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TIPS FOR HIP MOBILITY: EXERCISES FOR FLEXIBILITY & PERFORMANCE

TIPS FOR HIP MOBILITY: EXERCISES FOR FLEXIBILITY & PERFORMANCE

By Dana Bender Are you prioritizing mobility enhancement in your current fitness and performance goals? With summertime in full swing, it’s the ideal opportunity to conduct a mid-year evaluation of your physical tightness and mobility – especially in your hips....
WELLNESS TIPS FOR SUMMER

WELLNESS TIPS FOR SUMMER

Summer is finally here. The days a longer, the sun is warmer, and the activities available are exploding. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or neglect our wellness in the burst of activity, so here’s NASM’s summer back-to-basics wellness guide from a...
TIPS TO GET YOUR BODY AND MIND READY FOR THE BEACH

TIPS TO GET YOUR BODY AND MIND READY FOR THE BEACH

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Every year when the temperatures start heating up, we all think the same thing: “How is the summer here already?!” Ready or not, beach season has officially arrived, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve completely missed the boat on getting your body...
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...
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 a desire to help others...
WELLNESS COACH VS HEALTH COACH: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

WELLNESS COACH VS HEALTH COACH: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Since its founding in the 1980s, the field of coaching has continued to evolve. As part of that evolution, many types of specialized coaching have emerged. These niches in coaching use similar foundations of coaching skillsets,...
Personal Training FAQs

Personal Training FAQs

Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Whether you’ve been working out for years or worked out a day in your life, hiring a certified personal trainer (CPT) could be exactly what you need to help you reach your goals and take your fitness to the next level.To help...
Wellness Coach vs. Life Coach: What’s the Difference?

Wellness Coach vs. Life Coach: What’s the Difference?

Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! The International Coaching Federation (ICF) estimates that in 2023 there will be 93,000 certified health and fitness coaches worldwide. Chances are you’ve encountered coaches with many niches including wellness, career,...

WELLNESS COACH VS. LIFE COACH: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) estimates that in 2023 there will be 93,000 certified health and fitness coaches worldwide. Chances are you’ve encountered coaches with many niches including wellness, career, relationship, and executive coaches. When...
WHAT IS A HEALTH COACH AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

WHAT IS A HEALTH COACH AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! While most people know their lifestyle behaviors impact physical and mental health, many individuals and groups struggle to meet basic recommendations for movement, healthful nutrition, proper rest and sleep, and stress...
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Nicole Golden Stay Updated with NASM! We live in a culture that glorifies overworking and under-recovering. This is true in all disciplines; whether you work in an office or hospital, or are an athlete. We are often taught from a young age with very full schedules,...
WHY REST DAYS ARE IMPORTANT FOR MUSCLE BUILDING

WHY REST DAYS ARE IMPORTANT FOR MUSCLE BUILDING

Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Rest is an aspect of recovery that focuses on improving daily sleep amount and quality, limiting stress, and increasing physical and psychological relaxation. Of course, your body needs to rest after a tough workout, but how can...
AN ODE TO GETTING OUTSIDE: HOW TIME IN NATURE IMPROVES OUR WELLBEING

AN ODE TO GETTING OUTSIDE: HOW TIME IN NATURE IMPROVES OUR WELLBEING

Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day and along with considering each of our impacts on the planet, you might think about how your relationship to our world impacts wellness and wellbeing. There’s growing evidence that time spent...
WHAT DOES A CORPORATE WELLNESS SPECIALIST DO?

WHAT DOES A CORPORATE WELLNESS SPECIALIST DO?

KINSEY MAHAFFEY STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! Over half of the working population works in a corporate setting (Barrows 2021). Corporate jobs are notorious for being sedentary in nature, high-stress, with long hours, and easy access to low-nutrition foods (hello, breakroom...
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...
BALANCING STRESS BEGINS WITH BOUNDARIES

BALANCING STRESS BEGINS WITH BOUNDARIES

Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! April is National Stress Awareness Month, and you might find that your feeds are full of posts on meditation, mindfulness, and other tools that we’ve all heard can help manage stress. But there’s often something important...
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...
SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR GUT

SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR GUT

Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! The gut is also known as the second brain. While our gut can’t solve math equations, it is responsible for helping us digest and disperse proper nutrients that play integral roles in our overall health, immunity,...
PRE-WORKOUT FOOD TIPS TO BOOST PERFORMANCE

PRE-WORKOUT FOOD TIPS TO BOOST PERFORMANCE

Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! Should you eat before your workout? That is a rhetorical question… the answer is always of course.An entire area of research dedicated to pre-workout fueling wouldn’t exist if there weren’t documented benefits to its...
REDUCING STRESS AND IMPROVING MINDFULNESS FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

REDUCING STRESS AND IMPROVING MINDFULNESS FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Mental health is a hot topic these days, and for good reason! According to the American Institute of Stress, about 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress, 77 percent of people experience stress that affects their...
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’...
THE 10 BEST UPPER BACK EXERCISES TO BUILD STRENGTH AND MOBILITY

