You Can Do It: The Transformative Power of Going Outside Your Comfort Zone and Tackling Extreme Challenges

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You Can Do It: The Transformative Power of Going Outside Your Comfort Zone and Tackling Extreme Challenges

Once a client has established a target level of fitness, they may be inspired to challenge themselves outside of the gym by participating in extreme conditioning programs (ECPs), which push physical fitness to the limits of human performance, often in pursuit of a focused goal or event. Read on to learn more about the benefits of ECPs and how to determine if you should incorporate them into your clients’ training programs.

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The Surprising Benefits of Rucking (and Why Your Clients Might Love It)

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The Surprising Benefits of Rucking (and Why Your Clients Might Love It)

While high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been at the top of the fitness food chain for several decades, some fitness enthusiasts may be ready to try something new. If you have clients who want the benefits of vigorous exercise and are looking for new ways to safely challenge their bodies while minimizing their risk of injury, you may want to consider introducing them to an activity called rucking. 

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Is Program Hopping a Bad Thing?

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Is Program Hopping a Bad Thing?

Do you have clients who seem to follow every exercise trend? These “program hoppers” are easily distracted, so they’re always looking for the newest, latest greatest fad that promises quick results, but changing programs too often may not help them achieve the results they desire. Here’s what you can do to keep your program-hopping clients on track.

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11 Fitness Trends for 2022

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11 Fitness Trends for 2022

The end of each calendar year gives us the opportunity for a fun thought-experiment: predicting what the future of fitness holds and making educated guesses about the various ways we might be exercising and moving differently in the coming year. Though not exhaustive, this list offers an overview of the ways that we might be sweating in the not-too-distant future.

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Blood Flow Restriction Training: What You Need to Know

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Blood Flow Restriction Training: What You Need to Know

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training, also known as Kaatsu training or occlusion training, involves using a tourniquet, elastic band or pressure cuff on an exercising limb to restrict the flow of venous blood back to the body during exercise. A growing body of research suggests BFR may be effective for enhancing muscle growth, but is it safe? Here’s what you and your clients need to know about this controversial form of training.

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Understanding The Impact of Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor on Exercise

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Understanding The Impact of Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor on Exercise

In this final installment of a three-part series on hormones and exercise, we examine two important hormones that help promote tissue repair, fat metabolism and muscle growth: growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Understanding how exercise can elevate levels of these hormones will enhance your ability to design programs that allow clients to achieve their desired outcomes with effective and time-efficient workouts.

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How to Design Body-weight Training Workouts Using the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® Model

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How to Design Body-weight Training Workouts Using the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® Model

When equipment and facilities are inaccessible, knowing how to use body-weight exercises to achieve various fitness goals is paramount. This article describes how to apply the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® Model to your work with clients and offers specific strategies for designing several different exercise programs featuring only body-weight exercises.

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High-intensity Interval Training for Active Older Adults

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High-intensity Interval Training for Active Older Adults

Unsure if you should be using high-intensity interval training with your older clients? This article examines the researched benefits of HIIT for people age 60 and older, including those who may have health challenges, as well as the safety concerns and best practices of incorporating HIIT workouts into the training programs of clients who are active older adults.

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Hitting the Barre: Understanding the Popular Group Fitness Trend 

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Hitting the Barre: Understanding the Popular Group Fitness Trend 

While there is little published research on the effectiveness of barre exercise, previous research into high-volume exercise makes it possible to glean some insight into what might be happening to the muscles during a barre workout. Additionally, given the popularity of barre classes, the opportunity to teach this format has never been greater, and health and exercise professionals who are looking to expand their offerings may find barre to be a good fit.

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Benefits of Resistance Training for Active Agers

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Benefits of Resistance Training for Active Agers

If you are looking for a way to improve your health, enhance your quality of life and increase your overall lifespan, consider adding more resistance training to your current level of physical activity. And if you’re still unconvinced that resistance training is important, here are nine reasons why you should reconsider, especially if you are over the age of 50.

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