Personal Fitness Professional Jul/Aug 2014

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HELPING YOU PROSPER AS A FITNESS PROFESSIONAL

WANT TO OFFER IN-HOME YOGA TRAINING?

Here is your checklist

THE NEWEST TRENDS

and opportunities in mind-body

ARE YOU PROTECTED?

4 questions you must ask your insurance agent Part 5 of the PFP 2014 7-part special studio series

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS Dr. Emily Splichal: Taking on fitness one foot at a time

THE POWER OF THE MIND-BODY MOVEMENT

PFP ONLINE Visit | www.fit-pro.com VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 5

FEATURES

publisher

josh vogt | josh@rbpub.com editor

lindsay vastola | lindsay@rbpub.com managing editor

mike beacom | mike@rbpub.com audience development manager

rachel spahr | rachel@rbpub.com president

chad griepentrog | chad@rbpub.com creative director

Yoga to overcome trauma Training clients with arthritis The baby boomer generation knows the importance of remaining active, fit and flexible. Cody Sipe, co-founder of Functional Aging Institute, gives us insight into the nuances of training clients dealing with osteoarthritis.

By Cody Sipe

POLL RESULTS How much do you typically spend annually on fitness equipment?

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SOCIAL MEDIA

What application of mind-body connection training do you incorporate with your clients?

a. Yoga b. Pilates c. Tai Chi d. Meditation/prayer e. Mental strength/positive mindset training

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VIDEO

Visit our website or YouTube channel to view weekly instructional videos from some of the most respected names in the fitness industry.

4.6%

41.5%

Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit, highlights the power of yoga for individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in many cases proving more effective than therapy.

By Beth Shaw

Entrepreneur

by Cabel McElderry

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kelli cooke | kelli.c@rbpub.com contributing writers

kendra fitzgerald, sandy gardner, jennifer urmston lowe

featured columnists

michelle blakely, greg justice, phil kaplan, jason karp, bedros keuilian and beth shaw

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FOLLOW TOTY

Lindsay Vastola | lindsay@rbpub.com

Dan Ritchie | www.functionalaginginstitute.com

More than just yoga and Pilates…

While for many the meaning of “mind-body connection” may immediately conjure thoughts of meditation, incense and downward dogs, connecting mind and body can serve a far deeper purpose in our lives. The beauty of it is that it can take any shape, not simply yoga or Pilates, and the application extends beyond the limits of the physical.

Many have an immediate aversion to yoga or other “mind-body” training because it’s “too slow,” they “can’t quiet their mind,” or they “just aren’t flexible enough.”

The irony is that these are the exact reasons why incorporating the principles of the mind-body connection, not just physically, but in our daily lives is so critical to our (and our clients’) success. Our work ethic and social expectation tells us we need to do more in less time and we have become so rigid on achieving a specific end-goal that our lack of flexibility actually hinders progress.

But is this really serving us?

We need to train our minds to slow down and be more flexible so we can be more purposeful in our actions rather than just being busy.

Many don’t like yoga the first few times they try it primarily because it’s unfamiliar, it’s uncomfortable and it’s new, but with time, many find it is life-changing. Yoga training is referred to as a practice. There really is no end-point, it’s a continual journey and always something new to be discovered; no different than the way we should approach life. Practice more mind-body principles to create a more balanced and flexible life that yields lasting and more meaningful results and set the example for your clients to do the same… successful mind-body connection is far beyond just yoga and Pilates.

In this issue of PFP, we explore the different aspects of the mind-body connection and how the principles can help you succeed: } } }

Explore new profit center opportunities by incorporating a mind-body program in your studio center; even if space is limited.

If you’re looking to build an at-home yoga or Pilates business, Kendra Fitzgerald shows us the strategies to do it successfully from the start.

Our Journey to Success featured professional, Dr. Emily Splichal, will inspire you to connect your passion with your knowledge… and how to do it with no shoes.

Enjoy this issue, thank you for your continued loyalty to PFP and let’s keep connecting!

Namaste,

Applications for the 2015 PFP Trainer of the Year are due August 8.

Remember if you applied in the past you can still apply this year.

Mind-body: an integrative approach Dan Ritchie takes a unique approach when incorporating mind-body strategies with his 55-plus clientele and in the programming of his Functional Aging Institute (FAI) trainer certifications. We asked the 2014 PFP Trainer of the Year to share his insight on effective ways to weave the mind-body connection into fitness programs for active adults.

Do you incorporate any mind-body elements in your clients’ training programs?

While we do not offer yoga or Pilates directly to our clients, we certainly embrace and incorporate many similar strategies and practices with our clientele. Tai Chi has been shown to assist older adults with respect to balance and fall prevention so we often model principles from that type of program.

With your niche being the 55-plus community, do you find your clients are open to incorporating different forms of fitness including yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi? We have found that many clients over the age of 55 or 60 have really lost the coordination and connection to where the body is in time and space.

This is not the same as mind-body with respect to yoga, for example, but older clients need to relearn how to connect what their body is doing with respect to movement and movement patterns. In fact, we often say we need to re-program the body for movements just like little kids age 5, 6 or 7 in gym class learning to skip, gallop and hop. So we often use strategies from Pilates and Tai Chi to teach center of gravity control and body control so clients have a better sense of controlling their body in a wide variety of positions.

What opportunities do you believe exist for fitness professionals to take advantage of the growing popularity of mind-body programs?

I believe yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi for the 55plus population is poised to explode! Tai Chi is already perfectly designed for the aging population. Often Pilates and yoga just need to be tailored or modified for beginner clients over 50 to have great success.

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CONTENTS

JULY-AUGUST 2014

The Power of the Mind-Body Movement

FEATURES

OTHER Columns

DR. EMILY SPLICHAL

08 Treadmill Talk Do your clients know who they are?

By Greg Justice

09 Top-Notch Training Nothing to lose

By Michelle Blakely

10 Boost Your Business Keep your distinct advantage over big box gyms

By Bedros Keuilian

12

Spreading the power of functional movement (in her bare feet)

By Lindsay Vastola

10 Education Connection What does a fitness professional (really) need to know?

By Jason R. Karp

30 Be Better Mind re-set

By Phil Kaplan

Departments 05 Letter from the Editor

16

Mind your profit

Expanding opportunities for mind-body profit centers

18

Owning & Operating a Successful Studio, Part 5 Your business backbone: Understanding legal and insurance regulations

By Sandy Gardner

By Jennifer Urmston Lowe

20

Bringing mind-body home

Four steps to create and sustain a successful in-home yoga or Pilates business

By Kendra Fitzgerald

More than just yoga and Pilates‌

11 Product Profile ActivMotion Bar

15 Product Profile IntelaMetrix

23 The Message Tracey Mallett

25 Education Trends Mind-body certifications and opportunities

By Beth Shaw

28 New on the Market 29 Events Calendar 6

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TREADMILL TALK Greg Justice | www.aycfit.com

Do your clients know who they are?

Have you ever asked your clients the simple question, “Who are you?”

Remember, we are not static beings. We have experiences every day that we are alive.

We can be whoever and do whatever we want at any given time, with few exceptions, and we need to make sure our clients understand that realism.

Ask your clients, “What are your beliefs about your body, your health, acting your age, your capabilities, your needs and desires, food, time, money and freedom?”

Have they bought into the myths of “old age?”

Do they have a list of things they are not “good” at?

Our identity is who we believe ourselves to be.

Our clients may have accepted someone else’s perspective of them, never questioned it and adopted it as their own. Perhaps someone told them often when they were younger that they were no good at sports, and they spent their life believing this, never attempting any physical activities. Or perhaps they came up with an interpretation on their own, such as when they noticed that they had to work at something that came easily to someone else — by being “a comparing creature,” in other words.

Ask them if their identity is tied to their weight, a disability, a perceived weakness, their body shape, their expertise, their job, their sport, their family, their personality, their smile or their hair color? It shouldn’t be.

What would happen to their identity if any of those factors changed?

If they have tied their identity to something that no longer is, they may feel they no longer know who they are anymore.

