Realising when you’re trying to do too much: Insights from Randy Hetrick by Cynthia Ross Keeping pace in the everchanging landscape of fitness is tough. Not only do you have to stay ahead of medical and aesthetic trends, but you…
Top Fitness Trends of 2024 by ELEIKO Education Team 2024 will be an exciting year for fitness enthusiasts and professionals. The health and fitness industry will continue to see robust underlying growth driven in part by megatrends, including an ageing…
Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! What better way to finish a workout than by doing some moves that will put the exclamation mark at the end of your session? You know, the kind of moves that get the heart…
DR. ALLISON J. BRAGER Sleep and rest are crucial to our overall well-being. In fact, getting too little or even too much sleep can adversely affect our day-to-day physical health, energy levels, nutrition and mental well-being. In the recently published “The…
By Dana Bender Are you prioritizing mobility enhancement in your current fitness and performance goals? With summertime in full swing, it’s the ideal opportunity to conduct a mid-year evaluation of your physical tightness and mobility – especially in your hips…
Summer is finally here. The days a longer, the sun is warmer, and the activities available are exploding. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or neglect our wellness in the burst of activity, so here’s NASM’s summer back-to-basics wellness guide from…
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Every year when the temperatures start heating up, we all think the same thing: “How is the summer here already?!” Ready or not, beach season has officially arrived, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve completely missed the…
JACQUELINE KAMINSKI From an Olympic athlete to becoming a successful entrepreneur and CEO, London-born Louise Hazel has been “slaying” the game of life. Louise is an English track and field athlete from the United Kingdom who’s competed in four major…
KINSEY MAHAFFEY STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a life-saving skill you hope you never have to use, but it could save someone’s life if you do. Each year, the first week of June is National CPR…
NICOLE GOLDEN | STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! For those looking to embark on a new season of health and wellness, summer tends to be the ultimate goal, like having a “perfect body” that’s ready for a beach vacation. But lifestyle modification…
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Since its founding in the 1980s, the field of coaching has continued to evolve. As part of that evolution, many types of specialized coaching have emerged. These niches in coaching use similar foundations of…
KINSEY MAHAFFEY STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! Passion and purpose collide when a fitness enthusiast makes the decision to become a Certified Personal Trainer. How would you like to get paid to do what you love? If fitness is your passion…
Brad Dieter Stay Updated with NASM! Heart disease and diabetes are among the leading causes of death and decreased quality of life, and they account for most healthcare-related costs around the world. As such, it is reasonable to say that…
BACK TO BASICS: PERSONAL TRAINER FAQS Nicole Golden Stay Updated with NASM! While many believe the only function of a Certified Personal Trainer is to help clients lose weight and get six-pack abs, the true job of a trainer is…
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! The International Coaching Federation (ICF) estimates that in 2023 there will be 93,000 certified health and fitness coaches worldwide. Chances are you’ve encountered coaches with many niches including wellness, career, relationship, and executive coaches…
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) estimates that in 2023 there will be 93,000 certified health and fitness coaches worldwide. Chances are you’ve encountered coaches with many niches including wellness, career, relationship, and executive coaches. When considering working with or becoming…
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! While most people know their lifestyle behaviors impact physical and mental health, many individuals and groups struggle to meet basic recommendations for movement, healthful nutrition, proper rest and sleep, and stress management. Qualified coaches…
Nicole Golden Stay Updated with NASM! We live in a culture that glorifies overworking and under-recovering. This is true in all disciplines; whether you work in an office or hospital, or are an athlete. We are often taught from a…
Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Rest is an aspect of recovery that focuses on improving daily sleep amount and quality, limiting stress, and increasing physical and psychological relaxation. Of course, your body needs to rest after a tough workout,…
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day and along with considering each of our impacts on the planet, you might think about how your relationship to our world impacts wellness and wellbeing. There’s growing evidence…
KINSEY MAHAFFEY STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! Over half of the working population works in a corporate setting (Barrows 2021). Corporate jobs are notorious for being sedentary in nature, high-stress, with long hours, and easy access to low-nutrition foods (hello, breakroom…
Brad Dieter Stay Updated with NASM! Bulking is a term that is used to describe the process people utilize to build/add muscle tissue. Except in rare situations, being in a calorie surplus (meaning you consume more calories than you expend)…
