Best Mode of Resistance Training: Machines or Free Weights?
A long-debated topic among certified personal trainers is deciding the mode of resistance training that yields the greatest benefits. One camp believes machine weights are safer and easier for novice exercisers to adapt to. Another suggests free weights will optimize muscle growth and development while challenging joint stability. Really, if we take a closer look, […]
Ten Things All Personal Trainers Need to Know
As you study to become a fitness professional and obtain an accredited certification, there’s only so much that can be absorbed from textbooks, articles, podcasts, and webinars. Many of the most valuable lessons we need to learn come only after years of experience in the field. The following are 10 revelations I experienced after becoming […]
Five Boundaries Personal Trainers Need to Establish and Maintain
Setting professional boundaries is a significant key to managing a successful personal training business. Personal training is a challenging job. It’s not easy nor is there much “downtime” on any given day. It takes tremendous energy, time, and effort to thoughtfully engage with different personalities every day as well as manage a business and your […]
Five Keys to Client Retention
Much of the business of personal training hinges upon client recruitment. Harnessing their entrepreneurial spirit, fitness professionals spend considerable time developing products and services for their potential clients in the hopes that a potential client will turn into a contracted client. We shouldn’t, however, overlook the value of client retention. Client retention is becoming increasingly […]
Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition: Signs of Deficiency and Toxicity
Vitamins are classified as “micronutrients,” and are necessary components to basic functions, but are also required in the optimal balance to achieve overall health and wellness. Our personal training clients may often inquire about supplementation and whether taking vitamins is necessary. A healthy and balanced diet usually requires all one needs to obtain essential vitamins, […]
Things Great Personal Trainers Do
The fitness industry is dynamic and ever-growing and full of different types of fitness professionals – all of whom have a unique perspective and philosophy when it comes to the art and science of personal training and coaching clients. Although each fitness professional has their own set of specific experiences, approaches, and techniques, you would […]
Eight Ways to Make Exercises More Challenging
As fitness clients make progress toward their health and fitness goals, they often want to keep progressing and making greater performance gains. Finding new ways to challenge clients is not only fun, but can infuse even more creativity into your program planning. It is possible to make exercises harder without defaulting to increased resistance. Try […]
Encouraging Non-Scale Goals for Personal Training Clients
Weight loss goals dominate the minds of many personal training clients. While weight loss, or more accurately–fat loss, is a valid goal for many individuals who seek our services, it is also a product or outcome-based goal. In other words, it’s not a behavior that is subject to change. Instead, weight loss is the result […]
Unintended Consequences of “Clean Eating” for Fitness Clients
“Clean eating” has become yet another fitness buzz phrase as of late. I frequently hear statements such as “how do I eat clean?” or “I need to eat cleaner foods”. I’m sure this is common for you and your fitness clients, too. While these statements are well-intended and can be interpreted by exercise professionals as […]
The Dark Side of Food and Fitness Tracking
Tracking steps, physical activity, food consumption, and water intake offers a great self-monitoring approach. Fortunately, there are multiple fitness tracking devices and free apps on the market that clients (as well as health and exercise pros) can use regularly to keep them accountable, on target towards a goal, and motivated. But when does daily tracking […]