You are who you are, or who you let others (or your own unbalanced beliefs) dictate who you are, which limits what you can do and become.

Remind your clients that they are not their weight; they are not their awards, medals and diplomas. Those are what they look like and what they have done. They are not the same person they were last year. They have retained some of their foundational beliefs from the past but, the question is: are they helping or hurting themselves? Which beliefs do they want to feed and nurture?

Greg Justice, MA, CPT, is the founder of AYC Health & Fitness (www.aycfit.com) and the Corporate Boot Camp System (www.corporatebootcampsystem.com). He has been actively involved in the fitness industry for more than a quarter of a century as a club manager, owner, personal trainer and corporate wellness supervisor.

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TOP-NOTCH TRAINING Michelle Blakely | www.blakelyfit.com

Nothing to lose Before owning Blakely FIT, I had a career as a professional modern dancer. Striving to emote, create and communicate with the body was daily work. The mind’s ability to contribute emotionally, socially and sometimes spiritually was an integral part of the dance-as-art process. Dancers must rely and exploit their physical and mental strength.

Why shouldn’t your clients?

As I transitioned from one career to the next, I brought these lessons with me. How can you capitalize on this free and powerful tool? First, let’s clarify: What exactly is “mindbody?” For our discussions, it is the integration of a person’s attitude, emotions and understanding with the physical achievement process. I firmly believe that all above-average trainers should address the mind-body connection if they want to have a successful career and clients.

What’s first? Practice. Experiment on yourself. Next time you are about to head into your workout, consider your mental state and then make a choice to impact your body with your mind. For example, if the beginning of your workout has a complicated plyometric drill, use positive self-talk to ease your concerns about whether you can complete it.

Alternatively, if you’re upset or stressed prior to teaching a class, what could you tell yourself to bring your attention back to the job at hand (teaching) and/or let go of your frustration temporarily? I understand it might not be everyone’s preference, but an easy way to practice is by taking a new class. Try to observe how well your mind and thoughts help or hurt your enjoyment and success.

Second, be open to learning more. For years, sports psychology has explored the ways an athlete’s attitude and belief system contribute to their success. Consider listening to a podcast or picking up a book to become familiar with the field as well as to learn some simple tools that will help your clients and your performance as a trainer.

Third, test the waters. Slowly introduce a concept or two into the training of your clients. Ask them to practice visualizing their success.

Check in on their stress level and adjust the workout accordingly. Pay attention to how their thoughts and mental state affect their eating and workouts.

Over time, these free, simple tools will illustrate that you care about your client as a whole person while capitalizing on every facet of the training experience to ensure the client’s success. Try it. Both you and your clients will be pleasantly surprised at how much you have to gain.

Michelle Blakely is the owner of Blakely FIT, Inc., Strength Training Exclusively for Women and author of the Friday Quickie blog. She is a mother of two, wife to one and three-time Chicago Reader Best of Chicago winner. She’d love to hear from you: train@blakelyfit.com and https://twitter.com/BlakelyFit

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BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

EDUCATION CONNECTION

Bedros Keuilian | www.PTPower.com

Jason Karp, PhD l www.Run-Fit.com

Keep your distinct advantage What does a fitness profesover big box gyms sional (really) need to know?

As a small business owner you have a lot going for you. One thing you have over the big box gyms is the opportunity to build loyalty among your clients and a tribe-like atmosphere that no big box gym can offer. While other gyms sell access to equipment, you sell results, experience and a culture within your business — that’s your distinct advantage, and you should never lose that.

Personal trainers often completely overlook the advantage they have over impersonal big box gyms. Rather than focusing and highlighting their advantages, they attempt to compete against the big box gyms at their own game. When I was asked to consult Gym Rescue, a Spike TV reality show about saving failing gyms, the number one cause for failure was due to over-expanding. Small gyms and fitness centers lost their distinct advantage as they attempted to expand into larger locations with more overhead costs.

When it comes to thinking up ways to build a culture in your business, most people have no idea where to start. First, you’ll want to identify what you want the culture in your training business to feel like. You probably want folks to feel like your facility is their home away from home, right? You want people to feel like your place is where they come to be surrounded by friends, good energy, a positive atmosphere and where they can always get the best workouts and be greeted by name.

How do you do it? Be like “Cheers” and greet every one of your clients by their first name. Give your clients the love that big box gyms can’t and won’t deliver. Send your clients pump-up text messages, give them recognition on their Facebook walls, and recognize them during their workouts for an achievement. Keep doing the things that big box gym just can’t do. Make their experience in your facility fun, entertaining and more than just a workout.

By creating your own unique culture within your training facility, you are creating a point of differentiation that can’t be matched by the big box gyms or your competitors. Some other very effective ways to build a unique culture in your facility is by having client appreciation parties, creating your own language amongst staff and clients, and having different levels of belonging, giving your clients the opportunity to work their way up to the highest level.

All of this together builds a strong sense of loyalty among your clients; at the end of the day anyone can watch a few “how-to-workout” YouTube videos and then head to the gym. Clients come to us for more than just workouts. They want the experience, the culture and the results and they’re willing to pay you well for it.

Bedros Keuilian is a fitness business coach and CEO of Fit Body Boot Camp, the nation’s fastest growing fitness boot camp brand. www.fitbodybootcamp.com

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Years ago, I applied to be a personal trainer in a gym. Taking one look at my runner’s body, the owner said to me, “Go workout for a couple of months and come back to reapply.” Happy as I was with my runner’s body, I never went back. But it occurred to me that most people in the fitness industry care more about what you look like than what you know. There are basic things that every fitness professional needs to know; here are three: 1. The science and research on weight loss. Although there is much talk in the fitness industry about strength training leading to an increase in resting metabolic rate, which helps clients lose weight, strength training does not chronically increase resting metabolic rate. In the absence of pathology, people lose weight only when caloric expenditure is greater than caloric intake. When that occurs, resting metabolic rate actually decreases. It is never elevated when losing weight. Each pound of muscle burns only six to seven calories per day (and you can’t add that many pounds of muscle). Research does not support strength training for weight loss, but rather for the preservation of muscle mass while trying to lose weight. Since weight loss is the biggest reason people seek our help, you better be a weight-loss expert if you’re a fitness professional.

2. Specific health and fitness outcomes of different workouts and training programs. Fitness professionals need to know how to design client workouts based on science and research that cause specific physiological changes. Workouts should be organized so they offer a progressive, systematic training program that enables clients to accomplish their specific goals and achieve greater fitness and health.

Exercise contraindications, the development of muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and body composition all must be taken into consideration.

3. Biomechanics. Since most of the fitness industry is focused on various forms of strength training, whether it be with or without equipment and one-on-one or in a group setting, fitness professionals need to know how muscles and tendons work to move our bodies, including correct and safe techniques for exercises, lever systems, muscle architecture, contraction types, force-length and force-velocity relationships of muscle and so on.

Jason Karp is one of the foremost running experts in America, 2011 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year and owner of Run-Fit. As a PhD in exercise physiology, he writes for numerous running, coaching and fitness magazines, is the author of five books, an industry speaker and head track coach at La Jolla High School. www.Run-Fit.com

PROFILE: ACTIVMOTION BAR Website: www.activmotionbar.com | Email: derek@activmotionbar.com | Phone: 888.400.1045

Disrupting the Training Environment with the ActivMotion Bar™ ActivMotion Bar has put an innovative spin on the age-old fitness bar, and people are loving it.

The ActivMotion Bar is an innovative new fitness tool designed to meet the functional training needs of everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. This is not your average fitness bar. ActivMotion Bars are hollow, and inside the various weighted bars are round steel weights that glide smoothly, gently and quietly within. This creates a unique core-centered mind-muscle benefit that users feel and hear as they train.

ActivMotion Bars are the ideal functional training tool given their broad range of use and innovative, dynamic functionality. During balance exercises, the multisensory feedback provided by the bars helps clients continuously connect their mind with their muscles to correct movement imbalances as they feel and hear the unstable weights in the bar shift and constantly adjust. During more challenging core and strength exercises, the ActivMotion Bars are purposely tipped and tilted as the user bends and twists. Momentum generated by the bar’s internal weights helps activate the core and challenges multiplanar strength during these movements.

