New York College of Health Professions doesn't have a sports team, but it is about to make sports history with the development of a new line of functional acupressure clothing and accessories called MyChi. The line, which can help athletes compete at their best and also provide benefits outside of sports, has been tested by the College President and her former roommate, both of whom are world-class athletes and former professional tennis players.
Over 25 years after Carling Bassett was named one of the fifty hottest female athletes, and Lisa Pamintuan won the Irish Open and competed at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, the two lifelong friends are together again, not playing doubles, but about to take the sports world by storm with a line of clothing that scientifically and legally can enhance performance.
Pamintuan, now President of New York College of Health Professions, has been working with the Chairman of College, Donald Spector, a world-renowned inventor and serial entrepreneur on this new line of acupressure clothing for sports enhancement as well as for use by the general public and medical communities to alleviate pain.
The clothing line, part of the College's vast, world-class patent portfolio, is based on many of the principles of acupuncture points, which have been practiced in the Far East for centuries. Equipped with acupressure buttons that align with the body's own acupressure points, the product is self-administered by the wearer and provides instant relief from aches, pain or injury on an as-needed basis.
Bassett and Pamintuan were both proteges of renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, upon whom Pamintuan bestowed an honorary doctorate during the College's 2010 commencement ceremony. After being injured, Pamintuan retired from her tennis career and attended law school; meanwhile, Bassett went on to be a top rated tennis professional. Bassett continues to play the sport every day, and Pamintuan has also made it a lifelong hobby alongside her heavy load of expanding her College.
"Carling and I have known each other and played tennis together for years; though we both thought at a younger age that we were invincible, we've always known that athletes of any skill level are always looking for ways to enhance their performance. After years of injuries, we're thrilled to be a part of the development of a line of clothing that can alleviate the aches and pains athletes face daily and test it out on the court now. I only wish I could've worn this line of clothing when I was playing at Wimbledon as a 16-year-old," stated Pamintuan.
"Lisa and I have been friends since we were roommates at Nick Bollettieri's home before the academy," said Bassett. "I am excited about working with Lisa and New York College as they introduce revolutionary new functional clothing and accessories."
The College has had a long history of innovative involvement in the world of sports. Spector's first product was the AMF Muscleworker, also known as the "Bruce Jenner Exerciser," which was the first hydraulic exerciser. Spector and his cousin and partner used part of the earnings of his partner's iconic racing horse, John Henry, to launch Spector's Aroma Disc system with Charles of the Ritz, a division of Bristol-Myers Squibb, which generated a billion dollar industry for electronic fragrance delivery.
Squibb then set up a separate division for Spector's patents. Hundreds of patents later, Spector has developed advanced systems for DNA destruction using LED's as well as identification of bacterial and cancer cells in-vivo. He has brought the College to financial security and worldwide attention after it fell on hard times over ten years ago. In 2012, the College's controversial commencement speaker was the world's greatest sports promoter, Don King.
Pamintuan and Bassett are taking clothing and accessories that have been tested in the clinics at the College into the sports arena, where once again they are paving the way for a new destiny – not for themselves, but for fellow athletes.
