Archive for September 2009
Inner IDEA®: Where Joy and Learning Unite
Whether they were there to focus keenly on a discipline like Pilates or to enjoy a potpourri of classes ranging from mindful eating to yoga nidra, attendees at the 4th annual Inner IDEA Conference enjoyed many opportunities to celebrate the event’s theme, “The Power of Wellness.”
Read MoreInner IDEA®: Where Joy and Learning Unite
Whether they were there to focus keenly on a discipline like Pilates or to enjoy a potpourri of classes ranging from mindful eating to yoga nidra, attendees at the 4th annual Inner IDEA Conference enjoyed many opportunities to celebrate the event’s theme, “The Power of Wellness.”
Read MoreInner IDEA®: Where Joy and Learning Unite
Whether they were there to focus keenly on a discipline like Pilates or to enjoy a potpourri of classes ranging from mindful eating to yoga nidra, attendees at the 4th annual Inner IDEA Conference enjoyed many opportunities to celebrate the event’s theme, “The Power of Wellness.” Held last month at the beautiful desert oasis of La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California, the conference brought together 375 fitness and wellness professionals
Read MoreSample Class: Row and Ride
Rowing and riding classes are dynamic workouts with real-life applications to both sports, rowing and cycling. The introduction of power meters to indoor cycles and various preset programs on rowers have taken these classes to a whole new level. An understanding of the fundamentals of each sport, mixed with a little creativity, is all that is needed for an effective, fun fusion class.
Row and Ride Details
Read MoreConnect, Lengthen and Release: For Moms-to-Be
Warming up is especially important for a mom-to-be because it prepares her, both mentally and physically, for what is to come. Many women are afraid that exercise will put their pregnancies at risk. Before you begin, inform students about your training in prenatal fitness and discuss the benefits of movement. Explain that exercise may help reduce muscle pain commonly associated with pregnancy and also prepare participants for labor. Mention that they all have different capabilities and that it’s important to listen to their bodies.
Read MoreRev Up Retention
Hone in on these four strategies to keep members loyal.
Read MoreReconnecting With Clients
Use the economic downturn as a prime time to train staff how to anticipate new consumer needs.
Read MoreA Just Cause: How to Choose and Host a Charity Event
Use these 10 tips to create a tiptop fundraiser.
Read MoreNegative Body Image Perception May Lead to Suicide in Teens
Overweight teens, and teens who view themselves as overweight, may be at heightened risk of attempting suicide, stated a recent study. Published online
in the Journal of Adolescent Health (doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.006), the study analyzed BMI, perceived weight and suicide attempts among more than 14,000 high-school students. “Our findings show that both perceived and actual overweight increase risk for suicide attempt,” stated lead study author Monica Swahn, PhD. The
results held true for both boys and girls.
Missing the Male Demographic
Enter most fitness facilities and you’ll likely see a healthy mix of males and females sweating toward fitness goals. Upon closer
examination, though, you might notice that the majority of exercisers working with personal trainers are female. According to data from the 2009 IDEA Fitness Programs & Equipment Trends survey, this observation is spot-on. Personal trainers responding to the
survey noted that 72% of their clientele is female. So where are the men, and why aren’t they hiring trainers?
Weighing in on United’s Extra Charge for “Large”
I saw the [item] about United charging extra for fat people (July–August “Making News,” p. 13). I think it’s terrific. Have you ever sat between two obese people? It’s rather gross and uncomfortable. If I pay for one whole seat, I expect to have full use of the whole seat. Not a portion of it—otherwise I should get a discount. Absolutely. Fat people should pay more. I am sure they pay more when they eat more. Just like we all pay more for larger housing lots.
Read MoreCreative Ideas That Inspire
Joann Melgar, founder of Exceptional Body Pilates Studio in Abingdon, Virginia, created Pilates Pump for her more “hyper” students.
Read MoreWhat types of social networking do you use, and why?
We choose social networking vehicles based on what is popular with our mainstream target market. Right now this includes Facebook, a little bit of Twitter (but we are not big fans) and LinkedIn®. We think MySpace is dead, so we just do not use that site anymore.
We use online social networking to create awareness of our presence as professionals in our community, as well as to educate clients and potential clients about our philosophy and the benefits of what we call the “continuous modification of functional exercise.”
Read MoreNutrition Needs of Senior Athletes
It’s not just the ranks of older Americans that are swelling: the number of seniors who are physically active is also going through the roof. Now, more than ever, your older clients are participating in races and vigorous fitness classes—and
a percentage may even make it to the Senior Olympics.
Pilates for Low-Back Pain
Eighty percent of Americans experience back pain at one time or another (Luo et al. 2004). The discomfort can range from mild to severe or debilitating. Men and women are equally affected (Luo et al. 2004), and the pain can be caused by sedentary living, aging or overuse (e.g., repetitive motion during a sport).
Read MoreRefine Your Instruction: Delicious Yog-ahh
Yoga is yummy for the body, mind and soul. Good yoga teachers know how to turn their classes into cravings students can’t live without. If you’ve added yoga to your format repertoire, you’ve most likely mastered several teaching techniques that translate smoothly to the yoga studio. In this article, we’ll break down five specific areas you can further develop to make the next class even more of a delicious treat.
Read MoreCan You Go the Distance . . . to Better Health?
Williams, P.T. 2009. Lower prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes in marathoners. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(3), 523-29. Although marathoners train and compete for numerous reasons, a common question of several running advocates and scientists is whether the longer distances performed in marathon preparation really make a difference in a person’s overall…
Read MoreDon’t Mix Antidepressants With Caffeine!
Mixing caffeinated drinks, like sodas or coffee, with an older class of
antidepressants can be dangerous. Ingesting caffeine while taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors can cause blood pressure levels to spike. The same danger is present when you mix this class of drugs with foods that are high in tyramine,
such as aged cheeses.
Focusing on Progess, Not Perfection
Client: Paige
Personal Trainer: Jonathan Ross,
owner of Aion Fitness and 2006 ACE
Personal Trainer of the Year
Location: Bowie, Maryland
All About Australia
Dedicated fitness professionals in Australia are regularly inspiring people to become healthy, says Ken Baldwin, fitness professional and presenter in Brisbane, Australia, who has worked in the industry for over 25 years. “We are becoming more credible and expanding our knowledge due to demands placed on our industry for certifications and insurance,” he says. “We now work more closely with other allied professionals, and there’s been increased interest in functional training.
Read More