Adduction is the movement of a body limb toward the mid-line. In the hip, it's the action of the femur (leg) coming closer to the middle of the body (or other leg). Hip adductors are muscles that bring the femur toward the midline. Hip abductors are muscles on the...
Beverly Hosford
Beverly Hosford, MA teaches anatomy and body awareness using a skeleton named Andy, balloons, play-doh, ribbons, guided visualizations, and corrective exercises. She is an instructor, author, and a business coach for fitness professionals. Learn how to help your clients sleep better with in Bev's NFPT Sleep Coach Program and dive deeper into anatomy in her NFPT Fundamentals of Anatomy Course.
6 Self-Care Tips for Personal Trainers to Use Between Sessions
"Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transferred." This is one part of physics class that sticks with me to this day. I can't help but apply it to my career. There is only so much time in a day and it seems energy is in short supply also. Dogs spend...
Checklist For Starting a Personal Training Business
The lifestyle of a fitness entrepreneur can be both appealing and intimidating. It offers you the ability to make your own schedule and take time off when you need to. But, there is a lot to account for financially, especially when starting a gym from scratch. The...
4 Critical Exercise Technique Form Cues
Many people hire a personal trainer to ensure good form and posture while exercising. Exercise can be harmful if done improperly. The better your cues, the more effective and safe the exercises are for your clients. What are form cues? Form cues help people get into a...
Personal Training Client Communication: 7 Words That Interfere
Do you want to be more effective in getting your message across to clients? Or promote a class that you're teaching? The way you communicate can make or break your ability to succeed in every day conversations. Cleaning up your vocabulary is a great way to "sell"...
Renting Gym Space As a Personal Trainer: Maximize Profits By Becoming an Expert Negotiater
Personal trainers have many options when it comes to training venues, of which, renting gym space at someone else’s facility is one. Are you currently searching for a facility to train your clients at? Navigating the numbers can be tricky for personal trainers who are independent contractors. Some of us take what we can get without much thought and others have the option to choose between various facilities and options. It can be confusing.
Four Easy Steps to Get More Personal Training Clients
#1 Train Friends and Family for free or by donation. Many trainers build their business with this one task. Make sure you're certified, have business insurance and a business tax license. It's also smart to have a liability waiver and health history form, so you can...
You Have Nine Hamstring Muscles
Everybody knows there are three hamstring muscles. Some people realize that there are actually four. Very few people recognize all nine. Are you ready to take your anatomy knowledge to the next level? Let’s do it! Definition of Hamstring “The word "ham" is derived...
Make Social Media Worth Your While: 4 Do’s and Dont’s
Do you ever lose track of time while on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? It happens to many of us. It’s easy to get caught up reading stories and looking at photos. It's enjoyable. But, sometimes it causes stress too. Follow these tips to make your time spent on...
The Ideal Way to Measure Fat Loss
“I haven’t lost any weight” is a statement most personal trainers dread. How do you address clients after they step off an unchanged scale? Sometimes their clothes fit better, but seeing the same number on the scale week after week is usually disappointing. You might...
Which is Better: Isolated or Functional Exercise? Part 2 of 2
In Part One, I talked about Functional Exercise. Click Here if you need to catch up. Now, it’s time to explore Isolated Exercise. The leg curl (hamstring) machine at the gym or the adductor (inner thigh) machine are traditionally "isolated exercises". When taking a...
Which is Better: Isolated or Functional Exercise? Part 1 of 2
You've got 600 muscles in your body and learn about 100 of them when getting personal training certified. Which ones do you remember? Biceps, Hamstrings, Triceps? Those are common ones. For a challenge, get out a piece of paper and write down as many as you can...
Making Fitness Videos: 4 Do’s and Don’ts
Everyone is buzzing about making money online. One of the biggest trends for fitness professionals is to earn extra money through videos. There's exceptional content out there and some that's really bad. Surely you've seen both? If you've got a video camera on your...
The Best Diet You Can Follow
Low fat, low cholesterol, lean meats, no salt and low sugar was the rule when I started in the fitness industry 15 years ago. Luckily, 3 1/2 years ago I stopped following the trends. I was fortunate to stumble upon the most frustrating experience of my life. It...
“Exercise is Boring”
Insert CRINGE. Has anyone ever said this to you? Or worse, have you ever felt this way? “If you’re bored, you aren't paying attention.” I once heard this quote and find it to be very true. Have you ever gotten caught up in too much conversation while working with...
The Truth About Sitting
Desk posture protocols are plentiful. There are many rules to follow when sitting like a proper human being. Knees in line with the toes Wrists in line with the elbows Keep the neck aligned with the spine Don’t slouch Shoulders back What other ones do you teach people...
What’s Love Got to do with Exercise?
Whether you like it or not, love is in the air. Pink and red decorate shopping malls and restaurants. Cute cuddly bears and delicious treats are everywhere. Transform this holiday theme into a discussion about health. Start with yourself and then talk with the...
Personal Trainer Spotlight: Matt Hirschberg
Matthew D. Hirschberg is the Personal Training Director of Body Renew Fitness and a Master Trainer, State Representative and Subject Matter Expert through the National Federation of Professional Trainers. He holds separate certifications through the National Academy...