Activities of Daily Life and Posture: What Personal Trainers Need to Know
How much does our personal training clients’ posture truly affect back pain? And what do activities of daily life (ADLs) have to do with it? What is Good Posture? Posture refers to the delicate balance of bones, muscles, and connective tissues as we stand, sit, and move. Proper posture allows the body to remain in […]
Activities of Daily Life and Posture: What Personal Trainers Need to Know
How much does our personal training clients’ posture truly affect back pain? And what do activities of daily life (ADLs) have to do with it? What is Good Posture? Posture refers to the delicate balance of bones, muscles, and connective tissues as we stand, sit, and move. Proper posture allows the body to remain in […]
Rucking: A Weighted Hike for Health and Fitness
The military’s practice of marching with a weighted pack on one’s back, or “rucking”, aims to foster the development of a strong and highly desirable soldier. Why not introduce our personal training clients to weighted hikes for health and fitness? Walking versus Hiking versus Rucking The lowest-lying fruit for improving cardiorespiratory health is walking. Unless […]
This Sweet Truth May Turn Your Protein Shake Sour: The Effects of Artificial Sweeteners
Is it possible for a “clean” protein source to work against your muscle-gaining goals and harbor toxic chemicals and artificial sweeteners? The answer may terrify personal trainers and their clients; the details are quite disturbing. Numerous protein supplements available to serious athletes today contain artificial sweeteners such as sucralose (marketed as Splenda) and aspartame. These […]
This Sweet Truth May Turn Your Protein Shake Sour: The Effects of Artificial Sweeteners
Is it possible for a “clean” protein source to work against your muscle-gaining goals and harbor toxic chemicals and artificial sweeteners? The answer may terrify personal trainers and their clients; the details are quite disturbing. Numerous protein supplements available to serious athletes today contain artificial sweeteners such as sucralose (marketed as Splenda) and aspartame. These […]
Fun, Functional Movement for Young Clients With Limb Weakness
Lower limb weakness can present in children and young people who are diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy. Regardless of its etiology, lower limb weakness in adolescents can be improved through prudent and creative strength movements that any personal trainer can assist with. As athletes and personal trainers, we are quite familiar […]
What Is the Optimal Training Volume and Intensity for Strength Gains? Is More Actually Less?
Volume, frequency, and load all factor into a successful resistance training program. Many personal training clients ask how often they should work out, how intensely, balancing cardio and weight training…but so much more comes into play. The gaining of lean muscle mass, or hypertrophy, does not proceed along a “cookie-cutter” format for all of our […]
Balancing the Omega Fatty Acid Ratio in the Standard American Diet
Most health and fitness professionals have come to accept the premise that more omega-3 fatty acids in the diet can help control inflammation and heart health. However, the picture gets muddied when we consider that the average American diet finds us ingesting more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3’s. Balancing this fatty acid ratio plays a […]
Involving the Whole Muscle Cell in Holistic Training
In holistic exercise, the focus rests not on isolating a specific muscle or body part, but rather on strengthening all the muscles in the body together. It takes into consideration the interconnectedness of each muscle group, and how they all work together to create/promote movement, balance and stability. Read on to learn ways trainers can […]
Curious About Quercetin? Its Benefits May Surprise You
Quercetin, a supplement commonly found on health-food store shelves, also seems of interest to those in the exercise/sports realm. Here we aim to provide an overview of the chemical structure, biological activities, and bioavailability of quercetin. Whether we choose to incorporate quercetin-rich foods into our daily meal plan, or consume it in a supplemental form, […]