For clients and trainers alike, working out is often a time to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect to the moment by tuning into the mind-body. But ask yourself, are you being mindful? Or are you taking sneak peeks at your phone to play DJ, set a timer,...
Theresa Perales
Theresa Perales has an MA in Spanish, and is an ESL teacher at San Diego State University (SDSU). After years of struggling with her weight, she decided to give exercise a try. A passion for health and fitness grew instantly and inspired her to become certified as a personal trainer with NFPT, and as a group fitness instructor with AFAA Group Fitness and Madd Dog Athletics® Spinning. Theresa believes that nutrition and fitness are not about aesthetics but ultimately about feeling healthy and empowered.
“Love Your Body” Personal Trainer Challenge
After recently confronting my own body image struggles, I challenge you, as personal trainers, to do the same if you also face such issues. Despite outward appearances and how our clients may perceive our fit physiques, fitness professionals don't always have healthy...
Stepping Off the Scale for Weight Loss Success
Recently I overheard some clients commiserating about their “dreaded numbers on the scale.” This challenged me to troubleshoot the issue from many different angles until I saw a change. I decided to steer the conversation in the direction of body fat % as a more...
Muscular Strength and Endurance Programming for Women
Introducing women to the world of strength training in an approachable way has been my mission as of late. Swapping isolated movements for compound movements; placing “masculine” equipment in their hands, and proving to them that they are stronger than they imagined...
Training Women to Be Strong
Many women, when given the choice, prefer cardio over weightlifting. This past year has been eye-opening for me as I’ve introduced more strength training techniques to my female clients. What has come as a shock to me is what women perceive they cannot do and their...
Four Squat Variations and Muscles to Target
Squats are not one-size-fits-all when it comes to creating the apple bottom clients are vying for. Each position has a purpose that goes beyond simply adding variety to a workout. When you alter the squat movement you change the targeted muscles and outcome of the...
Squat Progression: Barbell Back Squat
Back (barbell) squats are a great progression because they build leg and hip strength, promote full body mobility and stability, increase core strength, and burn fat. Are your clients ready to add weight to their squats? Last month I discussed three trainer approved...
Squat Regressions: Correcting Imbalances and ROM Limitations
Due to their functional, compound nature, squats are a standard movement in any workout program. It is, therefore, safe to say that most fitness professionals likely include some variation of this exercise in their sessions. Squats are undoubtedly in the main workout...
Instagram: Promote Your Clients. Build Your Business.
Use Instagram to build your personal training business in 2018. It's a necessary tool in the fitness industry. If you do not already have an Instagram (IG) profile for your fitness business or persona, you might want to join the other 25 million businesses on...
Six Variations for HIIT Training
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an exciting workout protocol that benefits most populations. Sometimes modifications are necessary and other times variety is warranted just to mix it up. Each personal training client has his or her own preferences and...
Try These HIIT Workout Variations to Avoid Client Boredom
Pyramids, To-Do Lists, Circuits, and Add-Ons are great ways to vary HIIT protocols. Get creative with the work-to-rest ratios. Over the past few months, I have been introducing some of my clients’ favorite high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols. Don't your...
EMOM Strength Workout
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been a hit not just with busy clients but among all demographics because there is so much variety to play around with in terms of protocols and work-to-rest ratios. EMOM variety is the spice of HIIT. HIIT Protocols As...
AMRAP Protocols: A Quick HIIT
The traditional HIIT protocol of work, rest, repeat may start to feel redundant if the workouts your personal training clients are doing lack variety in their movements, load, or even work-to-rest ratios. Consider incorporating "As Many Rounds As Possible" or, AMRAP...
Three Ways to Do Lunges Using Suspension Straps
Suspension straps are a great way to modify lunges to make them easier or more difficult. A win-win for fitness programming! I started using these more in my sessions after speaking with 50 personal trainers and fitness instructors about their go-to lunge...
Advanced Suspension Strap Lunges – From Regression to Progression
What Can I Do Instead of Lunges? A few months ago several clients were experiencing some physical discomfort doing lunges and expressed their desire to do something altogether different. Naturally, I obliged but decided that I’d like to build lunges back into their...
Intermediate Suspension Strap Lunges
What can you do to up the ante once clients have become comfortable with their beginner suspension strap lunge? Of course, you could simply remove the straps and have clients continue to work on static lunges without any equipment, but it is nice to spice things up a...
Suspension Strap Lunges for Beginners
Suspension straps provide a great modification to lunges for the beginner or someone rehabbing. Even though lunges are a tried and true exercise for personal trainers and fitness fanatics, not everyone can start with them. In my quest to find the best practices of...
30 Minute HIIT Workout Using Tabata Protocol
Lately, many clients, and heck, even myself, have found our busy schedules are interfering with our longer workouts, so we’ve been exploring more HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) protocols in order to meet and/or maintain our workout goals. If you have a client...