Archive for June 2015
Creating an Inspired Customer Service Experience
An inspired business model is one in which employees genuinely want to generate a positive vibration that makes members feel special. In this membership culture, people not only join your facility; they thrive there.
Read MoreTop Reasons to Train in the Pool
Okinawa-Style Eating
Use a three-pronged approach to help frail participants move better, get stronger and improve their balance.
From Italy to India, many countries can teach us a lot about healthy eatingโand fortunately, a number of traditional eating habits from various nations can be easily implemented into our diets to give them a nutritional upgrade.
Take a cue from the time-honored dietary strategies of Okinawa, Japan. Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, dietitian, freelance nutrition writer and recipe developer in Waterloo, Ontario, shares how.
Read MoreConnecting With Clients
Ted Vickey, MBS, is president of FitWell LLC, an international fitness management and design company serving corporate America and the fitness and golf industries. Often referred to as โthe most connected man in fitness,โ Vickey spent 11 years as executive director of the White House Athletic Center, a post he held throughout the presidencies ofโฆ
Read MoreFitness Prescription Works!
Praise for IDEA Personal Trainer Instituteโข East
I am the health and wellness coordinator for the City of Bloomington
Parks and Recreation Department in Bloomington, Indiana. Iโm writing to
tell you about the Bloomington Walking Club. This informal group meets
for a guided group walk on the paved trails surrounding Olcott Park
every Thursday evening, weather permitting, AprilโOctober. Walkers of
all ability levels are welcome, and participants choose their own pace.
2015 IDEA World Fitness Awards Finalists
Sometimes the difference between being unhealthy and becoming active is a helping handโoften the hand of a qualified fitness professional. Fitness pros around the world are using their education, their skills and, above all, their personal touch to encourage nonexercisers to embrace a healthy lifestyle. The 2015 IDEA World Fitness Awards finalists are veteran prosโฆ
Read MoreProfiles of Pain and Perseverance
In February 2006, Danny Strong was on top of the world. After years of working as a gym manager, he had opened his own personal training gym, making his dream a reality. The husband and father was also eager to welcome a second child into the family. A month after receiving the keys to his new facility, he took his family on a trip to visit his godmother. While on the road, Strong lost control of his vehicle and was hit by a tractor-trailer traveling at full speed. His pregnant wife, Sandra Urbano Strong, was killed instantly.
Read MoreFit to Travel
Whether weโre vacationing with our family or heading to the 2015 IDEA World Fitness ConventionTM with 12,000 other fitness enthusiasts, it can be challenging to stay fit when weโre on the road. Even the healthiest exercise professionals can get caught off-guard with aches, pains, stress and guilt that prevent us from having fun and functioning at our best.
If travel throws the fittest of us off track, imagine what it does to everyone else.
Read MoreWear It Well
Whether youโve been in the fitness industry since the โ70s or youโve done โ70s-style workouts with borrowed outfits from your momโs closet, you know that the trends in fitness footwear and fashions are always exciting and evolving.
Read More10 Signs You Are Suffering From Burnout
Generally, group fitness instructors are known for their upbeat, can-do attitude. It can be challenging to admit that youโre feeling burned out. The following signs of job-related burnout may give you clues about your own performance, so you can take steps to keep yourself inspired and motivated.?
Read MoreThe Stress Response and Nutrition
Stress triggers a series of reactions in the human body:
Read MoreThinking of Opening a Studio?
Many fitness professionals dream of designing a studio that reflects their unique perspective and approach to health and fitnessโa place where they can grow their business, their brand and their client base (and, of course, their paycheck!) on their own terms.
Thereโs a huge appeal to running your own space, especially if youโve been working long enough to imagine how you might design a space specifically suited to your clientsโ needs and your vision.
Read MoreBuilding a Teaching Kitchen in a Studio
ave your clients ever asked:
โWhat should I cook for dinner?โ
โHow should I prepare it?โ
โWhat if I have to cook a healthy
meal for my family?โ
Read More2015 IDEA Group Fitness Trend Watch
Group fitness arouses nostalgia and feels like โhomeโ for many
exercisers, both avid and novice. As the backbone of the fitness
industry, it has ebbed and flowed over the past three decades (and
counting). People love exercising to music and sharing endorphins. In
fact, fitness facility members are thriving on creative class options,
demanding more varied opportunities and driving the industry forward.
What can you, as a group fitness professional, do to meet the needs of a
Health Disparities Influenced by ZIP Code
Did you know that where you live may be more important than your family tree in predicting health disparities and health longevity?
Read MoreThe Best Interview Questions Youโre Not Asking
The search for top talent can be difficult and is often made no easier during the interview process. How do you choose questions that will elicit the information you need to select the right person for the job?
Read MoreWhy Weight Loss Programs Donโt Work
The weight loss business generates massive revenue, yet the industry seems to have little effect on waistlines. Recently, researchers took an in-depth look at the efficacy of popular weight loss programs.
Read MoreBench Angle and Muscle Activation
Have you ever wondered about differences in muscle activation when the bench press is performed at a variety of angles? A report printed in the European Journal of Sport Science (2015; doi:10.1080/17461391.2015.1022605) may satisfy your curiosity.
Read MoreKids With Stronger Muscles Develop Better Bones
Osteoporosis is a significant concern for the aging population. A new study suggests the risk can be offset by development of lean muscle in childhood.
Read MoreVigorous Exercise Lengthens Lives
Are your clients interested
in living longer? Tell them to pick up the pace. New research links higher-intensity exercise with longevity.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine (2015; doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.0541), the study featured 204,542 individuals aged 45โ75 from New South Wales, Australia. The researchers compared subjectsโ mortality rates with physical activity data. Individuals who reported regular participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity tended to live longer.
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