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Wouldn’t it be great to have toned legs like Jennifer Aniston?  Or sculpted arms like Kelly Ripa? Or how about the overall strength of Cameron Diaz?   We all would love to have the fit, toned bodies of celebrities, but no matter how much time we slave away on the treadmill, we’re not quite as red carpet ready.

What do some of today’s hottest stars do to keep in shape?  We’ll take a look at fitness routines that you can incorporate into your own exercise plans.

“Sex and the City” star Kristin Davis is all about mixing up her routine so she doesn’t get bored.  Davis usually starts with 30 to 45 minutes on the elliptical machine, then focuses on her core with planks and Pilates, and finishes with jumping jacks using a resistance band.

What does it take to get Hilary Swank’s rock-hard body?  More than just bouncing away on the elliptical for an hour.  Hilary is known for her intense “boot camp” style workouts which include lunges while holding weights, push-ups, squat thrusts and core-focused moves.

Jennifer Aniston maintains a toned physique practicing yoga with her trainer Mark Blanchard.  Yoga works well for toning because it works the entire body.  You can get the same routines from Blanchard’s DVDs, “The Sedona Experience.”

To get abs like Cameron Diaz, you’ll need to start with cardio because to get sculpted abs your first objective should be to burn fat.  Besides at least 30 minutes of cardio, Cameron does Pilates and exercises targeted for her core.

It’s important to remember that most stars have the assistance of highly qualified personal trainers, so if you feel like you’re not seeing Hollywood-worthy results you may want to consider getting a personal trainer. The key to fitness success for many of these celebrities isn’t just a great workout plan, but the help of a qualified, focused personal trainer.  We all know the importance of exercise and how to do it, but with the expertise and motivation of a personal trainer it makes it that much easier to get better, faster results.  Personal trainers can design challenging routines for your specific body type and keep variety in your routine.

If you have started considering a career in the personal fitness profession, you are already on the right track by exploring personal trainer schools!

But if you are interested in learning some more facts about the training you will need, the earnings you can expect, your future job prospects, the conditions you will work in and much more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is here to help you out! Here is a quick look at what you can expect in today’s fitness industry, according to the BLS.

The Personal Training Profession by the Numbers

In the year 2008, fitness workers in the United States held about 261,100 jobs.

Of these fitness workers, about 61% of them worked in fitness, recreational sports and health clubs and 13% of fitness workers served their communities by working in civic and social organizations. About 9% of fitness workers enjoyed the flexibility and freedom of self-employment, leading classes or working one-on-one with their clients.

Over the 2008-2018 decade, the employment of fitness workers is expected to increase by 29%. This is much faster than the average rate of growth for all occupations. A large population of aging baby boomers who want to stay in shape as well as the need to combat childhood obesity is helping to spur this growth within the industry.

In May 2008, the median annual wages of fitness trainers and instructors in the United States was $29,210.

In that same month, earnings varied slightly depending on where fitness professionals were employed. Check out a few of these examples:

•    General medical and surgical hospitals: $32,140
•    Fitness and recreational sports centers: $30,610
•    Local government: $30,200
•    Civic and social organizations: $25,110
•    Other schools and instruction: $ 24,230

One of the greatest benefits of a fitness training career can be the freedom you will enjoy to choose the specific career path that’s the right fit for your life. If you are ready to get started, see how career training can make the difference!

If you’re a certified personal trainer or working to become a certified personal trainer, you know how important it is to switch up exercise routines for your clients and yourself, especially when nice weather makes a return.

When we’ve spent a whole winter doing the same things on the same machines, we all can get in a workout rut. Maybe your clients feel the same way and are sick of missing the beautiful weather by spending their workouts inside.  Maybe running on the treadmill like hamsters is driving them crazy.  Maybe they’re just so burnt out with the gym scene, you can’t even persuade them to meet with you.  Summer is the perfect time to break out of a routine and get outside.  Your clients can get the same results exercising outdoors and get a much-need break from the gym.

Work with your surroundings
Just because you don’t have dumbbells and stair steppers outside doesn’t mean you can’t tighten and tone like you do in the gym.  You just have to get creative with what you do have.   Parks, playgrounds, walking trails and even bus stops all make great makeshift gyms.  At the park you can find a picnic table or bench to use for triceps dips.  Basketball courts give you the perfect space to do lunges back and forth.  Anywhere you can find stairs you can do calf raises or sprints to burn extra calories.  Look around on your walk or run to find unexpected ways to increase your workout.

