Archive for June 2004
Planning Successful Special Events
One way to boost attendance, build excitement and promote a sense of community around your group exercise programming is to host special events. More and more group exercise directors are being tasked with designing, organizing and marketing these types of events at their facilities. This article will give you the tools you need to plan a successful special event from start to finish.
The first thing you need to do is determine the type of special event you want to hold. Here are four suggestions.
Read MoreEconomical Intervention Holds Promise for Older Adults With Osteoarthritis
A little goes a long way when training older adults with lower-extremity osteoarthritis, according to
a study in the April 2004 issue of The Gerontologist (2004; 44 [2], 217–28). Researchers looked at the impact of a low-cost, multicomponent physical
Fitness Fame and Fortune
Petra Kolber, the 2001 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, says the number-one question she gets from convention participants is “How do I become a presenter?” Taking your love of fitness to new levels by sharing your ideas as a presenter is a terrific way to gain recognition from your peers and stay motivated in your career. But getting to the international fitness stage takes more than passion and enthusiasm—it takes years of financial investment, perseverance, business smarts and savvy marketing.
Read MoreTake the Plunge
Personal training has branched into numerous subspecialties, extending its reach to include a wider audience. The diversification is good for the industry, but there are still many paths waiting to be discovered. Personal training in the water is one of them.
Read MoreA Step Ahead
It’s 8:30 AM and a group of eager fitness pro- fessionals gathers around Chuck Wolf, MS. Wolf, director of sport science and human performance for the USA Triathlon National Training Center in Clermont, Florida, is discussing how gravity, ground reaction forces, body angles and movement patterns can affect a client’s performance. Three volunteers, all with…
Read MoreFitness Goes High Tech
Are your primary personal training tools still the lowly clipboard and pen? Do you still schlep a stack of audiotapes to every group fitness class you teach? If so, you may want to consider a more technologically advanced approach to your career–soon!
Read MoreUshering in the Next Generation
As group fitness becomes more specialized, the demand grows for experienced instructors who possess that magic combination of high energy and charisma. Many program directors face staffing shortages and have to find creative ways to recruit talent. Finding a way to please participants—who are more diverse and demanding than ever—only adds to the challenge. How…
Read MoreEmotional Intelligence Makes A Difference
áá Have you ever wondered what separates average from
superior performers in the workplace? Why do some
Paying Personal Trainers
This second in a series of articles covering various challenges facing personal training directors examines trainers’ wages. Determining a fair, easily administered wage scale can be tricky. Many elements must be factored in, including trainers’ skills and backgrounds, motivation styles and your facility’s budget limitations.
Read MoreCelebrating Fitness Accomplishments
IDEA Stats: How Do You Set Your Fees?
Fee-for-service models are preferred by 57% of IDEA members who responded to the 2003 IDEA Fitness Programs & Equipment Survey. Even those who use a membership dues model are charging for some programs.
These were the options offered on the questionnaire:
annual membership dues access all programs offered
annual membership dues plus separate fee for some classes or programs
pay for individual session/class or “package” of sessions or classes
Read MoreThe Art of Programming
Group exercise programming is an art that group fitness and program managers must master. To compose a schedule that works for your members and
facility, you must delicately balance several elements, including member needs and expectations, type of programs you want to feature and available equipment and budget.
A Chip off the Old Block
What could a newborn have in common with a 21-year-old, a 45-year-old, a 68-year-old and even a 92-year-old? They’re all different generations of the same family.
Read MoreCareer Metamorphosis
You pride yourself on your dedication to helping clients maximize their health and fitness; but to continue helping clients, you need to stay engaged and enthusiastic about your work. How do you do this? Many people manage to stay fresh through change.
Is it time for you to make a radical or more subtle change in your career? Look at how other fitness professionals have shifted their careers: why they’ve changed, what they are doing now and how it’s benefited them.
Put On Your Game Face
It’s the championship game and the competition is stiff. The coach has given his speech. It’s time to get on the field. Put on your game face!
Game face is a well-known expression in the sports arena, but it’s also applicable in the fitness profession. Consider this familiar scenario: It’s 8:00 pm. You’ve been working since 6:00 in the morning. This is your last client of the day. Are you ready to give your all?
Taking a New Product to Market
Some of you may already have a clearly formed concept of a particular product or service you want to market. Others may wish to create something but feel unsure how to zero in on a particular product. Regardless of where you are today, taking the time to honestly complete the following statements can help you figure out where you want to be tomorrow.
1. The things I am most passionate about are _______.
2. I am very knowledgeable on the topic(s) of _______ .
3. What really gets me excited is _______.
Hit Those Numbers!
Additional club revenue used to come from tanning, massage or supplements. Now personal training is boosting the bottom line.
Read Morethe surfer’s workout
Did you know that surfing is experiencing one of the largest growth surges in history? If you surf, you can surf longer and get less fatigued if you’re stronger and more flexible when you hit the waves. Even if you don’t surf, these training tips can help you improve upper-body and core strength. To understand…
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