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The Kinetic Chain and how to apply it

The Kinetic Chain and how to apply it

THE KINETIC CHAIN AND HOW TO APPLY IT  By NASM Dana Bender The human body is not made up of isolated segments of muscles, bones, connective tissue, and ligaments. Rather, the body is a series of interconnected parts that all impact each other. This impact can either...
Top Fitness Trends of 2024

Top Fitness Trends of 2024

Top Fitness Trends of 2024 by ELEIKO Education Team 2024 will be an exciting year for fitness enthusiasts and professionals. The health and fitness industry will continue to see robust underlying growth driven in part by megatrends, including an ageing and more active...
Alcohol and Sleep : The truth behind your nightcap

Alcohol and Sleep : The truth behind your nightcap

Alcohol and Sleep : The truth behind your Nightcap by Darlene Marshall ALCOHOL AND SLEEP Alcohol is the oldest and still one of the most widely used, mind-altering substances. It is so common and accepted in our culture that you may take it for granted. Yet, you might...
How 2024 is Shaping up to be the year of Health Resolutions!

How 2024 is Shaping up to be the year of Health Resolutions!

How 2024 is Shaping up to be the Year of Health Resolutions! WELCOME TO 2024: A FRESH SPIN ON HEALTH AND FITNESS RESOLUTIONS As the New Year’s Eve confetti settles and 2024 unfolds, we at NASM are excited to share the responses from a recently commissioned...
How Lifestyle and Technology can Accelerate Recovery from Exercise

How Lifestyle and Technology can Accelerate Recovery from Exercise

How Lifestyle and Technology can Accelerate Recovery from Exercise Authors: Therabody Scientists: Tim Roberts, MSc; Kyle Silvey, PhD; Michelle Darian, MS, MPH, RD, LDN Recovery is the body’s intentional pursuit of better health, wellness, and performance. The body is...
Unlocking Wellness: Navigating the 3 Pillars of the Health Triangle

Unlocking Wellness: Navigating the 3 Pillars of the Health Triangle

Unlocking Wellness: Navigating the 3 Pillars of the Health Triangle by Darlene Marshall Are you someone who struggles with balancing your well-being? With all the health and wellness information available it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, unsure how to spend your time,...
How Often Should I use Compression Therapy

How Often Should I use Compression Therapy

How often should I use Compression Therapy? So you’re thinking about buying a compression system. You’ve seen them everywhere — from pro team training rooms to the living rooms of your favorite athletes and celebrities. But why invest in something that seems so...
Rocktape for Runners: How to make it work for you!

Rocktape for Runners: How to make it work for you!

Rocktape for Runners: How to make it work for you! Kinesiology tape, or “Rocktape,” is a popular tool among runners for reducing inflammation, managing pain, and helping to prevent injury. This type of tape is different than traditional athletic tapes because it...
Should you be Flossing Daily? A beginner’s guide to RockFloss.

Should you be Flossing Daily? A beginner’s guide to RockFloss.

Should you be Flossing Daily? A beginner’s guide to RockFloss Floss bands are not a new concept. They have been around for a while now under various names mostly used as part of a warm up routine for gym workouts, particularly in the CrossFit world. But they can also...
Athletes with a Strong Squat are less likely to get Injured

Athletes with a Strong Squat are less likely to get Injured

Athletes with a Strong Squat are less likely to get Injured by Rodney Corn Squats are one of the most fundamental and functional actions we perform. They require both total body stabilization and strength to be performed at levels high enough to be beneficial for...
Top 6 Reasons to Try Suspension Training

Top 6 Reasons to Try Suspension Training

Top 6 Reasons to Try Suspension Training Check out the top 6 reasons to try Suspension Training. #1 Science-backed workouts that get results. The secret sauce behind Suspension Training® is non-stop instability, which automatically requires more muscle activation....
NASM Roman Deadlift Basics

NASM Roman Deadlift Basics

NASM Roman Deadlift Basics by Kinsey Mahaffey Romanian deadlifts, or RDLs, have become a staple in workouts across the world. Even though the exercise itself looks simple to execute, the most common questions that trainers are asked when it comes to RDLs are: “Am I...
3 Exercises to Strengthen the Knee after an ACL Surgery

