Author: Lisa S

How To Become A Certified Personal Trainer

Posted on by Lisa S

Want to become a certified personal trainer? It’s not as hard as you think.
A personal trainer is a professional who helps you reach your fitness and health goals. They work with you individually or in small groups to design a plan that is tailored to your unique needs and goals. Personal trainers can be found at gyms, health clubs, private studios or even at home.

Find out if you’re eligible
You’ll need to have a high school diploma or GED, and be at least 18 years old. You also need to have completed a CPR course that meets the standards of the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, and taken an introductory course in anatomy and physiology.

Take a fitness class at your local gym
If you’re not sure where to start or if this is something you even want to pursue, take some time to assess the situation. There are tons of fitness classes available for different levels of experience and commitment—you can even find some that are free!

Get a certification
In order to become a certified personal trainer, you must complete an accredited course of study and pass an exam administered by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). You can also contact a local fitness center and ask them if they offer personal training certification. If they do, you can enroll in their course. The most popular certifications include:

ACE (American Council on Exercise)
This certification requires an online application, including an essay response and written test; certification will be awarded after completion of at least 30 hours of continuing education courses about exercise science.

NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine)
This certification requires an online application with essay responses; it includes a written test, but does not require continuing education courses or extra fees beyond the initial fee for the course itself.

Find employment as an independent contractor
Check out local gyms and health clubs to find employment as a personal trainer. It’s a great way to cut your teeth, understand what clients are looking for, upskill at someone else’s expense and get some experience. Some employers may require additional experience or training before they’ll hire you, so be sure to ask about those requirements when interviewing for jobs.

Set up your own personal training studio
Once you have some experience, the next logical step is to find your own space and set up your personal training business. This requires a fair bit of investment so make sure you’re saving up to start up from the day you start working. We promise the investment will be worth it.

Invest in a personal training studio management software
The value of technology to manage a fitness business is underestimated. Business owners have been able to go to 2X their growth thanks tothe right kind of software that automates important functions of their studio. If you don’t know where to start, check out My Best Studio, one of the leading personal training studio management software available.

Strength & Conditioning Exercises For Martial Arts

Posted on by Lisa S

Martial arts are a great way to get fit. They combine cardio, strength training, flexibility, and balance into one activity. You can choose from many different types of martial arts like boxing, karate, tae kwon do or kempo. After you have chosen a martial art that fits your needs it is time to start strength conditioning for martial arts.

Strength conditioning exercises for martial arts should focus on building up your body’s ability to endure longer periods of physical exertion. This means that the goal is not to increase muscle size or strength but rather to improve your stamina so that you can do more work over time without getting tired. You will also want to focus on improving your flexibility and balance so that you are able to perform kicks and punches in a variety of positions; both standing up and when lying down on the ground!

Here are a few strength & conditioning exercises for martial arts:

1. Push-ups
Push-upswork your chest and triceps muscles, which are critical for punching and kicking techniques. They also help build upper body strength, which is useful in blocking and grappling moves. You should do at least 10 pushups every day to start. You can also try doing them with one hand behind your back or on your knees if you need to make them easier.

2. Squats
Squats help strengthen your leg muscles so that you can jump higher, run faster, and kick harder than ever before! Just remember not to lock out your knees at the top of each rep—keep them slightly bent for maximum results.

3. Lunges
Lunges are great for developing strong legs and glutes, which will help you stay balanced while performing kicks or other movements that require a lot of power coming from your lower body. Try alternating between walking lunges (where one leg stays on the ground while you step forward with the other) and stationary lunges (where both feet stay planted on the ground). Try doing 20 lunges per leg every day, then eventually work up to 40 each

4. Sit-ups
Sit-upswork your core muscles, which is important because they help stabilize your spine while you’re doing other exercises. Try doing 50 situps every day for maximum results!

5. Pull-ups
Pull-ups are another great exercise for strengthening your upper body muscles, including those in your arms and back. To do this exercise, find a table or chair that’s about waist height off the ground (or lower if necessary). Place one foot on the chair with your other leg extended behind it so that it forms an L shape with your body when viewed from above (this will help prevent injury). Then grab onto something sturdy like a railing or tree branch overhead with both hands and pull yourself up.

Martial arts studio owners use My Best Studio, a martial arts studio management software which helps them with the daily functioning of their business. Know more.