THE 10 BEST UPPER BACK EXERCISES TO BUILD STRENGTH AND MOBILITY

By Stephanie Warwick Your upper back is one of the most important parts of your body. The muscle groups in this area are primarily responsible for keeping you upright because they work against the core. Without a strong upper back, not only will your posture be...
SPRING CLEAN YOUR SLEEP – A GUIDE TO BETTER NAPPING

SPRING CLEAN YOUR SLEEP – A GUIDE TO BETTER NAPPING

Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Spring is about to be sprung. It’s a time to fling open our windows, clean out our closets, and for many people a time to revisit your wellness plan for 2023. Part of designing a wellness plan is scheduling periodic pulse...
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...
MOVEMENT FOR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

MOVEMENT FOR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

By DARLENE MARSHALL According to data published by Mintel in 2022, 78% of American exercisers responding to their survey said that mental and emotional well-being was their top reason for exercising. This marks the first time since Mintel began recording data on the...
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,...
HERE ARE THE TOP FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2023

HERE ARE THE TOP FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2023

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY If there was one word, to sum up, the fitness trends for 2023, it would be Technology. Over the past couple of years, the shift to virtual training opened many opportunities for anyone to get fit anywhere. This year, new tech innovations, like...
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,...
HOW TO START WORKING OUT & STAY CONSISTENT

HOW TO START WORKING OUT & STAY CONSISTENT

By NICOLE GOLDEN Every New Year, many of us decide it is time to make a change to our lifestyle. Oftentimes, this inkling towards lifestyle change involves developing healthier habits, such as cleaner eating or beginning an exercise program.Each year, we begin this...
HOW TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM WEIGHT LOSS

HOW TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM WEIGHT LOSS

By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve worked hard, made changes in your diet and exercise routine, and you’ve reached your goal weight – congratulations! Losing weight is no easy feat, but the work doesn’t stop there. The next challenge in your health and fitness journey is...
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...
WHAT IS STEADY-STATE CARDIO?

WHAT IS STEADY-STATE CARDIO?

By Nicole Golden We are approaching the end of another year and many of us are thinking about adopting a healthier lifestyle as we approach the new year. Are you in this group looking to improve your health as we approach 2023?Perhaps you feel somewhat intimidated and...
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 NAIL BODYBUILDING POSES

HOW TO NAIL BODYBUILDING POSES

By Andre Adams Stay updated with NASM Whenever we think about bodybuilding competitions, we tend to immediately think about the physique, training, and dieting regimen. One thing many competitors and coaches often overlook is how posing and stage presence can impact...
MAKE YOUR 2023 WELLNESS PLAN

MAKE YOUR 2023 WELLNESS PLAN

By Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! It’s nearly the New Year and for many people, this moment of transition inspires self-reflection and a look toward what’s next. Often the new calendar year means resolutions and intense goal setting; yet, for many, the last...
EATING HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

EATING HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI The beginning of every new year always starts with a resolution to eat healthier, right? And the origin of said resolution derives from the back-to-back holidays that occur between October through December. If you aren’t tempted to snack on your...
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...
ON THE ROAD: TRAVEL MEAL PLANNING FOR BODYBUILDERS

ON THE ROAD: TRAVEL MEAL PLANNING FOR BODYBUILDERS

By ANDRE ADAMS Have you ever wondered how top bodybuilders manage to hit their macros and meal prep while travelling? Whether you’re a fitness professional or just trying to stay on track with your weight management goals, here are some helpful tips to keep you on...
MONITORING HYDRATION LEVELS

MONITORING HYDRATION LEVELS

By NASM With the hot weather upon us in the northern hemisphere, this marks a time for many to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather, but caution should always be exercised given the potential risks for dehydration. Fluid is perhaps the most important, but least...
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...
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING SODIUM INTAKE

SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING SODIUM INTAKE

By Jacqueline Kaminski Sodium intake seems to be somewhat of an issue here in America. Even national dietary guidelines for Americans urge dietary habits that would inevitably decrease total intakes such as minimizing intake of processed meats and dairy products (1)....
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...
HOW HARD GAINERS CAN ADD SIZE AND WEIGHT

HOW HARD GAINERS CAN ADD SIZE AND WEIGHT

BY Nicole Golden There is little doubt that human bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Although all humans can stimulate muscle hypertrophy, genetic predisposition most certainly plays a role in how fast an individual gains muscle, how strong they can become,...
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...
7 TIPS FOR CUTTING BACK ON SUGAR

7 TIPS FOR CUTTING BACK ON SUGAR

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI SUGAR IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL…right? Or is this school of thought somewhat outdated? Sugar… Let’s talk about it! Since it is a very sensitive subject.First, let’s discuss what sugar is. Sugar is a collection of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen units...
WHY YOU SHOULD EAT MORE OATMEAL: AN INCREDIBLY HEALTHY FOOD

