Author: Lisa S

Fitness Instructors Share Their Morning Routine

Posted on by Lisa S

The importance of morning routines is often underestimated. Its always worth knowing the morning routines of successful people. Fitness instructors swear by their morning routines in helping them perform their best at the fitness studio. We spoke to yoga, pilates, martial arts instructors and entrepreneurs to find out how they start their day. If there’s anyone who understands healthy living, its them. So read on and get inspired by these morning routine ideas.

Sandy, Fitness Studio Co-owner

What time do you wake up?
I’m up somewhere between 7-8:00am. My 3-year-old decides when “the sun has woken up”.

What do you listen to?
Some smooth jazz or a podcast

Do you do a workout?
Almost always. I love that boost of energy that a morning workout gives you. Unless there’s something else that is earth-shatteringly important, I never skip my morning workout. But I have to be flexible at times.

What do you have for breakfast?
Black coffee, eggs and toast if I have time; a vanilla protein shake if I’m rushing.

Nick, Personal Trainer

What time do you wake up?
My alarm is set for 5:30am but I really wake up around 6am on most mornings. Although I can afford to sleep in a bit later on weekends, I try to keep my routine consistent. It just helps to keep my energy levels high, which always helps. If you want to know how to make your morning better, don’t succumb to the temptation to lie in, your body won’t benefit from it. My first clients start at 7.30am, so I practice what I preach “Early to bed, early to rise”, for a healthy sleep cycle.

What do you listen to?
Nothing. Apart from the sound of the birds and the bees. Literally. I try to keep my mornings free of any electronic sound. Oh, except for the espresso machine.

Do you do a workout?
I do advocate working out in the morning. It really sets your day off on an energetic note. But considering my sessions start early and I’ve become better with time management, I now prefer to workout in the late afternoon. It lets me train with friends in that mid-afternoon time between clients. People sometimes ask me what the best time is to workout. I think it depends on what your schedule looks like, but I also feel that a quick workout before bed is a great way to help your body unwind.

What do you have for breakfast?
 Great question! A glass of water as soon as I wake up, just to flush out all those toxins, first thing in the morning. This is followed by black coffee. Breakfast is oats, mixed frozen berries, whey 1.5 scoops of protein, fiber powder, a teaspoon of peanut butter blended for 45 seconds. Its quick, easy and delicious.

Zack, Yoga Entrepreneur

What time do you wake up?
I’m up by 5am so I can drive to work by 5.30 am. Yup, fitness instructors start their day before everyone else.

What do you listen to?

I listen to the High Performance Podcast during my morning commute. Your mind is at its sharpest in the morning and it’s the best time to learn something new.

Do you do a workout?
I don’t normally do a full work out in the morning; but I always stretch. With some of my favorite music playing. It just helps me wake up, get ready for class and sets me up for the rest of the day.

What do you have for breakfast?
7 days a week, my breakfast is exactly the same. Protein porridge. It may sound boring but I switch things up every other day while ensuring I’m eating protein rich food– sometimes I added a teaspoon of Nutella, some sliced bananas, or some crushed biscoff. On a rare treat day, especially if Im on holiday I might choose a bacon and egg bagel to start the day with a glass of orange juice — but that’s a luxury.

If you are an instructor interested in expanding your services through a fitness studio, explore My Best Studio’s fitness studio management software to know more.

Website Contact Form Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Potential Customers

Posted on by Lisa S

Website contact forms are a great way to collect information from visitors, but if you’re not careful, they can be a big waste of time and money. Here are some mistakes that could be costing you potential customers:

Your contact us form is not mobile-friendly
If someone is searching for something on their phone or tablet, they’ll expect certain things from your site—and if it doesn’t work well on those devices, they’ll be disappointed and leave (or just go somewhere else). Make sure your contact us form design works well on phones and tablets so everyone can access it quickly and easily.

Your form is too long
If a customer has too many fields to fill out, even if your website has piqued his interest, it is likely that he will drop out without completing the form. Half-filled abandoned online forms are a reality that many companies struggle with. However, the solution is simple. Make sure your form captures the most essential information you need to contact the customer. You can always use other mediums to continue the conversation.