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! April is National Stress Awareness Month, and you might find that your feeds are full of posts on meditation, mindfulness, and other tools that we’ve all heard can help manage stress. But there’s often…
Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! The gut is also known as the second brain. While our gut can’t solve math equations, it is responsible for helping us digest and disperse proper nutrients that play integral roles in our overall…
Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! Should you eat before your workout? That is a rhetorical question… the answer is always of course.An entire area of research dedicated to pre-workout fueling wouldn’t exist if there weren’t documented benefits to its…
Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Mental health is a hot topic these days, and for good reason! According to the American Institute of Stress, about 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress, 77 percent of people experience stress…
By Chris Nentarz, PT, TRX Senior Master Instructor It is well understood that eating frequent meals throughout the day is more healthy than eating one large meal. The same could be said for exercise. Traditional exercise paradigms instruct us to…
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Spring is about to be sprung. It’s a time to fling open our windows, clean out our closets, and for many people a time to revisit your wellness plan for 2023. Part of designing…
Dana Bender Stay Updated with NASM! It is important to tailor personal exercise programs towards specific performance or health outcome goals. That said, if your goal for exercising is weight reduction, then it will be important to prioritize the metabolic…
Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! New year, new you, right? It’s been over a month of 2023 and it’s a good stopping point to see if you’ve stayed true to the health and fitness goals you set for yourself.Unfortunately,…
By Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! In the sport of bodybuilding, accountability is a staple of your success. The trait can help you in many other areas. The same principles that make you a successful competitive bodybuilding athlete mirror…
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Whether you’re a competitive runner, or you simply run for enjoyment and exercise, your training plan is likely centred around one activity: running. But what if I told you that adding strength training to…
Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! “You must eat to survive!” There is truth to this statement because no amount of caffeine or B12 shots will sustain you without a proper diet. Food is fuel… and today you are going…
By DARLENE MARSHALL According to data published by Mintel in 2022, 78% of American exercisers responding to their survey said that mental and emotional well-being was their top reason for exercising. This marks the first time since Mintel began recording…
By Darlene Marshall If social media is to be believed, and most of the time it’s okay to be cautious, #SelfCare is everything from wearing onesies on the couch, to bubble baths with candles, to expensive products, trips, and beauty…
By Ryan Fairall One of the most important things a certified personal trainer can do is build out their new clients’ unique workout and training programs before diving in. These assessments help the trainer seek out opportunities for growth while…
By Darlene Marshall Burnout, resilience, and stress management were top of mind before the pandemic swept the world in 2020. Three years into the COVID era many of us are still striving to balance the overstimulation and flood of information…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Personal training is always a great way to get individualized attention, but sometimes it can be a bit pricey. However, classes are too generalized and rarely allow time for the instructor to correct your form or provide…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI New year, new you! With that fresh mentality to set new intentions and new goals, finally committing to a long-term fitness plan might be high up on your list. But with all those other goals on your…
By NICOLE GOLDEN Every New Year, many of us decide it is time to make a change to our lifestyle. Oftentimes, this inkling towards lifestyle change involves developing healthier habits, such as cleaner eating or beginning an exercise program.Each year,…
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve worked hard, made changes in your diet and exercise routine, and you’ve reached your goal weight – congratulations! Losing weight is no easy feat, but the work doesn’t stop there. The next challenge in your health…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Rest days: the bane of every fitness enthusiast’s existence, or perhaps the favourite day of the week! Either way, the biggest question everyone has is what the best foods are to consume to build muscle and stay…
By Nicole Golden We are approaching the end of another year and many of us are thinking about adopting a healthier lifestyle as we approach the new year. Are you in this group looking to improve your health as we…
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Most people experience some type of muscle pain at some point in their lives. 60-85% of the population has had some type of nonspecific muscle pain in their back at some point in…
