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Archive for the ‘Fitness center’ Category

It’s true: our metabolism (the body’s engine) begins to slow down as we get older. In other words, older people on average burn less fuel (fewer calories) per pound of body weight than do younger people. And that is because they have less lean muscle tissue (lean body mass). This results in reduction of our body’s functioning capacity along with body fat gain even if the bathroom scales do not show it.

If you have a reduced amount of muscle tissue from not doing enough muscle building or maintain activity your metabolic demand for oxygen and your caloric needs decline. That is because muscle tissue is highly active tissue requiring lots of nourishment whereas fat tissue is passive. It just sits there as a stored form of body energy and requires very little fuel to maintain it.

This reduction in muscle mass – and the slowing of metabolism that it causes – sets up a vicious cycle as with the muscle tissue loss calorie needs fall with it. Most people are so inactive they need to take in about 100 calories per day less each decade as they get older to maintain a level body weight.

The problem, of course, is that we continue eating the same. And as we eat the same we now have too many calories coupled with too little exertion. Add in the reduced musculature and a declining metabolic rate and it all adds up to the addition of more and more body fat which carries serious health risks. This cycle, will only worsen over time – unless broken by a program that increases muscle tissue and restores lost metabolism.

The reduced muscle mass from sedentary lifestyles are almost completely responsible for the gradual reduction in the metabolic rate. This is why one of the newest approaches to achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight focuses on boosting the metabolism by improving the body composition (muscle/fat ratio).

Just as that old saying goes ‘use it or lose it, research shows us that from the age of 30 to 65 most adults have halved their muscle mass and doubled their fat mass. This is often referred to as the ‘middle-age spread’. Yet this can easily be prevented or reduced by simply maintaining your muscle mass and therefore your metabolism through strength training exercise.

All you need to do to prevent muscle loss is to simply perform a minimum of 2-3 strength training sessions each week. A fitness professional can show you exactly what to do to ensure you strength train safely and effectively. And don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t increase your strength and restore lost muscle tissue if you are older. Muscles respond to strengthening exercise no matter if they are 20 years old or 60 years old.

The biggest factor that causes people to go downhill with their health as they get older is the loss of muscle tissue that occurs over time from inactivity. However, that muscle loss is 100% preventable with strength training exercise so get yourself started and enjoy the multitude of benefits that if will give you.

Did you know that most fitness businesses fail due to ineffective marketing? It is true that the prime reason behind the failure of a majority of fitness centers is either no or bad marketing.

Most business owners rarely realize the importance of marketing their businesses. When some do bother marketing, they lack an effective and consistent approach. They fail to realize that the key to a successful business is good marketing.

Marketing should be a priority. It is as important as any other aspect that runs the business. The mindset that other requirements are more important than marketing is very wrong and needs to be changed. After all, if you don’t have clients, whom will you provide your excellent services to?

Marketing your fitness business need not be a time and money consuming activity.

You can start by advertising your fitness business on the internet through newsletters, youtube, facebook, google, websites etc. You can insert mailers with promotional discounts and schemes. This is a very simple and effective marketing tool. When people come to your fitness center to find out more about it, you should first take down their contact information. This way, you can always contact them at a later date to tell them about new schemes.

Once this system is in place, go to the next level. Try to make your marketing process automated. Automation of the marketing process is advantageous because you don’t constantly have to maintain it. Your hands are free to maintain other aspects of the business.

A brilliant way to automate the marketing process is to create a web site for your fitness business. Though this requires some amount of monetary investment, the returns will cover the investment in no time.

Since online marketing is the future of marketing, it is a wise decision to invest in the building a web site for your fitness business. Once the web site is ready, you can add new information or reinvent your business as many times as possible.

A lot of literature is available online about fitness. Try to break away from the usual clutter. Remember that, most of the time, the web site will give the first impression of your fitness business to the client, so it must be impressive.

The web site should have a professional look. It must focus on helping the clients by providing relevant information about the business. The potential client must get the impression that people who run the fitness center are properly trained and qualified.

You can also combine local marketing and Internet marketing by drawing up press releases when something significant happens such as a grand opening or addition of a new section to the fitness center.

Try not to harp about your fitness business on your own. Testimonials and references from other people work better than your own word. You can post “before” and “after” pictures of your clients on the web site. Offer people free trials or discounted rates for the first few months so that they can see the results for themselves.

Running a fitness business is going to be profitable only when you market it expertly.

Health and Fitness Clubs Surprise Rise?

It came as no surprise to me. The report from FinancialWeek.com pronounced that memberships to health and fitness clubs were actually on the rise, even in spite of current economic conditions. The biggest growth is coming from elder ‘Boomers’, age 55 and up.

