text: Introducing A Revolution In Pelvic Floor Health... 
   
   Pelvic floor muscles are a critical part of a healthy body and can affect health and happiness in many ways. However, tools to help women exercise and manage them are extremely lacking. kGoal is a revolutionary new smart Kegel trainer: it is a device + app that provides a fun, interactive platform to guide, measure and track your pelvic floor exercise. It's like having a personalized gym and tracking system in the palm of your hand! 
   
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   Thanks for the support, everyone! You can find more information about kGoal and pre-order at www.minnalife.com after the Kickstarter campaign ends. 
   
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   As featured on... 
   
   Why Are Pelvic Floor Muscles Important? 
   
   Strong pelvic floor muscles are a vital part of a healthy body. In particular, they are crucial in the following contexts: 
   
   Pregnancy : they are critically important during and after pregnancy, both in helping the body manage changes arising from the pregnancy and also in recovering more readily after birth. 
   
   : they are critically important during and after pregnancy, both in helping the body manage changes arising from the pregnancy and also in recovering more readily after birth. Bladder control : they control the bladder and can prevent incontinence caused by stress, post-partum effects, aging, or other factors. Over 76% of women experience incontinence issues at some point in their life - strong pelvic floor muscles can prevent or resolve many of these problems without the complications of surgery. 
   
   : they control the bladder and can prevent incontinence caused by stress, post-partum effects, aging, or other factors. Over 76% of women experience incontinence issues at some point in their life - strong pelvic floor muscles can prevent or resolve many of these problems without the complications of surgery. Musculoskeletal stability : they support abdominal organs and provide stability for the entire pelvic region and lower spine; when weak or unstable they can cause back and pelvic pain. 
   
   : they support abdominal organs and provide stability for the entire pelvic region and lower spine; when weak or unstable they can cause back and pelvic pain. Pleasure: they are an important part of a healthy sexual response for women. Strong pelvic floor muscles can enhance arousal and improve sensation, orgasm quality, and general sexual experience. 
   
   However, despite the importance of pelvic floor muscles, tools to help exercise and manage them are extremely lacking. That’s where kGoal comes in... 
   
   What Is kGoal? 
   
   The first tools for evaluating pelvic floor muscle strength were invented in the late 1940s using an air pressure balloon and a tire gauge. Sadly, the technology used has not progressed much since. However, the landscape is changing quickly. Personal health tracking tools like Fitbit or Jawbone UP have exploded in popularity by putting knowledge about the body directly into users' hands. Likewise, improving technology has now made it possible to create a much better pelvic floor muscle exercise system. 
   
   kGoal is a smart Kegel trainer and functions as both an exercise tool and a performance monitoring and guidance system. It measures the force exerted by squeezing your pelvic floor muscles and can communicate that information back to you via a phone and/or the device itself. Using the device and corresponding app is like having a personalized gym and tracking system by your side whenever you want. 
   
   What Makes kGoal Unique? 
   
   kGoal has a number of revolutionary features that make it a groundbreaking advance in pelvic floor health. In particular, kGoal gives you the ability to: 
   
   Get real time biofeedback : pelvic floor muscles are often controlled subconsciously, and studies have shown that over 30% of women are not able to correctly contract their pelvic floor muscles without direct feedback (instead, they will often flex their abs, glutes, or inner thighs). kGoal's ability to provide real time feedback via touch, sight and sound can help you make sure you're doing the exercises correctly. 
   
   : pelvic floor muscles are often controlled subconsciously, and studies have shown that over 30% of women are not able to correctly contract their pelvic floor muscles without direct feedback (instead, they will often flex their abs, glutes, or inner thighs). kGoal's ability to provide real time feedback via touch, sight and sound can help you make sure you're doing the exercises correctly. Guide your workout : our team of expert physical therapists and doctors has helped us develop algorithms to suggest exercise plans that are tailored to you and based on your current capabilities. 
   
   : our team of expert physical therapists and doctors has helped us develop algorithms to suggest exercise plans that are tailored to you and based on your current capabilities. Track your performance : kGoal can measure and keep track of everything from muscle strength to endurance to which exercises you did and when you did them. Being able to look at how your body changes over time can help you (and your doctor or therapist) better understand your body and optimize your health. 
   
   : kGoal can measure and keep track of everything from muscle strength to endurance to which exercises you did and when you did them. Being able to look at how your body changes over time can help you (and your doctor or therapist) better understand your body and optimize your health. Be comfortable : since kGoal's squeezable pillow is squishy and has a vent to adjust the air pressure, you can tailor the fit to your body's unique anatomy, even as it changes over time. 
   
   : since kGoal's squeezable pillow is squishy and has a vent to adjust the air pressure, you can tailor the fit to your body's unique anatomy, even as it changes over time. Make exercise fun: let's face it... exercise can be boring. A smart device can make it way more interesting, and we're even working on games and other interactions to make pelvic floor exercise more engaging. We know that motivation can be a huge challenge with exercise, and it was vital for us to create an experience that doesn't feel like a chore. 
   
