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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...
NASM Strength on a Plate : The Weightlifting Diet Guide

NASM Strength on a Plate : The Weightlifting Diet Guide

NASM Strength on a Plate : The Weightlifting Diet Guide by Andre Adams One of the biggest struggles for most people—whether they are just starting their weightlifting journey or are seasoned lifters—is understanding proper nutrition. This blog is great for anyone that...
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...
Gray institute – Why the Achilles Complex is so Vulnerable

Gray institute – Why the Achilles Complex is so Vulnerable

Why the Achilles Complex is so Vulnerable by Gray Institute According to Greek mythology, Achilles was a dominant warrior who seemed invulnerable to his opponents. That is, until Paris fatally shot Achilles in his heel—the one and only place Paris knew that Achilles...
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...
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...
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....
HOW MANY CALORIES SHOULD I BURN DURING A WORKOUT?

HOW MANY CALORIES SHOULD I BURN DURING A WORKOUT?

By Shana VerstegenMar 3, 2023 The calorie (otherwise known as food calorie, dietary calorie, or kilogram calorie) is defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius.  This unit measure of energy is a hot...
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,...
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...
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...
BACK TO BASICS: PERSONAL TRAINER FAQS

BACK TO BASICS: PERSONAL TRAINER FAQS

BACK TO BASICS: PERSONAL TRAINER FAQS Nicole Golden Stay Updated with NASM! While many believe the only function of a Certified Personal Trainer is to help clients lose weight and get six-pack abs, the true job of a trainer is to fix movement dysfunction and help your...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
WHAT TO EAT ON REST DAYS TO BEST SUPPORT MUSCLE GROWTH

WHAT TO EAT ON REST DAYS TO BEST SUPPORT MUSCLE GROWTH

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Rest days: the bane of every fitness enthusiast’s existence, or perhaps the favourite day of the week! Either way, the biggest question everyone has is what the best foods are to consume to build muscle and stay on track. When it comes to...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 PERFORM AN OVERHEAD SQUAT ASSESSMENT (OSA)

HOW TO PERFORM AN OVERHEAD SQUAT ASSESSMENT (OSA)

As a CPT, in order to develop a solid program for clients, you must first take them through a complete assessment battery.  The information you collect from initial consulations, flexibility, strength, performance, postural and cardiovascular testing of clients will...
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...
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...
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...
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...
EXERCISING WITH CHRONIC PAIN: HOW TO ALLEVIATE STRESS ON THE BODY

EXERCISING WITH CHRONIC PAIN: HOW TO ALLEVIATE STRESS ON THE BODY

By NICOLE GOLDEN Chronic pain is defined as any pain from an injury or condition lasting more than 12 weeks. Many potential clients seeking a certified personal trainer, yoga class, or corrective exercise specialist do so in hopes of using exercise to mitigate chronic...
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...
THE 8 BEST SUPPLEMENTS FOR MUSCLE GROWTH YOU SHOULD TRY RIGHT NOW

THE 8 BEST SUPPLEMENTS FOR MUSCLE GROWTH YOU SHOULD TRY RIGHT NOW

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you go to the gym regularly, you want every workout to count right? You don’t spend all that time exercising to just waste your time and energy! So, to get the most out of your workouts and maximize your muscle growth, we’ve compiled a list...
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...
ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINING: LEARN HOW TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINING: LEARN HOW TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

ByKERIDON MCMAHON Online personal training is now more relevant than ever. With the vast array of technological options and virtual training applications available, you can pivot to an online personal training business in a few relatively easy steps. This guide will...
Leangains: The Best Intermittent Fasting For Gaining Muscle?

Leangains: The Best Intermittent Fasting For Gaining Muscle?

Written by Nick English Labelled as “The Birthplace of Intermittent Fasting,” we know that such titles are often exaggerated on the internet, but Lean gains have a claim to the throne. This is where the popular 16/8 fasting method started for strength athletes....
WHAT TO EAT BEFORE A WORKOUT: PREWORKOUT NUTRITION TIPS

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE A WORKOUT: PREWORKOUT NUTRITION TIPS

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI When you’re on the way to the gym, what’s the best snack to grab? A granola bar? An apple? What about a sandwich? So many possibilities to choose from, but what’s the best option? Well, much of that will largely depend on the...
10 EFFECTIVE SHOULDER PAIN EXERCISES: CORRECT YOUR SHOULDER TODAY!

10 EFFECTIVE SHOULDER PAIN EXERCISES: CORRECT YOUR SHOULDER TODAY!

By Nicole Golden Shoulder pain, prior injury, or overall dysfunction is a very common problem in both the athletic and general populations in a personal training practice. A complaint of shoulder pain occurs in 16 to 26 per cent of adults and is the third most common...
PREVENTING STRESS-RELATED WEIGHT GAIN: 4 STRATEGIES YOU SHOULD TRY!

PREVENTING STRESS-RELATED WEIGHT GAIN: 4 STRATEGIES YOU SHOULD TRY!

By Nicole Golden Many adults, especially those between the ages of 20 and 50, report high levels of psychological stress. Many of us are constantly over-scheduled, over-committed, overworked, and fail to spend adequate time on self-care. Stone et al. (2017) found...
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...
SPORTS INJURIES: THEIR PREVENTION & TREATMENT

SPORTS INJURIES: THEIR PREVENTION & TREATMENT

By Nicole Golden There is nothing quite like the disappointment of excitedly starting an exercise program, preparing for a new season of your favourite sport, or attempting a personal record (PR) only to find yourself injured and on the sidelines. It can also be very...
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...
SPORTS NUTRITION GUIDE: GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIELD

SPORTS NUTRITION GUIDE: GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIELD

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Ever wonder about the various fields you could work in if you were to pursue a nutrition degree or certification? The extent of your options is much larger than you imagined. You could apply to work in hospitals or home care settings, work...
MIND OVER MATTER: SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY IN MOTION

MIND OVER MATTER: SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY IN MOTION

By DR. ALLISON BRAGER This subject is of huge importance within the NASM Performance Enhancement Specialization.  It’s near impossible to ignore the importance of sports psychology during an Olympic year. For the most recent Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the...
WHAT IS A KETOGENIC DIET AND HOW DO YOU FOLLOW IT?

WHAT IS A KETOGENIC DIET AND HOW DO YOU FOLLOW IT?

By Brad Dieter Over the last several decades, we have seen a rise in the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. These diets have ranged from just low-carb diets to ketogenic diets to even zero carb diets (e.g., The Carnivore Diet). These dietary approaches have become...
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...
USING STAGE TRAINING TO IMPROVE CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE

USING STAGE TRAINING TO IMPROVE CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE

By Brian Sutton Of the various components that comprise a client’s total physical fitness program, cardiorespiratory endurance is probably the most misunderstood and underrated. In order to understand how to perform cardiorespiratory training in the most effective and...
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...
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A WELLNESS COACH

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A WELLNESS COACH

By Nicole Golden It is somewhat shocking to look at statistics on death and chronic illnesses in the United States only to realize that many of these diseases are entirely preventable by lifestyle choices. Metabolic disorders (i.e., dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes),...
DO YOU NEED TO TAKE PROTEIN POWDER IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT FITNESS?

DO YOU NEED TO TAKE PROTEIN POWDER IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT FITNESS?

By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Protein, Protein, Protein. By this point, most of us are aware of protein’s muscle-enhancing benefits — especially regarding exercise. But does attaining the highest levels of fitness require the addition of protein powders to your diet?...
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...
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...