Often we instruct our personal training clients to help work out muscular tension and pain with static or even dynamic stretching. When this doesn't resolve the issue, the problem may actually reside in restricted nerves, not muscles! Trainers can help clients...
Cathleen Kronemer
Cathleen Kronemer is an NFPT CEC writer and a member of the NFPT Certification Council Board. Cathleen is an AFAA-Certified Group Exercise Instructor, NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer, ACE-Certified Health Coach, former competitive bodybuilder and freelance writer. She is employed at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis, MO. Cathleen has been involved in the fitness industry for over three decades. Feel free to contact her at trainhard@kronemer.com. She welcomes your feedback and your comments!
Weighted Vests: Dressing For Fitness Success
The notion of wearing a weighted vest might occur to a fitness enthusiast for things like pushups and pullups, but what about for other goals? Convincing new research points us in the direction of weighted vests as the latest tools for building power, strength, and...
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Announcing some breaking news not revolving around the Coronavirus: this month, throughout the United States, we celebrate the importance of physical fitness. Don’t miss out on the fun! Historical Perspective on Exercise Throughout our country’s history, American...
The Naked Workout: The Raw Truth About Naked Fitness
Calling all exercise fanatics seeking new adventures in intuitive fitness: consider participating in the up-and-coming experience of raw naked movement! Engaging in a naked workout calls for the liberation of spirit and the mind-body connection to invigorate a fitness...
Carb Timing and Type: Talking to Personal Training Clients about Carbohydrate Fueling
The timing of nutrient intake ranks as one of the most hotly debated issues in fitness. Whether one exercises in a fasted state or post-fueling, carb timing specifically can vary in effectiveness, dependent upon your personal training clients' goals and personal...
Coffee Hacks: Boosting Your Java Jolt
Coffee and creativity seem to go hand-in-hand, often to the nutritional benefit of the savvy consumer and coffee hack enthusiast. Wake up and take a sip of the healthiest additions to your morning brew! Welcome to the stay-at-home community! In addition to processing...
Mighty Mitochondria: Powerhouses of the Cells
Mitochondria play a huge role in our energy levels and our metabolic functions. Can we help clients make the most of these cells’ power? As tiny as these organelles seem, mitochondria are the trillions of microscopic energy factories that power the body, turning the...
Live Out Loud as an Exclamation, Not an Explanation
“Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.” Attitude is everything when it comes to success, especially with goals and behavior. Throughout our daughters’ upbringing, especially during the difficult middle-school years, my husband would often remind them...
Workout Hangover? Blame Training, Not Alcohol
Have clients ever complained of experiencing unusual and daunting exhaustion after several intense sessions at the gym? In addition to a cascade of other physiological processes, he or she may have fallen victim to an all-too-common “workout hangover.” Overtraining =...
Training Load Territory: A Measure of Intensity
The theory of exercise states that by placing a strain upon the body, followed by proper recovery, one can make his body stronger. The principle of training load encompasses the amount of strain placed on the body via activities performed over time. The ultimate goal?...
Isometrics Programming: Exploring Optimal Approaches
As described in a previous article, Isometrics programming is a specific mode of exercise that can complement any workout program and offer a multitude of rarely considered benefits, including strength gains amidst a plateau. Here, I offer techniques, intervals,...
Words Have Power: Enhance Trainer-Client Relationships With Better Word Choices
If we don't stop and think about the words we speak or even write, we may inflict harm we don't intend to, especially with regard to our clients' bodies and self-image. Words have power, and we can wield them for the better or the worse in our fitness profession. The...
Helping Athletes Recover From Overtraining Syndrome
Personal trainers may occasionally work with clients who consistently push themselves too hard and too frequently. The ramifications of this habitual body-battering are far-reaching. An athlete or fitness client who does not allow for enough recovery time between...
Is Your Libido Losing to Your Workouts?
The majority of avid exercisers make the mistake of monitoring muscle soreness when deciding whether their bodies are ready for yet another tough workout. However, overtraining – or “under-recovering” -- does not originate in the muscles, but rather has an impact on...
Good News for Runners: It’s Good for Your Knees
The sport of running has always carried with it the stereotype that it might damage one’s knees. New research aims to change that perception, suggesting recreational running as a panacea for middle-aged knee osteoarthritis. You might find you have clients in their...
Brain Fitness: How Athletics Can Hone Mental Skills
We seldom question the physical benefits that exercise has on our bodies, but the benefits to the brain and higher functioning are not as regularly touted. How does being active and playing sports really impact the brain? Can someone improve "brain fitness"? “No one...
Pedal into the Peloton World
Technology is changing the way many Americans exercise today. From Smartwatches to virtual class experiences, and even intelligent home gyms, individuals are embracing ever more convenient ways to work out and track progress. The Peloton system is among these gadgets...
Micro-HIIT: Exercise Efficiently On A Time Crunch
Maximizing results in the gym may seem all about how many grueling hours we exercise. However, new research indicates that we can train smarter instead of longer by changing up protocols and moves. In fact, short intense bouts such as micro-HIIT in or out of the gym,...