In Bed with Jessie Thomas & the Fitness Industry

From outdoor workouts in the winter to converting a barn into a fitness studio, Farm Girl Fitness has been pivoting from the very beginning to help its members keep active and stay mentally strong.Farm Girl Fitness owner Jessie Thomas turned the crisis of gym closures in 2020 into the creation of a fitness facility on her family’s farm where people could train in the safety and the beauty of nature and feel the support of community. Find out how becoming an entrepreneur helped Jessie thrive in her career, and build the community that made her an award-winning fitness pro! Listen to the newest episode of

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Moving Towards Wellness

Our clients’ health and wellness needs have moved beyond workouts focused solely on physical health, and we are perfectly poised to meet their needs. With services including healthspan and longevity, recovery and sleep, stress management and mental health, and so much more.​The global wellness market is worth $4.4 trillion and is expected to reach $7 trillion by 2025. A Global Wellness Institute (GWI) study reveals that for every annual increase of around $800 in wellness spending per person, happiness levels rise by 7% and life expectancy by 1.26 years.​Distinguishing between fitness and wellness helps us see how to integrate our current

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Are Live Conferences Worth the Money?

Investing time and money to attend a live fitness event and participate the same way you would online is not worthwhile. You’re better off staying home and joining via the live stream or watch the recorded sessions. Why do I still go to live conferences? Not so long ago, I would go to 1 fitness event per month, often as a presenter but also to participate, network, and learn. I now carefully choose my time away from home and working IN my business. Last week’s canfitpro’s 30th-anniversary conference and tradeshow were one of these times when spending five days working ON

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In Bed with Jess Silver and the Fitness Industry

What is adaptive fitness? While numerous definitions are floating around our industry, Jess Silver of Flex for Access explains exactly what adaptive fitness means – and how you should already be doing it. This isn’t a future trend; it’s a now requirement for all trainers.  Jess Silver is a Medical Writer, Motivational speaker, Adaptive Fitness personal trainer and Founder of Flex for Access Inc., a Non-Profit Organization for fitness and sport promotion to manage disability and injury. Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/JT5Zz7VgskM

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Fresh Out of Ideas for Social Media?

We all feel it; the pressure to post “something” on social media when we’re drawing a blank. Most of us didn’t become fitness professionals out of a burning desire for content creation yet here we are, feeling like we compete with influencers with huge audiences and a constant stream of ideas for posts/reels/stories/shorts/etc. on social media.  I’ve been there, and so have all my career coaching clients. Here are my top tips to ease the frustration and a couple of fresh ideas.  Social Media Top Tips Consistency matters more than frequency  Most fitness pros who don’t really use social media say

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How Exercise Helps Manage Stress

Fitness professionals owe it to themselves and their clients to not only understand how exercise impacts physical health, but also the direct effects on mental health including stress and resilience. We’ve felt it in ourselves, we hear it from our clients, we read about it in the news, and we share it as an outcome but understanding the “how” could have a huge impact on keeping clients beyond the 50% retention rate in our industry. It would also help us finally connect with and attract the 85% of the population that doesn’t use our services. Two ways to begin a meaningful

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In Bed with Christine Conti & the Fitness Industry

Did you know 1/4 of adults are dealing with a chronic condition? Are you prepared to support them in their health and fitness goals? Christine Conti shares how learned to provide services to people with all kinds of abilities and build a more inclusive career and business. Christine is a best-selling author and award-winning international fitness educator and speaker who specializes in chronic conditions. After a life-altering diagnosis at the age of thirty, Christine has made it her mission to empower and inspire others to live more quality lives by taking control of their health and wellness and grow their “split-second

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9 Keys to Client Retention

If you’re like most fitness professionals you’re spending almost all your time on attracting and getting new clients, and very little on client retention strategies. We assume that delivering great service and coaching them towards their results is a retention strategy and hope they’ll automatically renew.  Curious about the common mistakes fitness leaders make in client service and retention?  I’ve got good news 😊 I’m honored to join renowned industry experts as we share our experiences with customer loyalty throughout our careers. Join us on April 11th at 1pm EST (or register to get the recording).  During this FREE Masterclass event,

