One of the first things I often see or hear people do when they decide it's time to get healthy is to either seek out a gym to attend, or a gym and a trainer. Today I want to discuss both as I often hear the phrase "You're so expensive! I can't afford training even though I would love to." So I want to take a trip down comparison lane for a minute. For starters, when you hire a trainer at a big box gym such as Gold's, 24 Hour, or Lifetime you are often times getting a trainer who is new, fresh out of school and inexperienced. This is not a bad thing if you are just looking for someone to tell you what to do and converse with you. Often times a new trainer is inexperienced and they are easily distracted and don't pay attention to form or proper progression for YOUR body. I also caught a lot of trainers using the same routines for EVERY SINGLE CLIENT. Why is this bad? Your body is not like mine, and it is not like theirs, therefore it should be treated as an individual with a routine designed for your goals, needs, and current fitness level. You could be getting a routine that is too easy with not a lot of benefit or a routine that could hurt you. When it comes to membership, you want to find a place that you are comfortable with paying for monthly as NO gym (that I have personally seen) offers the membership included with your training if you purchase training. I personally believe in including this in each package a client purchases. If you are in a gym and a newbie, or even a seasoned gym-goer who's been out for a bit you may need that guidance for awhile. So what better way to get you started than with some guided training that INCLUDES your gym membership in the package. You are able to go and workout when you see fit outside of our sessions. This helps to keep you on track and you are saving yourself some money as your membership is included in the package price. Experience is so important, when I say this I am not strictly speaking about their career as a trainer. I am talking about their life experience as well. Finding someone who has been through a lot, injuries, life situations that interfere with staying on track, grieving, medical setbacks, etc. The reason for this is that trainer is going to be able to guide you, educate you and be more mindful of what your body needs. I have personally been through enough life experience for someone in their 50's or 60's even and I am only 31! Being able to relate to my clients and share my experiences has been such a treat and a pleasure to be able to help someone out of a dark place, help them through an eating disorder, guide them out of depression, or help them cope with body dysmorphia. Life experience matters when it comes to trainers, we are literally dealing with your body and life in the palm of our hands. We are here to get you healthy and fit. To help you create a lifestyle that fits your goals, needs, and daily practices. Something that isn't time consuming but gives you all the benefits you need to live the most optimal, functional life you can live. Education of your trainer, have they continued their education in their field or did they just pay to renew their certification? This is SO important, I cannot stress enough that if your trainer is not progressing then neither are you! I personally love to learn, this makes it easier for me to continue my education in training and nutrition, I currently hold about 10 certifications in several different areas. This includes off the wall type of certs that other trainers would not have thought to get such as Sports Surface Debate. This class allowed me to understand how the different surfaces interact with the soles of our shoes. How impact and cushion are important and finding the right shoe is highly beneficial. (If you're looking for the right training shoes btw, they are NOBULL's. Best on the market, absorb the shock before even reaching the knee when you land flat-footed, and they will last you longer than the typical six months). Being a specialty trainer will make someone more expensive, however you are going to get MUCH better care and attention with someone who is educated and experienced. So now that we have discussed a few factors to look for and why some trainers cost what they do, let's compare prices. **THESE ARE REAL PRICES TAKEN FROM THEIR SITES AND FROM WHEN I WORKED FOR SOME OF THESE COMPANIES** As you can see, the average cost is actually fairly high. This is terrible! training should be affordable as... well honestly, everyone needs a trainer for at least a month! Why? You can learn someone about how to workout for YOU, you can learn someone about yourself, and you will learn better self-care from (hopefully) someone who is on the right track and highly experienced. In these sessions, as stated before, you aren't getting much from it with an inexperienced trainer. So let's take a look at what you get with Senshi Training. At Senshi Training (located inside Big Tex Gym) takes pride in treating each client as an individual and as family. We support one another even if we don't participate in a session with another client in a small group setting. We take care to listen to what is stressing and making you regress to help in de-stressing to reach your personal goals. Every routine is specifically designed for your postural deviations and personal goals in mind. How many big box gym trainers can say this? Not many! We also believe that without daily physical activity that our bodies will begin to break down and eventually cause us pain and harm. With a gym membership included with your package it makes it easier to get to the gym without the extra cost. We also help with time management, nutrition, and fat loss over weight loss. We focus on holistic and healthy ways to create a lifestyle that keeps you going rather than shoving a routine on you and expecting you to do it without guidance.
