Coaching

One of the biggest challenges facing fitness professionals is helping clients truly believe they can achieve their health and fitness goals. Consider overweight clients, typically with a history of unsuccessful weight-loss attempts, who sincerely want to reinvent themselves as thinner and healthier people, but who question whether they can make lasting lifestyle changes. More...

People are always looking for feedback on how they perform. When someone at the gym comes to you for advice on weight training and wants to work with you, it’s not only for your guidance on what they should be doing, but also because they are looking for positive feedback about their progress. That feedback is considered reinforcement. And everyone could use a little positive reinforcement to help them reach their goals. More...

No longer considered a luxury just for the celebrity elite, sessions with a nutritionist are now being scheduled by athletes, fitness professionals, and average people looking to improve their diets. Clients see nutritionists for a wide variety of reasons, from disease prevention to weight loss, to athletic performance improvement. More...

Hiking can be a rigorous escape into nature meanwhile disguising the best total body workout you will ever feel. Between climbing, working through unstable surfaces and using your core and major muscles of the body to keep you moving through the rough patches, this workout can be as good as a day in the gym. More...

Help your clients get swimsuit ready with these top ten tips! More...

Is your client one of the 16 million Americans who suffer from depression, or one of the approximately 32 million who experience anxiety or stress? If so, read this... More...

If I had to write a list of all the personal questions I am asked by my clients every day, the list would exceed the space for this article. The fact is, when you establish a rapport with clients, they want to know about your life, what your opinions and beliefs are-- they just want to know you. More...

As fitness clients strive toward their goals, a few setbacks are inevitable. Change is a dynamic process that ebbs and flows. More...

If you’re like most trainers, one of the first things you ask new and prospective clients about is their goals. More...

Give your legs a quick workout you can do virtually anywhere. Exercising at different speeds and planes of motion (front, sideways, and turning) is a great way to give your legs the integrated functional workout that they need. More...

While most Americans struggle to live an active life, some people are working out an unhealthy amount — hurting their bodies and, most likely, those around them. More...

The customer is always right. At least, the customer believes so. In the service-oriented business of personal training, customer retention will make or break a business. More...

Mentally, you have taken the steps to get yourself off the couch and out of the house. Running can be a great calorie burner and mental escape. More...

Are you about to lose a client? Take this quiz to find out... More...

You are down to those last few pounds to lose and your scale refuses to budge! Sometimes what your body needs is a no-holds barred shake-up, or a little extra oomph to power you through the plateau. Those ten pounds won’t know what hit them! More...

Cardio training is the way to burn the most calories in one sweat session. And while resistance training should remain your body’s best friend – we have 3 great new ways to make your cardio sessions suit your-self! More...

This means that, as health and fitness professionals, you will be working with injured participants at some point in your career. Although physical factors are the primary cause of exercise injury, psychological factors also contribute. More...

You have heard this new buzz around “core” in the fitness industry and you want to get in the game! Try this core stabilization routine to fire up your core! More...

Leaner, more toned thighs are just a few exercises away! ADDED BONUS: Improve balance and prevent injury with this leg program. More...

As we look around, we are starting to see many people engaging in exercise. People say they’re exercising, more and more fitness clubs are opening up, and department stores carry a wide variety of exercise clothing and accessories. More...

Blame the celebrity icons who dared to bare their midriffs, or even the clothing manufacturers that followed the trend without hesitation. Whomever you choose to blame, revealing abs is all the rage, and summer trends are coming fast. More...

Defined arms are just six exercises away! ADDED BONUS: the ability to go sleeveless! More...

Signs of an Exercise Addict: When too much is never enough More...

It never fails! No matter how many thousands of abdominal crunches, aerobics classes or gruesome hours on the treadmill, every time you step out of a steamy shower, walk over to the mirror and wipe a small circle to be able to see yourself through the fog, you are mystified by how hard you work and how little it shows. More...

It’s all in the numbers. For those seeking weight loss, maximizing results can rely on monitoring caloric intake. More...

Ask anyone where they most want to reduce fat and/or increase muscle tone and you’ll find a majority focusing on their abdominal and/or gluteal regions. More...

I prefer my workouts to be in as cold of a room possible, with a perpetually filled water bottle at my side. And, preferably, a icy towel around my neck. More...

J-Lo is famous for it. Shakira is shaking it everywhere you turn. Let’s face it, the rear end is making a front row appearance. More...

When it comes to keeping you moving at your best, assessments are key. More...

If the thought of pedaling a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill brings about thoughts of medieval torture devices as you head to the gym, you are not alone. More...

Stepping on the scale each day can come with a bevy of emotions. Will the scale tip your way or are the weight loss Gods acting against you this morning because you ended your cardio workout five minutes before you were supposed to? More...