The training system designed for use with ActivMotion Bars is called Disruptive Training™. This system was created by some of the nation’s top fitness professionals, and it progresses people through an array of phases that use the ActivMotion Bar in balance, core and strength movements. Disruptive Training with the ActivMotion Bar teaches the body how to activate underactive stability and core muscles, integrate those muscles into everyday movement, and react to an ever-changing environment. Disruptive Training CEC workshops can be attended at fitness conventions all across the country, including IDEA World this August. The Disruptive Training System is also available on DVD, and a copy is given to all trainers and facilities with every bar purchase.

Although relatively new to the fitness market, ActivMotion Bars are quickly emerging as a go-to fitness tool for all types of trainers and facilities. Large facilities such as Life Time Fitness Athletic Clubs have integrated ActivMotion Bars into their one-on-one and small group training offerings. Pilates studios across the country are using ActivMotion Bars in Mat and Reformer sessions and classes due to the additional mind-body benefits and core activation abilities the bars provide. And golf fitness trainers are using the ActivMotion Bars to

help their clients improve their rotary Range of Motion and strengthen their golf-specific core muscles with ActivMotion Bar Golf Fitness programming. Learn more at www.activmotionbar.com FEATURES: • Available in 6, 8, 10, 15 and 18 pound options.

• Durability tested and made of American steel.

• Textured grey industrial grade powder coating gives the ActivMotion Bars a unique grey color, creates comfortable grip and makes them very resistant to abrasions.

• White center of balance grip lines let users know exactly where to grip the bar in order to maintain symmetry.

• Each ActivMotion Bar is marked with the total weight and is distinguished with thick, durable rubber colored end caps.

• Innovative manufacturing and patent-pending internal rolling steel weights provide ActivMotion Bars a one-of-a-kind “feel” that is more mobile than sand, and more controllable than water, making for the perfect functional training environment.

• Non-intimidating ActivMotion Bars are more versatile and user-friendly than unwieldy water and sand-filled pipes and bags, and they store easily.

• Manufactured in Michigan.

Journey to Success

By Lindsay Vastola

SPREADING THE POWER OF FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT (IN HER BARE FEET)

here are those leaders who take on industries by storm, and then there are those brave few who take on an industry without shoes. Dr. Emily Splichal, podiatrist, fitness professional, functional movement and barefoot training expert and founder of Evidence-Based Fitness Academy (EBFA), has earned a reputation as an influencer evolving the practice of functional movement in both the medical and fitness worlds. You’ll come to see as you learn more about Dr. Emily that she has worked hard to uniquely position herself as a bridge between medicine and fitness, and her journey is a testament that following your passion, listening to an industry and filling a gap is a roadmap for a journey to success.

GETTING HER FEET WET Dr. Emily’s journey to success is a story familiar to many fitness professionals: she found her love of fitness and movement since the time she was a young athlete as a competitive gymnast in North Dakota. However, when

it came time to pursue her career, she didn’t look directly at fitness as an option, but took on an education in forensic science and biology. She moved to New York City to work in a lab and was one of the first women in forensics even before CSI made it a trendy career.

She soon realized that she wanted more from her career; she craved more movement and more purpose. Her first thought was to inquire at her gym to see if they were hiring, so she asked. The man simply looked at her (nearly 13 years ago) and said, “Yes, you can be a trainer.” With no official training, she started teaching classes and group fitness.

While the gym felt like a second home to her, she realized that she once again missed fulfilling her academic fervor and wanted to be able to offer much more as a professional.

As is quite obvious, Dr. Emily has an insatiable appetite for knowledge and education. With her strong science background, she decided to pursue medical school. She found herself gravitating toward podiatry as she realized it was a perfect bridge between her love of fitness and movement;

she also realized the advantage she had given her experience in fitness. Dr. Emily also attained a Masters in Human Movement and this was the pivotal point in her career where she began to see the pathway of opportunities in movement education by combining fitness and medical practice, particularly through podiatry.

STRIKE WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT While in medical school, Dr. Emily began teaching barefoot fitness programs in 2006 and created a workout program for women experiencing foot pain as a result of wearing high heels - launching her “Catwalk Confidence” brand of DVDs and recovery training programs. Her training program immediately received national press and the timing was serendipitous alongside the growing trends in barefoot running and the release of the popular book, “Born to Run.” But the timing also faced Dr. Emily with a difficult decision: finish her residency program for medical school or put it on hold to meet the increasing demands of her growing fitness busi-

ness. She ultimately decided to leave her residency to focus on her “Catwalk Confidence” program. However, while the program put her in the spotlight of many major media outlets, she knew deep down that it was not what she really wanted to do. Movement is what really made her happy and it was through podiatry and fitness that she would be able to educate and help people with her unique integration of barefoot science and barefoot fitness.

TALKING THE TALK, WALKING THE WALK With her resume now boasting both podiatry and fitness, Dr. Emily had finally discovered what enabled her to pursue her passion of seeing, treating and doing all things movement. But her determination for excellence told her she simply could not stop there. Her science-based education highlighted the void in evidence-based concepts in the fitness profession. At the same time her fitness experience made her more aware of the lack of fitness and functional movement training most medical professionals were learning at the university-level.

EMILY SPLICHAL CURRENT TITLE: Podiatrist, Human Movement Specialist, Founder Evidence Based Fitness Academy (EBFA) COMPANY NAME: Evidence Based Fitness Academy (EBFA) DEGREES & CERTIFICATIONS: DPM, MS Human Movement, NASM-CES, NASM-PES, NSCA-CPT EDUCATION: • New York College of Podiatric Medicine • AT Still University • Podiatry, Sports Medicine and Fitness Conferences • Biomechanics, Footwear Science and Physical Therapy Textbooks • Reading at least 10 journal/research articles per week • Actively involved in barefoot/foot research • Interacting with professionals when I speak/teach

With aspirations to bridge the gap and bring more evidence-based training to industry professionals, she founded Evidence-Based Fitness Academy (EBFA) in 2011.

The following year, she began incorporating her barefoot concepts in the EBFA training programs, workshops and certifications. Years dedicated to her science-based education and her experience and love for fitness finally seemed to sync perfectly: EBFA provided her the perfect platform for sharing her research and strategies with other fitness, health and medical professionals.

EBFA now offers three different certification programs: workshops, webinars and online education. Dr. Emily is an internationally sought-after expert on podiatry, functional movement and barefoot training and her success lies in large part because of her unique background that resonates with the gamut of fitness and health professionals – personal trainers, physical therapists, podiatrists and medical doctors, Functional Movement Screening (FMS) trainers, MAT specialists, Pilates and yoga instructors, professionals who work with athletes and those simply interested in getting to the next level of practicing corrective exercise.

She has also become a respected consultant

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for some of the top fitness, footwear and orthotic companies including NIKE, Trigger Point Performance Therapy, Aetrex Worldwide, Crunch Fitness and Sols.

TAKING HUGE STRIDES IN MEDICINE AND FITNESS When asked what she believes is the disconnect between the medical world and the practical application of understanding functional movement, Dr. Emily wisely notes that the disconnect is in large part because medical education needs to evolve to enable medical doctors to understand more intuitive and functional concepts of movement and function. Her work as the founder of EBFA and also as a practicing podiatrist is impacting the medical industry; medical doctors are now seeing the value in understanding functional movement as a result of Dr. Emily’s programs.

To continue impacting medical education, Dr. Emily is currently working on a textbook as well as deals that will bring her programs to the university setting, including masters programs and graduate degrees in athletic performance and movement studies. She is also working on creating a small nerve stimulation surface product that aims to offer an alternative to turf specifically for barefoot movements. All of this has the potential to

impact the way movement is taught in universities and medical schools.