Everything You Need To Know About Spot Weight Loss

Posted on by Lisa S

What is spot weight loss?
Spot weight loss is the term for losing weight in one specific area of your body. Spot weight loss can be helpful if you’ve got an area of your body that needs to be slimmed down, like a tummy or thigh. It’s usually easier to lose weight from an area of your body that’s not covered by much fat than it is to lose fat all over your entire body.

If you’re looking to lose weight, you might be considering spot-reducing—or the idea that you can target specific areas of your body to burn fat and lose weight. While some people might be tempted by this concept, it’s not a good way to go about losing weight. Here’s why.

Spot weight loss can happen in two ways:
1) You’re losing fat from a specific area of your body, like around your belly button or on your butt.

2) You’re losing fat from all over your body, but it’s just being redistributed elsewhere.

The latter type of spot weight loss isn’t very common because it requires that you have an overall healthy lifestyle (exercising regularly and eating well).

The former type of spot weight loss is much more common because it only requires that you change the way you eat and exercise in one specific area of your body.

Why does spot weight loss happen?
Spot weight loss often happens because something has changed in your body—either a new activity or some sort of change related to hormones or growth spurts. For example: if someone starts working out regularly and eating better, they may start seeing results on their arms but not on their legs. Or if someone’s hormone levels change due to puberty or menopause, they might notice that their face starts to look sunken in.

Does spot weight loss work?
Spot reducing doesn’t work. When you eat less food than your body needs, it goes into starvation mode and starts hoarding fat in your “problem area.”

Spot reducing isn’t healthy. It can lead to muscle loss and dehydration, which can make you look like you’ve lost weight when really all that’s happened is that your muscles have shrunk and bone density has decreased.

Spot reducing doesn’t make sense physiologically. If you want to lose weight, the only way is by burning more calories than you consume through diet and exercise—not by targeting specific areas of your body for fat burning.

If you are a fitness entrepreneur who helps people on their weight loss journeys, you might be interested in My Best Studio – it is a fitness studio management software designed to make your business operations smooth and efficient, help save you time and improve your revenue growth.

5 Things To Remember Before You Launch Your Fitness Studio

Posted on by Lisa S

The first few months of business can be rough, and you may face some tough challenges as you build your client base. But writing down all your goals and plans for how you want your business to grow helps keep your focus on what’s important and helps make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

1. Investing in a fitness studio management software
This might not have been the first thing on your mind but hear us out. This one investment can reduce your operation time and effort by half. A fitness studio software can help automate some of the key functions of your studio from booking and scheduling to payment management, instructor management and more. My Best Studio is a fitness studio management software you can consider to manage your business more effectively. Whatever your fitness business type, My Best Studio offers a specialized software for it – martial arts, yoga or pilates studio software. The best part, you get an online appointment booking and accounting software as part of the package at a fixed price.

2. Getting the right equipment
Make sure you have the right equipment for your clients’ needs. If you want to attract yoga enthusiasts, then having a variety of yoga mats, blocks and straps will make them feel at home in your space. You need to have enough space for all of your equipment and customers.

3. Don’t forget about safety—both yours and theirs!
Make sure that all of your equipment is in good condition and up-to-date on its maintenance schedule so that you don’t have any accidents with anyone using it during classes or training sessions. Set up an appointment with a lawyer to make sure your contract has everything covered—including what’s going to happen if the place burns down or floods (which could happen!). You don’t want anyone suing you because they got hit by a falling weight while they were doing squats!

4. Create a budget
You should also work on creating a budget for yourself and your business—you’ll need this information before making any major decisions about where money should go toward building out your studio space or hiring employees for example). Always keep an eye on costs so that it doesn’t impact profits negatively once everything is set up!

5. Be prepared for anything!
It might seem like overkill now, but once you’re up and running with a full class schedule there won’t be time to go shopping for supplies when something breaks down unexpectedly (and trust me—it will). Make sure you’ve got everything covered before opening day so that when disaster strikes (and it will) you won’t be scrambling around trying to get everything fixed before everyone gets there!

Finally, never underestimate the power of a good name. It’s important to have a memorable name for your studio that will help it stand out from the crowd. Don’t forget to market your studio!

5 Common Web Design Myths You Should Ignore

Posted on by Lisa S

The internet is a big place, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there. Here are 5 web design myths that you should ignore:

Myth 1: Everyone uses the same browser.
Truth: While it’s true that most people use either Firefox or Chrome as their default browser, it doesn’t mean they’ll be using the same version of it that you tested your site on. In fact, the majority of users have already upgraded to the latest version! Make sure your website design is built in a way that it is compatible with the most commonly used browsers.