Your form doesn’t allow the user to save their progress
Filling out your form is not the only thing on your potential customers agenda for the day. So, respect the users time. Especially if your business requires a long form with many information fields, allow the user to come back later and complete filling the form.

You use a generic template instead of customizing your contact info
Don’t just use a website form template. Your contact section should look like it belongs on your site and not lifted from generic website templates. After all, users want to be sure that they are sharing their information with a legit company and not with a suspicious third party.

You ask for too much information up front in the form fields
While it’s important to ask for as much information as possible during the initial inquiry stage of a sale, asking for too much can turn off potential customers and cause them not to complete the form at all. We recommend keeping it to two or three fields max—but if you’re going to have more than that, make sure that they’re absolutely necessary for your business model (like name and email address. Don’t ask for details like phone numbers or other personal information without giving visitors a reason why you need this information.

Not using an email address in your contact form
You need to know where to send your customers’ emails when they click “submit.” This is why we recommend using Gmail or another free email service so that you can see those emails come through—and then respond accordingly!

When it comes to website contact forms, there are tons of website contact form examples on the internet. But if you don’t do things right, a lot of things that can go wrong. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself stuck with a form that’s too long or complicated, and customers might not fill it out at all. You could also end up with a form that doesn’t give potential customers enough information about your business or products, which will make them less likely to use it.

My Best Studio’s expert design team has years of experience with website design and development. To get a consultation click here

Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Lift Heavy Weights

Posted on by Lisa S

If you’ve been looking to get in shape, you’ve probably heard a lot of conflicting advice about how much weight you should lift. Some people say that lifting heavy weights will make you bulky, while others say it’s important to start with lighter weights and work your way up.

Lifting heavy weights is scary. It’s intimidating, and it’s easy to be nervous about getting hurt or doing something wrong. But the truth is, if you’re working out properly and safely, there’s no reason to be afraid of lifting heavy weights.

Why You Should Lift
When you lift, you’re building muscle—and that muscle is what gives your body shape and definition. If you don’t lift heavy enough to build strength and muscle, then your muscles won’t get bigger. And if they don’t get bigger, then neither will your stomach or any other parts of your body that need a little help in the looks department (we’re looking at you, thighs).

Reasons To Lift Big
We’re here to tell you that there’s really no need to be afraid of lifting heavy weights. Here’s why:

Your muscles are made up of two types of fibers—type 1 (slow twitch) and type 2A (fast twitch). Type I fibers contract slowly but can maintain their contraction for a long time, while type 2A fibers contract quickly but fatigue quickly as well. As you increase the amount of weight you lift, your muscles will recruit more type 2A fibers into action. This means that heavy lifting will actually help you build lean muscle mass as opposed to bulkier muscles!

What does heavy lifting mean for your workout?
It means that if your goal is to build lean muscle mass and increase strength, then go ahead and lift those heavy weights! You won’t have to worry about becoming bulky—you’ll just look more toned than ever before!If you’re wondering how to lift heavy weights, the answer is to start slow and build gradually. Working out regularly means your body can do more things—and better things—and when you’re able to do those things well, people respect you for it! And when other people respect you for being strong, then suddenly everything feels easier.

Can women too lift heavy weights?
Most women are raised to believe that they should be feminine and delicate, so they spend their lives avoiding things that might make them look big or strong. They avoid lifting weights, they avoid doing any kind of exercise where they have to sweat, and they avoid doing anything that makes them feel like they’ve accomplished anything at all.

But here’s the thing: strength is not just for men. Strength is for everyone, and it’s the key to feeling good about yourself. Women lifting weights is inspiring for everyone. And when you’re strong in your body, you feel confident and empowered in your daily life. Even simple tasks like carrying groceries from one place to another become easier.

Fitness management software can help instructors and business owners manage the day to day operations of fitness studios of any size. Explore My Best Studio’s options today.

Ten Things NOT To Do at the Gym

Posted on by Lisa S

As important as it is to know how to get in a great workout, its also essential to know what not to do at the gym. Here’s a quick checklist.