3 Exercises to Strengthen the Knee after an ACL Surgery

3 Exercises to Strengthen the Knee after an ACL Surgery by Gray Institute The goal with the initiation of rehabilitation for an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) surgery is to prevent what happened to happen again. Rehab should integrate both prevention and performance...
YBELLS versus TRADITIONAL WORKOUT EQUIPMENT

YBELLS versus TRADITIONAL WORKOUT EQUIPMENT

Choosing gym equipment can be challenging. There are so many options available, and more niche products are coming out each year. Where do you start? We will be discussing what equipment may be the best option for you and dive deep into the pros and cons of each to...
A Q&A WITH FITNESS LEADER AND NASM GLOBAL AMBASSADOR LOUISE HAZEL

A Q&A WITH FITNESS LEADER AND NASM GLOBAL AMBASSADOR LOUISE HAZEL

JACQUELINE KAMINSKI From an Olympic athlete to becoming a successful entrepreneur and CEO, London-born Louise Hazel has been “slaying” the game of life. Louise is an English track and field athlete from the United Kingdom who’s competed in four major international...
COMPARING NASM’S THREE NUTRITION PROGRAMS: CNC, CWC, & CSNC

COMPARING NASM’S THREE NUTRITION PROGRAMS: CNC, CWC, & CSNC

JACQUELINE KAMINSKI | STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! Have you always wanted to gain more knowledge and coaching-specific skills when it comes to nutrition? Well, luckily for you, NASM offers three courses to help you get a very thorough education and certify you to use your...
TOP 5 REASONS TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER

TOP 5 REASONS TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER

KINSEY MAHAFFEY STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! Passion and purpose collide when a fitness enthusiast makes the decision to become a Certified Personal Trainer. How would you like to get paid to do what you love? If fitness is your passion and you have the desire to help...
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INTRA-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INTRA-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS

Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! With all of the information and supplements in the fitness and wellness industry, it can be very overwhelming trying to decide what the best pre-, intra-, and post-workout supplementation is based on your specific goals.In this blog...
How to Personalize Your Bodybuilding Workouts to Your Goals

How to Personalize Your Bodybuilding Workouts to Your Goals

Andre Adams Are you interested in personalizing a bodybuilding workout to meet your goals, but not sure where to start? One recommendation for people working to achieve a specific aesthetic physique goal is to get more strategic with training and nutrition to force...
MOVEMENT SNACKS: MAKING MOVEMENT A LIFESTYLE

MOVEMENT SNACKS: MAKING MOVEMENT A LIFESTYLE

By Chris Nentarz, PT, TRX Senior Master Instructor It is well understood that eating frequent meals throughout the day is more healthy than eating one large meal.  The same could be said for exercise.  Traditional exercise paradigms instruct us to ‘compartmentalize’...
POWERLIFTING VS. BODYBUILDING: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

POWERLIFTING VS. BODYBUILDING: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! Have you ever wondered what the difference between powerlifting and bodybuilding is? The two are often confused or used interchangeably in conversation, but they are very different sports with specific outcomes.In this blog, we will...
RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR WEIGHT LOSS

RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Dana Bender Stay Updated with NASM! It is important to tailor personal exercise programs towards specific performance or health outcome goals. That said, if your goal for exercising is weight reduction, then it will be important to prioritize the metabolic impact of...
NO EXCUSES: AVOID THESE DIET PITFALLS IN 2023

NO EXCUSES: AVOID THESE DIET PITFALLS IN 2023

Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! New year, new you, right? It’s been over a month of 2023 and it’s a good stopping point to see if you’ve stayed true to the health and fitness goals you set for yourself.Unfortunately, many, people tend to revert to old...
HOW TO KEEP YOUR BODYBUILDING CLIENTS ACCOUNTABLE

HOW TO KEEP YOUR BODYBUILDING CLIENTS ACCOUNTABLE

By Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! In the sport of bodybuilding, accountability is a staple of your success. The trait can help you in many other areas. The same principles that make you a successful competitive bodybuilding athlete mirror qualities that will help...
WHY SHOULD RUNNERS ADD STRENGTH TRAINING?