By Andre Adams Stay updated with NASM Whenever we think about bodybuilding competitions, we tend to immediately think about the physique, training, and dieting regimen. One thing many competitors and coaches often overlook is how posing and stage presence can…
By Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! It’s nearly the New Year and for many people, this moment of transition inspires self-reflection and a look toward what’s next. Often the new calendar year means resolutions and intense goal setting; yet,…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Tea is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. There even might be a high probability you start your day with a cup or need it to soothe your stomach after a filling meal this holiday…
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! For people who say they want to “get toned,” it might be more apt to say that they are generally referring to wanting to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass to improve…
By ANDRE ADAMS Have you ever wondered how top bodybuilders manage to hit their macros and meal prep while travelling? Whether you’re a fitness professional or just trying to stay on track with your weight management goals, here are some…
By DARLENE MARSHALL Healthy eating is an important staple of wellness, yet with fads centred around “clean eating” and the number of diets claiming their way is the best way, it can be a challenge to know what is healthy…
By NASM With the hot weather upon us in the northern hemisphere, this marks a time for many to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather, but caution should always be exercised given the potential risks for dehydration. Fluid is…
By Jacqueline Kaminski Sodium intake seems to be somewhat of an issue here in America. Even national dietary guidelines for Americans urge dietary habits that would inevitably decrease total intakes such as minimizing intake of processed meats and dairy products…
By AFAA Here you are, at the end of another amazing class. You have given your participants your heart and soul over the last 50 minutes and can see the results in their tired smiles and accomplished looks. At this…
By Andre Adams If you are an active bodybuilding competitor, prep coach, or thinking about getting involved in the sport then this blog is for you! We recently introduced the many divisions in the world of bodybuilding and physique competition…
By Kinsey Mahaffey A NASM-Certified Personal Trainer is well-equipped to design an exercise program that will help you reach your health and fitness goals in a safe and efficient manner. Anyone who is considering hiring a personal trainer might wonder:…
By ANDREW PAYNE We live in a three-dimensional world. Our bodies need the ability to move in all three dimensions. Poor range of motion and instability in just a single joint can cause over compensation. These alternate movement patterns can…
By DR. GUILLERMO ESCALANTE It is common knowledge that successful bodybuilders have excellent muscularity, symmetry, proportion, and conditioning. In everyday terms, muscularity is defined as the sheer amount of muscle the athlete carries, symmetry is the balance between one side…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI SUGAR IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL…right? Or is this school of thought somewhat outdated? Sugar… Let’s talk about it! Since it is a very sensitive subject.First, let’s discuss what sugar is. Sugar is a collection of…
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY When your workout has a “why” behind it, it can be all the motivation that you need to push yourself to complete it. In CrossFit, the notoriously intense Murph workout has a “why” behind it that has…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI What is the greatest superfood on earth? Does one even exist? Well, that question remains to be seen… Of all the foods we have available, there are always certain boxes we want to check off before we…
By ANDRE ADAMS The fitness industry is exploding, and it has become common for the average gym-goer or enthusiast to consider stepping on stage in a physique competition. Many people begin with a transformational weight loss goal or to build…
By DARLENE MARSHALL Ask 100 different people to define “purpose” and you’ll likely get as many different answers as possible. The purpose is often elusive, both in its definition and our personal sense of purpose. Yet there’s a strong connection…
By DANA BENDER The postpartum time period is most often associated with physical recovery from fatigue and the strain of labour and delivery. It is typically defined as the first six weeks after a vaginal delivery or eight weeks after…
By Nicole Golden The 30s are the decade of life that has its pros. Likely, you are beginning to feel established in a career, are looking at purchasing a home, and enjoy a more comfortable life. However, you have likely…
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Powerlifting isn’t just “for the boys” anymore, and we couldn’t be more excited. Today, it’s more common to see women throwing around some serious weight in sports like CrossFit or in social media posts on the internet…
By ANDREW MILLS Improving physical performance is as much about maximizing performance quality as balancing and mitigating injury risks and maximizing recovery to prevent maladaptation in response to accumulated and progressive training loads. There is a lot of research focused…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Are you ever in the middle of a workout and then BOOM… it hits you? Your muscle is locked up, the pain sets in, and you need to take a bit of a breather to handle the…