1. Don’t wear your workout clothes to the gym
You’ll get sweaty and gross even before you start working out.Change into your workout clothes once you reach the gym so you start your workout feeling fresh and motivated.

2. Don’t wear perfume/cologne/body spray to the gym.
There are few things worse than having to smell someone’s overpowering perfume. It will get in the way of other people’s workouts, and they may not want to be around you if they can smell it on you.

3. Don’t eat at the gym.
Eating before the gym is a no no but eating at the gym is even worse. It’s bad for two reasons: First, it can distract others from their workouts because they’ll be focused on what you’re eating; second, it could make other people think they should also be allowed to eat there—and this could lead to an increase in food consumption at the gym.

4. Don’t bring kids with you when you go to the gym
Children are not allowed at most gyms because of liability issues: If something goes wrong while a child is present (like tripping over an electrical cord), or if they spoil gym equipment, those responsible could lose their jobs or face criminal charges. Also, children require constant supervision—and no one has time for that!

5. Don’t talk about how much weight to do on the leg or bench press
When someone asks how much weight you do on the bench press, don’t brag about it. Everyone knows that’s a lie anyway.

6. Don’t drop weights when you’re lifting them off the rack
This can actually cause injury to your hand. Additionally, don’t lift weights that are heavier than what they recommend for your level of fitness—you’ll just hurt yourself by overdoing it!

7. Don’t forget to hydrate throughout all of your workouts
Everyone knows the importance of hydration after exercise. But taking small sips as you workout is also key. Water is crucial for replenishing all the sweat that comes along with working out hard enough to make yourself sweat (which most people don’t realize until they try).

8. Don’t be afraid to try new things at the gym
There are tons of different new workouts to try, classes, and machines available that might just surprise you with how good they feel!

9. Don’t talk on the phone while you’re working out
No one wants to know your menu plan for the day, how nasty your boss is or whether your boyfriend might be cheating on you. Talking on the phone is disrespectful to other people using the gym or fitness studio and demotivates them from achieving their goals.

10. Don’t take selfies in the locker room
Not only does this make you look ridiculous, you could be coming in the way of people who just want to change and get down to business. Remember working out is about self-improvement and putting pictures on Instagram doesn’t get you any closer to your fitness goals.

Gym and fitness studio owners and entrepreneurs use fitness management software like My Best Studio to manage key aspects of their business operations, track revenue and more. Know more.

What to Eat & Drink Before and After a Workout

Posted on by Lisa S

Whether you’re an avid exerciser or a beginner to the world of working out, there are some things you should know about what to eat before and after your workouts.

First, let’s talk about what NOT to eat before a workout

Sugary foods
Workout meal prep is important to ensure you don’t turn to pastries and candy bars which can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, making you feel like you have more energy than you actually do. This will make it harder for you to get through your workout because those sugar levels will drop so fast that they’ll leave you feeling exhausted and sluggish instead of energized.

Alcohol or caffeine
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more frequently than usual. The more you pee, the more water you lose. And that can lead to dehydration—and a whole bunch of other problems! Caffeine does not count as a pre workout snack either. It can dehydrate your body by increasing rapid heart rate and blood pressure. This can cause dizziness and lightheadedness—not something you want during a workout!

Greasy foods
Avoid fast food like burgers or fries; they’ll leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable when it comes time to work out. While they might taste good, greasy foods can have negative effects on your body. Greasy foods are very high in fat and cholesterol and are a terrible pre workout meal. This means that they will take longer to digest and there will be more waste products from this food in the blood stream. This can lead to increased blood pressure, which is not good for an athlete who is working out intensely.

Now let’s talk about what TO eat before working out.
When you’re preparing for a workout, it’s important to fuel your body with the right foods. Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet will help you recover faster after a tough workout and avoid injuries.

Protein-rich foods
Foods that are rich in protein should be a part of your workout food chart. Protein helps build muscle mass, which means it will be easier for you to build strength as well as endurance during your workout session. Protein also helps repair muscle tissue and prevents muscle breakdown during an intense workout. Some great pre-workout snacks include eggs with toast or some fruit salad made with yogurt or cottage cheese. You can also try nuts like almonds or walnuts if you want something crunchy but healthy!