WHY SHOULD RUNNERS ADD STRENGTH TRAINING?

By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Whether you’re a competitive runner, or you simply run for enjoyment and exercise, your training plan is likely centred around one activity: running. But what if I told you that adding strength training to your routine...
IS SMALL GROUP TRAINING RIGHT FOR YOU?

IS SMALL GROUP TRAINING RIGHT FOR YOU?

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Personal training is always a great way to get individualized attention, but sometimes it can be a bit pricey. However, classes are too generalized and rarely allow time for the instructor to correct your form or provide positive feedback. So,...
3 CHALLENGING YOGA POSES MADE EASIER WITH TRX

3 CHALLENGING YOGA POSES MADE EASIER WITH TRX

By Krystal Say Along with being a TRX Master Instructor, TRX Training Club Yoga Instructor, and owner of SWEAT Power Yoga, Krystal Say is one of the passionate creators of TRX for Yoga. She is here to explain how the Suspension Trainer can be the ultimate support tool...
THE BENEFITS OF CIRCUIT TRAINING

THE BENEFITS OF CIRCUIT TRAINING

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI New year, new you! With that fresh mentality to set new intentions and new goals, finally committing to a long-term fitness plan might be high up on your list. But with all those other goals on your list, you may find yourself crunched for time,...
YBell Unique Exercises

YBell Unique Exercises

Posted by Casey Stenehjem The YBell’s award-winning multiple-handle design allows you to perform novel exercises and complexes that aren’t possible with traditional fitness equipment.   3 Unique Exercises You Can Only Perform With YBells Maybe you’ve had a...
THE TRX METHOD: BODYWEIGHT

THE TRX METHOD: BODYWEIGHT

Training for the Masses More Results, Less Hassle As a former ballet dancer turned personal trainer, and member of TRX Training’s Master Instructor cadre for almost 15 years now, I’ve been participating in bodyweight training for most of my life. It’s my favourite...
MUSCLE PAIN: CAUSES, STRETCHES, AND STRENGTH EXERCISES

MUSCLE PAIN: CAUSES, STRETCHES, AND STRENGTH EXERCISES

By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Most people experience some type of muscle pain at some point in their lives. 60-85% of the population has had some type of nonspecific muscle pain in their back at some point in their lives (Krismer and van Tulder 2007).Even...
How to Craft Creative HIIT Classes for Group Fitness

How to Craft Creative HIIT Classes for Group Fitness

Posted by Lynne Skilton-Hayes High-intensity interval training (HIIT) continues to be a staple in group fitness classes. A high-intensity bout of work followed by a short rest period, repeated several times, gets results—and everyone likes results! How can you take...
BEST TONING EXERCISES FOR WOMEN

BEST TONING EXERCISES FOR WOMEN

By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! For people who say they want to “get toned,” it might be more apt to say that they are generally referring to wanting to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass to improve the visibility of their muscles for a more fit and...
Calf Workouts: How to Grow the Often-Stubborn Muscle Group

Calf Workouts: How to Grow the Often-Stubborn Muscle Group

By Kinsey Mahaffey Anyone who has ever tried to get more muscle definition in their calves knows that it can sometimes be a tough task. Training your calves for muscle growth takes intentional effort, time, and a solid plan. To grow your calves, you want to choose the...
7 Cool Down Exercises to do After a Group Fitness Class

7 Cool Down Exercises to do After a Group Fitness Class

By AFAA Here you are, at the end of another amazing class. You have given your participants your heart and soul over the last 50 minutes and can see the results in their tired smiles and accomplished looks. At this point, it would be easy to give high 5’s around the...
BODYBUILDING COMPETITION DIVISIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN EXPLAINED

BODYBUILDING COMPETITION DIVISIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN EXPLAINED

By Andre Adams If you are an active bodybuilding competitor, prep coach, or thinking about getting involved in the sport then this blog is for you! We recently introduced the many divisions in the world of bodybuilding and physique competition in a previous blog, and...
SAGITTAL, FRONTAL AND TRANSVERSE BODY PLANES: EXERCISES & MOVEMENTS

