and UK based education seminars since 1993 and registered IFP as a trading company in June 1997.

In July 2003, ChiBall UK Ltd was registered as UK and Europe are significant markets for the company.

Products are manufactured in and distributed from Adelaide, also the location for the head office of IFP. Monica Linford, however, spends the majority of her time in the UK promoting the products and programs there and throughout Europe.

The ChiBall product is currently successfully sold in over 18 countries and has engaged the services of ten international ChiBall Master Trainers and Course Directors based in the EEC and Australia.

The Concept

A concept developed by Monica Linford over the past ten years, the ChiBall Method™ is based on traditional eastern philosophies in mind/body fitness combined with western ideas to produce a holistic approach to exercise.

The ChiBall Method™ is a balanced mind/body health and fitness concept based on traditional Chinese Medicine and incorporates six main philosophies

• Tai Chi and Qi Gong cleanses, rejuvenates and refreshes the internal body by working with the breath and meridian system
• ChiBall Dance is used to generate energy, mobility and flexibility using vigorous to gentle, slow, continuous movement patterns which aids detoxification and oxygen supply to muscles
• Yoga increases strength, flexibility, concentration, balance and self-awareness
• Pilates develops core strength, support the spine, stabilise the pelvis and increases mobility of the joints
• Feldenkrais Method helps us rediscover the effortless movements patterns of childhood, and cultivates the art of listening and letting go
• Deep Relaxation induces calmness of mind and body through deep breathing, visualisation techniques and meditation

The ChiBall Method™ strives to allow each participant to develop his or her own individual sense of wellbeing, balance and self-awareness so that they may lead a more satisfying way of life.

Location

Monica Linford spends nine months of each year promoting the business in the UK, Europe and America.

Adelaide is the production location for the company's products. The company's advisers, a firm of Chartered Accountants, and Legal and Business Advisers, are based in Adelaide. Graphic design, video duplication, printing, ball manufacture is all carried out in Adelaide at present. The manufacturing of the ball took over two years to develop as it was a process that had to be carried out to exacting standards if quality was to be maintained.

Current Products

ChiBall

The purpose of the ChiBall is to create a focus for the mind as part of the movement sequences. For example, the ball is 'pushed' away during stretch exercises to intensify the sensation, as a challenge for core stabilisation and as a massage and relaxation tool.

Each ChiBall is impregnated with a particular fragrance. There are currently six ChiBall colours with corresponding fragrances

ChiBall Colour ChiBall Fragrance

• Red (Cinnamon fragrance)
• Orange (Sweet Orange fragrance)
• Yellow (Lemongrass fragrance)
• Green (Geranium fragrance)
• Blue (Juniper Berry fragrance)
• Purple (Lavender fragrance)

Although the ChiBalls come with the videos, the ChiBall itself is sold individually, to health and fitness trainers, Pilates teachers and physiotherapists in particular.

Videos

During 1997 International Fitness Promotions Pty Ltd released a series of 5 exercise videos. The videos demonstrate the versatility of the program and how it incorporates the ChiBall and can be used privately at home or by fitness trainers.

The first of a new DVD and videos series, Dance of the Dragon for weight loss and wellbeing, is due for release in the UK in March 2005 and in AUstralia in September 2005.

ChiAroma Fragrances

The ChiBall is infused with a mood-enhancing scent specific to the colour of the ball. After extended use the ChiBall requires re-scenting to restore the original aroma.

The ChiAroma fragrances were produced specifically for re-scenting the plastic ChiBall material.

The ChiBall colour and fragrance is used for a specific healing purpose to promote healing on a physical and emotional level.

Books

In June 2000, Monica Linford's book about the ChiBall Method™ that she created, 'Awaken Your Body, Balance Your Mind', was released by HarperCollins Publishers UK. This book was translated into German in October 2001 on the strength of the huge popularity of the program in the German speaking regions.

In November 2003, an additional booklet was written and printed by Monica Linford, 'Healing with ChiBall Colours Aromas and Exercises'.

Due for release in early 2006 is Monica's new book 'Dance of the Dragon for weight loss and wellbeing' to accompany the new DVD and video released in March 2005.

Education Manuals

The ChiBall Method™ has three levels of certification for which only levels 1 and 2 have been written and marketed as follows

• Level 1 Certification
  • Level 1 Teacher Training Manual
• Level 2 Certification
  • Manual 1 TaiChi-QiGong
  • Manual 2 ChiBall Dance
  • Manual 3 Yoga
  • Manual 4 Pilates
  • Manual 5 Feldenkrais Method
  • Manual 6 Deep Relaxation & Meditation

These manuals have now been translated into German, French, Swedish, and Finnish. Introductory workshop presentations have also been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, and Japanese

International Sales Regions

ChiBall videos and ChiBalls are currently successfully sold in the following countries

• Australia
• UK
• Canada
• Switzerland
• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Sweden
• Finland
• USA
• Japan
• Thailand
• New Zealand
• Malaysia
• Italy

Monica Linford

Company Director, Author, Health & Fitness Consultant & Educator and International Mind/Body Speaker.

The ChiBall Method™ was developed through a life-long commitment to fitness training and study of oriental medicine by its creator, Monica Linford, and the programme continues to evolve.

Practical demonstrations of its effectiveness in promoting health and combating chronic disease abound, and Monica's focus is now on developing specialist programmes for particular health issues and individual seasonal programmes for maintaining year-round vitality. ChiBall came into being as a result of Monica's own struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as ME. Trained in classical dance and professional fitness, Monica was challenged to recoup her own vitality and energy from the devastating effects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Having recovered her own health, she spent more than 10 years researching and developing the ChiBall Method™, which now offers real results for many other sufferers as well as helping busy people sustain a high quality of energy.

Monica now divides her time between her native Australia and the UK, as well as performing teacher trainings around the globe. Her enthusiastic and knowledgeable approach to health, fitness and well-being has made ChiBall a worldwide success and earned her the Fitness Professionals UK's 'Award of Excellence' in 2000. The full background to the development of the ChiBall Method™ and a clear and easy-to-use instruction manual on the programme can be found in Monica's book, 'Awaken Your Body, Balance Your Mind', published by Thorsons.