Strength training is an important part of any exercise program. Strength training refers to strengthening and conditioning the overall body in terms of muscular balance. Strength training strengthens the tendons, ligaments and joints to lower the risk of injury and...
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One Arm Dumbbell Rows
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 Place your left knee on a flat bench and place your left hand...
Exercise of the Week: Medium Grip Lat Pulldowns
Emphasis The primary muscles stressed in this movement are the muscles in your upper back (latissimus dorsi - middle toward the center of the back). The secondary muscles stressed are the shoulders and biceps. Starting Position Using a bar with stirrups in each end,...
Hitting the Sweet Spot for Diabetic Clients
One of the most recent subspecialties emerging within the personal training arena is a certification in Corrective Exercise. As our population ages, and as these individuals strive to remain active, we are seeing an uptick in gym members with artificial limbs,...
Exercise of the Week: Wide Grip Lat Pulldown (To the Front)
Emphasis The primary muscles stressed in this movement are the muscles in your upper back (outer latissimus dorsi). The secondary muscles stressed are the biceps and shoulders. Starting Position Grip the bar in the designated position with your arms extended straight...
Exercise of the Week: Straight Barbell Row
Straight Barbell Rows are a staple movement to develop maximum pulling strength and core stability. 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...
The Reality of Reducing Body Fat
To say that Americans are preoccupied with losing weight is putting it mildly. Losing weight isn't hand, but even the most "experienced" losers often do not understand how to do so effectively and safely. The process is simple, but it has been complicated over the...
Connecting the Dots: The Emerging Role of Health Coaching, Pt. 2
In a recently published article on Health Coaching, I offered an overview of this exciting field, outlining the many positive attributes such a service can provide for our personal training clients. In Part Two, we will explore in more detail some specific methods...
Tips for Training the 45+ Age Group
What should individuals 45 years of age and older look for when shopping (interviewing) for a personal trainer? According to recent research, 51% of all personal training clientele are 45 years of age or older. This would stand to reason as this group has over 50% of...
Improving Cholesterol Levels Through Healthy Habits
There is much you can do to increase your HDL (good) cholesterol and decrease your LDL (bad) cholesterol through lifestyle improvements. In fact, government health officials recommend that most American adults with cholesterol problems should first change their health...
Designing an Adaptive Program for a Client with Multiple Sclerosis
I currently intern in the Fitness department of the YMCA in Dublin, Ireland while studying for my personal training certification. I had an opportunity recently to take part in the development of a program for a client with very unique needs due to a serious, degenerative, illness: Multiple Sclerosis.
Exercising to Reduce Stroke Risk
It is known that exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. The findings demonstrate that "one of the most simple, natural and cheapest ways of preventing a stroke is to exercise regularly". Regular, moderate exercise...
Try the Sty: Adding Mud to your Workout
Ever heard the expression “happy as a pig in mud?” Mud adds delirium to everyone’s life – from this little piggy to that healthy human. Plus, it’s the perfect addition to any fitness regimen. Mix It Up Adventure race training that incorporates both mud and obstacles...
Restore the Core
This information is from Chris Kelly’s eLearning continuing education course: Restore the Core: Integrated Core Training for Real World Function. See the full course for additional core assessments with video, and several core exercises and progressions with videos....
Sleep is Important for your Personal Training Clients
As many ambitious insomniacs have learned, working out in the evening makes most people too alert to sleep well. You need to schedule your workouts to be more in tune with your body's natural wake and sleep cycles. In fact, doctors say you sleep best when your...
Training Overweight Children
Health professionals and others have expressed a concern at the rising rates of obesity in all segments of the population, including adolescent and children. In less than 30 years, the obesity rate of children and teens has doubled. And for children ages 6 to 11, they...
The Importance of Water for your Personal Training Clients
Water is crucial in the functioning and maintenance of the body. Water is everywhere, from the jelly inside the eyeballs to the fluid inside our skulls in which the brain floats. It helps keep muscles expanding and contracting, the lungs moist for breathing, controls...
Exercise is Strong Medicine for your Personal Training Clients
Patterns of modern living have channeled the average senior into an increasingly sedentary existence. Human beings, however, were built for movement and it appears that physiologically they have not adapted well to this reduced level of activity. "Regular exercise" is...