Category: gym

Strong Legs Help Manage Knee Osteoarthritis

“I have to wear stupid heels when going up and down the stairs.  That kills my knees,” commented a client of mine who works as a stockbroker in San Francisco.  She was in her fifties, climbing office stairs several times a day in shoes never designed for it, and the pain had settled into her …

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August 2026 Coach Spot Light: Coach Paul Atienza

Coach Paul Atienza was born in the Philippines and moved to the Bay Area at age 6. He got into fitness through wrestling. Paul’s experience with the sport’s physical and mental demands, along with his kinesiology education, helped shape him into the coach he is today. His interest in wrestling was sparked by watching the …

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Strong Legs Get us Up and Down From the Floor

When was the last time you got down on the floor and back up again without reaching for a chair, a coffee table, or a nearby wall?  For some of us, we might not think twice about this. A new grandchild might change that.  Toddlers and boisterous seven-year-olds don’t do their business at table height. …

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An Overlooked Cause of Back Pain

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 …

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What Makes a Personal Trainer Happy

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 …

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Exercise Gives Us Something to Look Forward To

“It’s kind of like going to the dentist,” exclaimed a gentleman who was interested in our personal training services. We offer two complimentary training sessions to potential personal training clients. These sessions help ensure our coaching style, environment, and plan are a good fit before anyone commits. When this gentleman arrived for his second session, …

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Strong Ankles Keep Us on Our Feet

Have you ever been walking across the parking lot, thinking about the next thing to get done on your to-do list, when the toe of your shoe catches the lip of the curb? Usually, there is a quick stumble, and we might glance around to see if anyone noticed. Most of the time we catch …

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The Muscles Behind Our Everyday Grip

From the moment we pick up a toothbrush in the morning, our hands go to work without a second thought. We turn doorknobs, tap and swipe across phone screens, twist the lids off water bottles, thread a key into the front door, and carry bags of groceries from the car. By the afternoon, some of …

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Strong Upper Extremities Traveling

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 …

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Stay Fit for Recreational Sports

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 …

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