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Health For All! Celebrate World Health Day

April 7th is World Health Day and a wonderful opportunity for fitness leaders to tackle health challenges by making our services even more accessible! Let’s celebrate the World Health Organization’s 75th birthday with this year’s theme, HEALTH FOR ALL!  What can you do as a health and fitness leader to make health more accessible? I’d love to hear your ideas! Here are a few to help get us started. Bring a friend for free Host a special event and have your clients bring their loves ones for free. Focus on accessibility by making the program/exercises SUPER simple. Make it about simply

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A Simple Way to Build Your Credibility

Want to know how to best utilize special events or notable health days to connect with your clients? There is a super simple way to demonstrate your credibility by keeping an eye on the calendar and making the most out of what “everyone’s talking about”. I explain how I tapped into World Sleep Day in this short video: Welcome to Power Naps!! An extension of my podcast “In Bed With the Fitness Industry.” These short tips and are perfect for the fitness professional who needs a quick idea to help boost in their career and connection with their clients.  Listen to

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Power Nap: Utilizing Special Events

Welcome to Power Naps; an extension of my podcast “In Bed With the Fitness Industry.” These short tips and tidbits are perfect for the fitness professional who needs a little boost in their career. I hope you enjoy this first one on how to best utilize special events or days to connect with your clients.   Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/CA8ds8Erpk8

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They Told Me $500 Was Cheap for a Class

Have you experienced the “oh geez” feeling after being told by a potential client that your rates are too low? It happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I pride myself on pricing my services based on my confidence in my value, and I coach my career clients to do the same. Imagine my surprise when I quoted a corporate virtual Chair Yoga at $500 and my client replied, “wow, that’s cheap!”.  My first reaction after getting off the phone was happy that I landed the gig, then “wait…what??.  After some reflection, I came to three realizations I’m happy to

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In Bed with Paul Galloro & the Fitness Industry

Nervous system in chaos? Your breathing will show you the way. Don’t believe me? Let Paul Galloro teach you more in the latest episode of my “In Bed with the Fitness Industry” podcast. Paul’s approach to health and wellness goes beyond the physical and is grounded in Love. With 18 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, he blends modern sciences, ancient practices, and astrology to help people fall wildly in love with themselves.  Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/QKHRwug5Z6I

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Inactivity Costs $5.2 Billion to the Canadian Healthcare System

Fitness professionals deserve to feel proud of our impact on the health of our communities. We also need to consider if changes in our programming could make our services so much more accessible.  The data now available is awe-inspiring: physical activity provided Canada $23.4 billion in health savings. We need to take a moment to acknowledge how our industry’s services directly impact preventative health care, in particular, non-communicable diseases in both physical and mental heath.  Feel free to geek out on the data compiled by the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) and share this document! FIC aims to work with

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In Bed with Debra Atkinson & the Fitness Industry

The way our clients chose to age, or fight against aging, has an impact on their quality of life. Just one of the things discussed In Bed with Debra Atkinson; hormone balancing fitness expert. She’s the CEO and founder of Flipping50® and The Flipping50 Project, a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and 39 yr fitness expert, and creator of the Flipping50 Menopause Fitness Specialist™ Debra helps us understand how to best connect, communicate, and show up for your audience in order to ensure their success and yours! Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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What is a Mental Health Gym?

