Thursday, November 5, 2009

Interval training

Why interval training helps you get fitter, healthier, faster

Get fitter, healthier, faster. High intensity interval training or low intensity interval exercise offers benefits traditional exercise can’t.
Whatever your exercise inclinations, consider adding interval training to you week for maximum fitness benefits.
Whether high intensity interval training or lower intensity intervals, “burst training” can help almost anyone reach health & fitness levels, in a short time, that traditional exercise can’t.

What is interval training?

Interval training is a strategy that alternates intense bursts of activity with periods of less intensity or rest.

This is in contrast to much of the traditional aerobic exercise which mainly consists of steady activity over 20 to 60 minutes.

With high intensity interval training, what the particular exercise you choose, how long & intense the bursts are, & what & how long the less intense periods are, depends on individual preference, goals & fitness level.

Most people should simply choose the appropriate intensity of each interval by rating exertions on a scale of 0 (rest) to 10 (almost maximum effort). Less fit persons should alternate between 2 or 3 (low - moderate effort) & 5 or 6 (between strong - very strong).

However, if you are very heavy & out of shape, interval may consist of a few minutes of walking & rest, for 10 to 30 minutes.

But if you are very fit, you might be able to alternate fast runs with jogs. The jogs would constitute the easy parts of your workout.

By the way, one reason why playing sports is so healthy is that many of them are vehicles within which you are doing interval activity.

For example, many sports demand bursts of activity followed by relative or absolute rest. Take basketball, for instance. Players might sprint, rest, jog, rest, jump, rest, sprint, etc. So the whole game is a series of hard/soft intervals.

The special benefits of interval training

But what are the specific physical benefits of interval exercise, especially high intensity interval training?

  • The body learns to use new muscle fibers. These new fibers become available to burn fuel even during easy workouts. The new fibers help improve performance in all physical activity & sports. Drive that golf ball longer or touch the rim for the first time in 20 years.
  • High intensity interval training changes mitochondria, where fuel is turned to energy. That causes them to burn fat first increasing endurance in ways that traditional aerobics can’t.
  • The above suggest that interval workouts may lower risk of heart disease & protect against Type 2 diabetes in ways that traditional exercise can’t.
  • One of the benefits of exercise is increased lung power but interval training, especially high intensity interval training, can greatly increase lung power to levels that steady aerobics cannot.
  • While most aerobic exercise decreases bad cholesterol, intense exercise, like interval training, increases good cholesterol. Moderate exercise doesn’t affect good cholesterol.
  • Metabolic syndrome includes the combination of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high triglycerides that increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Interval training could potentially lower the risk of metabolic syndrome or reverse this resistant disorder much better than traditional exercise.
  • This potential to burn more fat may be especially helpful to those who are having trouble losing weight despite following good health principles.
  • A few short spurts of exercise throughout the day may clear the bloodstream of artery-clogging fat better than a single longer workout..
  • Traditional exercise improves general cardiovascular health but interval training can do so quicker & more dramatically.
  • High intensity interval training helps glands respond to extreme demands. This is vital because the performance of your glands during intense activity & stress depends on the proper functioning of your glands like the adrenal glands.
  • Used properly, interval training may help you handle periods of stress throughout the day. Your body is training for the stress during the interval sessions. When stress occurs outside of training, your glands, cardiovascular system & eliminatory system, work in concert to respond to the stress in an effective way.

    More benefits of interval training

    There are also many important social & psychological benefits of interval exercise.