   How Does kGoal Work? 
   
   Using kGoal is really simple. There are two halves of the system: 
   
   kGoal device 
   
   kGoal app 
   
   The main section of kGoal is a squeezable pillow that is inserted into the vagina. Since it's squishy, it conforms to a wide variety of anatomies, and you can use the vent to let air in or out and further optimize the fit. Once in place, the pillow can measure squeezing of your pelvic floor muscles, and there is also a motor for providing real time vibrational biofeedback. 
   
   The arm stays outside the body and holds kGoal in place. It is also the basic interface, with the button, status light, and charging plug. In addition, it has a second vibrational feedback motor that can be used together with or instead of the motor in the pillow. 
   
   The other key element of the system is the app. It communicates with and can control kGoal wirelessly and it's also where you can find your exercise history and suggested workouts. However, if you don't have your phone handy, don't worry - many of kGoal's features are available without having the app connected. 
   
   Finally, kGoal comes with a travel-friendly USB charger and is splash resistant for easy cleaning. And, most importantly, it is totally body-safe - it's made with Class VI medical grade silicone that is 100% phthalate free. 
   
   Testimonials 
   
   We've been getting great feedback from our test users. Here are a few snapshots: 
   
   It's like Fitbit for your pelvic floor muscles.... awesome. - M.V. 
   
   I love being able to keep track of how I'm doing - seeing improvement is really motivating. - R.S. 
   
   It's amazing, I can actually feel how hard I'm squeezing, which makes such a difference. -A.J. 
   
   We've also been working with a leading pelvic floor physical therapist in San Francisco on kGoal. Liz Miracle runs her own pelvic floor physical therapy practice and is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Physical Therapy. Here's what she has to say: 
   
   "kGoal is an innovative product that will be instrumental in pelvic floor strengthening for women. It’s the first product that can provide tactile feedback, through vibration, of a woman’s ability to perform a correct pelvic floor contraction. I've found women are more likely to adhere to an exercise program when given a realistic, interesting exercise routine using biofeedback. kGoal is motivational, helping women achieve goals by providing real time biofeedback and the ability to track progress over time. Not only that, but we finally have a product meant to fit women of different sizes. kGoal is truly breaking down barriers to pelvic floor strengthening, helping women feel empowered." 
   
   Who We Are 
   
   kGoal was developed by Minna Life, a startup in San Francisco that includes a group of designers, engineers, and health experts who share a sense of frustration with the lack of well-designed, high quality sexual health products available. 
   
   Our design philosophy is simple: technology should make the world less complicated. We believe that great products are so intuitive, so fluid in the way they improve the human experience, that you hardly know they're there. We have worked extremely hard to make using kGoal as simple and natural as possible. 
   
   Our team has a deep level of experience in product development and manufacturing, and has successfully developed and launched two previous products on budget and on time, including our second product via crowd funding campaign last year. We are well aware of the many pitfalls that can derail the launch of hardware products and, based on our previous experience, we are confident that we will be able to deliver kGoal on time. 
   
   Why Kickstarter? 
   
   There are two main reasons for us to use Kickstarter: 
   
   User feedback : we believe passionately in user-centric design, and Kickstarter gives us a tremendous platform to interact with users. Particularly on the app side, we expect to be continually developing and refining the interactions that make using kGoal so much fun, and the input we get from our supporters on Kickstarter will be invaluable. We love hearing from you, either via Kickstarter or at customerservice@minnalife.com. 
   
   : we believe passionately in user-centric design, and Kickstarter gives us a tremendous platform to interact with users. Particularly on the app side, we expect to be continually developing and refining the interactions that make using kGoal so much fun, and the input we get from our supporters on Kickstarter will be invaluable. We love hearing from you, either via Kickstarter or at customerservice@minnalife.com. Help us cover manufacturing costs: making hardware is expensive! Although kGoal is not our first product, we are still a shoestring operation, and there are a number of up-front manufacturing capital expenditure costs that we need help with to bring kGoal to the world. These costs include tooling such as molds and assembly equipment, raw materials, and parts. Hitting our goal will enable us to pay for the first batch of products, but without a successful campaign, we cannot afford to make kGoal a reality. 
   
   How Can You Help? 
   
   We strongly believe we have created a revolutionary product in kGoal, and we think it can be a valuable part of maintaining healthy pelvic floor muscles (and enabling all the benefits that come with them). Supporting our campaign is your way to be a part of making kGoal come to life, and also your way to get one of the first ever units made (and at a fantastic discount, no less)! 
   