Less daylight, big credit card bills arriving, increased workload thanks to January fitness goals, etc. No wonder heading back to work after the December holiday season has us feeling stressed out! Close to 80% of workers in North America feel stress on the job, and nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress.   Are mental health workouts the answer? Mental health gyms or mental fitness studios have been popping up to meet the demand for mental health support. Check out this article to read about what services they offer and what qualifications their professionals have.  We

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Their Hourly Rate Will Never Match Your Value

Should you work for a gym or studio where the hourly rate proposed or even the top of their wage band will never match your value? Maybe, but only if you’re taking a fresh look at compensation and think beyond the hourly rate.  It might be the gym you’ve worked at for a while or a new facility that’s looking for staff; if you feel connected to their brand, culture, and member experience it might be worth discussing future earnings that get you closer to the compensation you deserve.  NEGOTIATION TIP #2 Take a fresh look at compensation: Consider other means

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In Bed with Tosca Reno & the Fitness Industry

The food we choose to eat nourishes us, or doesn’t, has a deeper connection to our health than we may have ever imagined. Tosca Reno is a New York Times best selling author, founder of the Eat-Clean Diet®, health and wellness expert, transformation coach, motivational speaker, Star of a Gemini Award Winning reality TV show, physique competitor, and mother of 4. She shares how she manages to connect with her community around nutrition, health, and wellness after all these years. Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify

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Great Holiday Gifts For Fitness Pros: Part 2

To my fellow fit pros: feel free to share this blog and list with your loved ones  Two themes will be omnipresent in 2023. Last week, I shared my ideas for growth gifts. Now, let’s talk about recovery. As we spread cheer this holiday season, let’s spoil ourselves and our colleagues while creating a wonderfully successful 2023!  Recovery As the biggest trend in wellness and many fitness clubs setting up recovery studios in their facilities, we owe it to ourselves to focus on self-care and invest in recovery.  Here are some “Santa’s List” suggestions for recovery Gift certificates for “Nordic spas”

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Great Holiday Gifts for Fitness Pros: Part 1

To my fellow fit pros: feel free to share this blog and list with your loved ones There are two themes that will be omnipresent in 2023 now that we’ve adapted and relaunched our services toward sustainable careers and businesses. What are they? Keep reading to find out… As fitness professionals, we are dedicated to our clients, but sometimes neglect our own health and wellness needs.  Let’s reward the resilience, adaptability, and compassion we’ve provided consistently this year with some growth and recovery.  As we spread cheer this holiday season, let’s spoil ourselves and our colleagues while setting up a wonderfully

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They Don’t Pay Enough But You Still Want to Work There?!

The labor crisis and inflation rates, combined with the fact that many fitness professionals are re-evaluating their worth, have created a chasm between the rates of pay offered by gyms and what you want to make. How can we get closer to a salary you and your employer can agree on?  It might be the gym you’ve worked at for a while or a new facility that’s looking for staff; if you feel connected to their brand, culture, and member experience, it might be worth discussing future earnings that get you closer to the rate of pay you deserve.  Fitness job

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In Bed With Funk Roberts & the Fitness Industry

How do you know if you have created a successful brand? Funk Roberts has the answer for you.  Learn how Funk built an authentic business that is dedicated to helping hundreds of thousands of men over 40, 50 and 60 excel in, health, fitness, weight loss, business and life through new monthly workouts, programs, nutrition info, exclusive products, motivation, master classes, community and more. Find out how serves his niche, stays vulnerable and continues to thrive in his business by listening below. Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple

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Global Report on Physical Activity: Are We Hitting Targets? 

The World Health Organization released its inaugural Global status report on physical activity to chart the progress across the world in efforts to achieve their global target of a 15% relative reduction in the prevalence of physical inactivity by 2030. Unfortunately, the report shows that there is much more work to be done and that in some cases, countries have fallen behind.  As citizens we should all be concerned because “A consequence of this “inaction” is that already stretched health systems are burdened with preventable disease today and even more so in the future, and communities fail to benefit from the wider

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In Bed with Melanie Levenberg and the Fitness Industry