SAGITTAL, FRONTAL AND TRANSVERSE BODY PLANES: EXERCISES & MOVEMENTS

By ANDREW PAYNE We live in a three-dimensional world. Our bodies need the ability to move in all three dimensions. Poor range of motion and instability in just a single joint can cause over compensation. These alternate movement patterns can lead to chronic pain and...
GETTING BODYBUILDING CLIENTS COMPETITION READY

GETTING BODYBUILDING CLIENTS COMPETITION READY

By ANDRE ADAMS The fitness industry is exploding, and it has become common for the average gym-goer or enthusiast to consider stepping on stage in a physique competition. Many people begin with a transformational weight loss goal or to build muscle, and ultimately...
BATTLE TESTED: BEGINNER-FRIENDLY BATTLE ROPES WORKOUTS

BATTLE TESTED: BEGINNER-FRIENDLY BATTLE ROPES WORKOUTS

By JESSE GRUND Ropes have been an integral part of the advancement of human history, as both a tool and a way to amplify human strength. Some historians trace the history of ropes to predating bronze, clay, steel, and iron. While it has existed as a tool implemented...
HOW DOES EXERCISE AFFECT PURPOSE?

HOW DOES EXERCISE AFFECT PURPOSE?

By DARLENE MARSHALL Ask 100 different people to define “purpose” and you’ll likely get as many different answers as possible. The purpose is often elusive, both in its definition and our personal sense of purpose. Yet there’s a strong connection between purpose,...
5 STRATEGIES FOR POST-PARTUM WELLNESS

5 STRATEGIES FOR POST-PARTUM WELLNESS

By DANA BENDER The postpartum time period is most often associated with physical recovery from fatigue and the strain of labour and delivery. It is typically defined as the first six weeks after a vaginal delivery or eight weeks after a cesarean one. In addition to...
THE RATE OF PERCEIVED EXERTION (RPE) SCALE EXPLAINED

THE RATE OF PERCEIVED EXERTION (RPE) SCALE EXPLAINED

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY In a world of limitless fitness tech options and gadgets, is it still valid to judge the intensity of your workout based on how it feels? Short answer: Yes! The RPE scale is a simple, yet surprisingly accurate way to monitor the intensity of...
POWERLIFTING FOR WOMEN – STRATEGIES FOR LIFTING SUCCESS

POWERLIFTING FOR WOMEN – STRATEGIES FOR LIFTING SUCCESS

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Powerlifting isn’t just “for the boys” anymore, and we couldn’t be more excited. Today, it’s more common to see women throwing around some serious weight in sports like CrossFit or in social media posts on the internet. As a result, many women are...
HOW TO GET BETTER AT PULL-UPS: A HANDY GUIDE

HOW TO GET BETTER AT PULL-UPS: A HANDY GUIDE

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Back in 5th grade, I remember watching a classmate knock out 13 pull-ups during the President’s Fitness Test. She made it look so effortless that I thought, “This should be easy!” Right? Wrong. I was shocked when I couldn’t even do ONE pull-up. What...
DYNAMIC STRETCHING DEMONSTRATED: WORKOUTS, EXERCISES, AND EXAMPLES

DYNAMIC STRETCHING DEMONSTRATED: WORKOUTS, EXERCISES, AND EXAMPLES

By CHRIS FREDERICK In a previous blog that compared static vs dynamic stretching, the NASM OPT model delineates what type of stretching is used at specific levels of training clients. This is especially important to know if you’re a Stretching and Flexibility...
THE BEST FITNESS TOOLS & APPAREL TO LEVEL UP YOUR FITNESS

THE BEST FITNESS TOOLS & APPAREL TO LEVEL UP YOUR FITNESS

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Over the years we’ve seen our technology get more advanced in just about everything. Our phones, TVs, watches, and tablets have all become “smarter.” Even our fitness equipment is getting “smart” features. Yes, we’ve seen it in bikes, rowers,...
USING THE NASM OPT™ MODEL FOR WEIGHT LOSS