Myth 2: All phones are created equal.
Truth: It’s important to test your website design on mobile devices! While some mobile browsers are better than others for viewing websites, all phones have different screen sizes and resolutions (and this can change from model to model). So make sure you take into account how your site looks on different types of phones when designing it.

Myth 3: The user always knows what they want from the start.
Truth: Users don’t always know exactly what they want from a website when they arrive at one—they might just be looking for directions somewhere or information about something specific (like a product or service). So instead of assuming that users will immediately know what they need from your site, try offering them some options at first.

Myth 4:  You should use a lot of graphics in your designs.
Truth: Graphics are great, but they aren’t always necessary for communicating an idea clearly or effectively. Sometimes words do the trick just fine! Even the best graphics should be used judiciously to the extent that they complement the message you’re trying to put across.

Myth 5: Mobile first design means “mobile only.”
Truth: That’s not what mobile-first means at all! Mobile-first is about building your website as if mobile were the primary device for accessing it by default. The idea behind mobile first design is that you should start designing for smaller screens first, then move on to larger ones afterward. This is supposed to make it easier for users to navigate your site on their mobile devices. But the fact is that most people don’t design their sites this way—they just include some basic CSS code in their HTML templates so that everything looks okay on smaller devices as well as large ones.

My Best Studio’s design experts understand what it takes to build a professional website. With years of experience, they can be trusted to handle the website requirements of your small or large business. Get in touch to know more.

Importance of Warming Up Before A Workout

Posted on by Lisa S

Warming up is a crucial part of any workout routine. A warm-up is a short period of light activity that increases blood flow to your muscles, helping them prepare for more strenuous activity.

Warming up can be as simple as walking around the block or doing a few stretches in a large open area. You could also go for a brisk walk on a treadmill or elliptical machine, run in place for five minutes, perform some yoga poses and stretches, do jumping jacks, or do anything else that gets you moving for about 10 minutes before starting your main workout. Warming up prepares your body for the demands of exercise by increasing blood circulation, and it minimizes your risk of injury.

Helps muscles get their full range of motion
If you don’t warm up, your muscles don’t get their full range of motion, and they’re not at their maximum strength potential. This can lead to injury when you start working out harder and faster—you’re more likely to pull something or tweak your knee or elbow because your muscles aren’t ready for it. And when you’re injured? You can’t work out! Warming up makes tissues more compliant, which means they can stretch more easily. This helps improve performance by increasing your range of motion and flexibility.

Improves blood circulation
Warm ups increase blood flow to key areas such as the brain and heart, which in turn increases oxygen supply to those areas. It helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and removes waste products like lactic acid. This allows you to perform at a higher level during your workout without getting tired as quickly.

Improves performance
Warming up helps prepare your body for the intensity you’re about to bring it, so it can perform at its best.

Reduces soreness after a workout
The reason for this is simple: when you stretch out first, your muscles are warmed up and ready for the challenge ahead of them—they’re not fighting against cold muscle tissue when they contract and expand during exercise. So if you’ve got an important dinner party coming up tomorrow night but want to squeeze in a quick run around the block today? Make sure you take 5 minutes before hand to get those muscles nice and pliable! A study from Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy found that warming up before exercise helped reduce muscle soreness as well as reduce injury rates by as much as 50%.

Prepares you mentally for physical activity
When we warm up our bodies, we’re preparing ourselves mentally for the activity we’re about to take part in. When we go from being sedentary to suddenly engaging in physical activity, our bodies need time to adjust—and warming up gives us that opportunity!

Warming up doesn’t feel like much. You’re just walking around, stretching your muscles, and getting your blood flowing. But if you skip it, you’re missing out on a chance to get your body ready for what it’s about to put itself through. When you skip warming up, there’s a higher chance that you’ll injure yourself while working out because your muscles haven’t had time to warm up, so they’re stiff and not ready for the workout. And if you’re not properly warmed up, you’ll be more likely to get hurt when exercising in hot weather or cold weather—because your body isn’t prepared for either extreme temperature!

My Best Studio is a fitness studio management software designed for fitness entrepreneurs and personal trainers to manage their studio operations efficiently and get more return on their investment. Know more.