By MARIA DIGIUSEPPE As we get older, our shapes and sizes can change and no matter how long you’re working out or how fit you are, it may be difficult to accept the change or maintain a positive body image…
By DARLENE MARSHALL Why is it that some people, regardless of the industry they work in, the challenges they face, or their stage in life seem to remain optimistic and solution-focused? They take feedback well, roll with challenges, and make…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Over the years we’ve seen our technology get more advanced in just about everything. Our phones, TVs, watches, and tablets have all become “smarter.” Even our fitness equipment is getting “smart” features. Yes, we’ve seen it in…
As a CPT, in order to develop a solid program for clients, you must first take them through a complete assessment battery. The information you collect from initial consulations, flexibility, strength, performance, postural and cardiovascular testing of clients will help…
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were over 54 million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. in 2021, and the number is projected to continue to rise over the next 30 years. Staying physically…
By DARLENE MARSHALL Are you mentally tough? When life presents its inevitable challenges do you rise, seeing them as an opportunity to grow? Or do you find yourself ducking under the covers?One pandemic buzzword has been “resilience”, the ability to…
by NICOLE GOLDEN As coaches and fitness enthusiasts, we often think of nutrition as a variable to manipulate to achieve weight loss, strength gain, a specific body composition, or to enhance performance in sports and recreational activities. However, the thought…
BY JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you’ve ever done any type of strenuous exercise, I’m sure you have felt the effects of it the next day. Can’t move. Stiff. Aching… what most of us allude to as muscle soreness. Anyone who’s never…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Let’s talk about gut health! You might be thinking that this blog is going to provide tips on increasing fibre in your diet or cover the “all you need to know” about probiotics and pre-biotics, right? Well,…
By DARLENE MARSHALL There is a wide array of human emotions and experiences. Each of us inevitably feels a mixture of pleasant, challenging, positive, and difficult emotions, and feeling the range of reactions is natural and healthy. When life gets…
By MARIA DIGIUSEPPE I take for granted that I get up daily and know I’m going to do exercise. It’s the way I think, but it’s NOT the way everyone thinks. It’s my routine because I’m a personal trainer. Most…
By LEE MURPHY Diet and exercise are the primary pillars of a healthy lifestyle plan. But can coordinating eating and workout schedules improve our fitness results? And if so, how should our eating patterns differ before, during, and after activities?…
By NICOLE GOLDEN Many of us (and our clients) have a fixation on the weight scale. We judge our fitness, progress, and unfortunately, at times, self-worth, based on that number that appears on the scale when we step on it…
By DANA BENDER “Why do I have no self-control with unhealthy foods?” is a common question a person might ask themselves after he or she makes the impulsive choice to eat junk food. This is especially true if there is…
By NICOLE GOLDEN Chronic pain is defined as any pain from an injury or condition lasting more than 12 weeks. Many potential clients seeking a certified personal trainer, yoga class, or corrective exercise specialist do so in hopes of using…
by DANA BENDER Adaptation was a key theme while navigating the impacts of the pandemic. This adaptation was a necessity related to various aspects of daily life such as how we grocery shopped, spent time with family and friends, and…
By DANA BENDER There is a multitude of reasons why individuals commit to a regular exercise routine. Engaging in a regular exercise routine is not only a tool used to improve the physical dimension of wellness but also its emotional…
By DR. SCOTT CHEATHAM For personal trainers, having professional liability insurance can protect against legal claims made by a client if something unfortunate happens. Whether you are independent or employed, having liability insurance is a necessity. Certain employers require fitness professionals to have…
By BRAD DIETER New diets are always coming to market. Some of them are brand new while others are simply recycled versions of old diets. Over the past decade one of these diets, the Whole30 Diet, has emerged as a…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you go to the gym regularly, you want every workout to count right? You don’t spend all that time exercising to just waste your time and energy! So, to get the most out of your workouts…
By Dana Bender Self-care is a word that keeps emerging in news articles and company-wide employee emails during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the unprecedented stress many individuals face, some companies are re-establishing their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and insurance…
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you’re an avid gym user, friends with a bodybuilder, or sat in on a novice nutrition course I’m sure you’ve heard of the term “macros” or “counting macros.” But what is the significance? Do you need to…
By DR. ALLISON BRAGER According to the Center for Disease Control, the National Sleep Foundation, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, our nation’s sleep debt is an increasingly pervasive problem. The industry of sleep medications, supplements, mattresses, and products far…