USING THE NASM OPT™ MODEL FOR WEIGHT LOSS

By RICK RICHEY, MS As seen in our weight loss specialization course, you can effectively utilize the OPT™ model for weight loss clients. Within this article from the Spring 2020 Issue of American Fitness Magazine, you will learn how! Consider a client named Jordan....
How to Design Successful Group Exercise Classes

How to Design Successful Group Exercise Classes

Teaching group exercise classes is one of the most challenging skills in the fitness industry. Whether teaching in a club, studio or outdoors, you need to be prepared for anything. The goal is to reduce the number of challenges in running classes and to provide a...
NUTRITION COACH/NUTRITIONIST VS. DIETITIAN: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

NUTRITION COACH/NUTRITIONIST VS. DIETITIAN: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI When you’re not an expert in a particular subject, you often seek out someone who is. However, when it comes to food and nutrition it seems like EVERYONE is an expert. Between social media, various fad diet blogs, and the self-proclaimed “health...
CARDIO WORKOUTS FOR SENIOR CLIENTS

CARDIO WORKOUTS FOR SENIOR CLIENTS

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were over 54 million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. in 2021, and the number is projected to continue to rise over the next 30 years. Staying physically active is incredibly important for this...
MUSCULAR HYPERTROPHY: BACK TO THE BASICS

MUSCULAR HYPERTROPHY: BACK TO THE BASICS

By ANDRE ADAMS If you’re looking for an exercise program to help you effectively build mass, you may be looking for something to do with hypertrophy training. Similar to classic strength training, the goals of hypertrophy are different. One focuses on building...
WALL SITS: HELPFUL TIPS AND BENEFITS

WALL SITS: HELPFUL TIPS AND BENEFITS

By When I was a student-athlete, wall sits were frequently used as a “character-building” exercise for the whole team. Character-building exercises were typically exercises that required perseverance and grit to push through to the end, thus building our character. As...
How to Thrive as an Introverted Fitness Instructor

How to Thrive as an Introverted Fitness Instructor

by Shelley Dawson When you arrive at your next group fitness class and see your favourite instructor standing at the front of the room with a bright smile and inviting eyes, do you ever think to yourself, “I could never do that?! They are made for this! They are...
THE BENEFITS OF FLEXIBILITY: WHY YOU SHOULD STRETCH MORE!

THE BENEFITS OF FLEXIBILITY: WHY YOU SHOULD STRETCH MORE!

By NICOLE GOLDEN Flexibility refers to the range of motion of the muscles and connective tissues at a joint (Page, 2012). Flexibility can differ from joint to joint and often decreases with advancing age. Many of us (and our clients) think the purpose of training is...
FITNESS AFTER 50: 5 REASONS TO STAY MOTIVATED IN YOUR TRAINING

FITNESS AFTER 50: 5 REASONS TO STAY MOTIVATED IN YOUR TRAINING

By MARIA DIGIUSEPPE I take for granted that I get up daily and know I’m going to do exercise. It’s the way I think, but it’s NOT the way everyone thinks. It’s my routine because I’m a personal trainer. Most people think it’s easy...
6 FITNESS TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022

6 FITNESS TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022

By DANA BENDER Adaptation was a key theme while navigating the impacts of the pandemic. This adaptation was a necessity related to various aspects of daily life such as how we grocery shopped, spent time with family and friends, and even worked out to stay fit and...
6 FITNESS TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022

6 FITNESS TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022

by DANA BENDER Adaptation was a key theme while navigating the impacts of the pandemic. This adaptation was a necessity related to various aspects of daily life such as how we grocery shopped, spent time with family and friends, and even worked out to stay fit and...
REPS IN RESERVE (RIR): WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

REPS IN RESERVE (RIR): WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Most lifters are familiar with calculating percentages of their 1 Rep Max (aka, 1RM, the maximum amount of weight that you can lift for 1 repetition of an exercise) to choose the appropriate weight for an exercise based on their desired intensity...
8 OF THE BEST SQUAT ALTERNATIVES FOR STRONGER LEGS