Controlling your weight comes down to one thing - managing calories. More...

At any given time, nearly 60 percent of Americans are actively trying to lose weight. More...

Some fashion experts say that sexy shoulders are your best summer accessory. Get them Red Carpet ready! More...

Back pain affects nearly 80% of the adult population. To avoid being part of that statistic, there are three things you can do every day to help strengthen your core and alleviate discomfort: More...

With advancements in technology, it comes as no surprise that the American population spends much more time sitting (at computers, driving, etc.) and less time moving. More...

Would you believe that something as simple as sitting for long periods of time can actually affect how you play on the field—or worse yet, cause an injury? More...

Traditionally, “reactive training,” or “power training,” has been viewed as exclusively applicable to the athlete. Although this is an important part of an athlete’s protocol, it’s an equally important component in exercise programs for the typical gym member. More...

Would you believe that your function could be improved in just 10 minutes a day? Sound too good to be true? By performing self-myofascial release techniques on a simple piece of foam, you can improve body composition, flexibility, function, performance, and reduce injuries. More...

Strapped for time but still looking to add some size and strength for your back? This simple, but effective, routine will get you in and out of the gym in 30 minutes. More...

Strapped for time but still looking to add some size and strength for your back? This simple, but effective, routine will get you in and out of the gym in 30 minutes. More...

To get your core stronger and stomach flatter, try these exercises. Based on research, these exercises were found to provide the best recruitment of your abdominal, oblique, and low back muscles. More...

You have heard this new buzz around “core” in the fitness industry and you want to get in the game or has it been a while since you have done anything to work your core. More...

We want results. We don’t have much time. And we want value. That’s why circuit training with supersets works. More...

What happens when one of your personal training clients, after steadily following your individualized program and experiencing fantastic progress, suddenly has to go on a road trip for either business or pleasure? More...

As the weather turns for the better, it’s time to take advantage of the great outdoors. But what do you do? Let’s start by discussing some activities that are easy to pull off outdoors. Walking is a common form of exercise that is available to almost anyone. More...

Low-back discomfort is an increasingly common client problem. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, low-back problems are the leading cause of disability in the workplace. More...

Your cardiovascular health is an important factor to your overall fitness level. Your heart must be able to keep up with the demands of your muscles when you are exercising. More...

A great indication of upper body strength and total body stabilization is the push-up. The push-up requires enormous upper body strength and total body stability. More...

A movement assessment will allow you to see how your body is moving dynamically. The Overhead Squat assessment will uncover muscle imbalances, decreased flexibility or hyperactive and under-active muscles that may affect your workout progress. More...

Circumference measurements will help you get detailed information about your body. You can go back every 4 weeks to re-measure and make sure you have progressed. More...

The Davies Test provides a great indication of upper body agility and stamina. More...

This test was designed to help professionals assess lower body agility and control. More...

Whether you’re training elite athletes or the average Joe, the first step to victory is to prepare your clients mentally. More...

Though whole wheat and grains are commonly touted as a health food, one population is skipping on these complex carbohydrates — for the betterment of their digestive health. More...

Trainers should view their clients’ obstacles as opportunities to grow and learn. More...

The communication styles between men and women are just as different as their physiology. More...

With clients for miles and a business to run on top of that, it’s not hard to imagine hitting a wall and shutting down. More...

The holiday season can make clients feel jolly, but it shouldn’t give them a bowl full of jelly. More...

People can inherit a genetic mutation that triggers cancerous cell growth, or the mutation can be tied to lifestyle choices, environmental exposures to toxins or molecular change. More...

Mental illness affects about 25 percent of the American population, and exercise is a great symptom management strategy for the afflicted. More...

Trainers often have to approach touchy subjects with clients, such as body odor, inappropriate behavior, unnecessary flattery and conflict. More...

As a fitness professional, your loved ones will look to you to keep them updated on the latest and greatest fitness gadgets, books and tools. More...

‘Tis the season for stress, missed workouts, and falling off the workout wagon. We tell ourselves and our clients every season, year in and year out, to make time for their workout. More...

Sometimes clients can place personal trainers in compromising situations. Trainers reserve the right to stop training any customer. More...

Personal trainers can help motivate clients by recognizing their successes and progression in fitness. More...

Many people experience couch potato syndrome, when they are lazy and unmotivated to get fit. Trainers should recognize what causes people to fall into a routine and why it is difficult to come out of it. More...

Fitness professionals should use expectations to guide clients toward their goals. More...

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By tailoring your training to specific learning styles, you can help your clients understand better. People tend to fall into one of four categories: valuers, actors, thinkers and deciders. More...

Bad habits serve a purpose deeper than the action itself—this purpose or fuel needs discovery More...