Oct 12
At the end of September, I had the privilege of visiting a few friends in Portland, Oregon, for about three days. The weather was the quintessential Pacific Northwest climate. It was a little colder, the air a little wetter, and some drizzle had already started in the latter half of the month. This was a …
Sep 27
It should come as no surprise that consistently practicing a fitness routine benefits long-term health and everyday functionality. Most of us already understand, without reading research articles or sitting through a college course, that getting stronger, eating the right foods, and taking care of our bodies help us live happy, healthy, and strong lives. Regular …
Sep 23
“I had a rough day, and I’m not sure I want to be here today,” a client told me recently as they set down a gym bag. Something had happened at work that morning, and the drive over hadn’t shaken it loose. “Okay, I understand,” I said. We talked about it for a few minutes. …
Aug 23
Who is more likely to develop lower back pain, the framer who hoists heavy lumber all day or the programmer who has spent twenty years at a desk? Most of us would bet on the framer. Heavy lifting looks dangerous, and desk work looks harmless. However, an underused, deconditioned back can cause as many problems …
Aug 15
Have you ever wondered what makes a personal trainer happy? It’s likely the first guesses would be watching a client lose ten pounds, add fifty pounds to their bench press, or cross the finish line of their first marathon. Those accomplishments are worth celebrating. However, the moments that warm a trainer’s heart the most are …
Jul 18
A walk through an airport terminal reveals the surprising truth that traveling is a strength and conditioning event. Suitcases are hoisted off luggage carousels, carry-on bags are pressed into overhead bins, backpacks are slung over shoulders, and rolling luggage is towed across long stretches of pavement. Before a single vacation photo is taken, the body …
Jul 10
An engaging and fun activity after a day of labor is playing a recreational sport. Golf, tennis, pickleball, running, and biking are some of the most popular sports among our personal training clients. Engaging in sports requires physical capabilities and athleticism, including the ability to endure long periods of potentially strenuous activity, consistent practice to …
Jun 13
Osteoporosis can be defined as a condition in which bones gradually lose density and become more porous and brittle over time. As the inner structure of the bone thins and hollows, the risk of a fracture increases. Ordinary daily moments that most of us never think twice about begin to carry more weight. This becomes …
May 31
“I almost went down stepping off the curb at the grocery store last week,” Frieren mentioned as she laced up her shoes for her morning training session. “I caught myself, but for a second I really thought I was going over.” She laughed it off, but the look in her eyes told the rest of …
May 19
Somewhere between the ages of six and eighteen months, humans accomplish one of the most remarkable feats in our species’ physical development. We figure out how to crawl, and not long after, we push ourselves up onto two wobbly legs and begin walking. Becoming bipedal is one of the defining traits that make humans unique. …
