Archive for March 2009
2009 IDEA Personal Trainer Institute™: An Elevated Game
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This was the mantra during 3 days of intensive education at the sold-out 2009 IDEA Personal Trainer Institute in Alexandria, Virginia, February 19-22. Attendees brought with them positive attitudes and a heightened hunger for knowledge. Sour news about the economy didn’t dampen these personal trainers’ drive to Inspire the World to Fitness®.
Read MoreBiggest Loser Distorts Reality
They say there is no such thing as bad free advertising, but in the case of The Biggest Loser TV show, I disagree vehemently. These so-called trainers are giving reputable and ethical personal trainers a bad image. As a former college instructor of exercise science, I used the show’s trainers, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, as examples to my students of what not to be and how not to train. They are what I call “Hollywood” trainers, hired to get actors and models ready for their professional roles in a very short time span.
Read MoreCalorie Burning: It’s Time To Think “Outside The Box”
Many people engage in aerobic activities to advance their health status, lessen disease risk, modify body composition, reduce stress and improve cardiovascular fitness. There are numerous exercise devices and modes to choose from that help them achieve these goals. Fitness professionals and personal trainers are continually seeking new and better programs to help clients attain…
Read MoreSample Class: Pool Circuits for Older Adults
Water fitness classes have grown in popularity and creativity over the past 20 years. What started off as something more or less for older, less fit women has developed into a recognized form of fitness training for the superfit exerciser, the athlete recovering from injury, the older adult with a chronic condition or the person who simply enjoys how forgiving the water environment can be to joints. The pool is also a terrific environment for circuit and interval classes.
Read MoreHow to Outsmart a Tough Market
In a time of sweeping global change and a shifting economic climate, fitness professionals around the world are gauging the potential impact on their careers and businesses and adapting to stay on track. We asked fitness pros to tell us about the extent of the economy’s
effect on them, and what they are doing to meet the challenge.
Behave Yourself!
Professional Boundaries
Examples of a personal trainer’s professional boundary values:
Brand Identity Confusion
You probably know on some level how your participants would describe you and your classes. Maybe they see you as highly dynamic, caring, safety-conscious, well-educated, fun or humorous. Perhaps you’re the hip cycling instructor who plays really cool music, the tough-love teacher with the hard body, the gentle yogi or the step instructor who feels like a friend.
Read Morerah-rah for rhubarb
Pity the poor, misunderstood rhubarb. For years, people have argued over whether this hearty stalk is a fruit or a vegetable. Technically speaking, rhubarb is a vegetable, but after the United States Customs Court ruled that it should be considered a fruit, most people followed suit. Because it is used so often in baked goods, it’s been dubbed “the pie plant.”
Health Benefits. Rhubarb is a good source of vitamin C, fiber and calcium.
How has the negative economy impacted your business? What are you doing to address this challenge?
My personal training business has been somewhat impacted by the challenging times our economy has seen this past year. A few of my one-on-one clients have had to cut back on their sessions because either they or their spouses lost their jobs. I always give our clients the option of spreading out their sessions over a longer period of time if they so desire. If they need weekly accountability, we offer them our Virtual Fitness™ option of a 15-minute phone call once a week.
Read MoreTraining Tips for Vegetarian Athletes
Like many athletes, I was recently looking for a leg up on the competition. I was preparing for a fall marathon and already working hard on my running and speed work, but I wondered if by tweaking my diet, I could gain an edge. As a registered dietitian and sports nutrition coach, I was aware of several successful elite athletes who practiced vegetarianism.
Read MoreShake Up Your Warm-Up
Warm-ups can be boring and are often overlooked because we can hardly wait to teach that brand-new combination or hot new move! But with a little time and
effort, a really good warm-up can create amazing energy and set the tone for the rest of class. So how do you take something that seems so mundane and add a little soul and spice to it? Why not add some hip-shaking, finger-snapping, shoulder-shimmying movement to your next warm-up and get your students fired up from the very first beat?
Yes! You Do Burn Fat During Resistance Exercise
Ormsbee, M.J., et al. 2007. Fat metabolism and acute resistance exercise in trained men. Journal of Applied Physiology, 102, 1767–72.
Am I burning fat while doing resistance exercise? This is a question that clients regularly ask personal trainers and group fitness instructors. Resistance training, because of its chief role in maintaining and/or increasing lean body mass (muscle), is an essential component of any weight management program.
Read MoreTreadmill Walking Helps PAD Patients
Do you have clients who suffer from peripheral artery disease (PAD)? A recent report may suggest a link between treadmill walking and condition improvements.
Read MoreOlder Adults Flourish in Community Fitness Programs
According to a press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “community-based physical activity interventions
designed to promote more active lifestyles among adults are cost-effective in reducing heart disease, stroke, colorectal and breast cancers, and type 2 diabetes.” One such
Mindful Exercise and Chronic Disease
Mindful exercise programs—particularly yoga, qigong and tai chi—have played an increasing role in managing a number of chronic-disease states in recent years. The most prevalent chronic illnesses in the United States are cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke), cancer, diabetes and arthritis. Medical-care costs of treating chronic conditions
account for more than 75% of the $2
trillion spent annually on medical care (CDC 2008).
Creative Classes That Inspire
Off-Center Ball Training
Chaos is coming, so you’d better train for it.
Read MoreKnee-Deep in Pain
Client: Elyce
Personal Trainer: Justin Price, MA,
Co-owner of The BioMechanics
Location: San Diego
Strengthening Your Willpower “Muscle”
Do you wish you would more often choose the healthy items at the breakfast buffet and ignore the pastries? Do you want to be able to stay on the treadmill for the time goal you set, even though each minute is a little harder than the last? Making healthy choices like these re-quires willpower, the ability to ignore temporary pleasure or discomfort to pursue a longer-term goal.
Read MoreSelling Affiliate Products
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You probably already recommend health and fitness products to your clients. What if you could receive a cut of the profit when clients purchased stuff you told them about? This technique is called affiliate marketing, and it’s one way to bring in revenue without having to actively provide a service, as you do with one-on-one training.
Read More