   The other crucial thing you can do to help is to get the word out and build the conversation. We know that this part of the body, and some of the health issues associated with it, can be delicate topics. However, never discussing them only prevents everyone from understanding and improving their bodies, health, and well-being. We hope you'll help us work to change that by promoting dialog about what is, after all, a vital and natural part of the body. Anything, from sharing our campaign via social media to sharing via conversations in your daily life, will be hugely beneficial, both to our campaign and also towards building a healthier, happier world. 
   
   Schedule 
   
   kGoal is scheduled to begin the manufacturing ramp-up process in August, immediately following the completion of the campaign. We expect to ship the first units by December and will fulfill backer rewards with the first available products, in chronological order of when supporters made their commitment. 
   
   Ordering Details 
   
   A few of our prototypes 
   
   Color: you may have noticed from the video and images that we have prototypes in a variety of colors. We have not made a final decision on product color - our plan is to put it to a vote by our campaign backers as we get closer to finalizing manufacturing. 
   
   Smart phone support: another important note relates to which smart phones will be compatible with kGoal. As you can see in the video, the initial app was built for iOS devices, but we will also implement an Android version of the app before we start shipping in December. 
   
   For wireless compatibility, the phone or other smart device will need to have Bluetooth Low Energy (also known as Bluetooth 4.0) capability. For Apple devices, this is the iPhone 4S or newer or the iPad3 or newer. Please ask us if you're unsure about compatibility with your device. 
   
   International Taxes and Shipping 
   
   While our rewards include free delivery within the US, we do require international backers to pay a $25 fee to cover shipping. In addition, international backers will be responsible for taxes, duties, and customs fees as appropriate for their country, although we will do our best to assist backers with sorting out any issues. ||||| CHEVY CHASE, Md., July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Private Gym, LLC announced today the release of its groundbreaking, innovative fitness program, Private Gym, the first FDA registered exercise program that strengthens the pelvic muscles. Using the Private Gym program, in less than 10 minutes a day, three days a week, men can strengthen the muscles that support and control the penis. Pelvic muscle training results in more rigid erections, reduction of premature ejaculation and heightening of orgasms, as well as support of prostate health and improvement of urinary control.1 Aside from boosting sexual performance, achieving fit pelvic muscles can help prevent the onset of erectile dysfunction.2 
   
   The science behind Private Gym is simple and well established: workout a muscle and it gets stronger. Private Gym is an exercise program that provides expertly-designed training routines with resistance equipment. Private Gym's Complete Training Program begins with "Basic Training," a four-week interactive DVD exercise program that teaches men how to strengthen their pelvic muscles with "Kegel exercises" for men. These are the same well-known exercises performed by millions of women to increase pelvic tone, particularly after childbirth. 
   
   Once Basic Training is complete, the program adds another four weeks of "Resistance Training." Private Gym's patented resistance equipment utilizes a revolutionary design and incorporates silicone-covered magnetic weights to provide consistent, precise and measurable results. The equipment fits comfortably around the erect penis and is lifted up and down. This movement places resistance on the pelvic muscles, resulting in maximum pelvic muscle growth and strength. 
   
   "We exercise all parts of our body, but completely neglect the muscles that control our sexual function," said Dr. Andrew Siegel, cofounder of Private Gym and renowned urologist, surgeon, professor and author of Male Pelvic Fitness: Optimizing Sexual and Urinary Health. "With Private Gym, men can now safely and naturally strengthen one of their most important muscle systems." 
   
   As men approach age 30, the pelvic muscles that support erectile function begin to weaken. According to the Journal of Urology, by age 40, more than 50 percent of men experience some form of erectile dysfunction. This number increases to 66 percent as men near 60 years of age. Premature ejaculation is even more prevalent than erectile dysfunction and can be contributed to by a weakening of the pelvic muscles, as reported in The Journal of Urology. By strengthening these muscles, men can experience harder and longer-lasting erections and improvement of premature ejaculation. 
   
   Private Gym was developed in conjunction with Dr. Andrew Siegel after he witnessed his patients improving their erectile function with pelvic muscle exercises. He saw a need for a comprehensive program to teach men how to perform pelvic muscle exercises. To develop Private Gym, he assembled a team of the world's top urologists, physiotherapists and sexual health educators, including Professor Grace Dorey, a leading expert on pelvic floor physiotherapy and author of numerous studies. Dorey conducted the most significant study of its kind: Pelvic Floor Exercises for Erectile Dysfunction, published in the British Journal of Urology International in 2005, which found that 76 percent of men improved their erectile function with pelvic muscle exercise. 
   
   "For years women have known about the importance of Kegel exercises," said Professor Dorey. "For the first time, men have an innovative solution that enables them to safely and naturally strengthen their pelvic muscles." 
   
   Private Gym Complete Training Program comes complete with an interactive, follow-along eight-week exercise program on DVD, step-by-step instructional guide, FDA registered resistance training equipment, magnetic weight, and carrying case. For more information about Private Gym and its products visit privategym.com . 
   
