The holidays can be a stressful time of year. One component of that stress is deciding which gifts to buy for the ones you care about. It can be tempting to simply pick up a couple of gift cards but giving unique gifts is a great way to demonstrate that you care about the special…
Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time of year—the sun is setting earlier, the weather is getting colder and we’re inundated with images of a jolly, plus-sized, full-figured red-and-white-clad man. As the temperature drops it can be tempting to forgo your normal fitness routine because the thicker, longer clothes of winter help keep you covered up….
Why exercise in the cold weather? Some people claim it’s to burn more calories. Don’t get attached to that theory quite yet, though; the difference may be minimal. One thing is for certain: You burn more calories exercising outside in below-freezing temperatures than if you’re not exercising at all. The real bonus is that outdoor…
Which comes first: shampoo or conditioner? Easy. It’s always shampoo. If only exercise were that simple. No matter how good we get at understanding exercise science, there are still some topics that seem forever debatable. One of those topics is whether to do cardio or weights first. Which one comes first? We’d like the answer…
If only we all had a typical bride’s motivation to get in shape. All eyes on her, photographs that last a lifetime and a deeply felt desire to look amazing for her groom all contribute to creating a motivated fitness mindset. Mix it up and make it fun for the beautiful bride with these basic…
ACE Advocacy and Outreach  While a majority of the conversation around getting people moving has been focused on obesity, there has been a surge of interest lately in a separate but related issue—physical inactivity. Obesity is, of course, one consequence of a sedentary lifestyle. But all of this inactivity also increases the risk of…
If asked, most of your clients would agree that there are a lot of options for body-weight exercises. And they would most likely be able to rattle off a list of the usual ones: squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, glute bridges and maybe a few others. And just as likely, that list of moves will seem…
The BOSU Balance Trainer offers much more than its name implies. This versatile piece of exercise equipment—which has become a staple in gyms across the country—can be used to boost cardiorespiratory endurance and build strength, effectively working your entire body in fun and innovative ways. To help add variety to your workout routine, five of…
During this romantic time of year, it’s common to see an influx of “partner workouts” and “why couples should train together” articles. However, let’s enter the real world for a minute. Rarely are both partners at identical fitness levels, which can result in feelings of frustration, insignificance or failure. It can also set the stage…
Incorporating balance training into exercise programming is essential to improving stability and mobility in the kinetic chain. Proper balance and movement mechanics contribute to improved functionality and performance in both physical activity and activities of daily life. As we age, various physiological and kinetic chain functions, especially balance, begin to decline, and fear of falling…