Amber Long

Understanding the key elements of wellness for a balanced life can position you to better serve your clients. Read on to learn more about wellness vs. fitness and how you can help clients achieve holistic wellness.

Language and word choice can help in creating an inclusive environment in a group fitness class, or it can do the opposite and foster competition and isolation. Learn common terms and phrases to avoid using as a group fitness instructor.

Here’s how to solve this puzzle once and for all.

If you’ve never done yoga, it can be intimidating to start, especially if you don’t feel particularly flexible or confident that you can do the poses correctly. Here are some simple things you can do to fit your yoga practice to your body so that you can feel successful and begin to realize that you can, in fact, do yoga.

Are your clients having trouble finding time to exercise? Help them prioritize themselves, advocate for a weekly schedule, and acknowledge the little things.

Warm weather has finally arrived and with it the opportunity to get outdoors and explore, but traveling can be hard to maintain your regular fitness routine. Use this quick backpack circuit to keep your fitness goals on track on your next adventure.

It takes conscious effort and commitment to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. These four ideas are quick and efficient ways to navigate stress and maintain balance when life gets hectic.

While skipping out on the cool-down after a workout may seem like a good way to save time and get to your next commitment, here are three reasons why those last few minutes of class are some of the most important.

Sun salutation or surya namaskar is one of the most commonly performed yoga series, and is believed to enhance posture, strength, mobility and focus. Learn how to tap into the benefits of this ancient series with this beginner’s guide to sun salutations. Pick the postures that work for you and move toward practicing this series with confidence.

Joining a gym can feel overwhelming. You might be wondering—Should I go to a class or run on a treadmill? How do I use all those weight machines? And what is this fitness lingo I’m hearing everywhere?

You’ve decided that you want to work in fitness, but you’re not sure which route to take: personal trainer, group fitness instructor or both? As you begin your career path, certain personal traits and interests can help determine which route might be best for you. Use this brief questionnaire to help you clarify your career path in the fitness industry.

Fitness can be complicated, but taking a minimalist approach to fitness allows you to focus on the basics for maintaining fitness and wellness. Making things simple also means you are more likely to stick with the routine on a consistent basis. Follow these basic guidelines and you too can be a fitness minimalist.

Our goal as fitness instructors is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that fosters success and positive energy around movement for people of all abilities. Here are some things you can do to help make your classes more inviting and make everyone feel at home, regardless of experience, fitness level or identity.

On the fence about hiring a personal trainer? From helping you reach your fitness goals and avoiding injury to figuring out how to exercise safely with a chronic condition, hiring a personal trainer could be one of the best investments you can make in your overall health and well-being.

As a health and fitness professional, education is an essential component of growing and expanding your skill set and knowledge base. But it can be a challenge to know if you need to get a certification or a certificate, which organization to choose, and how to maintain those credentials. Here’s what you need to know to get credentialed, stay credentialed and, most importantly, become and remain a well-rounded health and fitness professional.

You have probably heard about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, but don’t have the time to commit to a time-consuming practice. Here’s some good news: A mini-meditation of as little as 60 seconds a day can help reduce stress and assist your health and fitness efforts. Here’s how…

If you’re a group fitness instructor who’s been teaching for a while, you may be wondering what other things you can do to increase your value or perhaps diversify your income. Perhaps you are looking for a way to reach more people and have a larger impact on those who need your help the most. If this sounds like you, it may be the right time to add health coaching to your professional credentials.

Consistency is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, right? But how do you know when it’s time to change your routine? While consistency is good, here are a few signs that may indicate that it’s time to change your current workout.

As a health and fitness pro, you are often on the go, and a full inbox makes it tempting to communicate with clients in shorthand or text-like fashion. Unfortunately, this shortcut can often be misconstrued as careless, unprofessional or even rude. Make sure your email game is on point by utilizing these six tips for better email etiquette in the fitness industry.

If you’re new to the fitness industry, it can be easy to feel as though you want to specialize in one type of training, client or class. Learn why diversifying your skill set and being open to a wide range of educational and vocational opportunities will increase your versatility and usefulness, both to employers and potential clients.

Have you thought about hiring a personal trainer, but are wary of making a long-term commitment? The good news is that even one or two sessions with a qualified personal trainer can be incredibly helpful to ensure that the time you spend working on your fitness is productive. Here are four signs that the time might be right for you to hire a trainer.

What are the keys to becoming a successful health and fitness professional? Not surprisingly, avoiding common—yet often costly—mistakes is often just as important as taking the right steps or actions. Check out these three common mistakes to make sure you’re on the right track and to help ensure your success as a health and fitness professional.

As a health and fitness professional, knowledge of exercise science is important, but being able to build a relationship is crucial. It’s what gives clients the confidence that you can effectively help them reach their goals and also care about them as a person. If you are interested in building better rapport and maintaining a consistent client base, avoid the following actions, as they will certainly help you lose a client, likely in 10 days or less.

As the fitness industry continues to evolve, opportunities for instructors have never been greater. With so much variety in the field, no two interview experiences are the same. Keep in mind that most companies require a verbal interview and a practical audition. The following tips can help you prepare for your interview and make a great first impression.

Positive body language is a simple way to engage more fully in any relationship in your life. Use these five tips, both in and out of the gym, to build better communication, trust and rapport.

With so much conflicting fitness information out there, how do you determine the most effective program for you? First, it’s important to know that a well-rounded fitness regime should include cardiorespiratory training, resistance training, and mobility or flexibility training. Here is a summary of what and why each component is important in your routine.

Group fitness can be a great way to stay on track because people who exercise in groups are more likely to adhere to a consistent routine due to the accountability provided by social connections. If you are thinking of trying group fitness classes for the first time, here are five tips to help you get started off on the right foot.

Few things can derail a workout faster than ill-fitting shoes. But the right shoe can make all the difference. Experts recommend wearing sport-specific shoes if you participate in activities more than twice a week. Here are some recommendations on how to choose the right shoes for your activities and how to know when it’s time to retire your latest pair.

Many people spend a large amount of time sitting down—at a desk, in the car and while watching television. As a result, they may experience tight hips, limited range of motion or chronic back pain. Performing these three effective hip openers can go a long way toward improving general mobility and alleviate discomfort

Teaching group fitness means making adjustments to your plans on the fly, especially when stereo equipment malfunctions or you don’t have time to eat a meal between classes. Fill your backpack or duffel with these 8 essential back-up tools and you will be better prepared to adapt to any situation.