So here are the facts, laid out before you. Next time you are shopping around for a gym or trainer, I hope this gives you some insight into what you should look for and how you should be judging that price. Do your research before spouting off with "You're too expensive!" This is your life, this is your body. If you were injured with a broken bone you would not tell a doctor they are too expensive to set and cast you, right? Why tell a health professional in the fitness industry the same? They are here to get you healthy, educate you and guide you down the right path for you. If that is not something you value, you should NOT be looking into a trainer at all. You would be wasting not only your time, but theirs. You also get their hopes up for a bigger paycheck and an opportunity to enhance someones life.
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Fitness Connection, this gym became like a second home for me. Quite literally, just last year. I signed up when they first opened here in North Austin. In the last year since they have been open they have gone through at least five new General Manager's just in the time since I had become a member.
THE GOOD Truthfully I haven't found anything good about this gym since day one. I signed up because the price was better, there was more space, I was under the impression I could freely use the studio and was allowed to for a very long time, they have a sauna that is separate for each gender, showers, classes, lots of equipment, etc. It's a normal gym. In the beginning the staff was attentive and courteous. However, this brings me to the bad.... THE BAD Recently I had to switch banks and, upon handing over my new card to a younger male at the front desk I watched him enter the information, confirm with me that this was the new card for charging my membership, then handed my card back to me. Now, this was at the beginning of the month, and until the 18th nobody said a word to me about my account being past due. So for the last few weeks I have been racking my brain and backtracking trying to find out why a bank account that I had shut down was somehow still active. I never thought the first thing I switched for the new card would be the issue. So after calling both the customer service line for my previous bank and getting no help nor even being able to put in a claim about it, and the corporate offices of Fitness Connection also telling me that they would not be doing anything - I am left still fighting a $300 charge caused by an employee over a $10 a month membership. And lastly, I have never dealt with such rude members in my life as I have at this gym. The self-entitlement of the members and staff permeates the air making it thicker than a bad protein shake. And so... BACK TO GOLD'S Back to Gold's Gym, the place that sparked my intrigue and passion for fitness. I not only loved working for this gym but being a member after I left was equally as pleasant. That went for any location I walked in to. The members here are also fluent in gym etiquette and are respectful enough to ask to jump in on a set of yours or to even see if you are done using a piece of equipment. The staff is always friendly and informative; if you miss a payment they call DAY ONE, and I have never had anyone wait over two weeks to mention something. Better yet I shouldn't have to mention something to my front desk. Any information I changed with them was always done quickly and efficiently. No mistakes, no laziness, no carelessness. THE OTHER GUYS While Gold's may be 4x as much as Fitness Connection, I have no issues paying for these reasons. I have tried other gyms as well including, Metroflex in Pflugerville, Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, World Gym, and Equinox. For all of these, many wonderful qualities of the gym and business drew me to them but in the end I will stick with Gold's for this - they have been my least worry inducing, anxiety boosting, or troublesome establishment that I've ever had the pleasure of utilizing. CONCLUSION If you're shopping around for a gym, make sure that you really look into the staff that run the day to day operations. I have brought a lot of people with me to this gym based on a number of other factors outside of the price, the staff being one of them at one point, and now I regret ever switching from Gold's Gym. I am so happy to be returning to Golds next month. It it absurd to make the member pay for an employees mistake. Thus, I impart the following wisdom to you - be an aware, engaged, attentive, and conscientious shopper and consumer. Day in and day out I see the same things, angry people letting stress and emotions over run them. Their health suffers, their minds suffer, their families and jobs suffer. How can you lessen this stress in your life, and better these areas? With the gym. I know I have talked about this before, but, these are different reasons. 1. EXERCISE FOR MOOD. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands in our country that suffers from depression, or even anxiety, you can improve your mood and aide it by exercising every day in some form or another. Whether you go to the gym and lift weights, workout at home with your kids, or go to the park and do yoga with a friend, these are all forms of exercise. The issue is we think that exercise consists only of going to the gym and is a chore. Taking care of your meat suit and mind is never a chore and should be done daily with excitement. You are bettering not only your own body but your entire life. You have a better mood due to physical activity releasing dopamine and serotonin, and lowering cortisol and norepinephrine to boost you into a state of euphoria. 2. WHY THE GYM. Now if you are someone who is wary of the gym, or just isn't a fan of going then maybe I can change your mind just a bit. Gyms are a place to work on yourself. While they may be filled with "meat-heads", trainers that sometimes look as if they could use a trainer, or other members who don't know what the etiquette is the gym is one of the most useful life tools you could ever have. If you have a physically taxing job, and I argued with my own father on this for over a year, that DOES NOT EXCLUDE YOU FROM WORKING OUT. There is a difference. The gym allows you the access to equipment you may not be able to purchase or get anywhere else. It gives you the social connection, motivation and the opportunity for growth in a physical and mental sense. You can learn from the trainers, or simply observe others. Classes are always a great starting point for those who are new and have no clue where to start.