POUNDING THE PAVEMENT A day in the life of a New York City practicing podiatrist/fitness professional/business owner/ leader of an international education organization/speaker/author/consultant is not easy to keep pace with. Dr. Emily balances her life between her podiatry practice and EBFA, performs surgery one day a week, still manages to teach weekly barefoot workouts, is constantly preparing for workshops and speaking engagements (often requiring travel) and still makes time to interview with PFP magazine and spend time with her puppy.

Dr. Emily Splichal has worked tirelessly to position herself to make the greatest impact on two industries that in so many ways must coexist to most effectively work with those we serve. Human movement truly is her happiness, and while she may have been knocked off her feet when faced with challenges and difficult decisions, returning to her true passion has always landed her in the exact place she’s meant to be. Her “out-of-the-shoebox” thinking will no doubt keep her at the forefront of a very important movement we’ll continue to experience in both fitness and medicine.

PROFILE: INTELAMETRIX By: Daniel Watts | Website: www.bodymetrix.com | Email: dan@intelametrix.com | Phone: 480.234.5555

Ultrasound offers trainers a valuable tool to assess muscle imbalance Muscle imbalance or asymmetry can ultimately lead to a variety of problems. These range from poor posture to bad functional movement, all of which can cause poor performance, long-term pain and risk. Muscle imbalance can occur for the same muscle (e.g. left side-right side imbalance) or can be an imbalance between opposing muscles such as biceps and triceps, quadriceps and hamstrings, etc. The imbalance can be caused by poor posture habits, (e.g. you may always slump to the left in your chair), muscle injury with improper rehabilitation, or less-than-ideal exercise and resistance training technique. When a muscle imbalance pulls one of your joints out of optimum position this creates a strain on that joint.

Subsequently, that strain stresses the nerves around the joint, resulting in a possible pain scenario. If your body readjusts to ease the pain, other muscles can become imbalanced, and thus the cycle continues. A small, localized problem can blossom into a much larger neuro-muscular-skeletal issue that affects multiple areas and functions of your body. Detecting these muscle imbalances early can be an effective way to eliminate potential long-term chronic pain.

0.8 for the right leg. The fact that the total muscle thickness is similar can hide the imbalance when circumference measurements alone are used. There are clear differences between the two scans and ideally they would be identical to ensure optimized functional movement and muscle balance, while ultimately reducing the likelihood of long-term pain and injury. It’s important to note that when this is technique is applied to injured/healing muscle areas, the differences can be considerably higher, making it imperative that athletes be checked before returning to their exercise regimen or sport. Detecting imbalance can simply be a comparison of two scans.

Figure 1: Thigh scan showing cross sections of the Rectus Femoris and Vastus Intermedius muscle for left and right legs of 45 year old male. The scan starts near the midpoint of the thigh and scans down toward the patella.

The yellow and red arrows represent the same thickness in each image, showing significant imbalance.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to diagnose muscle imbalance but they aren’t a practical solution for most personal trainers. Ultrasound imaging technology can provide a portable and compact alternative. For example, scans of left and right thigh over a six-inch vertical segment taken with the BodyMetrix ultrasound system are shown in Figure 1. The first white “line” feature (at approximately 4mm) in the scan is the strong ultrasound reflection from the interface between the fat layer and the Rectus Femoris muscle. The second white “line” is the interface between the Rectus Femoris and Vastus Intermedius muscles, and the last white “line” is the femur (curvature is an artifact of producing the image with the top being the skin surface). The yellow arrows which are the same length show that the total muscle thickness comprised of the two muscle groups are comparable for both legs. However, the thickness of the individual muscles is very different for the two regions; the Rectus Femoris muscle on the left leg (red arrow) is significantly thicker than the right leg. The ratio of the Rectus Femoris thickness to the Vastus Intermedius is 1.3 for the left leg and

Ultrasound is already used by many professionals and personal trainers to accurately measure body composition, but the ability to provide cross-sectional images offers trainers a powerful portable tool to accurately track and quantify muscular differences that is not possible with other assessment tools.

Daniel Watts is an account executive with IntelaMetrix, Inc. He can be contacted at 480-234-5555 or by email at dan@intelametrix.com. For more information, please visit www.bodymetrix.com.

However, as the range of mindful movement programming continues to grow so does its client base. From school-level athletes looking to improve their performance to older clients who want to regain lost mobility, people are seeking this type of modality to lead healthier, more active and mindful lives.

Growing populations that look toward mind-body exercise to achieve their health and fitness goals include: }

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MIND YOUR PROFIT Expanding opportunities for mind-body profit centers By Sandy Gardner

T

he mindful movement revolution has dawned upon the world of fitness. Mind-body exercise has proven itself to be a recession-proof, multi-billion dollar industry with Pilates and yoga alone accounting for $7 billion annually, according to a 2013 study from IBISWorld. Over the span of a decade, the number of people practicing Pilates has more than tripled and the number of yogis has quintupled across North America. Newer forms of mind-body exercise are continually entering the market and gaining rapid adoption.

Newer practices such as fascial fitness, biomechanics of movement, functional fitness and core-integrated bodyweight training are incorporating the mind-body connection.

Even popular fitness trends like barre workouts are adding a mindful element to their programming.

With explosive, yet steady growth, is your fitness facility prepared to capitalize on this segment of exercise enthusiasts? Adding mind-body programming to an existing gym or studio is an inexpensive way to increase revenue, strengthen member retention, attract new clients and provide new training opportunities for your staff.

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MIND-BODY EXERCISE AS AN ADDED REVENUE STREAM Club managers and owners who haven’t considered adding or expanding mind-body program offerings are missing out on this lucrative trend. The continued growth of boutique fitness facilities across North America provides exercisers with greater options on where to invest their fitness dollars. Keep your clients in your facility instead of sending them to specialized studios to get the programming they’re looking for.

As the number of mind-body exercisers increases, so does the demand for private, semi-private and group training. For example, a Pilates studio offering private and small group Reformer training can generate additional revenue ranging from $70,000 to $215,000 annually, depending on the class capacity and frequency of training offered.

Adding 10 group sessions with just four participants to your weekly class schedule can net an additional $6,000 per month.

MINDFUL MOVEMENT FOR EVERY EXERCISER Mind-body exercise used to be perceived as reserved for the more ‘zen’ set of exercisers.

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Elite exercisers – From NFL and NHL athletes to mud runners to recreation league players, exercisers everywhere are taking note that mindful movement has the ability to significantly improve their game, on and off of the playing field.

New gym-goers – Those who are just being introduced or reintroduced to fitness should begin with mild to moderate workouts. Mind-body exercise is challenging, though gentle, and can often be far less intimidating than classes that use heavy weights or utilize a lot of choreography.

Injured/post-rehabilitation – Injured or post-rehab clients typically want to restore function and return to normal, daily activities and previous levels of functionality.

Pre/post-natal – Many pre-natal clients engage in an active pregnancy to limit maternal weight gain, aid in prevention of gestational diabetes and improve psychological well-being whereas post-natal clients often want to redevelop the strength of the pelvic floor.

Overweight/obese – This category tends to experience compromised joints as a result of additional stress in addition to a limited range of motion.

As this demographic continues to grow so will the demand for suitable exercise options.

Active aging – With a tendency to have higher levels of disposable income, members of this demographic often seek out low-impact, functional, private one-on-one training that makes day-to-day activities easier.

By simply integrating mindful movement into your studio, prospective clients who may have otherwise overlooked your facility now have a new reason to consider becoming a member or taking classes. The principles of Pilates and other mind-body programs have found their way into mainstream fitness with the overarching ideology of an intelligent and mindful approach to all forms of exercise.

INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXISTING STAFF Positive client experiences begin with a happy front-line staff of personal trainers and group fitness instructors. Consider equipping your existing, quality personnel with mind-body training. For those not yet ready to complete a full certification, other options are also available. Many informative and effective workshops take one to two days to complete, increasing their skill set and getting programs up-and-running, sooner rather than later.

Quality training can bring your instructors a whole new level of excellence while strengthening retention since they know that their employer sees value in investing in them.