Easy to digest foods
Yogurt with fruit, fruit smoothies with protein powder, cheese and whole grain crackers, avocado toast with egg whites on top are some ideas of easy to digest post workout snacks you can consume.

What to eat AFTER your workout
If you’re wondering when to eat after a workout, the correct answer is within an hour of your workout, so that you don’t lose muscle mass. That’s because your body needs a quick influx of carbohydrates and protein after a workout to help it repair itself and get ready for the next time you exercise.

High carb, low fat foods
Choosing foods that are high in carbs and low in fat are ideal since those types of foods are easiest for your body to digest and absorb quickly. Try whole grain breads, fruits and vegetables, or even pasta if you like it.

Lean protein
Protein helps to burn fat, build muscle mass and repair damaged tissue from exercise; it also helps regulate appetite—so eating protein after a workout can help prevent cravings later on in the day! Choose lean proteins like chicken breast or fish; avoid processed meats like sausage links or bacon

Water
Dehydration can make you feel tired, so make sure you’re drinking enough water after working out so that you feel energized instead of like collapsing on the couch with a gallon of ice cream. Water is not only necessary post workout it is also an ideal pre workout drink.

If you are a business entrepreneur who is passionate about supporting people through their fitness journeys, discover how fitness management software like My Best Studio can help your fitness studio grow to new heights.

Why CrossFit Is a Fun & Competitive Sport

Posted on by Lisa S

CrossFit is a fun and competitive sport that allows people to compete against one another in a variety of ways.

CrossFit is a great way for beginners, intermediate, and advanced athletes alike to get involved in an enjoyable sport that challenges them physically and mentally. CrossFit exercises allow you to work up a sweat while competing with other athletes in different fitness events that include but are not limited to weight lifting, gymnastics, running, rowing, swimming and more!

How it works
With CrossFit workouts you can compete against others in your class who are at the same level as you or even compete against those who are better than you – which can be very motivating! CrossFit involves strength training, conditioning (cardio), and gymnastics—and there aren’t many sports where you’ll get all three of those aspects in one package! It also has an element of strategy. The goal of CrossFit workout plans is to be able to perform well in many different types of physical activities. You’ll do exercises like squats, push-ups, pull-ups, running and more.

Why it’s competitive
The competition in CrossFit comes from the fact that each workout is timed, which means you’re always trying to beat your previous time or beat someone else’s time. There are also competitions where people compete against other teams, which can be fun if you like team sports. It’s competitive because there are always people who are better than you. Which means if you want to be better than them, all you have to do is work harder!

Why CrossFit is popular
Many people enjoy participating in CrossFit workouts because they enjoy being part of a group atmosphere where everyone pushes themselves to their limit; but most importantly it’s fun! It’s fun because you can be competitive with yourself, or with your friends. You can also learn new skills, try out new movements and experiment with different workouts.

What to know before you get started
If you’re doing a CrossFit workout that involves climbing ropes or lifting heavy weights, it’s important to have a good crossFit trainer who knows how to do those things safely so you don’t hurt yourself or others around you, and CrossFit teaches those skills through its courses and certifications.

People who join CrossFit are called “CrossFitters.” They come from all walks of life: college students, stay-at-home moms, retirees, doctors—you name it! CrossFitters also come from all different fitness levels, so if you’ve never lifted weights before or if you’re an experienced athlete, there’s something for everyone at a CrossFit gym near you.

Top Reasons To Quit Your Job & Start A Fitness Business

Posted on by Lisa S

If you’re feeling stuck in a job that doesn’t inspire you, or if you want to start your own business but are worried about the risk involved, we’re here to help you make that important decision.

Maybe you’ve been dreaming about starting a business for years. Maybe you just got laid off and are considering taking the plunge. Maybe you’re just tired of working for other people—and want to take control of your own destiny.

