Gym etiquette plays an important role in any gym, and personal trainers have an obligation to relay certain concepts to our newest clients. Adhering to an etiquette is what makes someone "fit in" or, at least, look or feel like they know what they’re doing and...
Kim Becknell Williams
Kim Becknell Williams is a freelance writer with more than ten years of personal training experience. Certified through NFPT, she is a Functional Training Specialist and holds a Master Trainer level certificate for resistance, endurance and sports nutrition. Kim has written two books including Gym Etiquette 101. She enjoys writing a variety of lifestyle articles and fitness blogs.
Why is it Important to Improve Hand Dexterity?
Personal trainers spend a lot of time with clients strengthening arms, legs, and core, working on flexibility, and building cardio stamina. It may be easy to overlook the hands since they are being used most of the time for all of those other things, right? When we...
4 Ways to Energize Fitness Clients
Training sessions can do a lot of things for our clients. We show them how to gain strength, become more flexible, build confidence, develop better posture, and increase mobility. We are able to plan workout sessions that can also energize. What Creates the Energy?...
Adding Balance Pods to Training Sessions
Balance training is an element every fitness coach can and should incorporate to a well-rounded program. After significant progress has been made, adding balance pods to personal training sessions might be just what your client needs. Read on to learn the what, why,...
Looped Resistance Band Workouts: Going Handle-Free
There are lots of types of exercise bands on the market. The tubed variety with handles offer many options, but plenty can be done with the flat, looped resistance bands as well. They offer unlimited options for storage, working out, and adding variety to exercise...
Murph Challenge Modifications
The Murph Challenge is a tough workout with lots of possibilities. Right now it's popular in the fitness community, but it's not something for the faint of heart. Performing this series of exercises requires strength, endurance, and determination to accomplish it. It...
Helping Clients Find a Workout to LOVE
Valentine's Day rolls around, allowing us as trainers the opportunity to guide clients to focus on loving exercise. This might seem like a big hurdle, but it is possible for clients to find a workout they love. How can we help? Provide Variety Offer a variety of...
The Versatile Stability Ball
The stability ball, also known as a Swiss ball, physio ball, balance ball, or even Yoga ball, is a versatile piece of exercise equipment. While most gyms have a supply of them, it’s handy to have one at home. To be sure clients purchase the right type, there are a few...
Post-Pandemic Gym Modification Rundown
For our clients who have experience working out in fitness centers pre-pandemic, they will likely see modifications since the pandemic. Trainers can assist clients with navigating through these new changes. During the pandemic, most gyms closed temporarily or,...
Mobility Training
Mobility training assists clients with stability, active and passive range of motion, and strength. There are many benefits and outcomes rolled into this type of training. In the fitness world, mobility is defined as a joint's active range of motion before...
Functional Training: Why Your Clients Need It
Functional training enables clients to do daily tasks more easily. It involves strength training utilizing more than one muscle group through compound exercises and, oftentimes, plyometrics. Like a well-oiled machine, this approach to training helps a body move more...
Combatting February Backslide: Keeping Your Clients Engaged
The January resolutioners are out in full gym force for about a month or so. As February arrives in full winter mode, many gym-goers and clients fall off their health and fitness goals. While percentages vary based on the year, as many as 80% of health and exercise...
Using the Wall
Whether you’re training in a client’s home, a gym, or your own home gym, take advantage of the wall. A wall provides the space for stability and is readily available. Using the wall is an excellent way to use what you have.Beginners benefit from wall support as they...
Tire Training: Fun with Tires!
Tire training is often used for sport-specific workouts, but it is also an effective way to exercise for gym-goers and personal training clients. Build strength, increase agility, and endurance while getting a change of pace from regular gym equipment. Tire exercises...
Twelve Days of Fitness Challenge
Inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas song, I've devised a "12 Days of Fitness Challenge." Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or even nothing at all, embrace twelve days in the month of December to focus on fun exercise challenges. It’s one way to keep...
Grunting: Is it Gain or Strain?
Hang out in a gym, especially in a weight room, and you’ll likely hear some grunting. The guttural sound echoes from the gym walls. Is grunting necessary for gain or an indication of too much strain? Let's hash it out. Breathing Technique "While a lot of that can be...
Using Suspension Straps
Have you tried using suspension straps in your training sessions? The hanging suspension straps might not look like much, but they’re loaded with potential. Unlike pulleys attached to weights, the straps allow bodyweight, coordination, and gravity to do the work. No...
Bottoms Up: Upside Down Kettlebells
The kettlebell is a great piece of equipment to build and maintain strength. Chances are, you’ve had experience with kettles. The KB allows a swinging motion for lots of beneficial exercises commonly used at gyms and in training sessions. Kettlebells can also be...