Archive for May 2008
Weathering an Economic Downturn
During my working years, I’ve lived through at least three recessions—and survived them all. Surviving was not easy in my early days of personal training, but I did learn from each of the slow periods that my business experienced. I progressed from twiddling my thumbs and worrying in 1988 to planning and actively accepting the reality of slowdowns today. During the 20 years I&…
Read MoreThe Science of Willpower
What do the following acts have in
common?
choosing the healthy items at the breakfast
buffet and ignoring the pastries and fried food
smiling and saying, “Let’s see if I can help
you with that,” when an angry client blows a minor issue into a major complaint
sticking to a budget, even after your initial
enthusiasm for impro…
Walk the Plank
The necessity of working the core still
attracts a lot of attention. However, many people remain puzzled as to what the core is. Much more than just the abdominal wall or the…
The Latest Yoga Research
As Americans become increasingly interested in the preventive and therapeutic benefits of alternative and complementary medicine, researchers are responding by attempting to quantify the role of yoga in the treatment and prevention of specific diseases and health conditions.
…
The Science of Willpower
What do the following acts have in common?
choosing the healthy items at the breakfast buffet and ignoring the pastries and fried food
smiling and saying, “Let’s see if I can help you with that,” when an angry client blows a minor issue into a major complaint
sticking to a budget, even after your in…
Read MoreFatigue Resistance: An Intriguing Difference in Gender
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Read MoreStars on the Class Schedule
The city recreation department in Strongs-ville, Ohio, offers S….
Read Morequick veggie pita pizzas
Who says that the occasional pizza can’t be healthy fare on a busy night? This recipe is so simple that you might even persuade your kids to pitch in! Add a green salad …
Read MoreBridging the Age Gap
Today, older adults represent the largest demographic in the U.S., hold the most discretionary spending power and have a huge interest in anything anti-aging. Professionals …
Read MoreDetermining Your Legal Structure, Part 2
The April issue of this column examined the myriad issues that you should consider before deciding on a legal structure for your new or existing business. If you have chosen to incorporate your company, there are several ways to go about it. Each of these options comes with its own price tag and its own advantages and disadvantages.
Hire an Attorney
…
Hiring a Business Manager
At some point many personal training entrepreneurs decide they need assistance running their business. Are you trying to balance everything—training sessions, employee issues, business and financial matters, building and supplies, etc.? If so, it may be time to make a change. If you are at a juncture in your business life where you are feeling overwhelmed, stagnant, disorganized, fr…
Read MoreBecoming a Digital Resource
As a personal trainer you get asked many health- and fitness-related questions from clients who rely heavily on your expertise. You have to remain on top of the news and trends. Reading research articles and trade journals, following online fitness forums and health websites, evaluating training textbooks and DVDs/videos are assignments that come with the job.
Although you can&rsq…
Meeting Future Needs
Kris Thomas knows group exercise, as she’s been involved with it in one form or another for 22 years. She brings a strong background in dance and movement,
along with h…
Magnesium Matters
Magnesium is vital for good bone health and the proper functioning of muscles and nerves. Deficiencies in this key mineral can increase the risk of developing migraine headaches, osteoporosis and irregular heartbeats.
According to the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board, the recommended daily allowance for magnesium is 310–320 mg for women over age 19 and 400–420 mg f…
Read MoreCut Out Caffeine if You’re Pregnant
Caffeine can be your enemy if you are pregnant, says a new study that appeared in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Too much caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage—even if you have no previous history of this problem.
Researchers found that a caffeine intake of more than 200 milligrams (mg) per day …
Read MoreField Trips to Local Markets
Albertsons grocery chain has launched a new program that offers school kids a field trip to local stores to learn about healthy eating habits. The Albertsons Healthy Eaters™ program was designed to reinforce the nutrition and health curricula taught in schools by taking the children on supermarket tours. Elementary-school children get hands-on instruction in food labels, proper portion sizes, nut…
Read MoreFamily Meals & Teens’ Disordered Eating
Here’s another reason to encourage eating meals together as a family: your teenagers will have a lower risk of developing any type of disordered eating behavior.
For a period of 5 years, researchers examined adolescent boys and girls and the frequency with which their families ate together. The aim was to track the connection between family meals and al…
Read MoreTips to Avoid Golf-Related Wrist Injuries
As
the summer temperature rises, so does the number of people hitting the links
for a bit of friendly (or not) competition. But poor form and inappropriate
training methods can keep eager golfers from participating in their outdoor
activity of choice. According to IDEA author Catherine Logan, MSPT, simple
adjustments to swing and a proactive attitude will allow for …
Gin Miller: Stepping Up to Success
In the late 1980s, an orthopedic doctor
told Gin Miller to step up and down on a milk crate as rehabilitation for a
knee injury. Miller was inspired to turn the idea into step training, which
quickly became one of the biggest phenomena in the fitness industry and is
still a mainstay for group exercise around the world.
“I remember thinking that…
Read MoreWalking the Labyrinth
On the messy road of life, it is often
challenging to determine what your next step will be, what direction you will
take and which way you will turn. Perhaps that is one reason why walking a
labyrinth as a meditation is so appealing: the journey is clearly marked,
unobstructed and in full view. Although it twists and winds its way to the
center, there are no tricks…