New year, new clients. New health and fitness goals, and the opportunity to incorporate some new equipment into your training sessions. Expand your fitness arsenal in 2015 with these 10 tools that top trainers swear by. Training tool: The Qube Why you should check it out: “It’s strong enough to be sturdy at 20, 24…
Intrinsic strength is required to perform quality movement, and the TRX Suspension Trainer and the DVRT Ultimate Sandbag (USB) are perfect to begin building strength from the inside out. Here are some great combinations for the core that utilize these two pieces of equipment. These exercises, some of which are quite advanced, challenge all planes…
Once again, we are visiting some common exercise selections and identifying which ones may not be the safest option for achieving your goals. Let’s face it—people love great-looking delts, biceps, triceps and pecs, so they flock to the fitness magazines to see which exercises bodybuilders are doing, but most of us aren’t bodybuilders. And while…
Flow is a concept commonly associated with yoga, but have you ever tried sequencing non-yoga-based strength, balance and flexibility moves all together, without any breaks or pauses? The following flow routine featuring the TRX Suspension Trainer is a great way to harness the benefits of flow, with its balance challenges and constant movement, while also…
To perform well as an athlete, or even train safely in the gym, both mobility and flexibility are essential staples of fitness. Mobility vs. Flexibility The terms “mobility” and “flexibility” are thrown around a lot in the fitness world, but do we really know what they mean? Mobility: The amount of functional movement one has…
5 Side Plank Alternative Exercises The side plank is a staple in many people’s workouts because it is so effective at challenging the full body in the frontal plane, targeting the hips, quadratus lumborum (QL) and obliques, and improving shoulder stabilization. While the side plank is great, it’s always a good idea to add variety…
Plateaus are a common obstacle in any kind of fitness program. After weeks and weeks of training, the body adapts and what was once hard is now easy. Exercise programs need to be changed regularly to continue to see progress and results, but it can be difficult to learn a new series of exercises and…
It’s March, which means that the drudgery winter is finally waning and warm weather is right around the corner and everyone’s eyes are on college basketball. For many of us in the fitness industry, it also means attending the annual International Health and Racquet Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) conference and trade show. IHRSA is where manufactures…
Walking doesn’t make the hottest workout lists or yearly trend reports, but all fitness professionals should be talking about it—even to clients who are avid exercisers. Why? Because even a daily gym session may not be enough to protect them from our sedentary culture. Most Americans are sitting more than ever thanks to desk jobs,…
The best way to get long shapely legs is to do at least 75 reps in the abductor/adductor machine followed by 75 more reps in the leg extension machine, right? Wrong! Although not necessarily lethal, some of these machines should be avoided to reduce the risk of injury. Plus, there are simply better—and safer—options. Once…