8 OF THE BEST SQUAT ALTERNATIVES FOR STRONGER LEGS

 By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve looked up different fitness routines for stronger legs, but every single one includes squats. Maybe you’re feeling a little burned out on squats, or you just want to add some variety to your workout routine. What leg exercises can you do to...
How To Design Group Fitness Programs

How To Design Group Fitness Programs

By Christine Woods So you are a group fitness instructor who wants to create your own group fitness programming? Great! It sounds like you are already headed in the right direction. You have a vision for the type of class you want to teach. You understand the outcome...
PLYOMETRICS: DEVELOPING POWER WITH PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES

PLYOMETRICS: DEVELOPING POWER WITH PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES

By Chris Ecklund Power is the ability to produce large amounts of force quickly. Are there any athletes that would not want to improve their ability to generate power? Or who want to increase their explosive strength? What about clients seeking to improve general...
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR BENCH PRESS MAX: THE BEST WAYS TO BENCH MORE

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR BENCH PRESS MAX: THE BEST WAYS TO BENCH MORE

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Whether you’re competing against others, or just competing against yourself, increasing your bench press max (the maximum weight that you can bench press in a single repetition) takes intentional effort. This article provides practical advice to...
8 OF THE BEST SQUAT ALTERNATIVES FOR STRONGER LEGS

8 OF THE BEST SQUAT ALTERNATIVES FOR STRONGER LEGS

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve looked up different fitness routines for stronger legs, but every single one includes squats. Maybe you’re feeling a little burned out on squats, or you just want to add some variety to your workout routine. What leg exercises can you do to...
ATTRACT MORE CLIENTS AS A NUTRITION COACH IN 8 STEPS

ATTRACT MORE CLIENTS AS A NUTRITION COACH IN 8 STEPS

By Dana Bender Whether you are a NASM Nutrition Certified Coach or a nutrition professional looking to expand your coaching business, it is important to know how to attract more clients and build a successful coaching business. Regardless of your nutritional niche, it...
HEART RATE ZONES: DO THEY WORK OR NOT?

HEART RATE ZONES: DO THEY WORK OR NOT?

by KINSEY MAHAFFEY From wearable fitness trackers to group fitness classes that use heart rate monitors, it’s not uncommon to be incentivized to train in specific heart rate zones to see the results that you want. Does heart rate training work? In this article, we’ll...
DROP SETS FOR GAINS: WHY THIS LIFTING FORMAT WORKS

DROP SETS FOR GAINS: WHY THIS LIFTING FORMAT WORKS

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Strength training research points to the importance of training to muscle failure to maximize exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy (Willardson 2007). Many gym-goers use a standard horizontal load system, also known as a straight-set, to reach this...
PERIPHERAL HEART ACTION TRAINING

PERIPHERAL HEART ACTION TRAINING

By The National Academy of Sports Science (NASM) We know that weight loss or body fat reduction is largely based on a numbers game. And “working out” is a way of controlling the numbers (fewer calories in, more calories out and weight loss can be achieved). This is...
THE TALK TEST: AN UNDERRATED FITNESS TOOL FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS

THE TALK TEST: AN UNDERRATED FITNESS TOOL FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY There are endless tech options available when it comes to tracking intensity levels during a workout, but technology sometimes requires a learning curve, and it can be expensive. While these products do provide tons of helpful information for...
FOOD FIGHT: NUTRITION FOR PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS

FOOD FIGHT: NUTRITION FOR PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI First things first: food gives you energy. Without energy, you can’t perform. As in any sport, food powers your workouts and helps you recover afterwards. Without proper nourishment, you will fail to improve any aspect of your training...
DYNAMIC WARMUPS FOR ATHLETES: EXERCISES FOR SPORTS PERFORMANCE

DYNAMIC WARMUPS FOR ATHLETES: EXERCISES FOR SPORTS PERFORMANCE

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Whether you’re preparing for an athletic competition or a weekend pick-up game, the way that you prepare your body for training or competition can make or break your performance. While it’s tempting to just jump into play after a couple...
HOW MUCH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ENOUGH? RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WEEK

