Updated June 27, 2025. So, you’re under 18 and want to be a personal trainer. Can you do this? I’ve been a fitness trainer since the 1990s. I also teach/train personal trainers. I was once asked if it was permissible for a 16-year-old to attend one of my fitness certification classes. That got me thinking […]
[Continue reading...]Do Personal Trainers Have to Be Fit or Look Perfect?
Do personal trainers have to be fit, skinny or muscular? No. Knowledge, empathy, communication and the ability to train clients safely matter far more than having a perfect body.
[Continue reading...]AAAI Fitness Personal Trainer Test: Study Tips and Certification Review
Updated July 2026. Are you preparing for the AAAI Fitness personal trainer test? This review explains how the certification process works, what happens during the class, how long you should study and what you can do to improve your chances of passing. AAAI Fitness was previously known as AAAI/ISMA. You may still see the older […]
[Continue reading...]Foods That Decrease – And Increase – Inflammation
Inflammation. Everybody is talking about it because too much is thought to cause to disease. More than that, people really want to know how to reduce inflammation. Can you take a supplement? Well maybe, but what about food? What foods reduce inflammation? Odds are, they are in your kitchen right now. In this review, let’s […]
[Continue reading...]Sexual Harassment In The Gym: What To Do If It Happens To You
Update 8/3/20. Almost every day we hear allegations of sexual harassment. Truth be told, this is nothing new. Unfortunately, harassment like this and other forms has been going on for many years. While we often hear only about incidents involving celebrities, Hollywood directors, and politicians, I wanted to discuss sexual harassment in fitness centers. The […]
[Continue reading...]What Injuries Do Personal Trainers Get?
Update 7/20/19. It’s a fact that personal trainers get injured on the job. It happens while working with clients and in group classes too. It’s happened to me and to the fitness trainers I know. But, what injuries are common to fitness instructors? More importantly, how do you avoid getting hurt? What if it’s the […]
[Continue reading...]Canopy Personal Trainer Liability Insurance
I’m a believer that all fitness trainers should have personal trainer liability insurance. I believe this is also important for personal trainers working in gyms too. While I cannot give statistics on how many trainers have been sued, I can tell you that I have been contacted by lawyers who are looking for experts to […]
[Continue reading...]AAAI/ISMA Master Personal Trainer Test: Questions And Answers
The AAAI/ISMA Master Personal Trainer certification is one that I enjoy teaching very much because it allows me to help trainers learn the information and tricks of the trade, so they can work effectively with people who have health issues. The class is very different than the regular personal trainer class I also teach for […]
[Continue reading...]The Beginners Guide To Safe Interval Training (HIIT) Programs
Updated 11/3/19. Interval training (also called “HIIT”) exercise programs are very popular these days. You can’t pick up a magazine or surf to a website without seeing something on the health and weight loss benefits of interval training. As an exercise physiologist, I feel the public is not learning all they should do HIIT programs […]
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