WHY YOU SHOULD EAT MORE OATMEAL: AN INCREDIBLY HEALTHY FOOD

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI What is the greatest superfood on earth? Does one even exist? Well, that question remains to be seen… Of all the foods we have available, there are always certain boxes we want to check off before we consider something a “superfood”. Does it...
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...
Maintaining a Healthy Weight in your 30s

Maintaining a Healthy Weight in your 30s

By Nicole Golden The 30s are the decade of life that has its pros. Likely, you are beginning to feel established in a career, are looking at purchasing a home, and enjoy a more comfortable life. However, you have likely noticed that you may feel a little stiffer in...
Best Muscle-Building Supplements for Women

Best Muscle-Building Supplements for Women

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Muscles aren’t just for men! Women need muscle too… and ladies, while you may not want muscles as big as men (or maybe you do), I think most women can agree it seems like everything on the market is geared to helping men build muscle, not women!...
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...
DOES COMPRESSION REALLY HELP WITH PERFORMANCE AND RECOVERY?

DOES COMPRESSION REALLY HELP WITH PERFORMANCE AND RECOVERY?

By ANDREW MILLS Improving physical performance is as much about maximizing performance quality as balancing and mitigating injury risks and maximizing recovery to prevent maladaptation in response to accumulated and progressive training loads. There is a lot of...
FOODS TO HELP WITH MUSCLE CRAMPS

FOODS TO HELP WITH MUSCLE CRAMPS

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Are you ever in the middle of a workout and then BOOM… it hits you? Your muscle is locked up, the pain sets in, and you need to take a bit of a breather to handle the discomfort. I think all of us at one point in time have experienced this...
THE KEYS TO IMPROVING YOUR BODY POSITIVITY

THE KEYS TO IMPROVING YOUR BODY POSITIVITY

By MARIA DIGIUSEPPE As we get older, our shapes and sizes can change and no matter how long you’re working out or how fit you are, it may be difficult to accept the change or maintain a positive body image. A positive body image can impact your life in many ways,...
5 TIPS FOR BUILDING A GROWTH MINDSET

5 TIPS FOR BUILDING A GROWTH MINDSET

By DARLENE MARSHALL Why is it that some people, regardless of the industry they work in, the challenges they face, or their stage in life seem to remain optimistic and solution-focused? They take feedback well, roll with challenges, and make great teammates.If it...
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...
RECOVERY-BASED PRODUCTS FOR INJURY PREVENTION

RECOVERY-BASED PRODUCTS FOR INJURY PREVENTION

By NICOLE GOLDEN Muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness can hamper performance in sports and training. Speeding up the rate of recovery can mean better performance and bigger gains in the long term. Good nutrition, rest, and optimal hydration are the staples...
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...
TOUGHEN UP: BUILDING MENTAL STRENGTH FROM THE INSIDE OUT

TOUGHEN UP: BUILDING MENTAL STRENGTH FROM THE INSIDE OUT

By DARLENE MARSHALL Are you mentally tough? When life presents its inevitable challenges do you rise, seeing them as an opportunity to grow? Or do you find yourself ducking under the covers?One pandemic buzzword has been “resilience”, the ability to experience a...
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DIET AND MENTAL HEALTH

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DIET AND MENTAL HEALTH

by NICOLE GOLDEN As coaches and fitness enthusiasts, we often think of nutrition as a variable to manipulate to achieve weight loss, strength gain, a specific body composition, or to enhance performance in sports and recreational activities. However, the thought of...
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...
MUSCLE SORENESS DOMS: HOW TO PREVENT TREAT SORE MUSCLES

MUSCLE SORENESS DOMS: HOW TO PREVENT TREAT SORE MUSCLES

BY JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you’ve ever done any type of strenuous exercise, I’m sure you have felt the effects of it the next day. Can’t move. Stiff. Aching… what most of us allude to as muscle soreness. Anyone who’s never experienced muscle soreness is most definitely...
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM

By DARLENE MARSHALL When you think about employer-provided wellness programs what comes to mind? Many people think of tech companies in the 2010s with meditation rooms, napping pods, flexible workspaces, and kitchenettes full of snacks. Since then, meaningful wellness...
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...
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY-ISH: A DEEP DIVE INTO TOXIC POSITIVITY

IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY-ISH: A DEEP DIVE INTO TOXIC POSITIVITY

By DARLENE MARSHALL There is a wide array of human emotions and experiences. Each of us inevitably feels a mixture of pleasant, challenging, positive, and difficult emotions, and feeling the range of reactions is natural and healthy. When life gets challenging of...
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...
HOW MANY CARBS SHOULD YOU EAT A DAY TO LOSE WEIGHT?

HOW MANY CARBS SHOULD YOU EAT A DAY TO LOSE WEIGHT?

By BRAD DIETER Low carbohydrate diets have become a very popular tool for weight loss over the last several decades. While much of the scientific rationale behind why they are utilized for weight loss, such as the carbohydrate-insulin hypothesis, has largely been...