LIMITED SPACE, UNLIMITED INCOME POTENTIAL You’re not alone if you think your club doesn’t have enough space. Many fitness facilities feel that space issues are one of the biggest obstacles when determining whether to incorporate mind-body programming. Even with just 200 square feet, a new mindful movement studio can be established right in your club. }

200 square feet: With just 200 square feet, accommodate one-on-one or semi-private training taking advantage of mat-based programming that

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incorporates space-saving equipment and accessories.

400 square feet: More space equals more revenue. Introduce small group Pilates Reformer training by comfortably fitting four or five Reformers in this compact zone. Alternatively, there are smaller yet still effective pieces of equipment available as well.

600 square feet: Build a complete and in-demand studio without having to share the space with other programs.

Starting off with a smaller space and building it as revenues increase is a practical solution for many facilities. Eventually expanding to group training will appeal to a wider audience as it’s an economical way to participate in mindful movement. Even adding mat-based programming to your club’s schedule in an already-existing space has the opportunity to drive additional profits.

Once you find the perfect space to implement your in-house mind-body exercise studio, remain realistic about the amount of equipment that you can fit in the area. Choose equipment that is versatile and offers maximum programming to keep your mind-body program fresh, challenging, and adaptable to your changing members’ requests. Smaller spaces will flourish with class programming based around mat work or small pieces of

equipment. Larger spaces can accommodate larger pieces of equipment such as Reformers and Cadillac Trapeze Tables and, of course, a higher number of class participants.

EXPLORE WORKING WITH A SOLUTIONS-BASED PROVIDER Working with the right supplier to help you plan your mind-body programming is key to your success. Whether you have a permanent or a multi-purpose space, the right consultants will help ensure you make the best decisions for your facility to increase profits and maintain a consistent clientele for years to come.

With a solid selection of equipment and accessories, qualified instructors and even a limited amount of space, any fitness facility has the potential to attract and retain members and capitalize on the $7 billion mindful movement industry as it continues to grow and become a part of everyone’s fitness regimen.

Sandy Gardner, vice president of sales and customer service at Merrithew Health & Fitness, works with clubs and studio owners to launch in-club mind-body exercise programs. Design your own studio at www.merrithew.com using the interactive Studio Planner.

MIND/ BODY CERTIFICATION AND PRODUCT RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Become a Mind Body Specialist

Introducing Beth Shaw’s YOGALEAN

Earning an ACE Mind Body Specialty Certification will help you deliver holistic wellness programs based on movements that improve posture, build strength and reduce stress. With the number of yoga and Pilates participants soaring to 22.9 million in the past decade, specializing in mind body exercise can help you cater to the growing number of people searching for a more balanced approach to health and wellness. Become an expert in yoga and Pilates to improve posture, reduce stress, strengthen the core, build muscle and fuel an internal connection with one’s self. To learn more about becoming an ACE Mind Body Specialist, contact:

Finally there is a fitness plan that lets you forget about diets and all of that guilt! In her new book, YOGALEAN: Poses and Recipes to Promote Weight Loss and Vitality-for Life, international yoga and fitness expert Beth Shaw shows readers how to get in shape by developing what she calls Lean Consciousness. The ultimate path to weight loss, weight management and whole-life wellness, Lean Consciousness is designed to take into account every reader’s size and shape, creating a program that fits with their personal goals. YOGALEAN goes on sale September 2. Visit www.yogafit.com/yogalean and preorder a copy today, and receive 25% off upcoming YogaFit Mind Body Fitness Conferences!

American Council on Exercise 888.825.3636 www.ACEfitness.org

YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide 310.205.0430 www.yogafit.com/yogalean

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Part 5 of 7

Opening and operating a successful studio: A 2014 PFP Special Series

By Jennifer Urmston Lowe

YOUR BUSINESS BACKBONE:

Understanding legal and insurance regulations

t is imperative that fitness studio owners protect themselves from loss resulting from injuries to patrons, guests or staff members inside their facility, liability incurred in their ongoing business operations and physical damage to their owned or leased property. This important protection is available through insurance programs tailored for businesses in the fitness industry.

All studios have premises exposures related to members and guests coming into their owned or leased space. This includes walking through the parking lot, over the sidewalk, across the threshold, into the locker rooms or showers, as well as use of the fitness equipment and participation in classes or training sessions.

Premises liability claims range from simple slip and fall injuries to minor or more severe injuries resulting from the use of fitness equipment or participation in exercise activities.

Here is a list of coverages typically necessary to include in your studio’s insurance policy:

Professional Liability: protects the owners and employees of the fitness studio from claims related to the instruction that they do or do not provide to their members, guests or clients.

Products and Completed Operations: protects the studio from claims related to items that they sell.

Personal and Advertising Injury: protects the business from claims related to use of personal information or photos in verbal, print or electronic media.

Hired and Non-Owned Auto: provides coverage for the business when an employee uses a personal or hired vehicle in the course of the studio’s operation.

Standard liability limits for the fitness industry are presently one of the following: $1,000,000 per occurrence (single claim) and either $2,000,000 or $3,000,000 annual aggregate (to-

tal of all claims in a given year) or $2,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate.

Higher limits are available through purchasing an umbrella or excess liability policy. When a studio leases their premises, the landlord typically requires a certain liability limit per occurrence that the tenant must meet or negotiate.

The lease generally determines the liability limit of coverage selected.

Nearly all fitness studios have equipment and contents that need to be insured under a commercial property insurance policy. Equipment leasing companies usually require the studio to insure leased equipment just like owned equipment. In the event of a leased premises, any tenant’s improvements, HVAC, glass and sign coverage are typically insured by the tenant and should be included in the studio’s commercial property policy’s limits as well. Coverage for loss of income, also called business income, is also important for almost all studios. This coverage replaces lost income when a facility suffers a covered prop-

Topics covered in our exclusive 7-part studio series: (If you missed parts 1-4, access our digital issues online: www.fit-pro.com) Part 1 (Jan-Feb)

Part 2 (March-April)

Part 3 (Spring Buyers’ Guide)

Seven keys to open and operate a successful fitness studio A glimpse into PFP’s exclusive 7-part series

Know your numbers: The real costs of opening a fitness studio and how to get financing Financials are often the Achilles heel of most business owners. Get clear on the real and hidden costs of a new studio, understand cash flow management and explore creative ways of financing your new business.

Equipment ideal for your studio Finding the right equipment for your studio is the fun part, but make sure your equipment suits your space and that you get the most value for your investment.

STUDIO SERIES SPONSORS

www.powerblock.com

www.sportsfitness.com

www.spri.com

www.TabataBootcamp.com

erty loss and has to be fully or partially closed during the period of restoration. The amount of business income coverage needed is best determined by both a review of accounting records and consultation with the insurance agent. It is common practice for a leased studio to purchase three to four months of business income coverage.

Any fitness studio with regularly employed full-time or part-time staff will also be required to carry workers compensation insurance in most states. Annual payroll is used to calculate workers compensation premiums. Payroll to independent contractors should be included in the calculation unless they are covered under another workers compensation policy. Statutory state required limits are $100,000 for each accident or each disease with a $500,000 policy limit per disease. A business can be fined by the State for not carrying mandatory workers compensation insurance. Workers compensation pays medical bills and lost work time for employees and contractors injured on the job and is important protection for all businesses.

Owners and officers are not required to pay

workers compensation premiums on their own payroll in most states.

Fitness professionals can purchase individual professional liability policies that cover themselves as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, Group X instructor and yoga or Pilates instructor. They should request the same liability limits as the facility where they are working. A fitness studio should require all of their independent contractors to show proof of this coverage before allowing the contractor to work inside their facility. Direct employees are covered under the facility’s general liability policy for their professional liability exposure but independent contractors are usually not covered.

It is most important to work with an insurance agent who has an understanding of the fitness industry In summary, selecting appropriate insurance coverage and limits is a key element of running a successful business. It is most important to work with an insurance agent who has an understanding of the fitness industry, as well as the specific operation and needs of a studio.