So while I have talked bout reasons for going to the gym before, this is a completely new set. A completely new way to see it. Do it for your entire life, don't just do it to look good naked. Everything we do is interconnected to each other, if we figure out how to make that work then all the puzzle pieces will fall into place eventually. Take care of yourself first and get a gym membership. They have more to offer than you may be thinking they do. Okay, I know I have done yoga posts before, however this one is different. This time I want to cover how yoga aides in the fight against neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, or PD for short. Largely, yoga is still being viewed as either a "girly thing," or just something people think they simply cannot do because of seeing very seasoned yogis performing crazy poses. That's still yoga, but I am simply speaking of hatha and flow. Personally I mix a bit of Tai Chi in mine to aide more in mobility as well.
Now I have talked about the benefits that yoga brings, ridding the body and soul of stress, and how it can ease the mind and adjust hormones which also aide in healthy fat loss. This post is going to focus on how yoga improves the muscular and central nervous system.
For more information, visit our channel on Youtube WHAT IS PARKINSON'S? Parkinson's disease affects roughly 200,000 people per year. Due to the loss of dopamine cell receptors in the brain, the neurodegenerative disease leads to progressive deterioration of motor function. Although most individuals are diagnosed around age 60 or above, Parkinson's targets no age. It can affect anyone, at any age. Often times it is genetic and though the full causes of Parkinson's are unknown researches and scientists still work to find how we prevent or cure this neurodegenerative disorder. When PD sets in and signs begin to show this means the substantia nigra, a basal ganglia structure located in the midbrain, which plays an important role in reward and motor function, starts to lose dopamine cell receptors. SELF MAINTENANCE Now, I haven't really talked about this much at all, but over the years of my own health and wellness journey I have come to know my own genetics very well. I have come to learn a lot about different disorders and diseases, and found ways to combat my genetic ailments with food and natural supplementation. As it turns out, everything I have been taking over the years has slowed the progression of PD.
While these are just a few, natural and holistic ways, of fighting PD and being able to maintain a. lifestyle that you enjoy PD is something that cannot be cured. At least not to our current knowledge. However, taking these necessary steps made it possible for an early diagnoses and exercise, nutrition, and proper supplementation has made it to where the disease will not progress unless I stop doing these things. Having a disease should never hinder you from progressing in life, as a being, or any other aspect of yourself. There is always a way to better your health, for everyone. Day after day I see it happen - couples, at the gym. Couples at the gym training each other. Couples motivating each other. Couples dominating each other. Couples fighting with each other. Listen, before you get it in your head that this is a post bashing the couples, just read on please. It is neither bashing or condoning, but rather my observations over the years as a trainer, gym-goer, and coupled partner at one point myself.
WORKING OUT TOGETHER VS. "TOGETHER" Going to the gym together as a couple can be fun, exciting, adventurous, maybe even little naughty feeling. But before you go workout together consider a few of things.