   About The Private Gym, LLC 
   
   Founded in 2012, The Private Gym, LLC, is a unique fitness company dedicated to helping men and women safely and naturally improve sexual and pelvic health with innovative and interactive exercise programs. 
   
   1. Dorey G, Speakman MJ, Feneley RC, et al: Pelvic floor exercises for erectile dysfunction. BJU Int. 2005; 96(4): 595-597; Pastore AL, Palleschi G, Leto A, et al: A prospective randomized study to compare pelvic floor rehabilitation and dapoxetine for lifelong premature ejaculation. Int J Androl 2012; 35: 528-533; Siegel A: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Males: Practical Applications. Urology 2014, In press; Gormley EA, Lightner DL, Burgio KL, et al: American Urological Association (AUA)/ Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Guideline: Diagnosis And Treatment Of Overactive Bladder (Non-Neurogenic) In Adults, 2012. 2. Siegel A: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Males: Practical Applications. Urology 2014. 
   
   Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140711/126226 
   
   Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140711/126863 
   
   SOURCE The Private Gym, LLC ||||| In a world where everyone from Fido to Great Aunt Fifi wears some variation of a pedometer or Fitbit, there are few workouts left that can't be tracked electronically. But soon, an oft-forgotten and perhaps unexpected exercise will be added to the list: kegel contractions. 
   
   Yes, kegel, as in a woman's pelvic floor muscles. 
   
   The kGoal Smart Kegel Trainer is a wearable device that allows women to track the number of repetitions, pressure applied and squeeze duration while contracting their kegel muscles. Like Fitbit, the information is communicated wirelessly from the device to an app on one's smartphone, where future workouts will be recommended based on user history. 
   
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   "Pelvic floor muscles are one of the most important, but least appreciated parts of the body," said creator Grace Lee in a promotional video on the product's Kickstarter page. The kGoal "is like having a gym, a physical therapist and a tracking system in the palm of your hand." 
   
   The body wear comes in an array of colors and is comprised of a wide member that gets inserted into the woman's vagina, while a smaller arm rests outside of the body. Size can be adjusted to conform to the wearer, but the kGoal does not vibrate and is not intended for sexual stimulation. 
   
   Kegel exercises have long been encouraged by medical experts to help prevent urinary incontinence, prevent overuse during childbirth and enhance sexual activity. Prescriptive advice, however, can vary. 
   
   "There is no hard data on kegels in terms of recommendations for how many, how long, what age, etc.," said Dr. Jennifer L. Ashton, ABC News Senior Medical Contributor and an obstetrician-gynecologist. "The medical teaching is that, like most muscles, the more it's used, the better." 
   
   The Mayo Clinic suggests on its website that women incorporate kegel exercises into their daily routine, noting that "You can do Kegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle training, discreetly just about anytime." 
   
   But there are no guarantees that the exercises will offer an instant cure for incontinence or improved orgasms. 
   
   "In terms of preserving urinary continence, the value of kegels is somewhat controversial, but medically and behaviorally, they certainly can't hurt, and can possibly help pelvic function," said Ashton, who is not affiliated with the kGoal device. "I like the idea of an app, combined with a biotech device to help women with this! But only long-term studies will show just how useful it is." 
   
   Pre-sales of the kGoal Smart Kegel Trainer have already sold out, but when the device officially launches in December 2014 it will cost $125.
target: – Women aren't the only people who should be doing Kegel exercises, experts say. Studies have found that pelvic floor exercises—long known to help women with childbirth and recovery as well as prevent incontinence—can also help with incontinence, recovery from prostate surgery, and other issues in men, including, possibly, sexual dysfunction. How should men do the exercises? Focus on "the area you sit on when you’re sitting on a horse," one doctor explains to the New York Times, and tighten the muscles you would typically use to stop urinating mid-stream or keep yourself from passing gas. Contract for a few seconds, release, and repeat 10 to 15 times per "workout." Another doctor who wants to convince men to start doing the exercises has gone so far as to help create a pelvic floor exercise system, Private Gym, which includes an instructional DVD and a band with ultralight weights that goes around the penis, in case men want to add a "resistance training" aspect, as the Times puts it. "People do cardio exercises for their heart, and they do strength training and work on their six-pack, but the pelvic floor is neglected," the urologist explains. Though there's little evidence that male Kegels can enhance erections, one doctor calls the exercises "as good as Viagra," and clinical trials have shown they can help prevent premature ejaculation and may help with erectile dysfunction. In other Kegel news, there is now an "activity tracker" meant specifically to keep track of how many Kegel exercises women do, ABC News reports. Yes, the kGoal Smart Kegel Trainer is inserted exactly where you'd assume it would be. (In other male anatomy news, this man claims a hospital shortened his penis.)