How To Buy The Best Yoga Mats For Your Fitness Studio

Posted on by Lisa S

If you’re looking to buy a new yoga mat, it’s important to know what you want. Here are some things to keep in mind as you shop. Ask yourself these essential questions before you invest in yoga mats for your fitness studio.

1. What is the purpose of your yoga mat?
Ask yourself whether you want something that will hold up well under high traffic, or if you need something lightweight and easy to carry. Consider whether you care about the material used in the mat, or if you prefer something that is easy to clean.

2. How much money can you spend on a yoga mat?
Be realistic about what kind of money makes sense for this purchase. If you’re looking for a high-quality mat that will last a long time and be able to withstand heavy use, expect to spend more than cheap and disposable options.

3. What kind of surface will your yoga mat be placed on?
If your mat will be placed on carpeted floors or other surfaces that are soft and comfortable for laying down on, then choose one with padding underneath (or even built into) it so that your joints don’t get sore from pressure points created by hard floors.

4. What type of yoga will you be teaching?
If you’re planning on teaching hot yoga or something similar, then it’s important that your mat has good grip so people don’t slip during class. However, if you plan on teaching more traditional styles of yoga, then it may not be necessary for your mat to have such good grip because it won’t be as slippery when wet from sweat during class times.

5. What type of use will the mat get?
If your studio is small or doesn’t get many classes, then it might make sense to invest in an expensive mat that will last longer than a cheaper one would. However, if your studio is large and gets lots of classes per week, then you might be better off going with something more affordable but still high quality (and replaceable).

6. How much space do you have?
You don’t want people tripping over themselves because there aren’t enough mats for everyone in class or because they have too much room around them. Make sure your studio has enough space for each student so that everyone feels comfortable during class!

7. What specifications, add-ons or accessories do you need?
A carrying strap is helpful if you want to take your mat with you on vacation or to a friend’s house for a session—but if you don’t care about portability, then this isn’t an important factor.If you’re looking for something stylish as well as functional, then look for a print or design that matches your brand identity.

Finally, once you have all the essential equipment and everything else in place for your yoga studio, consider investing in a yoga studio management software that can help you with your studio operation needs.

Common Pilates Myths – BUSTED!

Posted on by Lisa S

Myth #1: Pilates is just another form of yoga.
Fact: Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, a German immigrant to the United States who taught his method at his studio in New York City and later at the YMCA. While he incorporated some yoga-inspired movements into his program, he also incorporated elements from dance, gymnastics, and other physical activities.

Myth #2: Pilates is only for women.
Fact: While Pilates was developed specifically for women in mind by Joseph Pilates, who believed it could help them regain their pre-pregnancy bodies faster than traditional exercise programs, it is now widely used by men as well. Many gyms offer both male and female instructors who can teach you how to do the exercises correctly so you get maximum results from your workouts!

Myth #3: You should feel pain when doing pilates moves like the Hundred or Barrel Rolls—it means that they’re working!
Fact: While some muscles may feel sore after doing these moves for the first time (and even more so on subsequent days), this doesn’t mean they are working harder.

Myth #4: You should wear loose clothing when you do Pilates.
Reality: No, you don’t! A tight t-shirt is fine, as long as it doesn’t restrict your movement in any way.

Myth #5: You have to be flexible to do Pilates.
Reality: While it’s true that Pilates can help improve flexibility, you don’t need to be super-flexible to start. In fact, many people start on the reformer with just a few exercises and build up from there.

Myth #6: Pilates is only for people who want a slim waistline and tight abs.
Reality: While Pilates is an excellent way to get lean and toned, it’s also a great way to improve strength and flexibility in your whole body—including your back, hips, shoulders and arms (even if you don’t want those areas to look smaller).

Myth #7: You can’t do Pilates if you have a bad back.
Reality: The truth is that most people who think they have bad backs actually just need to work on their core. The reason their backs hurt is because they’re weak, not because they’re injured. And the best exercise for your core is Pilates!

Myth #8: You can’t do Pilates if you’re pregnant.
Reality: While there are some exercises that may not be appropriate during pregnancy (and we’ll let you know which ones those are), most of our clients find that they feel better after taking classes during this time in their life than before they were pregnant! Pregnancy is a great time to work on improving strength and flexibility.

Are you a pilates instructor trying to grow your business? Learn how My Best Studio can help with your pilates studio operations.

