Fitness & Exercise Archives

Starting Early: Kids and strength training

I wrote a recent post about why and how to get your kids to start moving and exercise more. Focusing on kids and strength training specifically, what should be the primary focus? And what are they getting out of doing something like lifting weights in the first place? We already know the basic benefits of lifting weights: heart health, bone density, blood pressure, and the other general health markers. This post focuses on the benefits of increasing muscle mass and how that muscle leads to fewer injuries, better balance, improved coordination, foundational core strength and confidence. […]

Travis Robe2022-05-24T14:23:49-07:00May 24, 2022|

Starting early: What’s the best way to get kids interested in exercise?

When should kids start exercising? And what’s the best way to get kids interested in exercise? This is a common question parents have when they understand all the benefits of exercise in general. Strength training is a key part to an exercise plan for any age but sometimes there are concerns about whether or not lifting weights can stunt growth. […]

Travis Robe2022-05-11T10:33:28-07:00May 11, 2022|

Cardio vs. resistance training for metabolic management

Metabolic management is at the forefront of many minds when joining a gym. Maintaining a healthy metabolism and weight will ensure your mind and body stay well balanced and function efficiently to survive and thrive through all sorts of emotional and physical stress. Diet is the most important factor in weight distribution, but exercise and its myriad of physiological benefits are a close second with regard to metabolic maintenance and body composition. […]

Lee Carson2022-04-27T14:50:29-07:00April 24, 2022|

Exercise for post-menopausal women

Menopause — the period of time following the last menstrual period — typically occurs between the ages of 48 and 55. In the United States, the average age is 52, but can be earlier; women who are undernourished, smokers, or live at high altitudes are especially at risk for an earlier age of menopause. Menopause is “confirmed” as having occurred if a woman does not have a menstrual period for 12 months. Due to the shift in hormones during menopause, the body experiences a variety of physiological and psychological symptoms. But these hormonal changes can also impact exercise and training. […]

Maddie Hays2022-04-19T09:10:14-07:00April 14, 2022|

What should I consider when hiring a personal trainer?

Hiring a personal trainer can be a really hard decision. It’s a big investment; in time, money, energy and trust. What should you consider when hiring a personal trainer? The person you hire should be prepared to guide you through a new health and fitness journey on a path towards progress for the goals you will set together. None of these things should be taken lightly. And there may be more choices than ever in selecting a trainer. Both new facilities and the online space are seeing strong growth. […]

Lee Carson2022-03-19T17:55:09-07:00March 17, 2022|

Why women should lift heavy weights

Throughout history, gender bias has left women’s health vastly underrepresented and under-studied. This is particularly true when it comes to research in sports and exercise science. This article will share with you the research and science behind why women should lift heavy weights. […]

Elana Witt2022-03-05T14:43:22-07:00March 1, 2022|

Exercise Benefits the Brain

Exercise benefits the brain in many measurable ways. A popular book among our team of personal trainers is “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.” Written by John J Ratey, MD and Eric Hagerman, “Spark” argues that exercise helps produce “Miracle-Gro for the brain.” Most of the evidence supporting this argument was drawn from the previous decade of studies on learning capacity, cognitive decline, and brain health. The book is now seven years old, making some of that evidence almost old enough to vote. […]

Elana Witt2022-03-17T14:22:06-07:00February 26, 2022|

Why cardio is important, our Quick Hitter workouts explained

Strength training and cardiovascular conditioning are the bread and butter tools of a personal trainer, even though we might not necessarily want you to eat bread and butter. On top of encouraging a healthy and well-balanced diet, making sure you get enough time working out in both domains of exercise is important to overall health. So why is cardio important? Working out can have many benefits like brain function and bone density. Focusing on cardio and conditioning specifically, endurance based exercise will improve your health; things like body composition, blood pressure, heart health, mental health, all-cause mortality and so on. When it comes to higher intensities specifically, research shows that vigorous intensity activity can lead to better cardiac health, metabolic function, and physical ability when compared to moderate intensities. […]

Maddie Hays2022-02-23T14:42:19-07:00February 17, 2022|

How does exercise increase bone density?

There are numerous benefits to strength and resistance training; greater strength, increased mobility, reduced injury risk, improved quality of life, and many others you’ve undoubtedly heard before. But how does exercise increase bone density? One of the understated benefits of strength training is bone mineral density and preventing osteoporosis. Strength training and load bearing exercise is one of the primary tools you can utilize to maintain or build up your bones. […]

Travis Robe2022-02-04T10:09:06-07:00January 31, 2022|

Do Life Better: Strength Training

We believe strength is THE key element of a healthy life. How strong you are (or aren’t) is something you experience every single time you move your body through space. Activities of daily living can feel easy and confident or painful and nagging. Your muscular strength holds your skeleton in a neutral alignment and keeps you standing tall, or not. Today Jeremy shares all about strength and why we’ve devoted our lives and livelihoods to sharing properly designed and coached strength and conditioning with as many people as possible. […]

Lee Carson2022-01-24T09:47:57-07:00July 22, 2021|

Do Life Better: Cardiovascular Exercise

Cardiovascular exercise is a key element in a well rounded wellness program. But the how and why can get confusing! Check out Jeremy’s video all about what your cardio plan should include each week. […]

Lee Carson2021-09-12T14:19:10-07:00July 20, 2021|

8 easy back and hip exercises

These simple 8 back and hip exercises combat modern conveniences and desk jobs that keep many of us sitting down for several hours every day. Sitting for long stretches can cause low back and hip pain. In the low back, the quadratus lumborum and psoas major especially can get tight. In the hips there are several small muscles including the piriformis which tighten up and the glutes (especially the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus) get smashed under our body weight for long periods. This causes them to lose blood flow and grow weak and overstretched. […]

Elana Witt2022-01-24T09:49:30-07:00June 8, 2021|

Workouts for men over 40

I have been physically active and involved with sports my entire life, but when I hit middle age, I realized my body had changed and I needed to adapt my workouts accordingly. That’s why I want to share my tips for workouts for men over 40. If your goals are to be in great shape, maintain weight, and build strength with smart, safe, efficient and effective training, then read on! […]

Elana Witt2022-01-24T09:49:47-07:00May 13, 2021|

How exercise benefits your nervous system

We all know exercise is great for your body. It’s also one of the best things we can do for our brains (see our Exercise and the Brain series of posts), exercise also benefits the nervous system! The nervous system is like an internal instant messaging service. It sends and receives messages from our brain to our bodies, and vice versa. These messages can come from the outside world (e.g., you recoil after touching a hot stove) or from inside your body (e.g., if you stretch too far, it hurts). […]

Elana Witt2022-01-24T09:50:19-07:00April 21, 2021|

The importance of exercise and community

Whether you are waving to a neighbor while walking your dog, comparing stats with your cycling buddies, or chatting with the people who are on the same gym schedule, exercise often involves socializing. That is a good thing, because studies underscore the importance of exercise combined with community and social interaction. When combined, both more effective and more likely to become a habit. […]

Elana Witt2021-03-14T11:36:28-07:00March 9, 2021|