Whatever your reasons are, it’s natural to have second thoughts. But we’re here to tell you that starting a fitness business is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Here are some of the top reasons to quit your job and start a fitness business:

  1. You’ll be able to spend more time doing what you love: There’s nothing like knowing that what you do every day makes someone else’s life better!
  2. You’ll be able to make more money:With your fitness studio business model, you’ll have control over your schedule and income stream. Create your own realistic revenue targets and a plan to get there.
  3. You’ll be able to create lasting relationships with your clients: You’ll have the chance to see others change their lives in ways they never thought possible—and this will make all the hard work worth it every single day! You’ll be able to create a relationship that will last a lifetime.
  4. You’ll get to create a welcoming environment: You can define your workplace culture and make it a place where everyone feels welcome and accepted—because no one knows better than an inspiring personal trainer how important it is for people to feel valued by others.
  5. You’ll have more freedom: Your time is your own and you can spend it on what matters most to you. You’ll have more time for family, friends, and yourself! If you’re an entrepreneur at heart, then this is your chance to put your entrepreneurial skills to work.
  6. You’ll have more control: You get to call the shots when it comes to your schedule and how much money you earn. You make all the decisions, which means you’ll have more control over your life and career.
  7. You’ll feel more fulfilled: Being able to help people improve their lives is something that will make all the difference in your life.
  8. You can work from anywhere: You’ll be your own boss! And that’s awesome. Who doesn’t want to be their own boss? With studio management software like My Best Studio, you can truly manage your fitness studio from wherever you are.
  9. You can get paid to exercise: What’s more, as a fitness instructor with your own studio you can choose the clients you want to work with or rather exercise with—no more dealing with people who make you uncomfortable
  10. You’ll meet new people, learn new skills, and get in shape:Starting a fitness business means surrounding yourself with people who are all working toward the same goal—making their lives better—and inspiring each other along the way.

Web Design Trends Of 2022 That You Can Leverage For Your Fitness Studio

Posted on by Lisa S

Fitness studios are a booming industry. With the rise of the internet, people are looking for ways to stay healthy and fit. It is no surprise then that fitness studios have seen a huge increase in popularity over the past few years.

This is great news for those who have been running fitness studios for years, but it also means that you need to stay on top of the latest trends if you want to be successful in this industry. Below, we will take a look at some of the web design trends that you should be aware of in order to ensure that your fitness studio stands out from its competitors:

1) Responsive Design
Responsive design is one of the biggest web design trends right now, and it’s easy to see why: responsive websites work perfectly on all devices! This means that whether your users are using their desktop computers or smartphones, they will still be able to access your website easily without having any issues whatsoever (as long as they’re using a modern browser).

So if you’re still using an old-fashioned website with fixed dimensions and lots of scrolling involved, consider switching over to responsive design ASAP—it’ll save both time and money down the road! Web design templates are often built to be responsive, so that’s a good place to start.

2) Video Interaction
Video interaction is one of the most interesting trends in web design right now because it allows users to engage with videos instead of just watching them passively. This can be used for anything from product demonstrations to interviews with members about their experiences at your fitness studio. You can also use video interaction on landing pages or other sections of your site where you want people to take action rather than just reading content passively.

3) Personalization & Interactivity
Website design ideas are focused more on personalization and being interactive for users. You can use this trend by offering users different ways of interacting with your site (such as answering questions about themselves).

4) Better User Experience (UX)
A good user experience (UX) focused designis important no matter what kind of site you’re building. It makes users feel like they’re in control and helps them navigate easily through the different pages and sections of a website. A good user experience also keeps them coming back again and again to keep using your site or app! When designing UX for fitness studios, think about how newbies might feel when visiting for the first time.

5) Social Media Linking
People will search Google less and rely more on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest for information about products and services. Therefore, it’s important that you have these platforms linked up with your website so that people can easily share information between them all without having to leave any one place in particular.

Looking for web design and development services for your gym or fitness studio? Consult the experts.

Yoga for Balance? Why You Need It and How to Prevent Falls

Posted on by Lisa S

In yoga, balance is not just a buzzword—it’s a vital part of your practice. Achieving balance on the mat helps you maintain balance in life.

But what exactly does that mean? And how can you use your yoga practice to improve your overall sense of balance? In this article, we’ll give you some answers to those questions—and more!

