Archive for May 2020
Help support the California Fitness Alliance
Join the California Fitness Alliance to fight for fitness. If you work for a gym, club, studio, boutique, on your own, are a fitness industry supplier, or you just love fitness – have your voice heard. Join today! It’s free During the COVID19 crisis, the California Fitness Alliance has three primary objectives: REOPENING – Partner…
Read MoreEat Not, Waste More
An updated study found that food waste could be twice as high as previously thought, reaching a staggering 527 calories per day per person.
Read MoreWhich Exercise Science Concentration Is Right for You?
Before you start applying to schools, it pays to know what areas of the field of exercise most appeal to you. This quick quiz can help.
Read MoreGrow Your Virtual Studio for the Future
Moving a bricks and mortar business exclusively online is essentially like establishing a new business from scratch, something millions of boutique studio owners and fitness professionals across the country and around the world had to do in a matter of weeks in early March.
Read MoreAffordable Health Insurance Plans for Fitness Professionals
An Industry First from IDEA Health & Fitness Association Affordable Health Insurance Plans for Fitness Professionals SAN DIEGO, CA (May 21, 2020) – IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals since 1982, today announced a partnership with Crystal Bay Insurance Services that offers the industry a program…
Read MoreNailing Nutrition Goals in the Midst of the New Normal
It’s no surprise that weeks of chaos and confusion have led many to set aside purposeful plates, waistline goals, and performance ambitions in favor of comfort food and grazing to get through the day. You’re likely seeing disarray and a lack of structure impact your client’s as well as your own wellbeing. These wellness woes are understandable; stress coupled with countless trips past the pantry and fridge eventually draw one in, making mindful eating habits a thing of the past. It’s time to take a step back and implement some habits to get us moving towards mindfulness once again.
Read MoreTools to Keep the Fire Burning
There’s no shortage of research or opinions debating the value of nutrition compared to exercise, but all experts agree that a combination of these factors are indispensable when it comes to reaching full health potential. But sometimes neither choosing to eat healthier nor staying active can be an easy task. Here are some tips to get clients, family, and self, eating better and moving more.
Read MoreAdding a Class to Your Schedule
Whether you’re an instructor wanting to add a class to your schedule or a manager feeling pressured to find the right personality and the best fit for an opening, knowing how others handle this decision may guide you to that “perfect match.” Fortunately, experienced program directors from around the world are willing to share their strategies and suggestions.
Read MoreTapering for Resistance Training: Less Is More!
Endurance athletes have used tapering for years; now there’s evidence that exercise enthusiasts and strength and power athletes can benefit from tapering phases in their resistance training (RT) programs. So, is tapering right for your clients? And when it comes to RT, can less work lead to more success? Here’s what the research tells us.
Read MoreLosses and Gains
Starting a fitness program can be daunting, especially when your only exercise is the occasional walk or yoga class. But when Colleen Donofrio, then 57, heard about personal trainer Nicole Simonin’s successful program, Shape It Up, her motivation to improve her health—and her yoga poses—outweighed her fears.
Read MoreSizing Up the Sartorius Muscle
You may not be familiar with the sartorius muscle, but you’ve no doubt flexed it during countless lower-body exercises, stretches and yoga poses.
Read MoreAlternate Exercise Recovery Methods
You may be used to speeding up your exercise recovery via methods such as myofascial release with foam rollers and good sleep hygiene. While these techniques are tried-and-true, the rising enthusiasm for hard-hitting exercise routines has spawned a growing interest in alternative recovery techniques. Pete McCall, MS, personal trainer, exercise physiologist and an adjunct faculty member in exercise science at both Mesa Community College and San Diego State University, outlines six options for you to consider.
Read MorePower Up Your Snacks with Walnuts
Ah… snacking! We want ready-to-eat options that satisfy cravings, are quick and convenient, and provide good nutrition. Oftentimes, choices that claim to boost energy are overloaded with added sugars or are high in sodium.
Read MoreSeeking Relief From Digital Distraction?
As fitness professionals, we face the challenge of competing for our clients’ attention. People often have a difficult time focusing on the present moment and are unwilling to disconnect. Research reveals what neuroscientists and psychologists have identified about technology-addicted behavior and which activities can provide relief. Read on to gather information and tips for you and your clients.
Read MoreThe COVID-19 Crisis: Transforming Our Lives and Our Industry
The fitness industry—like the rest of the global community—has been transformed in previously unimaginable ways since the COVID-19 crisis upended every bit of structure and normalcy we once knew.
Read MorePeriodization for Maximizing Hypertrophy
Much of the periodization literature to date has centered on the strength outcomes and sports performance of athletes striving to balance the needs of practice, conditioning and competition (Bartolomei et al. 2014). But many recreationally active clients seek to gain muscle size in personal training sessions, and few studies have evaluated whether a periodization model should be used in a hypertrophy-focused resistance training program for these fitness enthusiasts. This article highlights the best research available to help answer an important question: Should you periodize a client’s RT plan to maximize skeletal muscle hypertrophy?
Read MoreCore Training for Kids
There’s a tremendous need, now more than ever, to hook kids on fitness and equip them with good lifestyle habits. A child’s growing body needs regular movement in order to function optimally. Since the core is essentially “ground zero,” it’s a fitting place to start, because strong core muscles assist with posture and reduce the chance of injury. The key to a healthier tomorrow is to be proactive and get kids involved today.
Read MorePrebiotics for Better Sleep
Prebiotics are best known for supporting gut health, but they can also improve sleep and enhance stress resilience, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder say prebiotics—dietary fibers that nourish the gut’s microbiome—create a symbiotic relationship with the body that affects the brain.
Read MoreA Lifetime of Learning: Continuing Education is Key
While obtaining continuing education is required to keep our certifications current, it is not just something we “have to do” to get that updated certificate. Continuing education is vital to us meeting our commitment to our clients…and to ourselves
Read MoreRecipe for Health: Salmon Oat Loaf
Serve up slices of this savory salmon loaf for some extra dose of vitamin D to maintain healthy muscle function and mobility.
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