  • It’s great for all levels of physical fitness. Even the less fit can alternate fast - slow, hard - soft. It’s just that the less fit will need to make the fast rather mild like walking & the soft could be a short rest.
  • Sessions can be short. So if you can’t afford the time it takes to travel to a particular locale, long leisurely strolls or jogs, intervals would be quite helpful.
  • Do a half hour walk (or jog, if you’re in better shape). At 10 minute intervals, pause & do enough squats to get out of breath & cause muscle burn. Adapt time, intensity, activity to your needs.
  • You can be done with a really good workout in as little as 15 minutes, the time it takes some aerobicizers to warm up.
  • Benefits become evident in a matter of weeks.
  • Good prep for many sports. Many sports are really vehicles for interval workouts so interval workouts can be especially helpful for sports requiring bursts of activity alternated with pauses.
  • It adds variety to your exercise routine. The endless possibilities of interval training gets out of the rut that many exercisers face.
  • Combats boredom - with your focus on the intensities & exertions, you wont notice much else like the time.
  • Achievement! Hard workouts increase the feeling of achievement. What could be more motivating? Charting workouts can be a real boost to motivation. See the progress & accomplishments right on paper.

    Many of the benefits of exercise that interval training results in, mirror those that traditional, steady exercise confer.

    However, each has distinct advantages.
     
    Doing interval training right

  • Ideally, it is best to combine the two approaches. Do interval training 1 - 2 times weekly & steady training 2 - 4 times weekly.
  • Combine some high intensity interval training with the master exercise, WALKING.
  • Try cycling, swimming, one of the aerobic apparatuses that are on the market (stationary bike, elliptical trainer, etc.) & simply adapt interval training to the particular activity.
  • In addition to doing several standard workouts per week, just participating in some sport that involves bursts of activity constitutes interval exercise.
  • Examples include basketball, tennis, volleyball, martial arts. You could just stop during a walk or jog to do push-ups or step-ups which your heart to race & muscles to burn.

    Cautions for high intensity interval training

  • Warm up before the first interval to help prevent injury.
  • A cool-down time at the end should be included.
  • You should not do interval work on consecutive days.
  • If you are pregnant, have an illness or other health condition, or just haven’t exercised in years, check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine.
  • Pushing your heart rate up very high with intensive interval training can put a strain on the cardiovascular system. People with heart & lung conditions need to get medical clearance before trying interval training.

    Use common sense. Don’t start doing intervals on the first hot day of the summer. Delay the next interval session if you are very sore from the previous one.

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For information about personal trainer course please visit our website.

 

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:17:44 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, October 8, 2009

How to sell Personal Training with the use of testimonials

As a personal trainer, how would your business improve or be reflected if you had some of the biggest names in the industry backing you? What if this person were to endorse your training? Would that help you sell personal training? The answer is, of course it would!

You probably have already figured out that testimonials, referrals or endorsements, whatever you want to call them, are key to selling personal training. This is one of the basic components for how to sell fitness.

You are selling fitness/personal training, aka: a service. Your number one priority should be to build trust with your clients. Trust is essential. If one of your personal training clients trusts you, they are MUCH more likely to hold onto the relationship that they have built with you. That also translates into more steady and consistent sales for you.

So consider this: you have a bunch of potential personal training clients that have proven very tough to close. They are constantly on the fence about training with you. Now, if a celebrity trainer were to walk into your gym and starts to rave about how great you are as a trainer, and how you can produce the exact results that these clients are looking for.

Would these clients be more likely to buy? Of course they would.

Additionally, what if ten to twenty of their friends, coworkers, of family took the time to tell these potential clients about the amazing results they have had with you? That through the personal training with you, they reached their goals more effectively and efficiently then they could have imagined?

I think you are getting the hint. This will always be the effect when you include testimonials, celebrity or not, to your personal training sales. Potential buyers are much more likely to instill trust in you if there is a precedence set for them. They won?t feel like they are alone. You answer all their questions/doubts without having to actually answer! Do it with the testimonials.

Now, you also have to consider the difference between celebrity and customer testimonials though. You have to know what you are going to get out of using both. Both produce positive results, but when it comes to selling personal training, both produce different results.

You might think that you are more likely to sell more personal training with the hottest and most popular celebrities in the fitness industry to rave about you and give awesome testimonials, but you would be wrong. A potential customer is more likely to place their trust in you and go to you for their fitness needs if there is a testimonial from someone they can relate to; someone who seems to be just like them. They will be more likely to believe that you are going to be able to give them the same fitness results as someone who is in a similar situation as them.