Grow a garden
A summer hobby could actually be disguised as a daily workout.  A University of Virginia study found that gardening ranks right up there with other moderate to strenuous forms of exercise like walking and biking.  The key is to spend at least 30 minutes in the garden digging, planting, weeding and watering.  Gardening works all parts of your body: your abs, arms, buttocks, calves and shoulders all get a workout without even knowing it.

Back to basics
For some of the most intense cardio, you don’t need anything at all.  Running is one of the best cardiovascular or aerobic exercises, and all you need to do is put on your shoes.  As one of the most vigorous exercises out there, running is an excellent way to burn fat.  Running burns up to 100 calories per mile and is a top aerobic exercise for your heart and lungs.  For a student training to become a certified personal trainer, you’ll learn how to inform your clients of the advantages of running outside compared to running on a treadmill. When running on a treadmill, the belt keeps you moving, which makes it easier.  Running outside also has huge health advantages by providing wind resistance and uneven terrain.   Wind resistance increases the difficulty of your workout by 2 to 10 percent.  Uneven terrain challenges your muscles and your balance.

So, if you’re a certified personal trainer or working to become a certified personal trainer, remember how important it is to let your clients break free of the confines of the gym.  Let them explore the possibilities of taking their workout outside.  You both may find the fresh inspiration you need to keep exercise exciting!

Crazy pieces of exercise equipment are always coming through the airwaves via infomercials. Some make you pick up the phone and say, “Okay, I’ll give it a try,” others make you roll your eyes and say, “No way,” and some even make you burst out laughing! But which ones work? Read about the unusual products below and decide for yourself.

Contour Core Sculpting System – Looking for defined abs without the work? Don’t move from your couch! Just grab your popcorn, an extra large soda or two and strap on this contracting belt – you could have amazing abs in no time! The Contour Core Sculpting System sets off a series of abdominal contractions and supposedly works muscles more than traditional crunches. Amazon.com reviews on this one are mixed. Most say it’s a good product for those already in shape wanting more definition, not those wanting a weight loss tool – either way avoid the extra large sodas!

Power Plate – If your faith in products is determined by celebrity endorsements, then the Power Plate is for you! Power Plate’s celebrity endorsers include: Elle Macpherson, Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Courtney Cox, Sting and The Police, and Serena Williams. If that’s not enough, the entire Olympic French Ski Team, several professional football and basketball players, and golfers also endorse this product. The Power Plate is a premium vibration device that creates instability in the human body. With each vibration the body is forced to perform reflexive muscle actions, multiple times per second. Between celebrity endorsers and amazon.com – reviews for this machine are positive!

Shake Weight – The Shake Weight has made the rounds on YouTube and been parodied several times. It’s fairly inexpensive, especially compared to the exercise products listed above, and its purpose is to sculpt your arms and shoulders. Despite how silly it looks when you use the Shake Weight, almost all the reviews on amazon.com say ignore the jokes and suggestive comments because it works great!

For many people, equipment from infomercials can never replace a trip to the gym or a great personal training program. To learn more about helpful exercise equipment or exercise programs, find a certified personal trainer in your area!

Are you still trying to keep your New Year’s resolution or have you fallen off the wagon…or is it on the wagon? Regardless, now is about the time that most individuals give up on what they initially considered a life changing moment in their life. Improving ones health and fitness has typically been the most cited goal when the New Year begins. Some people state that they are “changing their diet” or “getting more exercise”. However you want to label it, it is a fact that most people, especially those who do not have the motivation or support, start to leave those resolutions behind. How do individuals stick to resolutions? Find something that is motivating…or someone. Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to keep yourself motivated and to ensure that you have all the up to date information regarding exercise and nutrition. However, why hire a trainer when you can become one? Now is the perfect time to work on the second most popular resolution, to change jobs or “find something” enjoyable in the area of employment. Personal trainers have a unique schedule and lifestyle. You have independence and the flexibility to work around life instead of letting life work about you. Finding a school near you that offers the ability to be a certified personal trainer is easy however be careful of those programs that offer the “short time” certification. Once you become a certified personal trainer, it will be your turn to educate people on the basics of health and wellness.  The ultimate goal of a personal trainer is to get people to learn how to make fitness a way of life and that a lifestyle of fitness is not something you do for a few months…it is year round.

