Archive for January 2003

Methods of strengthening the abdominal muscles have interested both the general public and the fitness industry for years. This interest stems from the desire to have a flat abdomen and from the abdominal muscles’ assumed ability to protect and support the spine. Over the years, abdominal fitness has progressed from the sit-up to the crunch to the pelvic tilt and now to the straight-legged sit-up (roll-up). Unfortunately, many programs developed to strengthen abdominal muscles have contributed to abdominal muscle imbalances and pain syndromes (Sahrmann 2002).

Baby boomers are the first generation to express en masse an aversion to the concept of physical aging—and to become a driving financial force in the quest to defy the inevitability of growing older. They’ll mature without kicking and screaming, but they won’t watch their faces fall, their hair go gray or their abdomens expand. These beliefs are catapulting the antiaging industry into a massive marketing force in America.

Millions of people rely on dietary supplements for everything from enhancing their sex lives to improving their athletic performances. There is essentially no systematic regulation of the dietary supplement industry, so there is no guarantee that a given supplement will live up to its claims. More important, there is no guarantee that any supplement is safe. At the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, we asked a panel of experts to discuss the relative safety of dietary supplements.

Most industries nowadays recognize the incredible buying power of teenagers and go out of their way to appeal to this demographic. Not so the fitness industry, which in the past has ignored this age group. Yet many feel that this is the very market that clubs should be trying to attract in order to instill a lifelong commitment to exercise and healthy eating. Now, more and more cutting-edge clubs are targeting teenagers with innovative fitness classes and healthy-lifestyle programming.

As a personal trainer you take pride in your ability to motivate and inspire your clients to new levels of fitness, strength and self-esteem. Have you ever considered exactly how you do this? Is it your choice of words? Your tone of voice? Is it your timing (cadence of delivery)? Have you noticed that a key phrase works for one client, but not another? Or it works the first few times, then sounds trite or overused?