Side Lunge Catch – Funtensity Challenge #1. Try this for 10 reps per side. Adding reactivity and coordination to a common strength move increases the body and brain benefits!
Hug a Trainer Day
Hug a trainer. Really. Go find one, even if you don’t currently use one. Show your strength and some love. I know we can be an intimidating bunch, but it doesn’t have to be that way, and that’s not how most trainers want to be perceived. One of the great joys of my fitness career […]
Twenty-Nineteen. Feel 18.
Have more physical fun in the coming year. Get your heart rate up while you lift your spirits up. A panel at the Future of Aging conference has said making play possible throughout the life course could play a “vital role” in alleviating detriment to physical and mental health in the aged. Janet Morrison, CEO […]
Old Dog. New Tricks. Young Brain.
It used to take her weeks, now it is often only a couple of sets. The saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is not true. But let’s be honest: a young dog learns things faster than an old dog. Some of that slowdown is biological as there are certain ages at which […]
Change is Hard Unless It is Easy
The “facts” of fitness aren’t hard to figure out. The “how” is relatively easy to access. It’s available in countless books, websites, and apps. But it’s long, hard, and boring. So a lot of people struggle. The perception that to get in shape, you have to give up everything that tastes good and is fun, […]
The Secret to Getting in Shape? You can’t
“I need to get in shape.” Good. I’ve got the secret for you. Stop trying. You can’t “get in shape.” Because you don’t care about getting in shape. To help you care, you don’t need an answer, but rather a question – or three. What does “get in shape” look like and feel like to […]
The Great Halloween Problem Solved!
I love this time of year. How could you not? Crisp fall air, changing leaves, and Halloween on the way. It’s the only time of year that it is acceptable to decorate with skulls and play heavy music! It’s so much fun. When I began my fitness career, I really struggled with Halloween. It is […]
Fly Funtensity Airlines
Exit row seats and emotional service animals gave me an idea for a new airline. On a recent flight, I had an exit row seat. You likely know what this means: the flight attendant will issue the usual statement that you must be willing and able to perform the duties required of an exit row […]
It Turns Out, Exercise Does Not Make You Smarter
Exercise enhances brain function. So it makes you smarter, right? Well… “Exercise doesn’t make you smarter…it just makes you normal.” This great quote from John Medina in Brain Rules illustrates the essential role that physical activity plays in maintaining a minimally sharp mind. Your brain is best at solving problems related to surviving in an […]
Human Animal or Human Vegetable?
Which are you? Humans are animals – mammals – that’s for sure. But what happens if we stop moving? Labor-saving, energy-saving, effort-saving, attention-grabbing technology has transformed the way we spend our daily lives in the last century. But we are born to move. Without a need for activity that is directly related to survival on a […]