Steps To Disinfect Your Fitness Studio Effectively

Posted on by Lisa S

One of the biggest turn offs about gyms and fitness studios is the hygiene. In fact many people choose to workout at home simply because the thought of using a public space with sweaty individuals is just plain disgusting. Now, whether you’re a fitness studio owner, or just a gym-goer who wants to keep germs at bay, you know that being sick is no fun. It’s easy to get sick when we’re working out hard, particularly if we’re sweating profusely and sharing equipment with other people.

Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure your fitness studio is as clean and safe as possible!

1. Wash your hands before entering:
Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water before entering the studio is respectful to other people who use the studio. It ensures that anything you touch is touched with clean hands at the very least.

2. Maintain equipment & hygiene:
Make sure all equipment is wiped down after each use. This includes treadmills, ellipticals, and weight machines. Use an appropriate disinfectant for your equipment and surfaces. Keep your equipment in good condition by regularly oiling or greasing moving parts to avoid rusting or corrosion.

3. Keep the floors clean:
Maintain a strict routine for cleaning of the floors—sweep them after every use and mop every day or two. Wash floors with a disinfectant once per week (more often if possible), then rinse well with warm water If you have carpeting in your gym, consider using a carpet cleaner to keep them as fresh as possible. Keep anything that touches the floor clean by keeping a broom and dustpan nearby so you can sweep up any debris as soon as it occurs—don’t let it sit long enough to attract pests!

4. Disinfect all water bottles:
Wash down all water bottles with hot water and soap before refilling them for customers’ use—and don’t forget about their caps!

5. Disinfect any personal items:
If there are any personal items lying around (like headphones or water bottles), make sure they’re disinfected regularly so that germs don’t linger on them for longer than necessary

6. Seal up any open areas of the studio:
This will ensure that no bugs can enter from outside or at least prevent a bug infestation (because bugs are everywhere!). The last thing you want is customers shrieking because of bugs while they are working out.

7. Check for mold in corners:
If it has been more than three months since your last cleaning, there may be mold growing in those damp corners, which is  dangerous for you and your clients! Do a deep clean of your studio at least every quarter.

8. Make a cleaning schedule:
Have the cleaners clean and disinfect your locker room, sauna, whirlpool, bathroom and steam room thoroughly so your studio is a clean and hygienic place for your customers to come to.

Once you have your cleaning and disinfecting regime on point, make sure other functions of your studio are running smoothly. One of the best ways to do that is to invest in a studio management software like My Best Studio.

Are You Using the Right Fitness Software?

Posted on by Lisa S

If you’re a fitness professional, then you know how important it is to have the right tools for your job. Your clients are counting on you to have everything they need in order to reach their goals, and if you don’t have the right software, then that just won’t happen.

So what kind of fitness software should you be using? The answer is: it depends! There’s a lot of different kinds out there, and we’ve decided to break down all the most important aspects so you can find one that fits your needs perfectly.

If you’re a gym owner or manager you know that keeping your business running smoothly is crucial. You know how hard it is to keep track of all the different things that go into running a business. From scheduling workouts and classes, to tracking members’ progress, to making sure your equipment is working properly—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. One of the most important aspects of that smooth running is having a fitness studio software that works for your needs. But with so many options out there, how do you choose which one is right for your business?

My Best Studio is a fitness studio management software designed specifically for gym management. It will help you streamline your business so you can focus on what really matters: helping your members achieve their fitness goals!

Here are a few signs that the fitness management software is best for your fitness studio’s needs:

It helps you be more efficient
A good fitness software automates much of your day-to-day work so that you can spend more time doing what matters most—running your business.

It tracks all of your clients’ personal information and workout data
You can track which classes are most popular, and how often each client attends each class. This information helps you plan accordingly. For example, if one class is always full and another is never full, then maybe it’s time to change things up!

It lets you easily schedule classes
This means, when a client calls in sick or doesn’t show up for their appointment, you can easily reschedule. You should also be able to schedule appointments and classes on the go, so you never have to miss out on a single potential client!

It lets you track payment history
As your business grows in size, it is virtually impossible to keep track of all the payments you are due on your own. Instead of hiring a full finance team or even a salaried accounts professional, let a fitness studio management software do the hard work for you. A good software will alert you about payments due and let you send out reminders for payment, all in a matter of seconds.

If you’re considering a fitness studio management software, explore My Best Studio. It is a simple solution that makes your life easier as you help your clients get in shape faster!