In a world where fitness is as much about lifestyle as it is about movement, Nofar Hagag has created an elevated experience that feels as chic and transformative as the cities she calls home. With her acclaimed Nofar Method studios in New York and Miami, the internationally recognized fitness expert has redefined Pilates for a discerning clientele who crave results and refinement in equal measure.

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Karlie Kloss, Emily Ratajkowski, and Brooke Shields are just a few of the names who have gravitated to Hagag’s signature method. It is a practice designed to challenge the body and awaken the mind through precision, athleticism, and mindfulness. At its core, the Nofar Method empowers clients to unlock their full potential and carry that sense of confidence and strength far beyond the studio.

Hagag’s journey began in Petah Tikva, Israel, where she excelled as a competitive water polo player. Her athletic discipline earned her a place on Israel’s National Water Polo team and later led her to serve as a fitness instructor in the Israel Defense Forces. It was there that she earned her Pilates certification at the Wingate Institute, an Olympic training facility that set the tone for her pursuit of excellence.

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In 2008, she moved to New York City as a Division I student athlete playing water polo while studying pre-med and psychology. Teaching Pilates began as a way to support herself through school but quickly evolved into a calling. Over the next decade, she developed the Nofar Method, an advanced full-body approach that blends classical Pilates with strength training, cardio, and dynamic choreography.

Her Flatiron and Tribeca studios became coveted destinations for clients seeking precision, intensity and transformation. In Miami Beach, her studio offers the same commitment to excellence infused with the vibrant energy of South Florida’s wellness-focused lifestyle.

“Our Miami clients want more than just a workout,” Hagag says. “They want to feel stronger, more confident and supported in every way. The energy here complements what we built in New York and inspires me every day.”

The Nofar Method reimagines Pilates equipment in innovative ways delivering transformative results for all body types with a focus on safety and body awareness. It is a practice designed to sculpt physiques and create a mindset shift that extends well beyond the walls of the studio.

For Hagag, it is about more than movement. “It is about how you carry yourself after class,” she reflects. “It is about resilience, presence, and embracing your own power.”

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Splitting her time between New York and Miami, Hagag remains deeply connected to her clients, teaching classes and inspiring her team of instructors to carry forward her vision. Both cities reflect the duality of her method through New York’s grit and intensity and Miami’s vibrancy and flow. Together, they form the perfect backdrop for a practice that is redefining what it means to transform both body and mind.

When Ignatius Fitzgerald ’26 arrived at St. Olaf College, he wasn’t just looking for a place to run — he was searching for the right team.
 
Coming out of high school as the Montana state champion in the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter run, Fitzgerald began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon on an athletic scholarship for cross country and track. But after a year and a half, he realized the program wasn’t the right fit for him.
 
“I didn’t love Eugene,” Fitzgerald says. “I wasn’t as into the academics, and I didn’t really fit in there super well. It just wasn’t the place for me.”
 
So, he moved back home to Missoula, took classes part-time at the University of Montana, and took a step back from running to consider his next steps. During that year of reflection, a high school friend encouraged Fitzgerald to visit him at St. Olaf. He came for a long weekend, staying in campus housing, attending classes, and tagging along for cross county practice.
 
Something clicked.
 
“Right when I got on campus and met the team, I was like, this feels like a much better fit,” Fitzgerald says.
 
Now a history and quantitative economics major and one of the top ranked steeplechasers in Division III, Fitzgerald has found not just success on the track, but a holistic rhythm that suits him.

“My relationship with running has shifted,” he says. “It’s something I do, but not the only thing I do — and I really enjoy that. The way our team is structured really supports that kind of balance, there’s a system in place — go to practice, go to dinner, go to the library.”

 

He credits much of that balance to the environment cultivated by Head Men’s Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Brian Power.

 

“Coach Power has been a really positive influence on me,” Fitzgerald says. “He’s helped me learn how to be competitive, but also not to take myself too seriously. It’s about having fun and focusing on the team.”

 

Power, in turn, recognized early on that Fitzgerald was not just a strong runner, but a thoughtful and mature presence.

 

“It was apparent [Fitzgerald] wanted to find somewhere that allowed him to grow as a person and connect with the community, while being given the space to grow as a runner,” Power says. “I really feel like Iggy has found his home at St. Olaf. He’s connected across campus in many ways, and he’s a frequent fixture at St. Olaf sporting events. He’ll be a track & field team captain this year due to his ability to connect with athletes across different event groups and the respect he has earned from his teammates.”

 

Fitzgerald’s not only active on the field — he’s involved with several different organizations and activities at St. Olaf. He leads trips with the outdoor recreation program (STORP), and works at the rock-climbing gym, where he also TAs for the college’s rock climbing course. This summer he will be in Turkey, assisting Professor of History Tim Howe with an archeological dig of a first-century Roman city.

 

As for what he does in his limited downtime, Fitzgerald says he spends the majority of it with his teammates.