How do you explain what you do for your career? Melanie Levenberg teaches you how to speak your truth while energizing and inspiring more play-like movement for your clients – adults and kids! Melanie is canfitpro’s Fitness Instructor of the Year 2022 and is the Founder/CEO of PL3Y Inc. When Melanie is not coaching clients on launching and operating a profitable kids fitness business, you can catch her hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding and PLAYING in the mountains. Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/c_9IBKKWvWA

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A Podcast For You

Busy fitness and wellness pros like yourself need and deserve consistent opportunities to learn, grow, and be inspired. I got you! I assemble the best our industry has to offer; from award-winning instructors to executives at national gyms to wildly successful leaders who have overcome obstacles, I bring them all to you in compact 20-minute interviews In Bed With the Fitness Industry!  My guests and I get “In bed” for cozy conversations about their careers, connection to their purpose and audience, challenges and goals, and inspirations. From our boudoir to wherever you choose to watch on YouTube or listen to the

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Do Your Clients Struggle with Anxiety or Depression?

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organization’s objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues worldwide and to mobilize efforts to support mental health. “The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.” As fitness and wellness professional, we work to support all aspects of health for our clients and participants. The rise of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the prevalence of heart disease, has provided

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In Bed with Eric Wong Kai Pun & the Fitness Industry

Do you want to make Personal Training your career, not just your hobby? Listen to canfitpro’s Personal Trainer of the Year 2022 Eric Wong Kai Pun share his secrets to longevity, moving into management positions and finding your space within the personal training industry. Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/LjGH5vQ4V2o

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Stop Using This Word with Your Clients

It’s used commonly by some group fitness instructors and small group coaches, but it now seems to have made its way into all forms of cueing and coaching as well as posts on social media:  I can appreciate the fact that we’re using it to convey simplicity, but I invite you to remove the following expressions from your cueing and coaching: “Just use your obliques to power up this exercise.”  “To use your breath more mindfully, just inhale for a count of 3 and exhale for a count of 6.” “Just place your feet wider and you’ll gain speed.”   Two

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In Bed with Simone Samuels

Do you remember when you felt truly validated and appreciated as a fit pro in your career? Simone Samuels not only searches for those moments but can help you find validation in everything you do. Learn more about this weight-neutral, body-positive fitness professional and equity, diversity and inclusion consultant in the latest episode of “In Bed With the Fitness Industry” below.   Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/VZ9DIJBDCnk

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 Mind-Blowing Data About Fitness

Are you sitting down fitfam? A data-driven report attributes $23.4 billion as the total value of health savings generated by sport and physical activity in Canada in 2019, preventing over 2.2 million cases across a range of health conditions. $6.19 billion of that is attributed directly to the activity undertaken in health and fitness clubs. That’s BILLION, with a B! That’s YOUR contribution to the health-care system in Canada. The Fitness Industry Council of Canada is making this report available to us all and utilizing its data in government lobbying efforts. You can read more and download your copy of the

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An Award-Winning Moment

As someone who’s very much accustomed to giving out awards, this moment was surreal. I’m humbled and incredibly grateful for being chosen by delegates at canfitpro conference as the Canadian Presenter of The Year Award winner for 2022!!  Winning feels wonderful but being surrounded by my phenomenal colleagues and peers at our first in-person event in 3 years made it so much sweeter.  I am dedicated to your career and business success, and nothing brings me more joy than seeing our industry’s positive impact on the health and happiness of your communities. Thank you for the opportunity to support and coach

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In Bed with Lisa Greenbaum and the Fitness Industry

Wellness. Health. Balance. What do these words mean to you? In this interview with Lisa Greenbaum, she shares that your definitions probably don’t match with your clients’. Want to know what you can do about that disconnect? Find out in my newest Musing & episode of “In Bed with the Fitness Industry” podcast below.  Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

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3 Ways to Build Personal Trainer Careers That Last 

