UM Rec Services Personal Training

 A path to professional success The physical demands of some occupations are well documented. Some careers, such as police and firefighters, have fitness tests built into the application process to ensure you can handle the job's physical demands. For the rest of us, with the hustle and bustle of today's fast-paced work environment, it's easy to neglect our health and fitness.  However, maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle is crucial for long-term professional success. Occupational health and fitness go hand in hand, contributing to increased performance, reduced absenteeism, and improved overall well-being. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of prioritizing occupational health and fitness and practical strategies to integrate them into our daily lives. Occupational health refers to promoting and maintaining physical, mental, and social well-being in the workplace. Here's why it deserves our attention: A) Enhanced Productivity A healthy workforce...

Debunking a popular myth For many years one of the primary cues given when teaching a squat was to keep the knees behind the toes because of the increased shear force it created on the knees. Is that still true? Will your knees explode if they pass the toes? Is it safe? Yes, having your knees past your toes while squatting is safe.   This common myth has been proven wrong by research in recent years. While the knees moving forward does increase the horizontal force at the knee, limiting the forward movement of the knees can put more stress on the lower back and increase the risk of injury. Limiting the forward movement of the knees during squats can increase the risk of injury because it can cause a compensatory movement pattern, such as improved trunk flexion, that puts more stress on other areas of the body, such as the lower back or the hips. When the knees cannot move forward, the hips and lower back must compensate by taking on more load. This can lead to poor form and increas...

  With the start of a new year, many people are starting their journey of self-improvement. We're thrilled to welcome you to the gym community, where daily positive transformations happen. The new year is a time of fresh beginnings and setting new goals. Joining the gym is a fantastic step towards enhancing your physical and mental well-being. It's not just about shedding a few pounds; it's about embracing a lifestyle prioritizing health, vitality, and overall wellness. Stepping into the gym might initially feel intimidating or uncomfortable. It's always challenging to enter a space with people who have been there longer than you. But gyms are communities filled with individuals who share common goals and aspirations. From seasoned fitness enthusiasts to beginners, the gym is a journey with people at various stages. However, there is always a shared spirit of encouragement and support. Don't hesitate to strike up a conversation, ask for advice from staff or other me...

Many exercisers and exercise professionals emphasize training until failure. Exercising to failure refers to pushing your muscles to the point where they cannot perform any more repetitions of an exercise with proper form. The reason people like to train to failure is because it ensures total fatigue that helps maximize results. This type of training can offer a range of benefits for individuals looking to build strength and endurance. Some potential benefits of exercising to failure include: Increased muscle hypertrophy: Exercising to failure can help to stimulate muscle growth by recruiting more muscle fibers than traditional training methods. Different motor units have various thresholds for activation. As motor units fatigue and fail, these higher threshold motor unity are recruited. When you reach failure it means that all motor units have been exhausted. This can result in increased muscle hypertrophy and overall strength. Improved endurance: Pushing your muscles to failure can a...

With the new school year in full swing, finding time for exercise can be challenging, especially when our days are filled with work, family commitments, and other responsibilities. However, incorporating physical activity into the middle of your day can be an effective way to boost energy levels, enhance productivity, and improve overall well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore practical strategies to help you squeeze exercise into the middle of your busy schedule and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Prioritize and Schedule The first step in fitting exercise into your day is to make it a priority. Recognize the importance of physical activity for your health and well-being and commit to finding time for it. Treat exercise as an essential part of your daily routine, just like any other important task. One great strategy to make sure exercise doesn't get bumped from your plans is to schedule your exercise sessions into your calendar. Set aside a specific time block du...

  Many people clean their homes before the cleaner comes. Maybe they don't want the cleaner to waste time on the bigger tidying so that they can focus on the deep clean. Perhaps we don't want the cleaners to see how dirty our homes are on a daily basis.  There is a similar pressure that people put on themselves before seeing an exercise professional. Many people feel they need to get in shape before seeing someone for help and guidance. Why? Are people afraid they won't be able to handle the workout? Are people ashamed of their current level of fitness? Today, we will talk about waiting to see a fitness professional and whether it is beneficial.  Do You Need a Fitness Baseline? So, should you try to improve your fitness before seeing an exercise professional? Do you need a certain fitness baseline to be fit enough to benefit from a training program? No, getting in better shape or extensively working out is unnecessary before seeing an exercise professional. Exercise profe...

Have you ever had a workout buddy who saw bigger, faster gains than you despite doing the same workouts? This can be very frustrating to see someone do the same work (or less) and get quicker results. We are all different, and this includes how we respond to exercise. Awareness of this can lead to realistic expectations and goal setting and hopefully reduce pressure and frustration when you aren’t responding like someone else. There are several factors that can contribute to why people get different results from exercise, including: Genetics Each person's body is unique, and genetics can significantly affect how they respond to exercise. This refers to body types that include our shape and muscle fibre types. For example, some people may be naturally better suited to endurance sports, while others may have a genetic predisposition for strength training. Endurance athletes are typically “ectomorphs,” where they are very thin, and they have more slow twitch muscle fibres. Slow twit...