HOW MUCH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ENOUGH? RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WEEK

by Stacey Penney Before we can begin to answer the question of how much activity is enough, we need to consider what fitness means. Fitness is synonymous with health, our physical condition and even our ability to complete the tasks required for our ongoing survival...
Workouts Designed With Everyone In Mind

Workouts Designed With Everyone In Mind

By TRX Workouts Designed With Everyone In Mind Whether you’re a Navy SEAL, a septuagenarian with bad knees, or anywhere in between, you can use the TRX Suspension Trainer. Suspension Training® is accessible: anyone, at any fitness level—including people with mobility...
PLYOMETRICS: DEVELOPING POWER IN EVERYDAY ATHLETES

PLYOMETRICS: DEVELOPING POWER IN EVERYDAY ATHLETES

By CHRIS ECKLUND, MA, NASM-PES, CSCS, USAW, TPI WHAT IS PLYOMETRICS? We define plyometric training as a quick, powerful movement involving a system of reactive exercises and an eccentric contraction, followed immediately by an explosive concentric contraction. (1, 2)...
NASM GUIDE TO PUSH-UPS (PART 4): STRENGTH AND HYPERTROPHY

NASM GUIDE TO PUSH-UPS (PART 4): STRENGTH AND HYPERTROPHY

KINSEY MAHAFFEY Can pushups build muscle mass and be incorporated into strength training? Yes! In part 3 of this series, we explored different variations of the push-up and how to progress the push-up in Phase 1 of the OPT Model, Stabilization Endurance Training,...
NASM GUIDE TO PUSH-UPS (PART 3): LEVELING UP THE PUSH-UP

NASM GUIDE TO PUSH-UPS (PART 3): LEVELING UP THE PUSH-UP

KINSEY MAHAFFEY In case you missed it, in part 1 of this series, we discussed the proper set-up and form for push-ups, as well as the muscles used in the movement. This article, part 3, will explore a few variations of the push-up, and ways to progress each variation...
NASM GUIDE TO PUSH-UPS (PART 2): GETTING BETTER AT PUSH-UPS

NASM GUIDE TO PUSH-UPS (PART 2): GETTING BETTER AT PUSH-UPS

TONY AMBLER-WRIGHT If you were able to try out the standard push-up stated in our first article of this series and found it to be more challenging than what you’ve been doing, this is excellent news! Most often, when the push-up is done correctly, we find it to...
THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING: LEARN THE ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBILITY

THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING: LEARN THE ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBILITY

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI “Make sure you stretch!” – Something we often hear before or after we participate in any sort of exercise. But is stretching that good for you? What exactly are the benefits of having a regular stretching routine? Let’s explore the...
EXERCISE AS STRESS MANAGEMENT: HOW WORKOUTS HELP YOUR WELLBEING

EXERCISE AS STRESS MANAGEMENT: HOW WORKOUTS HELP YOUR WELLBEING

DR. ALLISON BRAGER Exercise should not be stressful. I repeat exercise should not be stressful. Exercise should alleviate stress. Before I get into the biological explanation as to why exercise should and ought to alleviate stress, let’s briefly discuss how...
THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING: LEARN THE ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBILITY

THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING: LEARN THE ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBILITY

JACQUELINE KAMINSKI “Make sure you stretch!” – Something we often hear before or after we participate in any sort of exercise. But is stretching that good for you? What exactly are the benefits of having a regular stretching routine? Let’s explore the...
HOW TO LOSE BELLY FAT: 10 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR WAISTLINE TRIM

HOW TO LOSE BELLY FAT: 10 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR WAISTLINE TRIM

DR. ALLISON BRAGER You may have heard that abs are built in the kitchen. While this is partially true, it’s not the full story. While a healthy dose of body fat is a sign of overall health and wellness, body fat ought to be evenly distributed. This is how a...
PHASE 4 OF THE OPT™ MODEL: MAXIMAL STRENGTH TRAINING:

PHASE 4 OF THE OPT™ MODEL: MAXIMAL STRENGTH TRAINING:

By Jace Fuchs The Optimum Performance Training (OPT) model is a proven training system for CPTs that can help any client reach any goal safely and effectively. It is a system based on human movement science and integrated training principles and validated in research...