When speaking with an agent there are a few questions to ask about the insurance programs they are proposing for your studio. }

First, does the insurance carrier offer a general liability policy tailored for health clubs and fitness centers? A policy specifically designed for our industry will include professional liability, products and completed operations, personal and advertising injury, as well as fire legal liability and medical payments all on an occurrence basis. Having all of this coverage is very important. Having it on one policy is both less expensive and more consistent from a coverage perspective.

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Second, does the professional liability coverage include coverage for nutrition counseling? Most personal trainers and group exercise instructors do have conversations about nutrition with their clients even if they do not specifically sell supplements or provide meal plans. This coverage is needed.

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Third, is sexual abuse and molestation coverage included and at what limit? It is important but is frequently excluded or offered at a significantly lower limit than the occurrence limit shown for the policy.

Ask the agent if the limit can be increased to match full policy limits. Be aware that if a child watch service is offered in the studio, background checks will be required for all of the childcare workers.

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Finally, ask the agent how long their agency and carrier have been insuring health clubs and how they handle claims. When an agency and/or carrier is dedicated to health and fitness facilities they will be less likely to cancel coverage in the event of claims.

There are programs tailored to meet the needs of our industry that have been in existence for nearly 30 years and both their customer service and coverage are based on specialized knowledge of fitness operations that will help fitness studios be successful. Be sure to do you due diligence prior to opening your studio to be sure you have adequate coverage to protect you in all unforeseen situations.

Jennifer Urmston Lowe is the national account manager with Sports & Fitness Insurance (SFIC) and has been insuring health clubs and fitness centers since 1998. Jennifer helped her father, John Urmston, found the IHRSA Insurance Program for Property and Casualty Insurance in 1999 and is a founding member of the Advisory Board of the Association of Fitness Studios. www.sportsfitness.com

Part 4 (June)

Part 6 (September-October)

Part 7 (November-December)

Before you sign: Negotiating contracts, leases and agreements A strong lease that works in your favor is worth its weight in gold; learn the art of negotiation and how to make your lease agreements work for you now and in the future.

Put your plan in motion: What an entrepreneur must know Having a plan and a vision is just the beginning, now you must take action. Embrace your inner-entrepreneur and take your studio business to new levels.

Your grand opening: Marketing, driving sales and leading a team to keep the doors open You’re ready to open your studio, now we’ll dive into the marketing and sales strategies as well as the leadership skills necessary to set up your studio to be a well-oiled and profitable operation.

Bringing

MIND-BODY

HOME

By Kendra Fitzgerald

Four steps to create and sustain a successful in-home yoga or Pilates business

Mind/Body Certification and Product Resource Spotlight see page 17.

American Council on Exercise 888.825.3636 www.ACEfitness.org

YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide 310.320.0110 www.yogafit.com/yogalean

Teaching a room full of students can be one of the most invigorating experiences, particularly for a yoga or Pilates instructor. Everyone is breathing and moving together, and the energy can be palpable. But what happens when a beginner student needs a little extra guidance in their practice, or a student is recovering from an injury and needs more attention, or a client simply wants private sessions to accommodate their schedule or training preferences? Private sessions can offer the space and time a client needs to learn the fundamentals and provides an instructor the opportunity to earn a higher hourly rate. To build a successful at-home or private yoga, Pilates or other mind-body-focused business, here are strategies on how to market and find your ideal clients, as well as the steps to manage your business successfully.

Find your clients The number one question I get about how to start training clients in their homes is, “How do you find clients?” Of course, finding clients is the main goal of any practitioner, but working with clients in their home requires a little more legwork to get started. For a client to welcome you into their home, they must like and trust you.

No amount of advertising and soliciting can match the power of word-of-mouth referrals,

and a personal recommendation will always go a long way to earning the trust of a new client. Specifically, we found that as the medical and fitness industries continue to work closer, a referral by a physical therapist, physician, nutritionist or other medical professional is the greatest way to build instant credibility and confidence in a potential client. With a directive from a physical therapist or physician to start a yoga or Pilates routine, clients are much more likely to follow through and stick with their program.

Medical professionals want to know their patients are being treated well, and working with clients in their home demonstrates you will give the client the attention they need to be successful. Working together to create a program that supports the client’s overall goals and takes their rehabilitation into consideration is also a major plus for many medical professionals.

What is the best way to grow your network?

We like a ‘give first’ approach. Look for professionals you know and trust enough to send your own clients to, and then do just that. Your referrals speak volumes to your network, letting them know that you trust them, and that they can trust you, too. The big question we always ask ourselves when we reach out to potential network partners is, “What is in it for them?”

Know that it takes time to build up a fulltime in-home practice. As you start seeing clients and getting rave reviews, those clients will start talking about you to their friends and colleagues, and your reputation will gain traction.

It took me a year to build up a full schedule; now, nine years later, some of the same clients I began with are still my clients today.

Determine your rates The biggest gem in setting your rates is to set them early and be consistent with every single client. Map out your income and expenses and set a realistic rate for yourself. The more variation you have in rates at the beginning, the more headaches you will have in the years to come when you’re managing accounts for 20 of your clients, each paying different rates.

Every market in the country will have differing price points. A teacher in Cleveland will not charge the same as a teacher in New York City, but students will pay more for you to come to them. When choosing your rates, take your cost of living into consideration. Factor in time for travel, programming, and, if you choose to take on other practitioners at some point, know that you will likely need support staff to help you manage your team. Know your limits on the number of sessions you can do per day

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and factor that into your equation. If you limit yourself to four or five sessions per day, know how much you need to make in those four or five hours to make the most of your time.

Opinions vary greatly on discounts, but we found success in offering individual sessions at a high rate, and 10- or 20-packages of sessions at a discount to encourage our clients to commit to their goals. More often than not, our clients choose a 10-package of sessions which gives them time to see some results from our work together and keeps them coming back for more!

Understand the nuances of teaching at-home Teaching at home comes with its own subtleties that set it apart from working at a yoga or Pilates studio, fitness center or gym. Meeting at a client’s home puts you on their ‘home turf,’ creating a relaxed atmosphere for the client.

Often times, they will work harder at home because they will not worry about who is watching, what they are wearing, or being distracted by other studio or gym members.

But distractions of a different kind are rampant at home — the buzzing cell phone, kids getting home from school and even the UPS guy. It’s a great idea to suggest working in

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a space with as few distractions as possible, but if it does occur, have a plan to return to the practice as quickly as possible. Remember that you’re on their turf so they will be more likely to jump up from their mat at home than at the gym. It is your responsibility to keep them on task.

Sustain the longevity of your business As movement professionals, we use our bodies on a daily basis to inspire and encourage our clients. One of the keys to creating a successful in-home business is to ensure you are taking care of your most important asset – yourself.

Along with teaching clients at home comes the challenge of traveling from one place to another on a daily basis. After nine years of traveling and teaching around New York City, I can tell you from experience that it gets exhausting.

Knowing your limits will keep you from burning out in the long run. How do we deal with it? We schedule our clients close to one another to minimize travel time between sessions, and stay realistic about how many clients we can see in one day. Personally, I can do five sessions in a day. Any more than that and I am not bringing my best work to that last client.

The other key to longevity in the in-home business is continuing education. If you are exclusive-

ly offering home visits, being a solo-preneur can be very isolating. You may be accustomed to seeing and learning from other teachers at the studio or gym between classes, however working in your client’s homes, you will not see many, if any, other practitioners. It is vitally important to seek out continuing education opportunities as often as possible. Not only will it keep your work fresh, but the old adage applies — “When you stop learning, you stop living!”

The in-home yoga and Pilates market is rapidly expanding as busy professionals seek convenience and efficiency in every part of their lives. If you have been thinking about expanding your business to include home visits, now is a great time to make it happen.

