It’s an exciting time for the fitness industry in general, and for health and fitness professionals in particular. Overall, the industry is doing well and many businesses, from studios to equipment manufacturers, experienced success in 2017. Furthermore, over the past 12 years the fitness industry has experienced a net growth of 36%, as measured by…
2017 is winding down and it’s almost time to flip the calendar to 2018. This is the perfect opportunity to gaze into the future and attempt to predict what will happen in the fitness industry over the coming year. Based on wide-ranging research and numerous conversations with colleagues working for health clubs, equipment companies and…
While the term athlete “athlete” has generally been used to describe people who compete in individual or team sports, a new category of athlete has emerged in recent years that doesn’t involve competition. Today, members of the military, law enforcement and first responders such as firefighters or paramedics are often described as “tactical athletes” because…
Just like the ABCs of a language, there are the ABCs of physical activity. Â The fundamental movement skills that make up the ABCs of physical activity can be broken down into three categories: 1. Locomotor skills: Running, jumping, hopping and skipping 2. Object-control skills: Catching, throwing, kicking and bouncing 3. Stability skills: Balancing, twisting, rotation…
Most people think strongman exercises are just about extreme heavy lifting, which isn’t surprising given the types of exercises associated with these competitions, such as deadlifting various objects and carrying them over a distance, pushing and pulling various items, and pressing things overhead. All of these types of movements, however, can be modified to suit…
According to the CDC, 17.7% of children age 6 to 11 are considered obese. This means that fitness professionals have a very important role in the fitness of future generations. By focusing on youth fitness, the fitness professional can help proactively reduce the obesity epidemic in our country and help the youth of America love…
Fitness Games for Kids When working with kids, it’s important to engage them with fun and challenging fitness activities. These fitness games for kids, developed by ACE CERTIFIED Personal Trainer Anna Renderer, can help them learn how to improve their functional movement patterns, cardiovascular efficiency and balance, all while having a good time. Arm and…
Health and fitness technologies, such as apps, activity trackers and websites, are a growing presence in our everyday lives. When used properly, these technologies can be powerful tools for helping people develop better health habits. But do they offer the same benefits for children? Although there will always be some debate surrounding kids and technology,…
It’s time to dust off the proverbial crystal ball and look ahead to see what 2019 might have in store for the fitness industry. (You can see how previous prognostications fared by checking the archives: 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.) These thoughts and observations were gleaned from a number of health and exercise professionals, executives…
Becoming a micro-influencer is a slow and steady process, but worth the intentional development and effort. It’s a new form of social support that has the potential to positively propel your clients’ behavior-change efforts and incite a journey of change for others. Clients as Micro-influencers Micro-influencers are individuals who craft content around a certain market,…