Celebrity testimonials are a whole different thing. Use celebrity testimonials when you are trying to get attention from a large group. When you are trying to break out with your personal training sales, you will be able to be associated with the celebrity. Most people would like to brag about that!

Testimonials, whether celebrity or customer, are very important in personal training sales. they humanize the you as a person. Personal training is a relationship based profession, and there is no better way to convince potential customers that you would be the perfect person to build a perfect fitness relationship with then with the use of great testimonials. You already have the clients that love you, get them to put it in writing. Record them in a sort video. And put their awesome experience with you out there.

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For information about personal trainer course, please visit our website.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Why There Is A Need For A Personal Fitness Trainer?

Why There Is A Need For A Personal Fitness Trainer?

It is hard to attain the physique of your dreams unless you have a personal fitness trainer to help along the way. Achieving the physique we crave isn’t as simple as many folks assume it is. To figure out your body type and its specific needs requires expertise and experience.

Our most valuable possession is our body. Everyone has varying physical characteristics. Because of this, it is a benefit to hire a personal fitness coach, who can provide personalized attention to make sure that each client has a good chance of reaching his or her goal.

While many people dream of being fit and toned, few actually have the motivation to stick with the program. We need someone to keep us from being lazy. The fitness coach is there to provide the encouragement you need.

There is an awareness of the workout regimes that are necessary for the achievement of our goal. A fitness instructor has the expertise that is needed to know the correct exercises and equipment needed for routines. A good personal trainer will help you to work specifically on those parts of your body you wish to improve.

If you need help understanding the correct method for using exercise equipment, a professional fitness trainer can help. Your physical fitness trainer will also help you develop a nutritional diet.

A certified personal fitness coach or trainer can help you achieve your goals for diet and exercise in an efficient manner. No one else can help or know as much as a professional fitness trainer. You will get fitness guidance from personal training sessions that will add dramatically to your current knowledge.

With individual fitness training, the fitness instructors will assist you in getting your shape back as quickly as possible; you will also learn how to keep your shape. You just need to focus on your workout, while your fitness trainer is responsible for devising your exercise program.

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For more information about personal training and personal trainer school, please visit our website.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Personal trainers: Get certified and coach celebs

Personal trainers: Get certified and coach celebs

20th century has seen rapid development of technology which made our life comfortable but the flip side hasn’t been so good. We recognise the comfort which we are getting by efficient use of technology in our everyday life but we fail to understand the efficient usage of technology in shaping our bodies and making us fit. Personal trainers are trained professionals who know about training equipment and the appropriate way to perform physical exercise without straining or stressing our bodies.

Personal trainers work in fitness centres, studios, health clubs, local fitness centres, freelance, etc. These trainers provide advice and guide their clients to perform exercise appropriately in a defined manner. To certain high profile clients these certified personal trainers assist them personally usually at the clients place. Personal trainers need to often speak to their clients about different practises and techniques. A personal trainer needs to have good communication skills and strong knowledge about his profession.

It is also important to know the machines thoroughly in case of any breakdown a personal trainer needs to repair the machine rather than waiting for the company person. Personal trainers may be allowed to repair minor problems but for higher complex repairs one needs professional help. Some clients have their own personal trainer throughout their life who helps them in planning diet and exercise routine to achieve their desire target and to stay in shape. Recreation parks, amusement parks, old age homes, etc employ personal trainers and definitely they require experienced and certified professionals. Certification is very important because this certification course deals with exercise routine which should be provided to old people, people with disabilities and disease, etc. These certifications prove your capacity and talent to your employer.

Material for reference and study may be provided when you get registered to the certification exam. Certification test may deal with your knowledge about human body, muscles, nerves, type of exercise, weights, etc. Certification exams are generally easy if you are prepared. If you fail in these certification exams you may be allowed to take the test again for a specified number of times. A small fee will be charged for retest. A physical therapy background could be an ideal match for a personal trainer. A physical therapist should also get certified if he/she likes to work in United States of America.

