Archive for January 2008
Heart Disease and Women
Did you know that heart disease is the leading killer of females in America? Not only does heart disease kill more women than men each year, but females who survive a cardiac event fare much worse than their male counterparts. Yet many women fail to recognize the toll that cardiovascular disease (CVD) can take on their bodies, and thus fail to do what is necessary to reduce the risk of getting …
Read MoreStay Seated!
The cool-down is as important as the highest hill we climb, the most challenging interval we push through and the hardest flat we race. However, to many participants the cool-down is a waste of time and a cue that class is over. Their hearts aren’t pounding, their legs aren’t burning—nothing is happening, right? Wrong! The time spent transitioning out of hard work zones and into easy breathing …
Read MoreCould You Be a Cybertrainer?
If you’re considering expanding your services into cyberspace or adding to your current online offerings, now’s the time. On an average day, 113 million adults look for health information online. More than 57% of Americans watch or download videos from the Internet, and 12% of Internet users have downloaded audio files known as podcasts. Prospective clients are virtually everywhere! Given that …
Read MoreA Balancing Act
Yoga 360, created by IDEA member Desiree Bartlett, MS, uses a special circular yoga mat (called the 360 Degree Mat) that "optimizes feminine energy." The 75-minute multidimensional movement class is "full of arcs, ellipses and spirals." "Fluid sequencing allows for greater freedom in movement and is inspired by yoga and dance, while the shape of the mat…
Read MoreConsider everything when choosing a gym
Choices, choices: There's a perfect fitness fit out there. Above, personal trainer Lauren Jones-McClain rides a stationary bike at the Pulse Fitness Club in downtown Dallas. She started with location, location, location. Because her living situation was up in the air after moving to Texas from Northern California, she decided to look for a gym near her job i…
Read More10 Things Your Personal Trainer Won’t Tell You
1. "I'm a specialist — in marketing myself as a health expert." Personal training is more popular than ever. Today an estimated 91% of health clubs offer it, and some 6.3 million Americans are signing up for sessions, up from four million in 1998, says the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. But the growth has fueled competition among trainers, who a…
Read MorePersonal Training: Servicing Your Market
Getting a solid start at servicing your market begins with every single interaction you and your staff have with prospective and existing customers. At Twist Conditioning, our customer service mantra is "Underpromise; overdeliver." We aspire to provide great quality, value and benefits. Although we do promise a lot, we avoid pledging more than we can realistically expect to deliver. …
Read MoreSports Stretch on the Ball
Mobility and stability are essential elements of functional performance. An athlete may have acquired exceptional skill and be able to perform at an elite level; however, if the athlete hasn’t enhanced her foundation of mobility and stability to keep pace with the developing skill, performance m…
Read MoreVisualizing with Color
Why can color have such a powerful effect on us? Color can stimulate our energy or dull our senses. Bright colors tend to be uplifting, while muted colors are usually more relaxing. One color can even seem repulsive to us, while another may be strongly appealing.
Read MorePilates Equipment Liability and Safety, Part 2
Pilates continues to be among the fastest-growing exercise trends in the United States. All signs indicate that the Pilates fire will continue to spread
Read MoreFeedback From the Field: Participant Injuries
In a previous issue of Inner IDEA Body-Mind-Spirit Review, we asked: Has a client or participant ever been injured while taking a class or
Read MoreStudy: Eating Slowing Inhibits Appetite
Mindful eating may be getting a boost from science. For more than 30 years, dieters have been told to eat slowly to reduce their intake of food. But until now, there has been no scientific evidence to support the theory.
Read MoreValues and Adherence
One of the greatest frustrations we can experience as wellness professionals is to have clients and participants who enthusiastically sign on for our services and then take none of our advice. Later they wonder
Read MoreTeaching Restorative Yoga
Students come to a restorative class to let go of the stresses of everyday life—including the need to do things right and the constant pressure to improve or to achieve. The teacher who understands that motivation can provide
Read MoreMeditation and Post-Traumatic Stress
Miami and Ohio State university researchers are using an ancient technique to address a modern problem. With a $98,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Deborah Akers, Miami visiting assistant professor of anthropology
Read MorePilates for Hip and Knee Patients
A Pilates program specifically designed for patients undergoing knee and hip replacements during the pre- and post-operative phases may speed recovery
Read MoreWhat Type of Exercise Do You Use to Help Older Adults Prevent Falls?
While a complete strength training, stability and cardiovascular regimen is needed for fall prevention, here are some exercises that will help. Leg strength is crucial, and replicating daily movement patterns is useful. Squats (dumbbell or barbell) are ideal. Also look into bench squats to develop strength and power through the ankle, knee, hip and spine simultaneously. …
Read Morewhite-chicken chili
This hearty, single-pot chicken dish combines traditional spices, such as standard chili powder and cumin, with less traditional herbs, such as oregano and coriander. Cook a big kettle of this chili on a blustery Sunday afternoon and you’ll have leftovers for a quick and healthy dinner on a work night.
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