We have a personal trainer attrition problem in fitness. Most trainers leave the industry within less than 2 years. Too many certifications don’t prepare trainers for the real day-to-day work involved with being a successful trainer. It goes well beyond movement mechanics. Congrats if you’ve last longer than 2 years! It means you understood what longevity in a fitness career involves: The understanding that we must constantly sell the benefits of an active lifestyle. I get worried when I speak with graduating students from fitness certification, diploma, and degree programs and most of them tell me they really want to work

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The Results Are In: Inactivity is Costly and Exercise Means Big Savings

The proof we needed yet knew all along! Our health and fitness industry and services were “proven to have a profound economic and social impact” on countries worldwide. The Fitness Industry Council of Canada is sharing the results of a global report on the costs related to inactivity. As Vice President of FIC, I’m incredibly proud to provide the findings to you! We will continue to lobby federal and provincial governments with more substantiated proof of our impact on policies. To see how in Canada, a per capita investment of $2000 in activity would deliver a return on investment within only

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Major Labor Shortage in Fitness: What it Means for You

Never before has our industry seen such a significant shortage in labor; recruiting the right talent to fill positions is the biggest and most immediate challenge clubs and studios are facing as we head towards our “back to school” season.  What does this mean for qualified fitness leaders?  You hold more power than ever before related to the workplace culture you choose, the clients you want to serve, your compensation, and the success of your career.  Here are ten questions to ensure you’re setting yourself up from a position of confidence in choosing an employer:  Your Potential Compensation This goes well

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In Bed with Barbara Brodowsky & the Fitness Industry

What’s the future of group fitness? Learn how to hire and develop incredible fitness talent in this powerful conversation with Barbara Brodowsky. She’ll share information about the relevance of group fitness instructors and formats, where she sees the industry evolving, and the lessons she learned over her multi-decade career.   Listen to the newest episode of my podcast below or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Podcast Home Page Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts https://youtu.be/9B2h63M8PGg

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4 Ways to Make More Money as a Group Fitness Instructor

Enough with the nickel and diming of group fitness! We were making $25/class when I first started 25 years ago so I’m tired of seeing posts with fellow instructors asking for “going rates” and watching comment after comment with abysmal wages. This is only going to change if we ALL WORK TOGETHER at shifting the value of what we offer by getting confident as employees and entrepreneurs. The industry isn’t going to take group fitness seriously unless we get serious about the qualifications, capabilities, and worth related to group fitness. There is lots of work to do, here’s a start: STOP

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The Summer that Sets You Up for Staying Power

Real talk: the fitness industry must have a solid Fall season, or we will see even more closures. And let’s not kid ourselves; when gyms close and fitness professionals leave the industry, we ALL lose. It doesn’t mean the competition gets eliminated, it means the public loses trust in us as a whole. A thriving industry leads to confidence, and an improvement in our reputation.  In other words, the success of one means the success of us all. So what are you doing this summer while many clients are focused on leisure, travel, and soaking in the sun? Here are ways to

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The One Habit Fitness Pros Need to Break

Sometimes our passion for fitness has us running too hot, and we start looking at our colleagues and peers as competition. This often leads to feelings of inadequacy, poor decision-making, and behaviors that negatively impact ourselves and our profession.  One impressive result of the crisis we’ve faced since 2020 is that we came together to share ideas, support one another when we were down, find solutions and challenge one another to grow.    WHAT YOU SHOULD DO Fitness leaders are finally working collaboratively to be part of the health care solution. We aren’t competition against one another. We’re competing against the

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What Sought-After Fitness Pros Know

Are you hoping for longevity in your career? Being the “hot new instructor” or “trainer with huge influence and reach” is an excellent springboard. Still, I’ve unfortunately seen thousands of outstanding fitness professionals leave the industry because they didn’t have staying power. It can be tempting to jump onto social media trends that highlight what other trainers and instructors are doing wrong, criticizing others in an attempt to lift ourselves. It’s an illusion of leverage and sadly only seeds confusion in the general public.   WHAT THE PUBLIC HEARS Potential clients looking to choose a health and fitness professional see us

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