The squat is one of the most functional and useful exercises a person can do. It’s how you get in and out of a chair, in and out of a car, and on and off a toilet, just to name a few of life’s everyday activities. There are several squat variations, but which one is […]
Since I provide professional personal training services in my client’s homes, I am often asked what kind of fitness equipment they will need in order to get an effective workout without having to go to a gym or pay health club fees. In truth, it depends upon the goals of the client and how much
There are lots of scenarios where you’d like to be able to do strength training with no equipment; you’re traveling and won’t have access to a gym, you want to work out at home and don’t have any exercise equipment, you can’t afford a gym membership or home gym equipment for strength training, etc. The
Barefoot and minimalist training has become all the rage over the last few years, especially among the running community. As a certified Barefoot Training Specialist who specializes in corrective and post-rehab exercise, I must remind you that barefoot running and barefoot training are NOT the same thing (though folks who are interested in transitioning to
The transverse abdominis muscle is the deepest muscle in the abdomen and has a tendency to get weak in postpartum women, people with back pain, or any postural dysfunction. In other words, most people. Learning to activate this muscle is the starting point for many of my personal training clients – and it’s surprising how
As a professional Personal Trainer & Health Coach who specializes in working with older adults, I have been offering personal training for ages 50+ in the Minneapolis area since 1997. While this is not the only population I work with, it has become a bigger part of my client base over the last several years. This
No matter what your age or gender, you need to be able to pick stuff up and put it down. Whether it’s a load of laundry, a small child, or a sack of groceries, people lift things (sometimes heavy things) and set them down again on a daily basis. To do this involves being able
In an earlier post, we looked at some of the most common reasons why people struggle to lose weight – mainly related to exercise and nutrition. But what if you’ve tried all of those things and are still struggling? Then it’s time to consider more unusual reasons why you’re not losing weight. Stress Cortisol is
The most common reasons you’re not losing weight are most likely related to nutrition and exercise. In. That. Order. But it’s not as simple as calories in vs calories out. It’s about biochemistry. Let’s take a closer look at the basics: Nutrition Notice I said “nutrition” rather than “diet.” Diet implies a temporary white knuckle
What is functional fitness and should you be doing it? Basically, functional fitness is about training your body to handle “real life” situations, also known as activities of daily living. Unlike conventional strength training exercises that are done to isolate specific muscles or body parts, functional fitness training utilizes integrated movement patterns that work the