Kendra Fitzgerald, CPT, CYT, is the founder and director of Barefoot Tiger LLC, a private fitness concierge company with locations in NYC & LA. www.barefoottiger.com

THE MESSAGE Website: www.TraceyMallett.com, www.TheBootyBarre.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/traceymallett www.facebook.com/bootybarre Twitter: @TraceyMallett | Instagram: @traceyMallett

Tracey Mallett is an international fitness and wellness expert, dancer, choreographer and Master Pilates instructor. She has sold more than one million units of her DVDs, is the creator of “The Booty Barre” workout program and teacher training, and is a highly sought-after contributor for leading publications and media. She has earned an avid following of fitness and health enthusiasts that continues to grow exponentially. This is how she shares her message…

My ideal clients are people who want to learn and be motivated to take steps that are out of their comfort zone but necessary to reach success. They’re committed to finally accepting change to be the person they aspire to be, small steps at a time.

My message is to forget about the number on a scale and think about how you feel inside and out. Learn to look at the big picture and enjoy your journey, live more in the moment and less about what if? Negativity will always pull you back and waste valuable time.

The platform I best share my message is social media via Facebook and my YouTube channel which have been critical to deliver my message and connect with people from all over the world. Sharing my down-to-earth practical approach to fitness and lifestyle has been embraced by my following and allows people to get to know and trust me as their friend.

Successful messaging is being true to your brand and being consistent with what you believe in. People want to relate to you, so if you’re too far out of their reach it becomes less inspiring; it’s up to you to identify who your target audience is, then THEY will find YOU! People follow me, I believe, because I’m truly passionate about what I do and have a unique ability to inspire and motivate people. I’m transparent and don’t pretend to be someone I’m not. I think not being afraid to be yourself is important and people appreciate that. Creativity is also a drive as instructors are always looking for that next MOVE which I provide them through video and my teacher training program, BootyBarre.

TRACEY

MALLETT

EDUCATION TRENDS Beth Shaw | www.yogafit.com

Mind-body certifications and opportunities We asked Beth Shaw, President of YogaFit, to share her insight on current trends in mind-body certification and education. She shares her thoughts on increasing opportunities for fitness professionals to embrace the mind-body movement and how it can enhance their careers.

What are some of the newer trends in mind-body certifications and education?

The trend appears to be turning towards customizing programs based on a student’s specific interest. Just as electives are offered in a collegiate course, students now have the ability with select schools to choose from a variety of trainings geared towards a specific population’s needs. In this way, we are taking a more therapeutic approach to all aspects of wellness.

How can fitness professionals take advantage of this trend to grow their business or career?

Fitness professionals can always benefit from continuing education courses. They can take advantage of this trend by attending workshops, taking courses online through approved schools, and working on self-educating through learning materials like DVDs and evidence-based information on the internet. They are able to grow their business by expanding on their scope of practice with the knowledge to target a specific population and a specific market to integrate mind-body practices such as yoga and the therapeutic applications into their existing occupation.

What type of fitness professional do you think would most be interested in pursuing this certification/continuing education?

Anyone can benefit from yoga and other mind-body-focused practices. However, some who might benefit the most are those who are currently working in either a wellness or healthcare-centered environment. Since yoga is a holistic approach to healing the mind and the body, it is easily integrated and can complement any environment focused on wellness. Therapeutic practices, in particular, can address anything from physical alignment, pain management, stress management, fertility and breathing disorders, just to name a few.

What questions might you suggest a fitness professional ask themselves when deciding whether this trend is right for them?

“Are you a lifelong learner?” and “Do you think you know it all?” The answers should be yes, and no, respectively. As exercise science changes based on new studies and statistics, we have to stay in the know to keep up with the most current and optimal wellness techniques. This requires an open mind and the desire to be a life-long learner.

Beth Shaw is the President of YogaFit, the world’s largest yoga training school. Her third book, YogaLean, will be released this fall, and offers a holistic approach to eating healthy, losing weight and keeping it off. www.yogafit.com

Certification and continuing education organizations American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Savvier Fitness

California University of Pennsylvania

SCW Fitness Education

Functional Aging Fitness Specialist

VicteliB

Jillian Michaels BODYSHRED

YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide

www.ACEfitness.org www.calu.edu/go

www.FunctionalAgingInstitute.com

www.JillianMichaelsBODYSHRED.com

www.TabataBootcamp.com www.scwfitness.com

www.victelib.com/our-programs www.yogafit.com

EXERCISE SPOTLIGHT Exercises designed by 2014 PFP Trainer of the Year Dan Ritchie and SPRI featuring the Step360

Step360 Pro

Cardio, strength and flexibility workouts all are launched to the next level with the unique Step360 from SPRI Products, Inc. This versatile, functional training tool uniquely combines a stable platform atop dual inflatable oscillating air chambers for a valuable balance challenge during a multitude of functional and traditional exercises. All levels of exercisers can add excitement to their routines, improve core strength and stability, maximize exercise efficiency and achieve optimal performance through 360 degrees of movement.

The Step360 is accompanied with a hand pump, full-color wall poster featuring some of the most popular Step360 movements and a DVD, “The 360 Training Experience,� led by fitness instructor Jesse Pavelka. The DVD features three 20-minute workouts along with a 10-minute bonus routine.

Single-leg kickback with floor touch

Similar to a one-legged deadlift, except for beginners, do not use any weight and just focus on the balance aspect of kicking one leg back while reaching down to touch the floor.

With beginner clients, master this movement on the floor before attempting on the Step360.

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Single-leg kickback with a forward arm spread

Similar to the single-leg kickback above except now the counter balance is much different, and requires more glute strength to take the leg straight back. Again, clients should master this on the floor before attempting on the Step360

For more information, visit www.spri.com or call 800.222.7774

Step down-touch

This movement can be done directly to the side, or more difficult (as shown) at 45 degrees diagonally behind the Step360.

Start on the Step360 and reach down to touch the foot down but do not shift your weight. The leg on the Step360 has to control the body as you lower to touch the floor and then return to the Step360 without shifting your weight to the floor.

This movement trains eccentric control, which many clients begin to lose after the age of 40 or after any knee injury.

Push-up on Step360

Set up in a standard push-up position on the Step360. To attempt this on the Step360, a client should be able to perform at least 10 proper push-ups on the floor. The movement can also be performed in the modified position on the knees.

Performing a push-up on the Step360 requires much more core stabilization and shoulder stability and balance between right and left arm as the platform will move with any imbalance between right and left arm forces.

Step-up with slam ball Forward lunge with overhead press

Start at a distance that allows you to complete a forward lunge with your foot in the center of the Step360. As you lunge, complete an overhead press with a slam ball. For beginner clients, master a forward lunge with an overhead press on the floor before attempting this more difficult lunge on the Step360.

Step up on to the Step360. Start at the correct distance from the Step360 so you can complete a step-up with your foot landing in the center of the Step360.

If you are able to use a slam ball to hold during the step-ups, this simulates carrying something upstairs. Clients should be able to safely complete normal step-ups on a stable step before attempting this on the Step360. The Step360 is great at simulating climbing bleachers or risers, and is a very functional task for climbing movements.

