You don’t get better when you work out; you get better by recovering from a workout. Recovery is greatly enhanced by following a repeating pattern of challenge or stimulus, followed by hydration and recovery or rebuilding. When it comes to recovery, it is the hydration step in which foam rolling (also called self-myofascial release or…
Equipment-less indoor and outdoor boot camps continue to appear on many club schedules. Among the reasons they attract so many participants are their ease of set-up, ability to accommodate various fitness levels and constantly changing exercises, which increase the fun and reduce the likelihood of boredom. If you’re thinking about starting a boot camp class,…
The glutes are one of the largest muscle groups in the body and are vital for both life and sport. Unfortunately, dysfunctions elsewhere in the body can create problems in the glutes and hips. For example, dysfunction in the foot can translate into hip and glute dysfunction. The following exercises are designed to help offset…
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. —Bruce Lee Mastery is something that often falls by the wayside in favor of variety. Take our role as educators, teachers, and coaches for our fitness clients. Each day, we help them…
Warming up the spine before getting out of bed can help clients go about their activities of daily living in a more productive, less painful way. The following routine, which is appropriate for clients who have no contraindications or special issues like osteoporosis, provides a sound biomechanical start to the day. The ACE Pointers Course…
If you teach boot-camp classes, you have a great opportunity to facilitate a sense of camaraderie among your participants though team-building activities. These activities can be conducted through partner drills, small teams or as a single, large team. Whether you take a break from the exercises to conduct these activities or incorporate team-building skills into…
Many clients believe that core training, which is essential for optimal performance of both exercise and activities of daily living, can only be performed while lying on the floor or with core-specific exercises. However, many standing strength, balance and cardiovascular exercises also enhance core strength and stability, while also allowing the body to move in…
Some health and fitness professionals have the natural ability to connect with others immediately—if this describes you, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Fortunately, for those of us who could use some help in this area, connecting with others is a skill that can be learned and perfected over time. If you want to…
Want to add a little definition to your arms so you can show them off the next time the sun is shining? If toned arms are what you’re after this summer, try this strength training workout. Strong, well-defined arms create a visual effect that lets others know that you make physical activity an important component…
Beginning your career in fitness can be both exciting and daunting, all at the same time. Information is constantly changing, products and technologies are always moving forward and, as a whole, the field is continuously evolving. Health and fitness professionals who evolve with it are most likely to succeed, while those who don’t are likely…