The Way We Eat: Environmental Impact
Personal trainers have a responsibility to address the dietary habits of their clients. We can make plenty of suggestions, share articles, and raise awareness of the benefits of eating. a certain way, but we should also be prepared to address the environmental impact of the eating habits we recommend. Healthy Bodies and Healthy Planet The […]
De Arte Gymnastics: Research on Fitness From 1569 AD
Research and education are important in fitness. Continuing education is a big part of our careers as fitness professionals. New research and information is a regular occurrence in our field, and sometimes it’s hard to filter or keep up-to-date. But that wasn’t always the case. The earliest known text on fitness is De Arte Gymnastica, […]
Stability Training: Load vs Platform
Balance and stability can be considered the foundations of fitness. Our best programs consist of proper progressions, from a long-term design perspective, and for each individual session. Stable foundation and core control, movement patterns and mobility, strength, and power. Of course we integrate sleep, recovery, and mindfulness as well, among many other things. Therefore, a […]
How Fitness Clients Misjudge Future Gym Commitment
Whenever we are approached by a new client, the level of motivation they have for committing to exercise is likely quite high–at that moment. But, as many trainers will discover, motivation and interest in fitness clients’ goals are likely to wax and wane, depending on life situations, seasons, outside circumstances, etc. What can personal trainers […]
The Plank: Quality Over Quantity
The plank is one of our most trusted tools in personal training for conditioning the muscles of the core. You can find multiple articles about its effectiveness within the NFPT blog. NFPT recommends using a variety of core exercises including “dynamic moves, (balance) and isometric exercises” in any well-rounded exercise program. But, like any effective […]
Benefits of Plank: Emerging Research on Strength and Immune Function
Recent research has shown there to be even more benefits of plank exercise programming for fitness clients. Further research has also shown a variety of similarities and differences in using variations of plank, multiple platforms, and variable equipment to increase the instability of a plank. In order to provide the best service and support to […]
How Fit Pros Can Leverage Commitment Devices to Promote Healthy Behaviors
Committing to a healthy lifestyle delivers its obvious benefits that most won’t argue with, yet most of our fitness clients wrestle with this commitment daily. Exercising and eating well generally result in many positive health outcomes and measures; the more we stick to living a healthy life, the better such results generally are. Therefore, it […]
Supporting Senior Clients: Cultivating a Sense of Belonging
As fitness professionals, supporting senior clients with the skills and tools at our disposal is an important obligation. It is vital that we help our senior clients exercise safely and also offer a number of ways to provide them with nutritional guidance in order to provide the greatest opportunities for improved health outcomes. Cultivating a […]
Effect of Exercise on Cognitive Function: New Research Personal Trainers Should Know About
Recent research has highlighted the many positive attributes of regular physical exercise on cognitive function. Cognitive function is defined essentially as “ the entire process of how we take in, use, and respond to information” (Anshel, 2014). To be more specific, cognitive functions include noticing an external stimulus, perceiving that stimulus, attempting to understand, making […]
Foam Rolling and Depression: Are Stiff Muscles Linked to Major Depressive Disorder?
Personal trainers wise to the relevant link between foam rolling and depression may be in a position to truly help their clients with depression. Exercise and other health behaviors have been proven time and time again to help reduce the symptoms and severity of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Exercise releases natural cannabinoids and various neurotransmitters […]