Is walking really an aerobic activity, or a form of exercise that qualifies as "cardio"? Someone recently asked me how many days of cardio I do to stay lean. My answer was, "Zero. Unless you count walking." I do personally think walking qualifies, but I know that's...
Michele Rogers
NFPT Publisher Michele G Rogers, MA, NFPT-CPT and EBFA Barefoot Training Specialist manages and coordinates educational blogs and social media content for NFPT, as well as NFPT exam development. She’s been a personal trainer and health coach for over 20 years fueled by a lifetime passion for all things health and fitness. Her mission is to raise kinesthetic awareness and nurture a mind-body connection, helping people achieve a higher state of health and wellness. After battling and conquering chronic back pain and becoming a parent, Michele aims her training approach to emphasize fluidity of movement, corrective exercise, and pain resolution. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Health Psychology from Northern Arizona University. Follow Michele on Instagram.
Shaundrea Snell–NFPT Personal Trainer Spotlight
Meet Shaundrea, an NFPT-CPT originally from Florida, but currently living in New York City working in finance, just starting out as a personal trainer. Here's how she would like to introduce herself in her own words: "I’m an average person just trying to keep up with...
Understanding Connective Tissue: Fascia and Programming for Integration
The human body is a dynamic machine. We have been designed and created to move,react, create force, withstand being pulled, twisted, and undergo various stressors. However, when the human body exceeds a certain threshold, something gives way. This being connective tissue, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Making one thing inevitable, breakdown or injury. One important contractile element that places an essential role in withstanding stressors and provides static and dynamic support is called fascia.
Understanding Connective Tissue: Tendons and Ligaments
Connective tissue is the most abundant and varied tissue in the body. Most likely, the first variety that comes to mind are your dense tissues, such as tendons and ligaments that connect our muscles and bones together, and are those which our fitness clients are most...
Understanding Connective Tissue
Connective tissue is the most widespread and abundant type of tissue in the human body. Connective tissue that is well vascularized is far less likely to tear or rupture under extreme stress – a desirable characteristic when performing any kind of physical activity.
DOMS: Understanding and Preventing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Every single person who has ever endeavored to take on a new exercise program learned what delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) feels like, even if they don't understand why it occurs. Even conditioned athletes and seasoned fitness enthusiasts are likely to experience...
James Martini–NFPT Personal Trainer Spotlight
James Martini is 22 years old, born in Brooklyn, New York and currently living in Jackson, New Jersey. He has been practicing calisthenics since June 2016. After working on calisthenics for a few years he decided that he wanted to make an impact on other people’s...
Carlos Alvarez–NFPT Personal Trainer Spotlight
How long have you been certified with NFPT? I have been certified with NFPT for almost 2 years, since June 2019. Why did you choose NFPT? I chose NFPT because of the in depth knowledge they provide for one to become an effective trainer. Also, because it is affordable...
Differentiating the Deadlift Variations
For however ubiquitous the deadlift is as a foundation strength movement, the many variations associated with it can understandably lead to some confusion and conflation. What's the difference between a conventional barbell deadift and a Romanian deadlift? Are...
Weekend Warrior Workouts
The "weekend warrior" works hard all week in the rat race and saves up their energy for weekend-only workouts. Research shows that this approach to working out is actually linked to positive health outcomes. One study reported in the Journal of the American Medical...
Tips for Training the Weekend Warrior
Not every client has the time and flexibility to train five days a week like the lifestyle of most fitpros might allow. The "weekend warrior", or the fitness enthusiast who only works out on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (or perhaps only one of those days), is likely...
How to Do a Romanian Deadlift
A Romanian deadlift (RDL) is a variation of a conventional deadlift in which the weight is not set back down on the ground, thereby placing constant tension on the muscles involved in the movement. This deadlift variation is considered an accessory exercise, and used...
How to Do Stiff-Legged Deadlifts
Stiff-legged deadlifts, aka straight-leg deadlifts, are a variation of a conventional deadlift in which far less knee flexion is used to pull the weight from off the floor. Contrary to the terminology in its very name, this does not mean the legs should be locked out...
Greer Hardy–NFPT Personal Trainer Spotlight
Greer Hardy is a 24-year-old personal trainer from Stamford, Connecticut, who strives to help men and women feel their best inside and outside the gym. After just being certified for less than a year, she is earning clients left and right and educating her followers...
Keleigh Hall–NFPT Personal Trainer Spotlight
Keleigh Hall is an NFPT Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutrition Specialist and holds an additional certificate in Core training. She has over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry to include speciality training as well with Total Gym/Gravity Group and...
How to Convert Gym Members into Clients
While the start of 2021 has most gyms re-opened, they are still not at capacity in most states. Many folks have turned to in-home fitness options out of necessity. Remember that this format does not work for everyone, and for those who want to return to the gym...
Goniometry: Should Personal Trainers Know It?
Goniometry is measuring the passive range of motion of a joint using a protractor like device with two arms, called a goniometer, which measures joint angles like a protractor. Why should a personal trainer need to know what goniometry is or how to perform it? What is...
Muscle Tightness: Understanding Overactive and Underactive Muscles
As a certified personal trainer specializing in corrective exercise, I have become increasingly sensitive to the colloquialisms we use as trainers, the ones that our clients use, and the disparities that inevitably occur. One that is oft-misunderstood and...