AFPA Health and Fitness Blog

Elevator or stairs? Stairs, of course. In a split second, you decide you need to burn those calories that you consumed over lunch, but just two floors and you are already panting. Next time, you decide, you will take the elevator.

These days it is common practice  for thousands of women to find comfort and relief from common pregnancy troubles through yoga. That being said, not all yoga is appropriate for your growing baby. Luckily, over the years yogis have developed a separate branch of yoga for to-be mothers. Called prenatal yoga, this form of yoga uses traditional yoga postures and concepts to target the special needs of expectant mothers.

 Your metabolism is directly responsible for the amount of fat your body gains after eating food. Although our metabolism slows down as we age, significant scientific evidence shows that adopting a healthy lifestyle can boost your metabolism and burn fat effectively.

Fitness is very important for the body regardless of any gender, age, injuries and trauma that you may have faced in your earlier life. Fitness is very essential for overall wellness as it helps you to accomplish your tasks with your full dedication. An unfit body will make it difficult to do various daily tasks such as running, walking, taking stairs and much more.

Teaching a group fitness class can be quite rewarding. A good sense of accomplishment comes from helping people interested in living a healthier life by becoming more active. Financial rewards exist as well. A certified group fitness trainer may find him/herself in great demand at commercial gyms and fitness studios. 

Fitness and nutrition go hand-in-hand when it comes to health, so it makes sense that many personal training clients may have questions about food choices, meal plans, and supplements that can complement their training.

Inside the Mount Hood Athletic Club near Portland, Ore., a group of 20 kids weaves through a series of cones dribbling basketballs. When personal trainer Trevor Hayward blows a whistle, the kids go from dribbling to passing, and move in for layups.

Want to fit functional training into the programs you design for clients as a certified personal trainer?

If you have a client who needs to develop balance, improve coordination, or increase strength and endurance, functional training can help. And it’s even more effective when you choose exercises and activities designed to help make your client’s daily life easier and reduce the risk for injuries.

Committing to an exercise plan while pregnant can provide a wealth of benefits, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The organization notes that fitness can improve overall health and wellness, and also alleviate some common discomforts of pregnancy. It can even make labor and delivery easier.