My staff and a few of my colleagues came up with this phrase as we were trying to decide what the theme for 2010 should be. In the previous years we came up with some good mantras, 2007 is going to be heaven, 2008 is going to be great, 2009 is going to be fine but when it came to 2010, we did not know what to come up with.  As you know, personal trainers are generally Type-A personalities so they are always trying to “one up” or “do one better” then the next person. The big question is, “How do we do that when it comes to education?” Luckily, one can go several avenues. Attending conferences and seminars are a great way to “up your game”. You can discover new programs and develop new training ideas. Speaking of idea’s one of the best ways to learn new ones is to attend IDEA’s world conference, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California August 4-8, 2010. The IDEA World Fitness Convention is the world’s largest, most comprehensive and longest-running event in the health and wellness industry. IDEA is the world’s largest organization for fitness and wellness professionals and they do not limit their conference too nationally, it is worldwide. They have reached across globally to bring together many nations in the stand against obesity and disease. However, even before IDEA’s World Conference comes in August, the NSCA holds their Personal Trainers Conference in Las Vegas, NV, March 7-8^th and their National Conference is in Orlando, FL, July 14-17. Both are great opportunities to “up your game”. Some of you might wonder why NSCA? The NSCA-CPT certification is considered to be one of the most highly respected and credible fitness-related certification available. By attending one of our several PFI partner schools and enrolling in our Personal Fitness Trainer program, you too can join the ranks of the more than 36,000 professionals who have obtained their prestigious NSCA-CPT certifications. If you want to “up your game”, seeking some form of higher education is one of the best ways to do so.

What’s in store for you this January? If you’re anything like millions of other people around the world, you’re looking to make a new beginning this new year.Ever since the Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the ancient Roman god of beginnings, people have been resolving to make life changes every time January rolls around.

Today, Janus himself would be proud of the new beginnings millions of Americans resolve to make around this time of year. Among the most popular pledges every year? Losing weight! And a great way to do this can be choosing the right personal fitness training program for you.

While a nutritious diet full of fruits and vegetables is a surefire way to get healthy, physical activity can make a dramatic difference in weight loss efforts. If you want to make physical fitness a part of your daily routine, consider a career in personal training. You’ll get to stay active on the job as you inspire others to get in shape and change their lives.

So, as people all over the country are making resolutions to lose weight this year, why not resolve to get yourself a better career? If you have motivation, dedication and great people skills, you could start a career that lets you practice excellent fitness habits every day. Personal fitness training schools all across the country train students in healthy and effective exercise practices. This is one career path that won’t keep you stuck in a rut!

Recently there has been a lot of internet buzz around a five-year-old Romanian boy who recently set a Guinness World Record for walking on his hands.  In the video, it is revealed that the child participates in resistance training on a daily basis and has since he was two years old. Needless to say, this boy has gotten the attention of many people in both the fitness community and the general population.  Many in the general population are state that the child looks “abnormally developed”, and complain that the parents are pushing the child to perform these exercises.  To these people I have two points to make; first, how many little boys have you seen that mirror the actions of their father?  This is one of the primary ways that children learn socially acceptable behaviors, and it is the best way for our children to learn movement patterns that will benefit them in their future athletic performance.  This leads me to my second point, that many in the general population are inferring their feelings regarding health, fitness and exercise onto the child.  I have read many comments stating that “this child should be out having fun, not training in the gym”, but who is to say that he’s not having fun?  Look at children playing on a playground, they’re having fun, but they’re also participating in interval training, body weight resistance exercise, and plyometric training.  As a society, we often infer our feelings about exercise (e.g. it’s boring, time-consuming, and there are other things that I could spend my time on) onto fitness programs that are directed towards kids.  The simple fact of the matter is that this child is most likely having fun doing what he’s doing, otherwise he wouldn’t appear so happy in the video!    From the fitness population who have seen the video, most of the comments I’ve heard are that the child is being put at risk for injury because of the resistance training.  This is simply not true.  The most recent scientific research about resistance training and youth has found that resistance training is responsible for 0.7% of 1576 injuries recorded in a one-year period.[1]  Compare that to football (19%), basketball (15%) and soccer (2%), and we can clearly see that the old assumptions about resistance training causing injuries in youth populations are just not true.  Some argue that development, specifically bone growth through injury of the epiphyseal plates of the long bones, is hindered because of resistance training.  To date, there have been no prospective resistance training studies in pre-adolescent youths that have shown any evidence of epiphyseal plate fracture, or delayed/disrupted growth.[2]^,[3]  In fact, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently released a new position statement in support of youth resistance training.  This document provides clear recommendations youth training, including a discussion of the risks, benefits, and guidelines for including resistance training in exercise prescription for youth populations.In general, we need to get away from the antiquated notion that exercise is not for kids.  Exercise is a great way for kids to learn behaviors and movement patterns that will benefit them far into the future.  If good exercise habits are established in childhood those habits will carry over into adulthood.  If we could get children to start exercising and teach them that exercise can be a fun and fulfilling activity, then we would not have the current childhood obesity crisis that we are currently facing.  As a society, we all need to take a step back and examine exactly why we’re criticizing this boy’s exercise habits- is it really because we’re concerned for the child’s welfare. or is he making us all look bad because he’s exercising and enjoying it?

