Covid-19 Updates
IDEA Insurance for virtual training & online video instruction
The Coronavirus crisis is demanding that most professions work and communicate virtually for our own health and safety. Did you know that IDEA Liability Insurance (which you may already have)…
IHRSA Implores Congress to Include Fitness Industry In Stimulus (updated 3/25/20)
Updated story: 3/25/2020 https://ihrsa.quorum.us/campaign/25197/ ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 3/19/20 Hi Fitness Industry friends, Please excuse this mass email. I am simply attempting to communicate in the quickest way possible. Congress is currently…
The Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Guide for IDEA Members and All Fitness Professionals
The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus infectious disease COVID-19, as named by the World Health Organization, is disrupting life as usual and is exacting a visible human and economic toll. IDEA members and fitness professionals across the globe can continue promoting health and minimize business disruption with common-sense precautions and attention to public health developments. This advisory contains information on what we currently know about the virus, suggested preventive measures and resource links to stay updated.
Sleep Well, Eat Well
Poor sleep has been linked to unhealthy eating habits and weight gain. Now a team of American researchers believes it knows why people may gravitate toward calorie-dense junk food when sleep deprived: Blame it on the nose.
Plant-Based Foods Curb Chronic Disease
Here’s another good reason to embrace the trend of eating more plants: A cohort study in Nature Communications involving 56,048 adults in Denmark found that people who over a 23-year period habitually consumed moderate to high amounts of foods rich in flavonoids—naturally occurring chemical compounds found predominantly in plant-based foods—were less likely to die from cancer or heart disease.
Recipe for Health: Masala Chickpea Stir-Fry
Beyond being uncomfortable, frequent constipation can raise the risk for conditions like hemorrhoids and rectal tears. Plus, the stool is a way to remove toxins from the body. That makes fiber-packed dishes like this quick plant-based stir-fry a great way to keep you more regular.
Insomnia Linked to Refined Carbs
A new study on insomnia in postmenopausal women suggests the consumption of refined carbohydrates may be the cause. The findings were published online in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Recipe for Health: Orange-Glazed Butternut Squash With Herbed Pecans
We now have even more reasons to go nuts for nuts. Research published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health found that adding a half-serving of nuts (14 grams) to a daily diet may reduce weight gain and obesity risk in adults (participants were followed over two decades). Consuming calories from nuts in place of calories from less healthy items, such as processed meats and potato chips, was also protective against extra weight.
5 Big Benefits of Plant-Based Diets
People can get caught up in the details of paleo, ketogenic and gluten-free diets, but one of the most buzzworthy eating styles at the moment is also super simple. It’s the plant-based diet—one that places less emphasis on animal-based foods and more on dishes derived from the plant kingdom.
The Secret to Social Media Success
Love it or not, if you want your business to thrive, you need a social media presence. According to a report from We Are Social, a global marketing agency, 3 billion people around the world use social media each month (Kemp 2018). Instagram reports that 60% of its users say they’ve discovered new products on the and that social media helps make better connections between businesses and consumers (business.instagram.com). However, grabbing the attention you deserve is a challenge when you’re competing with thousands of other fitness pros and “fitfluencers”—especially if you’re not willing to show off your, ahem, assets.
Recipe for Health: Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
’Tis the season of indulgence, and diets can get unsaddled as people face a dizzying array of fatty meats, calorie-bomb dips and tempting sweets. But healthy eating need not wait until New Year’s Day—it’s easy to rustle up meals that taste just as cheery but deliver a bigger nutritional windfall. This nutritious riff on iconic shepherd’s pie is sure to become a new favorite on the holiday table.
Virtual Group Fitness Classes
Exercising in front of a television, computer screen or mobile device is nothing new. Since the advent of VHS tapes, fitness programs have offered users an opportunity to get their sweat on whenever they choose in the comfort of their home. Over the past several years, however, fitness facilities have leveraged new technology to offer virtual classes on-site in hopes of luring exercisers out of their living rooms and into the group exercise room.
Why Kids Need More Water
Nutrition professionals have long known that the beverages our youth choose to drink can hugely affect their diet quality and health. Three new studies drive home the point that the best option comes from the faucet.
Recipe for Health: Blueberry Granola Pudding
They might be blue, but there appears to be nothing sad about the heart-healthy benefits of blueberries. When British researchers provided 138 overweight and obese people, ages 50–75, with 150 grams (about 1 cup) of blueberries daily or a placebo for 6 months, they found participants eating the berries experienced various improvements in cardiovascular health, including a reduction in arterial stiffness and improved endothelial functioning.
How to Optimize Your Fitness Site for Sales, Not Just Visitors
Nowadays, a top item on an entrepreneur’s to-do list is building a website. It’s no secret that consumers do their research online before making a purchase decision. They search for information about fitness services and then weigh their options, comparing what you offer to what your competitors provide.
So, yes, your business needs a website.
How—And Why—To Optimize Your Website for Voice Searches
Alexa, where is a hot yoga class near me?
Siri, how many reps should I do when I’m strength training?
If your potential clients haven’t uttered one of those phrases yet, they soon will—as voice search becomes the way of the future.
Simple Exercises to Improve Posture
Did you know that good posture helps minimize stress on tendons, joints and ligaments? Plus, better posture can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Good posture may improve your job prospects, verbal communication, self-confidence and mood and enhance how others see you.
Ryan Halvorson, chief content officer for Fit Scribe Media and a TriggerPoint® master trainer, explains exercises that can help you improve posture.
The Instructor-or-Influencer Challenge: Social Media and Fitness Instructors
Exceptional group fitness instructors are influential. But is their influence an outcome of great instruction or its origin? When group fitness pros apply for a job, practical teaching skills and knowledge of exercise and movement top the list of “must-haves,” so what about social media influence? Is it relevant? It’s becoming more commonplace to judge group fitness candidates on their social media presence, but should this be the case?
Starting a Home Yoga Practice
Do you love taking yoga classes? Learning from a skilled teacher is essential for any yoga student, but classes can be full and are sometimes fast-paced. A self-initiated, self-led home practice is an opportunity to enhance your body awareness and sensitivity, shedding light on misalignments or tight areas that might go unnoticed in the studio. Moments of awareness are important because they inform future yoga practice and enhance your knowledge of your body and yourself.
How to Triple Your Monthly Income with Virtual Training
Have you ever asked yourself, “how can I grow my professional training business when I am spending so much time driving from session to session?”
We hear this all too often in the professional training community, which is why many trainers have expanded into offering virtual training sessions. It’s the fastest way to tripling your monthly income while cutting your travel time in half. Sound too good to be true? Read Henry’s story below to learn more.