Some countries require personal trainers to get certified. Generally a personal trainer needs to get certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic external defibrillator (AED). In United States of America a personal trainer needs to get certified but in countries such as United Kingdom a personal trainer need not get certified but there may be restrictions. Personal trainers generally get themselves certified by reputed agencies so that their chance of obtaining a job becomes much easier. Many fitness centres and health clubs often like to employ trainers those who are qualified in providing CPR and AED. It is strongly recommended to get certified in CPR and AED, additionally physiotherapy background can get you into places.

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For information on how to become a personal trainer, please visit our website.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training

National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training

What can I do with this qualification?

Graduates of the National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training are fully qualified fitness instructors and personal trainers and can work in the health fitness industry at home and abroad or in a self employed capacity as a personal trainer.

Successful completion allows graduates to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover to facilitate exercise prescription to members of the public.

Program Overview

The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training will offer successful graduates the opportunity to prescribe safe and effective exercise to the general public in either group fitness situations or on an individual one-to-one personal training basis.

This qualification, which is delivered by the National College of Exercise and Health Studies (NCEHS), offers individuals the opportunity to learn the skills required to teach safe and effective exercise to the general public. Exercise prescription offered by NCEHS Health Fitness Instructors includes resistance training classes using the wide variety of weight training machines available in health clubs and fitness centers. Graduates also deliver group exercise to music classes, either in health clubs and fitness centres in an employed capacity, or in community centers, parish halls etc. as self employed individuals. They also have the opportunity to deliver one-to-one personal training as this excellent program also includes the National Qualification in Personal Training.

As a result of the superb quality of instructional skills and internationally accepted qualifications, NCEHS Health Fitness Instructors can obtain a highly specified Professional Indemnity Insurance policy which is available exclusively to our graduates.

NCEHS graduates will find themselves immediately employable and in strong demand within the health fitness profession. Opportunities also exist for NCEHS qualified Health Fitness Instructors to work on board luxury cruise liners through our professional relationship with Steiner, the company responsible for staff placement in this area.

Entry Requirements

The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training is open to anybody with a strong interest in exercise and health fitness and the desire to pass their enthusiasm on to the general public as part of their day-to-day working routine as either a full time or part time health fitness instructor.

The course content includes anatomy and physiology, exercise to music, resistance training, diet and sports nutrition, first aid, injury prevention and other areas of interest. The content is delivered to facilitate adult learners of mixed ability.

Synoptic Syllabus

The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training covers all relevant areas including:

# Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology, Basic Exercise Physiology

# Concepts and Components of Fitness

# Exercise Principals & Energy Systems

# Lesson Planning & Class Structure

# Muscular Actions & Exercise Analysis

# Resistance & Flexibility Training

# Exercise to Music, Choreography & Music Appreciation

# NCEHS Key Elements to successful Instruction and Personal Training

# Safety and Contra - Indicated exercise

# Personal Training & Instructional Teaching Skills

# Diet & Sports Nutrition

# Injury Prevention in exercise

# Introduction to Sports Massage

# Business Aspects

# Code of Ethics

Tutors

All National College of Exercise and Health Studies tutors are expert in their chosen field with some having represented Ireland at international level in health fitness competition.

All senior tutors have many years of experience working in the health fitness profession and, having obtained a H. Dip. in Education have learned the skills required to deliver complex information to learners of mixed ability.

All tutors have dedicated areas of speciality to enhance the learning experience for NCEHS students.

CPD

NCEHS graduates have a responsibility to ensure that the exercise prescription which they offer the public is current, safe and effective. In order to achieve this goal graduates must participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which ensures that they are always operating within ‘best practice’ standards.

CPD can be achieved through attendance at health fitness conventions and conferences or through the participation in advanced educational program which bring graduates up to date with changes.

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For more information about personal trainer education, please visit our website.

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