Kabuki Strength Transformer Bar: Is it a Good Investment for Your Personal Training Studio?
The Kabuki Strength Transformer Bar is a safety squat bar that uses adjustable loading positions to change how the lift feels during use. It is a must-have due to its adaptability, core-bracing facilitation of the handles, and the variation in exercise selection it offers. It has held up well in our personal training studio, and […]
Exercise of the Week: Vertical Lever Row
Emphasis The primary muscles stressed in this movement are the muscles in your upper back (latissimus dorsi and rhomboids). The secondary muscles stressed are the shoulders and biceps. Starting Position Adjust the seat and chest pad to the position designated by the trainer. Grip the handle in the assigned position with your arms extended forward. […]
The Untold Truth: What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Personal Trainer
What I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me Before Entering Personal Training When I first set out on my career path, personal training wasn’t my first choice—it was my plan B. My original goal was to become a physical therapist, but I had to pivot when I didn’t get into PT school. Before getting rejected […]
Movement Variability: A Critical Tool for Personal Trainers
Movement variability refers to the natural variations in motor performance across multiple task repetitions. Unlike traditional training models emphasizing rote repetition (repetitive repetition with no variation) and technical rehearsal to achieve movement automation, research shows that learning and performance are nonlinear processes (Caldeira et al., 2023). This means repeatedly practicing the same way does not […]
How Attentional Focus Impacts Motor Learning and Performance: A Guide for Personal Trainers
Attentional focus—whether internal or external—is crucial in movement execution and skill acquisition. For personal trainers, understanding the impact of cueing strategies on client performance is essential for optimizing motor learning. While research has traditionally favored external focus (EF) over internal focus (IF), emerging studies suggest that the efficacy of cueing depends on individual differences, task […]
Pain Psychology, Placebo, and the Nocebo Effect in Personal Training
The exercise experience extends beyond the physical realm and is deeply intertwined with psychology, such as the nocebo effect. Response expectancy theory, developed by Dr. Irving Kirsch, suggests that expectations shape people’s experiences. Understanding this concept is crucial for personal trainers as it helps explain why individuals may respond differently to the same exercise. This […]
Fundamental Squat Technique, Cueing, and Modifications
The squat is arguably the most ubiquitous and programmed exercise in the personal trainer’s toolbox. This article will discuss fundamental squat technique, not a specific variation of the squat or corrective exercise strategies. It explores key points widely applicable to various types of squats, highlighting essential elements that remain constant regardless of the variation being […]
Osteoporosis: What Personal Trainers Need to Know
Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue and loss of bone mass. It affects 13.4 million people aged 50 and over (11.2 million women and 2.2 million men) (CDC). Low bone density, the precursor to osteoporosis, affects 47.6 million people with low bone mass (30.7 million women and 16.9 million […]