Archive for May 2004
what is mind-body exercise?
Now, more than ever, mind-body exercise programs are hot.
From 1998 through 2002, yoga and tai chi participation increased by 95 percent in the United States, according to American Sports Data (ASD) Inc. (ASD 2003a). By 2002, an estimated 11.1 million Americans were practicing tai chi or yoga and 4.7 million were doing Pilates (ASD 2003b). New participants are attracted partly by savvy marketing but also by the lure of programs that might offer them peace of mind as well as fitness gains.
Are You Looking for New Ideas to Motivate Your Participants?
Fitness Caching is an outdoor training program wherein participants use a hand-held GPS (global positioning system) receiver to hike, locate and find a “hidden” treasure called a cache. Creator Leigh Crews will lead this class during the IDEA World Fitness Convention® in San Diego, July 8–11.
Read MoreDo You Know Your Scope of Practice?
As the U.S. and other countries search for new ways to reduce healthcare costs, the need to improve disease prevention and management strategies grows stronger.
Read Moreshake it, ladies!
The fitness industry has come such a long way since this photo was shot circa 1960. Ironically, even with the technology advancements since then, today’s challenges of reversing sedentary living and the obesity trend are the most serious that fitness professionals have ever faced. But don’t despair, for you are the catalysts for change! All your efforts to Inspire the World to Fitness™ make a profound daily difference in the lives of others.
Read Morenetworking for introverts
Envision the following scenario: You’re in a crowded room full of fitness professionals. Business cards are flying out of pockets as if possessed. Handshakes occur at a rate that makes a NASCAR race look like a slow crawl. There is a constant hum from the sound of voices weaving together in a cheerful harmony.
Read MoreTrends in Corporate Fitness
In the
mid-1990s, corporate
fitness was on a roll. With a strong economy, companies were competing to hire and keep
the best
employees. Corporate fitness programs were considered
a valuable perk to
retain these employees.> Fastforward to 2004. Has the once sunny forecast for corporate fitness held steady? Or have economic storms brought it crashing down? Is it currently a viable career option for fitness professionals? Here’s a look at the status of this niche, including top trends in group fitness, personal training and wellness programs.
does stretching reduce injury risk?
Thacker, S.B., et al. 2004. The impact of stretching on sports injury risk: A systematic review of the literature. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36 (3): 371–8.
Purpose. Researchers at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion systematically reviewed the research literature in order to assess whether stretching effectively prevents sports injuries and to make recommendations for research and prevention.
Read MoreSomething for Everyone
Twenty years ago, if a friend said she was going to “aerobics,” you had a pretty good idea what that entailed. Today, however, that same person might attend any number and style of group exercise classes, including high-low, step, kickboxing, funk, hip-hop, cardio dance and circuit training, to name only a few. These diverse choices only scratch the surface. All of them can be mixed and matched to create fantastic format blends. While not a new concept, combination classes offer myriad benefits to instructors, program directors and participants.
Read Morerealizing your dreams
For an editor, being charged with launching a brand-new publication is alternately a dream and a nightmare.
Read MoreAn Interview with Petra Kolber
Petra Kolber, the 2001 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, is best known for her creativity and commonsense approach to teaching. As a cancer survivor, she knows firsthand how therapeutic exercise can be, and she strives to share her passion with as many people as possible. “Every day is a gift,” Kolber says. “Life is an unexpected road of miracles and surprises. Let’s be in the best health we can be in, so we are ready for whatever life decides to throw at us.”
What is your favorite
music mix? Why?
Activate and Stabilize
Many group fitness instructors use traditional Pilates
exercises in the core-conditioning sections of their classes. However, some of these exercises are too difficult technically and can set the average participant up for frustration. If an individual doesn’t have the strength or the biomechanics to perform the traditional roll-up, for example, then she might use incorrect muscles and injure herself. Yet the roll-up is taught in most classes.
oven-roasted fish, mediterranean-style
All types of fish suggested for this recipe from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are rich in healthful omega-3 fatty acids.
4 portions (4 ounces each) salmon,
halibut, cod or other fish fillets
(skinless)
2 medium (4-ounce) zucchini,
trimmed and sliced thin
1/2 red onion, cut into thin slivers
1 strip orange zest (1/2 inch wide)
cut into 4 long, narrow strips
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon (tsp) lemon juice
vegetarian diets & exercise performance
According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the Dietitians of Canada, in the year 2000, 4 percent (%) of Canadian adults and 2.5% of the U.S. adult population consumed a vegetarian diet, defined as one that did not include meat, fish or fowl (ADA 2003). Slightly fewer than 1% said they followed an even stricter vegan diet, meaning they consumed no animal products at all (ADA 2003).
Read MoreEmotions & Weight Gain
Women’s midlife challenges.Bernadette is a sensitive, successful but overworked 56-year-old client of mine. When she came to me 2 years ago, she was emotionally distraught and desperate to change her body, her energy level and her outlook on life. In addition to holding a demanding job, she was struggling with the onset of menopause. Hot flashes continually interrupted her sleep, and her workaholic behavior left little time to relax.
Read MoreTriathlon Training for Real Women
After 20 years of training for and competing in triathlons, I’ve grown accustomed to the reactions many people have when the subject comes up in
conversation. Common responses are “What are you, crazy?” and “No way could I do that!” or “How in the world can you find time?” What these people don’t know is that, unless you’re Ironman-bound, triathlons are not just for the superfit athlete, compulsive exerciser or wealthy retiree with too much time and too little to do.
Top Dog on the Web
Technology
By Joe Dysart
Top Dog on the Web
How personal trainers have found a back door to top-10 status on Internet search engines. Given that there are scores of ways to promote your personal training business on the Web for free, actually paying for an extremely high ranking on a search engine rankles a lot of people. But for firms with Web promotion funds to spend, paying for guaranteed, hig…
Eight Ways to “Age” Your Business
Marketing
By Colin Milner
Eight Ways to “Age” Your Business
Implement these action steps to appeal to an aging population. According to the World Health Organization (2002), “Older people spend more of their income on health than any other need or activity.” In addition, a recent study reports that the “anti-aging” movement is on the rise, currently accounting for $45 billion in tummy tucks, faci…
So You Want Your Own PFT Business?
The Start-Up
By Justin Price, MA
So You Want Your Own PFT Business?
Don’t let your plan fail because you’ve failed to plan. My personal training career progressed in the way most personal trainers’ careers do: I first worked for a gym, then worked as an independent contractor and then was in charge of a high-end personal training studio in London. However, I wanted more. I always wanted to own my…
Breathe New Life Into Your Business
Reinvigoration Strategies
By Kay L. Cross, MEd
Breathe New Life Into Your Business
Reignite your enthusiasm for your career by creating a new vision for your company. After a number of years in personal training, many trainers find themselves in need of renewal and reinvigoration. Burnout–due to boredom, stagnation and lack of personal balance–is common even among the most seasoned professional…
Invest in Your People
Training for Growth
By Sherri McMillan, MSc, and Alex McMillan
Invest in Your People
With your staff, as with all investments, you have to put something in if you want something back. No matter what industry you’re in, the most important asset your business has is your people. This is especially true in the personal training industry. The strength of your organization–or your department–is dire…