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The Lure of Small-Group Training Programs

In the last few years programming has evolved, and consumers are looking beyond memberships to small-group training experiences for results and solutions. People are willing to pay top dollar for these programs. Let’s briefly examine some successful SGT programs, and then look at what the managers, directors and owners of multipurpose fitness centers can learn from them.

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Y I CAN: A Roadmap to Lasting Wellness

At the University Y in Seattle, we’ve found a way to better serve our overweight and underexercising clients. We call the program Y I CAN, and it reaches out to members who: feel intimidated by group fitness classes, lack confidence in the weight room, and have tried and failed at weight loss.

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Protect Your Online Reputation

It’s great when a client or a member tweets a positive comment (that gets retweeted!), or when you get new business thanks to good reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately, however, that isn’t always the case. Angry or otherwise unhappy customers use the Internet as an instant outlet for their gripes.

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Facility Design and Construction 101, Part Two

In Part One of this series, we discussed the importance of researching users, space and programs before committing to new fitness facility design and construction. We also looked at funding and its effect on programming. The goal of this three-part series is to make fitness managers aware of key elements in the planning and building process, with a focus on group fitness and personal training spaces.

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Risks And Benefits Of Extreme Conditioning Programs

Introduction: What Is Extreme Conditioning?

Extreme conditioning programs (ECPs) boast vastly improved fitness in relatively short periods of time, which appeals to a cross-section of the U.S. civilian and military populations. Yet many health professionals fear that these high-powered, widely marketed programs increase the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

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Addressing Obesity And Exercise In Preadolescents

Preadolescence is a time of major change and growth, bringing psychological, physical and social shifts for boys and girls alike. Caught between the carefree days of childhood and the first throes of being a teenager, “tweens” (roughly aged 9–12) are a force to be reckoned with. Like many other populations, preadolescents are suffering from lack of exercise, which threatens to chart a course toward obesity and disease.

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Medicine Ball Moves for the Core

Did you know that training your core (your body minus arms and legs) is important to maintaining a healthy, strong body? Looking for some new core exercises? Want to add new “twists” to core exercises using fundamental, but often underused, equipment?
Medicine balls have been around for years and are a staple in boxing and sports performance communities. If you’d like to incorporate medicine balls into your workout program, check out these variations from Dan Bettcher, MS, a Muay Thai practitioner and cofounder of KOR Strength and Conditioning in San Diego.

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Fresh Food Prep Vs. Exercise: Is One More Important?

I would rather see my clients spend more time preparing fresh food for themselves versus exercising. First, if I’ve properly helped clients to identify poor food choices and eating habits, as well as informed them about making nutritionally sound meals and snacks for themselves and their families, they should already be seeing positive changes in their bodies. Such changes include more stamina and energy and the initial weight loss that comes from cutting out excess sugar and salt.

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Creative Ideas That Inspire

AquaFLEX, featured at the AquaCon Fitness Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, takes participants into the pool for a dynamic class that focuses on strength training, core conditioning and flexibility. Attendees use a lightweight AquaFLEX bar to increase the natural resistance of the body moving through water.
Cycorga combines cardio, strength training and flexibility into one format. During this class, found at Executive Sports & Fitness Center in Chicago, participants get a mix of indoor cycling, Pilates and yoga.

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Sample Class: Cardio Step

Step used to be one of the most popular group cardio formats. Although it has recently seen a slight decrease in popularity—mostly because new programs have proliferated and time slots are limited—step still has its place. Delivering step classes requires creativity, strong teaching skills and preparedness. The following routine includes a full breakdown with a choreography progression.

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Kick It Into High Gear

A martial-arts–inspired warm-up increases circulation, improves dynamic flexibility and range of motion, integrates sport-specific activities and connects body and mind. The series presented here is an excellent way to begin almost any general fitness class. Start slowly and encourage students to be patient and “listen” to their bodies.

Awaken the Center
First, bring attention to the back and abdominals, the body’s “center.”

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Expand Your Group Exercise Resumé

For group fitness instructors, the future is looking bright! “Employment of fitness trainers and instructors, is expected to grow by 24%” this decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Its report goes on to state, “As businesses and insurance organizations continue to recognize the benefits of health and fitness programs for their employees, incentives to join gyms or other fitness facilities will increase the need for workers in these areas.”

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Bending American Food Culture

Does it matter that nobody seems to know how to cook anymore? Can anything be done about the dangers of industrial farming? How should we respond to the possibility that, largely because of chronic health issues caused by junk food, America’s young people might not outlive their parents?

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The Thinner Winner Contest

Weight loss contests are not reserved for the bright lights of reality television. When properly executed, these contests help fitness pros slim down community residents while beefing up the bottom line. In five steps, you can promote, run and celebrate a community-wide Thinner Winner contest. You can tweak details, but results will be the same: Your current clients will stay happy and engaged, you’ll attract new clients, you’ll generate buzz in your community, and you’ll amass a wealth of transformational stories to fuel your business.

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