Exercise/Class Formats
Building a Holiday Wellness Survival Kit
The holiday season brings joy, tradition, and togetherness, but it also brings disruption. Your training routine, nutrition goals, sleep schedule and mental calm can be challenged by extra social obligations,…
Running Never Gets Old
Running is perhaps one of humanity’s most primal movements. Our ancestors ran chasing prey, fleeing danger and traversing terrain. Today it remains one of the simplest and most accessible forms…
Strength Training for Fall Sports: How Weekend Warriors Can Stay Injury-Free
For many weekend warriors, fall sports mean dusting off the cleats, joining recreational leagues, or jumping into pickup games. But without preparation, these spurts of activity can put stress on…
The Science of Stretching Before Your Workout: Help or Hinder?
For years, athletes and fitness enthusiasts were told to hold long stretches before exercise to “loosen up” and prevent injury. Recent research, however, suggests that the type of stretching matters…
Gratitude & Movement: A Simple Fall Practice
Autumn is a season of transition: cooler mornings, shifting light, and a natural slowing of pace. It is also a season that invites reflection. Pairing gratitude with movement offers a…
Obstacle Courses – Historical Roots to Contemporary Times
In the quest for fresh new exercise programs, fitness professionals and personal trainers are rediscovering the benefits of obstacle courses, an exercise workout with deep roots in fitness history. Indeed,…
Mid-Life Physical Activity and Alzheimer’s Disease
Study finds compelling reasons to start or increase a mid-life fitness program. Looking for new ways to motivate your mid-life clients? Let them know that regular physical activity during midlife…
The Bender Ball™: The Crunch-less Core
Leslee Bender has been a leader in the fitness industry for over four decades and was a pioneer in creative functional training, even in the early years of its development….
The Renaissance of Mental Wellness
In recent years, mental wellness has profoundly transformed from an afterthought in the fitness industry to a cornerstone of holistic health programming. This renaissance in mental wellness invites fitness professionals…
New study shows Tai Chi’s power to create structural and functional changes in the brain.
Fitness pros have long understood the benefits of mind-body exercise; now, new research highlights Tai Chi as a particularly effective, non-pharmaceutical strategy that may help clients combat anxiety and stress….
Resistance Training for Cardiometabolic Health
New meta-analysis shows major benefits for clients with diabetes and obesity. A new research review confirms what many fitness pros know – resistance training delivers measurable health improvements, especially for…
Exercise Activates Brain-Protective Cells
Study identifies mechanisms for how physical activity may prevent Alzheimer’s disease. New research reveals why exercise protects brain health. It activates specific brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain’s center…
Cardiovascular Exercise and Vitamin D
New study finds a relationship between aerobic exercise and vitamin D levels. Regular indoor training helps maintain healthy vitamin D levels during winter, even without supplements or fat loss, as…
Integrating Exercise into Clinical Mental Health Care
In recent years, the role of exercise in mental health treatment has gained significant attention. Beyond its physical benefits, regular physical activity is now recognized as a valuable component in…
Guidelines for Aerobic Exercise Training Intensity
New research recommends more individualized training guidelines. A 2025 review published in Sports Medicine challenges traditional aerobic exercise guidelines that rely on fixed percentages of peak heart rate or VO₂…
Fitness Professionals Can Leverage Outdoor Cardio in Late Summer and Fall
As summer winds down and cooler temperatures settle in, fitness professionals have an opportunity to shift their programming – and client engagement – outdoors. This seasonal transition offers more than…
Why Strength Training Boosts Immunity in Fall
As autumn arrives, so does the start of cold and flu season. Beyond keeping you strong, resistance training can play a valuable role in supporting your immune system. Research shows…
Is HIIT Really the Best Fat-Burning Workout?
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has exploded in popularity over the past decade, often touted as the ultimate fat-burning workout. Its appeal lies in efficiency: short bursts of near-maximal effort followed…
The 10,000 Steps Myth: Do You Really Need That Many?
The “10,000 steps a day” benchmark has become a cultural fitness mantra, but its origins trace back to a Japanese marketing campaign in the 1960s rather than scientific evidence. Recent…
Social Fitness Boosts Your Health
Why Social Connections Matter Humans are wired to connect. When we have strong relationships, we not only feel happier, we actually get healthier.Research shows that people with meaningful social connections…