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[1] Zaricznyj, B, Shattuck, L, Mast, T, Robertson, R, and D’Elia, G. (1980) Sports-related injuries in school-aged children.  American Journal of Sports Medicine 8: 318-324

[2]Falk, B and Eliakim, A. (2003) Resistance training, skeletal muscle and growth. Pediatric Endocrinology Review 1:120-127

[3] Malina, R. (2001) Weight training in youth-growth maturation and safety: An evidence based review. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 16: 478-487

The world of fitness is changing…again. Today, we are entering a new world in many ways. Besides economic challenges threatening to exterminate the middle class and epidemic obestity impacting one billion people worldwide, fitness professionals have to prepare for the job market of 2009 and beyond.

Legislation is being presented to various state governments that would require personal fitness trainers (and in some states, group exercise instructors) to be regulated by either the Board of Physical Thearpy or a governor appointed board, or one national overseeing body. The requirements would include a large number of classrooom hours, personal training supervision and the passing of an exam. Those exempt from the requirement would be those with a college degree in the field at the associate’s level or highter.

The question then comes up: Is earning a college degree in the field of exercise, nutrition or health/sports psychology worth it? The answer is: maybe!

Professional Fitness Institute and Pinnacle Career Institute have teamed up to offer those who want to pursue higher education that opportunity. The Associate of Occupational Studies-Personal Trainer degree allows those who want to get a step ahead to do just that…come out ahead. The objectives of the Personal Trainer program are to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and abilities to qualify for personal trainer positions. The aim is to prepare graduates for work in gyms, fitness centers, private studios or corporate wellness programs. Some students even begin their own personal training businesses.

A college degree is not needed or desired by everyone, however in today’s challenging economic and job climate, it is a good idea to give yourself the edge that a college degree provides.

Reference

Farley, J.J. (2009). Degrees of success. Personal Fitness Professional, 11(8), 24-26.

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/rbpublishing/pfp_200910/#/24

“Always be in learning mode” This was the answer that was given to me by a student when I asked him, “How do you keep yourself ahead of everyone else?” At the time I thought that it was an odd yet thought provoking answer. As an educator it took me a few years to realize the depth of the answer. If we are always in a learning mode we allow ourselves to growth both intellectually and personally.  What does this mean for you and I. Well we constantly have to put value both monetarily and emotionally into what we feel is educationally valuable to us. I frequently challenge my instructors to learn more, teach more and to be more. Not only is an accreditation standard it should be a professional standard. Wanting to learn more should arise from intrinsic motivation and self satisfying advocacy. People come to us because we possess a certain skill set that makes us “the expert”. While we cannot be experts in everything (and I know there are those of you who think you are) we should be an expert in something(s).  By not developing your niche in the industry you will have an extremely hard time branding yourself and therefore developing a position within the industry. How do Gray Cook, J.C. Santana, and Mark Verstegen get to be consummate professionals in the fitness industry? Simple, they developed a niche and educated themselves to the upmost level in that particular sector of the field. What about your trainers or you? Here is what we have to do as educated fitness professional. We have to raise our standards and then bring our employees and clients up to your standard. Set the bar high and eventually people will start reaching, grasping and soon thereafter clinging to that bar.