Why Yoga?
Yoga is all about balance. Getting into the practice of yoga for balance & stability will improve your overall wellness. It’s not just about stretching; it’s about finding your center of gravity, which means moving through theyoga balance poses with precision and control. This helps build muscle memory in your body so that it knows where its center of gravity is at all times. And when you’re trying to avoid falling over—whether on purpose or accidentally—having strong muscles in your legs, hips and shoulders can make all the difference!

The Benefits of Yoga for Balance
Balance is an important part of daily life as well as your overall health and well-being. When you’re balanced physically and mentally, you feel more confident when walking or performing other everyday tasks such as cooking or cleaning.

Practicing yoga for balance and flexibility can also help prevent falls when walking outdoors on uneven terrain like grassy fields or sidewalks that have cracks in them from wear over time due to weather conditions such as rainstorms or snowstorms during winter months (or even spring thaw). These types of falls can result in serious injuries such as broken bones which could lead to hospitalization if left untreated until proper medical attention arrives at scene.

Tips to help you stay on your feet while doing yoga
1. Make sure to find the rightbalance yoga pose for your body type and ability level. If you’re just starting out with balance-oriented poses, try standing on one foot with both arms extended above your head. This will help increase strength in your core and lower body while getting used to standing on one foot.

2. Practice before bedtime or early in the morning when possible so that fatigue doesn’t affect your balance during practice time!

3. Make sure not to rush through any of these moves! Slow down and focus on staying balanced instead of rushing through them as fast as possible—this will help build up strength gradually rather than all at once like many people tend to do when trying these exercises for the first time.

Balance is a skill that everyone needs. And can yoga improve balance? Absolutely! Whether you’re an athlete, a yoga enthusiast, or just someone who wants to stay fit and healthy, you need your balance to help you keep your body strong and healthy. Without it, even the smallest slip can cause serious injury.

Yoga business owners across the world use My Best Studio, a yoga studio management software for better operational efficiency.

How to Survive Your First Fitness Class

Posted on by Lisa S

There are many reasons to join a gym class: to get fit, have fun, maintain a healthy lifestyle. But if your fitness goals begin and end with the weight room, then you may be surprised by what kettle bells, boxing, or even yoga can do for you. The key is to set realistic expectations for your first class and give yourself plenty of time to adjust.

If you’re intimidated by the thought of fitness classes, especially your first one, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to prepare and make the most of your first (and every) experience with group exercise.

Give yourself permission to be imperfect.
If you have been waiting to start exercising but have procrastinated or are just a bit nervous about jumping in, you’re not alone. You may be a little bit anxious or even worried that the workout will be too hard for you. Just remember it’s only your first class! You are allowed to learn and make mistakes without feeling like a failure. If at first you do not succeed, try again!

Try out a few different classes on different days.
Explore multiple gym class ideas. This way, you can find out which classes work best for your schedule, budget, level of motivation, and personality. It also helps prevent injury from overuse of one particular muscle group or tendon by alternating between activities throughout the week. For example, if you do cardio on Monday and weight training on Tuesday, try yoga on Wednesday and Pilates on Thursday so that each muscle group gets a break during the week.

Don’t worry about what other people are doing in class
Focus on what works for YOUR body! If you have any injuries or limitations that might affect how well you perform certain exercises (or prevent them altogether), let your instructor know before class starts so they can help adjust the exercises to ensure its safe for everyone in the class.

Bring a friend
Having a buddy there to hold your hand and give you a boost will make all the difference in helping you feel comfortable in the class. If you’ve been wondering how to exercise regularly, this will solve just that. Each of you have a hype buddy to keep you going.

Do some research before going in—and then ask questions!
The instructor should be able to answer any questions about how the class will work, how long it will last, what kind of equipment is needed… anything else that might be on your mind before getting started!

Don’t be afraid of looking silly
When it comes to trying new things, there’s nothing worse than being embarrassed about making mistakes or struggling with something that seems difficult at first (just ask any baby learning how to walk). Just keep moving forward, no matter what happens!

Instructors who conduct fitness classes in their own fitness studio have benefited from using a fitness studio software like My Best Studio. Know more here.