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Research/News
Fitness Community and Exercise Levels
To increase involvement, fitness managers and directors may want to facilitate ways for members to develop a fitness community.
Neighborhood Walking and Social Connection
Fitness professionals may want to consider supporting simple local activities, such as neighborhood walking, to boost “social capital.
The Connection Between Pets and Wellness
Is there scientific evidence that pets can help us heal and thrive? And should personal trainers factor it into their program design?
Yoga Mobility and Stability for Pain
While instructors are not expected to act as physical therapists, it’s worthwhile to learn how to program yoga mobility for pain management.
Recipe: Peanut “Beans” and Greens
Nothing says comfort like a well-cooked pot of greens over fragrant rice with the surprise savory element of peanuts infusing the lip-smacking “pot likker.”
Postpartum Moms Seek Group Exercise
Researchers in Australia conducted a qualitative study to identify what is needed to engage and maintain exercise among postpartum moms.
Sleep Hygiene Is One Key to Health
Sleep hygiene consists of habits and behaviors that help us to get enough good-quality sleep to leave us refreshed, both physically and mentally. These days, improving sleep hygiene is a priority for many overstressed clients,…
Fitness Genetics Impact Exercise Outcomes
If your clients train together but have different outcomes, part of the reason for this may be fitness genetics.
Indoor Cycling by Science
There you sit, spinning your mental wheels, trying to create a successful indoor cycling workout . . . again. What if you had an easy-to-follow template that would empower you to design effective, fun classes and get results week after week, ride after ride? These programming formulas can easily be adapted to cardio indoor cycling classes, using the four-step system described here.
Billy Blanks: A Celebration of Creativity and Character
Billy Blanks was born with an anomaly in his hip joints that left him clumsy and subject to taunts. He found strength—both physically and of character—in karate, and he went on to a successful career as a martial arts champion, bodyguard and movie star. That in itself is a pretty amazing story. But in Blanks’ case, that’s just the preface . . .
5 Most Popular Articles in 2021
What piqued reader interest this past year? Here we recap our top 5 popular articles that received the most reads in 2021!
Thriving as an Introvert in an Extroverted Role
You likely started teaching because you wanted to help people on their wellness journeys, but being an introvert can pose challenges.
Exercise, Life Purpose and Happiness
Exercise, life purpose and happiness are a trio of ideas that enhance each other in meaningful ways. While your clients might not agree about the happiness part when they’re in the middle of a set of burpees, linking all the beyond-the-biceps benefits together can provide motivation and greater success.
Small Group Training Remains #1 Income Earner
The landscape of the fitness industry looks different these days. Fitness enthusiasts and newcomers alike are approaching the gym with a different perspective. Large gyms with big groups are not as appealing, nor is the price tag of a personal trainer. Small group training (SGT) via boutique studios, private trainers, or online platforms is the preferred activity of fitness participants, especially for personalized instruction. SGT also remains the number one profit center in clubs. If you are stuck in a rut of instructing one-on-one training or group classes (online or in-person), now is the time to enter the “Sweet Spot” of SGT, increase your offerings, and begin earning your worth.
Exercise Boosts Neuroplasticity, Helping Depression
In studying physical activity’s effect on depression, researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany found that exercise simultaneously lifts mood and boosts neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change. It is neuroplasticity that lets us adapt to challenges…
With Gyms Open, Are Clients Ready?
With many gyms open again—some after long closures—IDEA put three questions to five fitness pros from around the country: Are you now operating at full capacity? How are clients adapting as they return to the gym?…
Tai Chi Is Good for Older Adults
Why tai chi? These Chinese movement patterns have been around for centuries. In recent years, study after study has proven their benefits—particularly for older exercisers—yet most fitness professionals seem to know little about the practice….
Yoga for the Back
Updated on June 17, 2021. According to the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, about 16 million adults in the U.S. have persistent or chronic back pain and are limited in some everyday activities as a…
Fit to Travel: Exercises for Seniors
Programming exercises for seniors is more important than ever, especially now that travel is opening up again, but your clients may not have kept up with their workouts over this last year. Here are some great ways to prepare your active agers for more adventure.
Group Exercise May Help Older Adults Combat Loneliness
Group exercise not only boosts physical health but, for older adults, may also support mental well-being by reducing feelings of aloneness.
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