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NEW ON THE MARKET The latest trends in fitness equipment

PRENATAL & POSTNATAL MANUALS & CEC COURSES Prenatal and Postpartum Health & Happiness through Exercise and Nutrition

by Holli Clepper are excellent resources for personal trainers and instructors who work with or aspire to work with prenatal or postpartum women. These courses will help you understand how to relieve pain and restore function through exercise, yoga and nutrition. ACE, NASM and CHEK approved for CECs. www.inhealthandhappiness.com

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Lindsay's Review:

Deluxe Railyard 3 in 1 Sled

As an owner of a group fitness studio, equipment with versatility is music to my ears. The Deluxe Railyard 3 in 1 weight sled is one of the most efficient additions to my collection. It can be used as a push or pull sled, or as an anchor for battle ropes or resistance bands for up to six clients. The best part is there is no additional cost to adding the weight element; use your dumbbells, kettlebells, plates or sandbells to easily add your desired weight. Whether you train indoors or outdoors, the Deluxe Railyard 3 in 1 sled is a wise investment to add to your equipment collection and diversify your training in limitless ways. www.railyardfitness.com

DR. COOL RECOVERY-ONTHE-GO WRAPS

NEW ACE PERSONAL TRAINER MANUAL

Coolcore has released its Dr. Cool Recovery-On-The-Go wraps, the first product to combine ice and compression in one flexible wrap. The chemical-free wraps are ideal for any athlete who needs to recover on-the-go, and they are available in three different sizes for all parts of the body. They need just 20 minutes in the freezer to reach optimum temperature and wicking. Moisture circulation and regulated evaporation properties work to reduce the fabric’s surface temperature up to 30 percent. www.drcoolrecovery.com

The American Council on Exercise has released the new ACE Personal Trainer Manual (5th Edition). More than any personal training resource available, the manual delivers relevant tools that aspiring professionals and industry veterans can apply to clients of today, including behavior change expertise and coaching philosophy. Rooted in years of peer-reviewed research, it marries input from thousands of health experts with the natural evolution of the ACE Integrated Fitness Training Model. www.ACEfitness.org or 800.825.3636

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KOREBALL KOREBALL, a collapsible, portable kettlebell workout system, is for all levels of fitness enthusiasts and provides a dynamic and efficient workout in 30 minutes or less. The patented design of the KOREBALL is a hybrid of traditional kettlebell and medicine ball training equipment. KOREBALL’s water- or sandfilled, leak-proof bladders are weight adjustable, while smooth comfort dual handles are easy to use. www.koreball.com

EVENTS CALENDAR

Connect with your peers

August 2014 - October 2014

AUGUST 2014 National Posture Institute CEC Workshop August 8-9 | San Diego, CA www.npionline.org/workshops

10 in ONE Level One Platform Training August 31 | Chicago, IL www.ppfsportscience.com/ceu-workshops

SEPTEMBER 2014

National Posture Institute CEC Workshop October 17 | Sarasota, FL October 25-26 | Chicago, IL www.npionline.org/workshops

Club Industry Show

IDEA World Fitness Convention

BODYSHRED Instructor Certification

August 13-17 | Anaheim, CA www.ideafit.com/fitness-conferences

September 11 | Reston, VA www.jillianmichaelsbodyshred.com

October 22-24 | Chicago, IL www.clubindustryshow.com/pfp

BODYSHRED Instructor Certification

MEGA Training 2014

BODYSHRED Instructor Certification

August 17 | Anaheim, CA August 17 | Plano, TX August 21 | Dallas TX August 24 | Corona Del Mar, California www.jillianmichaelsbodyshred.com

September 26-27 | Orlando, FL www.netprofitexplosion.com/events

October 23 | Rosemont, IL www.jillianmichaelsbodyshred.com

OCTOBER 2014

Dallas MANIA

NSCA Personal Trainers Conference

For a complete listing, see our online Events Calendar at www.fit-pro.com/events.

August 22-24 | Dallas, TX www.scwfitness.com/MANIA

October 3-4 | Washington, DC www.nsca.com/Events

ECA World Fitness THRIVE 2014

Midwest MANIA

August 22-24 | Delray, FL www.ecaworldfitness.com

October 10-11 | Rosemont, IL www.scwfitness.com/MANIA

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BE BETTER Phil Kaplan | www.philkaplan.com

Mind re-set It’s hard to conceptualize the concept of mind, but we all know that inner-driving force that pushes, pulls, sways, compels and cautions us. In my early days as a personal trainer, every client learned the mantra, “put the mind in the muscle,” suggesting a focus on the working muscles, an experiential connection between movement and conscious awareness of contractile fibers. This became so ingrained in my language and presentation my first book was titled, “Mind and Muscle: Fitness for ALL of You,” my radio show titled “The Mind & Muscle Fitness Hour.”

I understood the mind as a thinking force, as an intangible that communicated with an inner voice, with fear, with hunger and with an outpouring of future scenarios ranging from the sublime to the atrocious.

I knew I had to learn to corral that mind-force in myself and in others if I was going to stimulate the disciplines necessary for transformational achievement, be those achievements athletic or professional. Despite an awareness of this force called mind, it was a simplistic understanding of a complex entity that drives the entirety of the human experience.

Today, a bit wiser than my foundational years allowed, I see the mind and body, not as individual elements that we need to connect, but rather as vital integral parts of the whole. As a matter of fact, my new paradigm is based upon recognizing that the body is an assemblage of cells, all in their present state because of, in great part, the mind.

The mind goes far beyond conscious thought. When years ago, I told clients to put the mind in the muscle, what I might have failed to recognize is, the mind is already there. I really meant, bring conscious thought to muscle — the mind is omnipresent. It allows you to flex without losing control, to know just how much force to exert when you push, pull or elevate, to move an arm, a leg, a finger or a toe without any conscious direction.

Recent studies have been groundbreaking as we discover the connections between pieces of the mind, some operating within the central nervous and immune systems, some within the endocrine network, and others inhabiting the muscular system, and the most profound discoveries reveal the health ramifications of the ‘gut mind.’ How often do people refer to “a gut feeling,” or an “upset stomach?” Those are not misnomers but revelations allowing discovery of the links we have failed to respect and cater to.

I see the human being today as the result of the relationship between six vital points: mind, spirit, cell status, brain, gut and immune system. Of all six points, the mind has perhaps the greatest power to control shifts and change the whole.

Wouldn’t it prove valuable if you could grab a client, access the control screen, tap on the “Settings” icon, and program the settings of the mind? Imagine if you could program the client to feel inspired, to summon motivation at will, and to move toward a better future through exercise and supportive eating. Now stop imagining. You can.

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No, you won’t find a “Settings” icon under your clients’ clothing (please don’t search for it), but I will give you insight into how you can re-set the mind, or, in more recognizable language, adjust mindset.

If I asked you to describe someone’s mindset you might be able to rattle off a few adjectives. “She’s stubborn, anxious and always questions her potential,” or “he’s motivated most of the time but he always screws things up and regrets it down the road.” When you identify habitual behaviors in your clients, you’re dealing with the relationship between three elements of mind, and when you align these three elements in proper balance, you affect every mind-related action and structure through virtually every bodily system.

We’ll call the three elements of mindset the EEM, the PFC and the RAS. When you understand the way these three mind elements interact, you become a powerful force in working to move people toward betterment and stimulate shifts from unsupportive behaviors to habitual progress along a path of improvement.

The EEM is the Emotional Experiential Memory. It has one primary function: protection. The first time you touched a hot stove you experienced pain. There was an experience. The EEM remembers that experience and ensures you’ll never make the same mistake. In that the EEM serves you, but it hasn’t any ability to think in terms of aspirations, motivations or desires. It simply prevents you from moving toward those things it links with pain. Imagine how a mal-programmed EEM might drive an individual who has failed with diet after diet, or how it might limit someone who was injured during a poorly supervised exercise session. A maladapted EEM needs pull. It needs an opponent, one that does, in fact, speak in the mind-based language of drive and possibility. That important opponent is the PFC. The PFC is the Pre-Frontal Cortex. In adventurers and adrenaline junkies, the PFC is in overdrive. It “thinks” in possibility, and any premise beginning with the words “what if” is initiated in the PFC. The EEM and PFC counter each other, so we ideally seek balance. We want our clients to pursue the possibility of betterment safely.

The third and final piece is the Reticular Activating System, a brain mechanism that serves as a gatekeeper to the conscious mind. The RAS takes the totality of what we notice and decides what merits our focus. If the RAS is zeroed-in on failure, on pain or on the fruitlessness of failed fitness attempts, it serves as an internal GPS to steer your clients away from adherence.

The best news of all is, we can “train” these elements of mind just as we train muscles, and we can structure and strengthen connections between the three. How? Well that’s an entire curriculum in and of itself, but start with this: Identify the limits of the EEM, feed the PFC with new possibility, and direct the RAS toward joyous outcomes and notice the power you have over your clients’ mindsets… and your own!

Phil Kaplan will be launching a new distance learning program aimed at teaching trainers to grow without limit. Visit philkaplan.com or send an email to phil@philkaplan.com inquiring about his ETC program.