 

“Forty of my best friends are on this team, which makes it really easy and fun,” he says. “You want to go to practice when you know everyone there is really wanting you to do your best in every way and knows who you are as an individual — not just who you are on the field. It just works.”

 

That team culture also fuels the Oles’ competitive success. This past fall, the St. Olaf men’s cross country team won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference [MIAC] Championship on their home course.

 

“Cross country scores like golf — you want the fewest points possible — and we scored with the lowest point count that has ever been recorded in a MIAC meet,” he says. “It was such a blast.”

 

Turning to Fitzgerald’s personal achievements, he placed ninth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships to earn Second Team All-America honors, set a program record (8:52.30), and ran the eighth-fastest steeplechase time in the nation this past year.

 

But he’s quick to deflect the hype.

 

“We don’t treat running like a business here,” he says. “At the end of the day, if you race well or poorly, no one really cares about your time. It’s all about what you are getting out of it. That kind of environment makes all the difference.”

 

Looking ahead, Fitzgerald plans to pursue a master’s in education and become a high school history teacher, ideally back in Montana. But for now, he’s soaking up all St. Olaf has to offer.

 

“When I think about being an Ole, I think about the closeness of this community,” he says. “Even though people are here for different reasons, whether that be music, athletics, or academics, we’re all on the Hill together. That creates something really special.”

Warren County Parks & Recreation has rescheduled its Girls’ Volleyball Camp for ages 8-15.

The camp will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 4, 6-7, 11, 13-14 at the John Graham Gymnasium, located at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton.

Registration is still open, but spaces are limited. Register in person at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton on online at https://warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation.

For more information, call 252-252-2272 or email parksandrecreation@warrencountync.gov.

As live sports continue to migrate from cable boxes to smartphones and smart TVs, streaming providers face a complex yet exciting set of challenges and opportunities. Parks Associates, in partnership with InterDigital, dives deep into this shifting landscape in their new report, Streaming Live Sports: Where Opportunity Meets Complexity.

Research from the study gives depth and insight into the good, bad, and glitchy aspects of sports streaming in 2025, and how the live sports-streaming landscape is experiencing a seismic shift.

According to the new research, 43% of U.S. internet households identify as “Sports Viewers,” and 40% of them now watch games exclusively via streaming services. As traditional broadcast models give way to direct-to-consumer (D2C) offerings, the live sports streaming market has never been more vibrant or more challenging.

Other Key Streaming Sports Statistics

• High household penetration: 89% of U.S. internet households subscribe to at least one subscription-based streaming platform.
• D2C growth: 33% of U.S. internet homes have added a sports-specific D2C service such as NFL+, NBA League Pass, MLB.TV, ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, Willow, or F1 TV.
• Heavy spenders: D2C sports subscribers shell out an average of $111 per month on all streaming subscriptions, making them the most valuable segment in the ecosystem.

“As traditional pay-TV services continue to shed subscribers, the economics of sports broadcasting are changing. Streaming creates new revenue opportunities for both sports leagues and streaming services,” said Michael Goodman, Senior Analyst, Parks Associates.

Live sports streaming continues to be a gold mine for providers who can deliver reliability, flexibility, and high-quality content. By tackling bandwidth, latency, and scalability head-on, the next generation of sports fans will enjoy seamless access to their favorite teams, wherever and whenever the game is on.

You find full InterDigital and Parks Research report: Streaming Live Sports: Where Opportunity Meets Complexity here.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt cross country and track and field alumna and current UMass Boston Vice Chancellor of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Jacqueline Schuman was named a recipient of the 2025 Women Leaders in Sports Nike Executive of the Year Award, the organization announced Thursday.

The first permanent female athletic director in UMass Boston history, Schuman was recognized for her contributions to the advancement of women in sports leadership.

Under her direction, UMass Boston created “Advancing the Legacy of Excellence,” the athletic department’s strategic plan built in alignment with the university’s For The Times strategic plan and priorities. Additionally, Schuman’s efforts helped to establish the Mac Singleton Fund, an endowment to support the advancement of women’s athletics, and add two women’s sports—lacrosse and field hockey—in addition to other department-wide accomplishments.

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Jacqueline Schuman on being named a 2025 Women Leaders in Sports Nike Executive of the Year Award Winner!

Read all about the amazing accomplishment by clicking the link below!https://t.co/JRWzzsXp0t#GoBeacons@_WomenLeaders @LittleEastConf

— UMassBostonAthletics (@UMassBeacons) July 17, 2025

While a cross country and track and field student-athlete, Schuman earned her bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt in 1999. After earning her master’s in exercise and sport sciences from the University of North Carolina, she received her doctorate in leadership and learning in organizations from Vanderbilt in 2021.

Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee, a student-athlete at the same time as Schuman, was named the 2024 Women Leaders in Sports Nike Division I FBS Executive of the Year.