Um… that would be me!

So why the surprise? The fact that my age demographic is leading the way in the current membership explosion shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. It was the Boomers who started the whole craze.

I can’t say I’m big on joining a fitness center as I prefer doing my own thing. Here in my high rise condo, I have access to an indoor pool and a very well-equipped gym.

I rarely use it. But whenever I walk by, the majority of people who do use it are… you guessed it – minimum 45+. One of the regulars is 78 years old!

For myself, I spend a good amount of time in the stairs, currently running 5 cycles up and down 22 floors, three times a week. It takes just over 30 minutes. As well, Maggie and I do a fair bit of walking after dinner and on weekends. Add a few stretches coupled with some occasional resistance training as recommended by most professional trainers and I’m good. In fact, I’m pretty darned proud of my 55+ year old bod!:)

The Lure of Health and Fitness Clubs

It’s hard to resist those health and fitness club flyers, isn’t it? Boomers especially cling to the vision of maintaining a youthful, vigorous appearance. We’re getting more ‘quantity’ of life, with age expectancy rising all the time. What Boomers demand now however is ‘quality’. They want to squeeze as much enjoyment out of their ever lengthening years.

Of course, you could always take the Rodney Dangerfield approach to looking your best, “If you want to look thinner, hang around more fat people.”

Personally, I believe you actually become who you hang out with. My job teaching young children for the past 37 years has certainly had a better effect than any gym. Plus the fact that Maggie is 12 years younger keeps me energized as well!

Choosing a Health and Fitness Club

Whether or not you join a health and fitness club is a matter of choice. Some people need the extra push and accountability that a personal trainer or other club members will give. Organized gyms also can provide a social outlet which is most important in this day and age of increasing isolation and cocooning.

Of course, due diligence is required before signing on the dotted line at any fitness center. While the initial offer to get you in the door may be quite enticing, you have to be extremely aware of the inevitable upsell to an annual or ‘family’ package deal.

The main question is, will you actually stick to the program? Most clubs are banking that you won’t! They know most people are very weak when it comes to keeping commitments, especially the pain-for-gain kind. They also know these same people are even weaker when it comes to asking for a refund. They would rather simply slink away rather than be held accountable.

The fact is, most health and fitness clubs are very strict with their refund policies. This brings a whole new meaning to the term, “Use it (your membership) or lose it (hundreds of dollars of your hard-earned cash!)”.

Warning: Health and Fitness Club Fraud

It’s not bad enough that you have to be aware of ‘upsell-hell’ when you shop around for a training center. It’s extremely rare NOT to be confronted with an upsell opportunity, so expect it. (Do you want fries with that?)

Maggie actually had such an experience with a spa, very similar to the gym bait and switch routine. She purchased a basic package, only to be told the next week that the package was ‘discontinued’. She would have to upgrade.

The following week, she was pitched to add a massage. The week after that, she was followed by a rep with a clipboard, showing her all the benefits she would gain if she upgraded to the next better deal. Maggie didn’t return again after the 5th week. She just cut her loss. Obviously, this spa mistook her for an ATM machine.

Occasionally though, you’ll come across outright frauds. The news from my old home town of Nashua, N.H. recently reported that the president of a new, unregistered health and fitness club was found guilty of illegally using $14,000 in pre-paid memberships to carpet his facility. Apparently, this person was a firm believer in exercise as law officials concluded that he planned to take the money and run!

For the next few months, he’ll be doing his work outs in one of New Hampshire’s finest fitness centers – a.k.a. jail!

There are many types of jobs out there for personal trainers. Understanding the importance of finding a good fit for when you are looking for the position of a personal trainer will make a difference down the road.

Most trainers don’t realize that there are many jobs out there in the market that encompass their services. The first job is to know what you are interested in, so let’s have a look at some different options.

“Options available to personal trainers looking for jobs”

The first place most people look is at the local gym, health club, or fitness center. This is a good starting point and most likely what you’ve had in mind. I want to share some jobs that you perhaps have not thought of before.

A good example of this is a corporation who has a gym on site. Employers are seeing the value in offering the employees fitness programs for a healthy employee is a productive employee. Often times if your get a job with a company who has this proactive stance, they also understand that it comes at a premium and are willing to pay.

Resorts and getaway destinations are also a good place for personal trainers to find a job. This can be a great place to gain some experience as people who are into a routine often like to continue it when on holidays. If you live in an area where there is a resort, you will be on top of the candidate list for they always are looking for reliable local trainers.

Rehabilitation centers are also a good source for personal training jobs. As a trainer, feel confident in walking into your local rehab center and build alliances with the physiotherapists and chiropractors. See if there are any jobs available and make sure to exchange business cards with the intent of referring clients to one another.