So my point here is simply this, if you are going to the gym as a couple joined at the hip and determined to push each other that is great! However, be mindful, stay focused, remember that it is okay to let your partner focus on something other than you. You're in the gym, not the wild where you need to protect them. Last week I got to meet up with RayRay of Lonestar Dance here in Austin, TX to talk about dance, ballet, and the difficulties and challenges he has faced over the years to get to where he is now. Something that RayRay and I got to briefly discuss was the importance of the fact that ballet, and dance in general, are for the body and mind. So I wanted to take a somewhat deeper look into the subject being a dancer since childhood myself. To see my full duscussion with RayRay, click here. VITAL BENEFITS Yes, I understand that ballet may not sound like everyone's cup of tea. But let me tell you something, there are some things in this world that are in fact GOOD FOR EVERYONE. Activity and movement, are one of those things, and ballet is something that is vital in aiding everyday tasks and movements of the body. Here is how:
We gain so much from being mobile, strong immune system, happier days, better personal connections between people, better understanding of our own bodies. The list goes on, and on. You can sit here and read this, and then tell yourself that you could never because you can't dance. But here is the thing, any given dancer couldn't dance either - before they became dancers. WE ARE NOT BORN INTO THESE ABILITIES, THEY ARE GAINED THROUGH PRACTICE. Which means that if you want to dance, then do it. It is good for you, feel the music, feel the beats. The energy that flows through you when you dance is your body's way of saying "Hey wow! This feels good, let's move more!" Our bodies were designed for activity and movement, if they weren't we would not have such a strong and stable structure. Each and every one of us. If you have not tried some form of a dance class, whether you are male or female or any other configuration of being, I urge you to give it a shot for a good, consistent 3 months. The only true way to see the changes any physical activity will benefit you in is to be consistent with it for 90 days. Think of it like a review period in the "business" of your body, give yourself a solid business quarter to see if the change in resources, procedure, and protocols enacted yield a healthier and happier you. So, if you are local, check out Lonestar Dance and take a class. They have students ranging from young children to adults in their 60's. So don't be afraid to try something new! Additional, Helpful Link:
The Effects of Ballet/Dance on Walking. Photos: Top photo: RayRay, instructor at Lonestar Dance and acro-ballet dancer. raymond.white.96742 Lead photo: Miss Kay, Doc List. Gallery photos: Examples of how dance and ballet aides in sensory skills, daily happiness, stress relief, mobility and flexibility. Also how it can aide in battling illness such as scoliosis or other skeletal related issues. I am sure that many of you who follow our founder see the amount of yoga she has gone to recently. There are so many reasons for this transition from weight lifting every single day to doing yoga every single day instead. Now I am also sure you're sitting there thinking to yourself " I couldn't do yoga, I can't hold those crazy positions!" I am here to inform you that those crazy positions... well in the beginning, nobody can do them.
So let's say that you now have an interest in beginning a daily yoga practice. Here are a few pointers to help you get started.
I hope the next time you pass by that yoga class on the way home from work you stop and take a minute to relax. I get asked this question fairly frequently and I always have the same answer. While this one is clearly more detailed than if I were speaking to you in person, it is all the same, as equally important. When I became a PERSONAL TRAINER, I wanted to be just that. I went to the gym, I started at home, I Googled and watched videos. I did everything the same as you but the difference is I ended up wanting it more to the point where I earned a degree in it. I don't think this is necessary for everyone, in fact I feel the industry is becoming overly crowded with.... "trainers". But I do however think that EVERYONE should have a trainer for even a few sessions up to a full month of training. I am sure you're saying to yourself that you could never afford a trainer or they are a waste of money. In some cases you may be right on the latter.
I became a trainer nearly five years ago, since then I have been in and out of working in and for other gyms. I watched co-workers, colleagues, bosses, and even my own subordinates at times become incredibly inattentive to their client. This is includes being on their phones, taking videos and photos without client permission, and ignoring a client who says they feel pain or discomfort. Listen, if you're in it for the money, that's cool we all need it. But I am in it for a totally different reason, fitness saved my life and I want to help others change theirs. This for me includes going through the proper motions, learning to listen and communicate with your own body, understanding that this requires patience because without it you will suffer one way or another in the end, and lastly that this is a lifestyle not a destination. Fitness is part of being healthy, whether you like it or not. You don't have to lift weights to be fit by the way, you just have to eat according to your body's needs and your personal body goals. Notice I said "body goals" rather than "weight"? This is because the majority of us don't need to watch our weight, we need to watch our fat. By this I mean, how many pounds of you is fat? There is a way to find out, go talk to a trainer because a good one will know. Before you read on, please don't take me wrongly. This post is not to bash on anyone or even speak negatively of anyone. Every trainer has their own style and reasons for being a trainer. This post is simply to express a personal opinion of what you should look for if you are going to pay someone to PERSONALLY train you in a world full of "trainers".
Day 3:
Circuit day Kettlebell swings 5x15 Cable Single leg kickback 5x15 per leg Leg extensions 5x Box jumps 3 sets to failure |
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