Archive for January 2005
Going Solo
Many trainers dream of starting their own business but fail t…
Read MoreSkip It, Stand It
The 14th Street Y in New York City offers Punk Rope, a high-intensity jump rope–based fitness class set to punk rock music. Designed by IDEA member Tim Haft, Punk Rope…
Read MoreHow Do You Handle a Client Who Constantly Becomes Distracted When Training at Home?
For my first few years’ training clients in-home, I found that my training time was greatly extended by clients who were constantly distracted. When I walke…
Read MoreSpecial Report: American Dietetic Association Conference Highlights
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Read MoreKey Fitness Trends in America
Here are just a few highlights from this year’s Tracking the Fitness Movement (2004 edition), a study conducted for SGMA International by American Sports Data Inc.:
Fitness walking is listed as the favorite form of exercise for 10.3 million people.
Use of recumbent stationary bikes has risen by nearly 60% since 1998.
Users of elliptical-…
Physically Fit Kids May Do Better in School
If you’re offering your services to local schools, here’s a new argument to add to the PowerPoint presentation. University of Illinois researchers have found “a strong relationship between academic achievement and fitness scores.”
The investigators examined the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function (attention and working memory) among group…
Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Pain relief from acupuncture is real, not the result of the placebo effect. Mounting research evidence supports the conclusion that acupuncture provides clinically important pain relief. For example, in a study presented at an American College of Rheumatology meeting in San Anton…
Read MoreSeeing the Difference
When Caroline Forsberg had to retire her seeing-eye dog of 11 years, Anise, she presumed she would be paired with another guide dog soon. After all, that was the way it had always been. But this time was different. Forsberg, who lives in Albany, New York, was denied a companion be…
Read MoreYoga May Help Kids With ADHD
The regular practice of yoga is known for helping adults achieve a sense of relaxation and inner peace. A recent study suggests that yoga may also benefit children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
According to research published in the Journal of At…
Tai Chi Practice Has Multiple Therapeutic Benefits
A growing body of knowledge supports the health benefits of regular tai chi practice. Evidence from a comprehensive review of more than 200 studies confirms the therapeutic value of tai chi practice for improving quality of life, pain management and physical function (including act…
Read MoreIndoor Cycling Sample Class: Explore Your Zones
A properly designed indoor cycling program can enhance cardiovascular health, regardless of age or ability level. But you must integrate various intensity levels to get the most from participants. Ideally, cardiovascular training should provide a mix of the following intensity zones (as used in the Schwinn® Indoor Cycling Program):
Zone 1 (easy/comfortable)
50…
The “Talk Test”
Aerobic exercise is a decisively important component of any fitness program. However, establishing and maintaining ideal exercise intensities for optimally safe and effective workouts can prove challenging for both exercisers and fitness professionals.
In designing cardiorespiratory exercise programs, it is meaningful to consider that many people engage in aerobic exercise to control…
Made to “FITT”
Personal fitness trainers (PFTs) draw from a distinct body of scientific knowledge to create appropriate and individualized cardiorespiratory exercise programs for clients. A great amount of research has been done on heart rate zone training, optimal frequency and time of exercise, exercise progression, and the effects of these factors on caloric expenditure during exercise.
If t…
Senior Moments
The cooldown should be like frosting—sweet, smooth and so delicious that students want to stay until they finish the very last section of cake—err, I mean, class…
Read MoreIDEA Opinion Statements
Did you know that as an IDEA member you have access to the IDEA …
Read MoreCutting Calories with Calcium
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Read MoreMeditation: Just the Basics
Meditation is going mainstream. Today, 10 million Americans—more than twice as many as a decade ago—practice some form of meditation, according to TIME magazine (Stein 2003). And with contemporary medical experts claiming that regular practice of this ancient activity improves well-being and health, the trend may well continue. But what is meditation; why is it gaining …
Read MoreThe Buzz About Nutrient Timing
The search for ways to enhance performance and muscle growth through dietary manipulation is not new. Questions abound regarding the optimal amounts of protein, carbohydrate and fat needed to boost performance, while nutrition recommendations based on training goals are plentiful…
Read MoreMedia Morsels
What kid doesn’t like the circus? Instead of sitting in rapt attention in the audience, students from Chicago’s Ogden School and Cicero’s Roosevelt Elementary got a chance last November to learn how to keep fit the circus performer way.
The interactive Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® CircusFit program aims to inspire healthy life choices in kids by…
Crawl Out of Your Comfort Zone
Reinvigoration Strategies
By Kay L. Cross, MEd
Crawl Out of Your Comfort Zone
It’s easy if you learn new skills and create a goal strategy. One of our greatest challenges as fitness professionals is to keep our passion alive. We give, encourage, inspire, motivate and challenge our clients and then desperately need to recharge and refuel ourselves so that we can continue to Inspire the World to Fi…