Article Archive
People living in different regions of Spain have opposing views on fitness. “Talking about new trends in fitness and working out at lunchtime or after work are normal in certain cities, for example,” says Alex Ventura, a Barcelonan who has been working in the fitness industry for more than 15 years as a group exercise instructor, a personal trainer, a consultant and an educator.
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When Jessica Thomas became engaged 7 years ago, she frequented local bridal shows to find vendors who could make her wedding day perfect. She saw plenty of florists, photographers and bakers, but one professional was nowhere in sight—a personal trainer. “No one from the fitness industry was at these shows,” says Thomas, who now runs Fit 2 Wed in San Diego. “I wanted to give brides a healthy way to feel fit and gorgeous at their wedding.”
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In Brazil, with its long summer, beautiful beaches and warm weather, it makes sense that many exercisers want to enjoy the great outdoors. Numerous group fitness classes, mind-body practices and personal training sessions happen outside, notes IDEA Brazilian ambassador Vania Ballo-Petroff.
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Dance is a key word on group exercise schedules in Mexico, as dance-based fitness classes are heating up gyms everywhere. Latin rhythms, hip-hop, salsa and belly dancing are popular, according to Norma Zurita, a 23-year veteran of the fitness industry and group fitness coordinator of Sport City in Mexico City. Indoor cycling, circuit training, kickboxing, step and strength training classes are also well-liked. On the other hand, high-impact classes or those featuring complicated, advanced choreography get a thumbs-down.
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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.
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Participating in running, walking or triathlon events can be a fun way to exercise and enjoy the great outdoors. However, while your personal training clients may want to do a race, they might be unsure of how best to prepare for one or eager for some support during the training process. By conducting training for races, you can create an additional profit center for your business, increase retention and give your clients a sense of accomplishment. Discover how different trainers structure and market race training and why it’s beneficial for you and your clients.
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The most popular fitness classes in Israel are body conditioning, core training, stability ball, yoga, step and dance-based formats, notes Yoav Avidar, international fitness presenter from Tel Aviv, Israel, who has been working in the fitness industry for 12 years. “In general, and especially during these days of economic hardship, popular equipment-based classes are ones that use the equipment the club has!” he says. “Clubs and studios are very hesitant to buy new equipment, especially if it’s relatively expensive.
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The French often participate in sports and other nontraditional “fitness” activities without joining a health club, notes Fred Hoffman, MEd, 2007 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, director of International Services for the Club & Spa Synergy Group and fitness consultant for women’s marketing at Reebok France. “Hiking, walking and Nordic walking are popular, and many people ride bicycles,” he says. “Boxing, judo, karate and other martial arts are extremely popular for children, teenagers and young adults.
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As a fitness professional, you expect to be healthy in order to perform well in your job—and your life. What happens when you become extremely ill, get injured or learn that you have a disease? How do you work with management so you can keep your job? How do you address your new limitations? Find…
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2009 will see a big boom for the Philippine fitness industry, says Cynthia L. Carrion, personal trainer to the country’s president, and undersecretary for the sports and wellness industry in the Philippine Department of Tourism. Why?
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While the economic outlook may be bleak right now, your chances of attending a fitness convention in 2009 don’t have to be. You might think you need to put off “live” continuing education, but don’t deprive yourself of this valuable opportunity. It’s crucial to diversify your skills and stay marketable as a fitness professional, especially…
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Quick—what’s 3.5 x 2 inches, made of paper and a key part of your business? If you said your business card, you are correct! With the proliferation of Internet and other technologies, you may wonder if the paper business card is going out of style. “Never!” says health, fitness and technology expert Biray Alsac, MS,…
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A new study sheds light on why many adolescent girls are gaining weight. A decline in activity in the transition from childhood to adulthood could be responsible, according to a study published in the July 23 issue of The Lancet (2005; 366 [9482], 301–7).
In collaboration with others, Sue Y.S. Kimm, MD, from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, looked at activity …
Maybe you find that after carefully
mapping out your career path, you actually want to travel in a different
direction. Maybe you discover that a career milestone you thought would take
years to achieve is now within your grasp. Or maybe you are still blissfully
happy in your job but find that outside forces dictate a change.
As the old saying…
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“Self-esteem isn’t everything; it’s
just there’s nothing without it.”—Gloria Steinem
Many women whom you train or teach
struggle with body image issues, eating disorders and inactivity. While most
try to change destructive behavior p…
?Throughout
childhood, most young girls are outgoing, self-confident, curious adventurers
interested in exploring the world and all it has to offer. Happy with
themselves and their place in the world, they interact positively with their
families and friends.
All this drastically changes as girls
approach their teen yea…
For some people, the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is the highlight of their year. They look forward to cooking turkeys, buying presents, singing carols and spreading the spirit of the holidays to everyone they meet.Then there are the rest of us. We’re not exactly Scrooges, but for us, celebrating the holidays can be a monumental effort often filled with stress. If the hol…
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Both the IDEA Personal Trainer Code of Ethics and the IDEA Group Fitness Instructor Code of Ethics urge fitness professionals to “uphold a professional image through conduct and appearance.” However, what type of clothing helps fitness professionals project the right image? Some owners and managers believe that providing uniforms is key…
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