Working as an independent personal trainer is of course your best option. There is nothing more profitable then independent personal training jobs. This is not the easiest way to get started, but over the long haul, it is definitely most profitable.

When looking for a personal training job, view yourself as the employer, not the employee

When evaluating the different jobs as a personal trainer you will notice that only one option offers you 100% of the profits. This is of course working for yourself. Then why don’t all trainers take this route? The simple answer is that they feel that it is too difficult to start up their own business. It is true that being self employed is more ‘difficult’ then walking into a job every morning, but the rewards are well worth it.

Most personal trainers find themselves being self employed as well as working at a facility that has the appropriate equipment. This is not a bad way to start but for most is not the ideal situation.

Many personal trainers that are new to the field are shocked when they enter the field and people are not knocking on their doors for their services. This is why one is best off not to view personal training as a job, but rather a business. Making connections with the people and organizations above is a good place to start. Learn what you’re services are worth and don’t be afraid to charge.

As a personal trainer changing your work mentality from it being a job to a business is just the first step. If you are like many of the personal trainers whom I have worked with, you will find my boot camp of particular interest as I teach you how to grow your business and maximize your income. Right now you are your own best resource and getting connected to some valuable information will put you further ahead in your personal training career.

Exercise is very important for our body. By doing exercise, you will either feel or look good. People start realizing the importance of doing this activity and they try to find fitness center in their routines time.

There are some factors to consider before choosing a fitness center to do the exercise. Here, the writer will give some factors that the people can consider before doing the exercise in the this kind of place.

Price

Price is one of important thing in deciding everything. Make sure that the facilities which are offered are worth with the price you will pay. Usually, there is membership card in a fitness center. It is better to choose temporary membership instead of lifetime membership.

Location

In choosing fitness center that you want to be the member in it, make sure that the location is easy to be accessed. It is better if the place is near to your home or your office.

Convenience

Make sure that you will feel comfort when you are in the place where you will do the exercise.

Completeness

Based on American Council on Exercise, your fitness routines included aerobic exercise, sustainability and muscular exercise, and flexibility. So, make sure that the place you choose have kinds of exercise in order to fulfill your needs.

Instructor

In this matter, make sure that the instructor in the fitness center you will choose is authorized and has a good reputation in his/her field.

The Membership

Search the exercise program and its membership in the fitness center. If it goes well you may register to become the member. The more membership, the better it will be.

Cleanliness

Make sure that the exercise area and the equipment you will choose is clean. Dirtiness will make you inconvenience in doing your exercise.

Service

Maybe this is the most important considerations. Check the receptionist and the instructor are friendly. Good service will make you feel comfort.

Those are some tips that you can use in deciding which fitness center that you are going to join. Hope those can help you to find the best one.

Can teaching Yoga really be that rewarding? Why do Yoga teachers love their job? Will your Yoga training open up doors for your dream job? Let’s look at some of these questions and see how you can make your dream job become a reality. Even if you have no desire to teach Yoga, the practice of Yoga can be your gateway to satisfaction, fulfillment, achievement, and a successful life.

Is teaching Yoga classes really a rewarding occupation? After the first student comes up and thanks you for class – that is only the beginning. Some Yoga students have pre-existing ailments and pain. Yoga cannot promise a cure for any ailment, but Yoga can offer less pain, pain management, and sometimes, pain goes away altogether. Your students will definitely tell you what Yoga does for them.

The gratification of helping others, on a daily basis, is spontaneous. This cultivates positive energy from within the core of your inner being. You give the gift of Yoga, but you share positive energy, and usually walk away with more energy than you had before you taught a Yoga class.

Being able to make your own hours is a priceless benefit for Yoga teachers. You do not have to be in traffic during peak times. You choose the time and place you want to work. If you want to teach Yoga in the morning at a corporate fitness center, senior center, health club, or teach a private Yoga session, you can choose the best option for your schedule and “pocket book.”

As a Yoga teacher, you are a perennial student for life. You must pursue knowledge every day, for the safety of your students, to enhance your Yoga teaching practice, and to improve the lives of all those who learn from you.

Teaching any style of Yoga is akin to practicing Jnana Yoga, (Union through knowledge), even if you are a Hatha Yoga teacher. How can I state this? Yoga knowledge is infinite and the pursuit of Yogic knowledge is a daily task. Continuing education is an integral part of every Yoga teacher’s life.

Otherwise, Yoga instructors will become stale and unsafe in our teaching methods. You see, Yoga is an evolving system of health maintenance, where “nothing is carved in stone.” Therefore, we must learn and share the latest methods for a safe Yoga class.