It’s that time of year again when I dust off the flux capacitor, fire up the DeLorean and take a trip to the future to see what the fitness trends will be in 2017. Whenever I’m at a large fitness event, such as the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) trade show or IDEA…
ACE Advocacy and Outreach  Imagine a world in which physical activity is the norm. Every individual has access to safe, affordable, and easily accessible opportunities to engage in physical activity where they live, work, go to school, play and worship. The National Physical Activity Plan—which includes a comprehensive set of policies, programs and initiatives…
Most people know that physical activity enhances mood, circulation, digestion and appearance. There is inherent reward built into staying active. Unfortunately, this knowledge isn’t always enough to get people off the couch though. Positive reinforcement is one way to help facilitate behavior change. Children, for example, are given stickers on a chart for helping with…
Is it time to mix up your clients’ programs? Partner exercises are a great way to add fun and interest to traditional exercises, while also creating a more stimulating environment. Here are some additional benefits: Increased socialization and team moral Enhanced confidence, trust and trainer-client relationship Stimulation for the mind Reduced boredom Improved program design…
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…