American Council on Exercise

The ACE 7 Core Drivers of Healthy Living is a framework to help health and fitness pros and their clients better understand those lifestyle behaviors that support overall health and well-being. Read on for practical strategies and resources.

"Stretching is arguably one of the most misunderstood aspects of exercise," says Cedric X. Bryant, a physiologist and chief executive officer at the American Council on Exercise. "Myths persist because so many people are stuck in the past with old gym science that gets passed down."

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has been named the exclusive beginner-level certification partner for Inspire360 Club, providing foundational education for entry-level trainers. Additional partners include TRX, Exos, Eleiko, Certified Functional Strength Coach (Mike Boyle), Oxygen Advantage, Gray Institute, ProNatal, Human Motion Associates, Jim LaValle and the Mental Wellbeing Association, among others.

The American Council of Exercise recently announced a new Sleep & Recovery Coach Course with sleep educator Nick Lambe, designed for personal trainers and fitness pros who want to add sleep and recovery science to their offerings.

Inspire360, the education technology that powers the world’s top fitness companies and health clubs, and the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the leading nonprofit education and certification organization in the fitness industry, announced today a strategic partnership. Inspire360 has selected ACE as the exclusive beginner-level qualification and certification partner of Inspire360 Club, the new club education platform recently launched by Inspire360.

Inspire360 has selected ACE as the exclusive beginner-level qualification and certification partner of Inspire360 Club, the new club education platform recently launched by Inspire360.

Maintaining cardiovascular fitness also has a “profound effect” on independence and quality of life — without it, “activities of daily living can become more of a burden,” adds Anthony Wall, senior director of global business development and professional education at the American Council on Exercise. People may also stay at home more often and avoid socializing. “This leads to greater feelings of isolation and increased likelihood of depression,” he says.

Performing a variety of movements may be the secret to building stronger glutes. This evidence-based workout features glute exercises to develop both strength and function.

Cameil Ross, a group fitness instructor certified by the American Council on Exercise, said that “[a]dding a weighted vest to your workout routine [increases] the resistance and cardiovascular output, which may result in higher caloric burn. It forces your muscles to work harder, which can build muscular strength as well.”

New Year’s fitness resolutions often mean crowded gyms and eager clients. Take advantage of peak motivation levels to set clients up for long-term success and sustainable fitness habits.

Overall eating patterns mean more than individual foods or nutrients in isolation. Read on for an evidence-based exploration of how good nutrition supports a healthy and active lifestyle.

Sleep is at the cornerstone of health and wellness, ensuring better cognitive and physical performance, recovery, immune health and longevity, which is why the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has developed the Sleep & Recovery Coach Course in collaboration with Nick Lambe, known as “the online sleep coach.”

The misconception that muscle can be lean or bulky lies in its appearance. “When people (say ‘lean’), they’re usually describing a look — muscle that appears more defined because there is less body fat covering it,” Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief executive officer at the American Council on Exercise, tells TODAY.com.

If you’re on the hunt for an effective tool to help you achieve your fitness goals, it could be just a click away on your smartphone. A wide range of workout and fitness apps make it simple to work up a sweat, build strength and stay motivated in any place at any time.

At its core, successful weight loss requires a calorie deficit, which can be achieved in one of three ways: reducing calorie intake, increasing calorie expenditure via exercise, or a combination of both. Here's a cheat-sheet of the best calorie-burning exercises to help you optimize your time and effort, according to the American Council on Exercise. (FYI: the range of calories burned used for this list is estimated for a 125- to 185-pound person.)

Cross-training is an exercise regimen that uses several types of training to improve overall health and fitness, as defined by The American Council on Exercise.

Fitness trends explored in this blog include AI, healthspan and longevity, obesity medications, menopause, and more. Learn from ACE experts about how these trends will shape the industry in 2026 and beyond.

"Starting slow and working your way up is better than overdoing it and giving up," Chris Gagliardi, a certified personal trainer at the American Council on Exercise, previously told Men's Health. An easy way to approach it: Commit to going for a quick, 10-minute walk after dinner, and slowly increase the time as you become more comfortable with daily movement.

Your alarm rings 10 days before New Year’s. Instagram feeds flood with transformation promises. You want visible abs but don’t know where to start. The American Council on Exercise studied 13 ab exercises and ranked them by muscle activation. Bicycle crunches topped the list, engaging obliques and deep core more effectively than standard crunches. These 7 exercises target all three abdominal layers in under 10 minutes daily.

Navigating the holiday season can be a challenge when you’re trying to stay active, eat right and make healthy choices. Consider these 7 simple strategies, from adjusting your mindset to taking care of yourself.

For recreational runners, an injury can be the single biggest disruptor of momentum, healthy habits and confidence. A new study out of the Netherlands puts a sharper point on something many health and exercise professionals already suspect: Sleep isn’t just “nice to have” recovery. It may be part of the injury-risk picture, especially when sleep is consistently short, low quality and disrupted.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Nick Lambe, The Online Sleep Coach, have announced the launch of the Sleep & Recovery Coach Course, a new educational program designed to equip health and exercise professionals improve client outcomes by integrating sleep and recovery science into their coaching practices. 

"When you exercise, you release hormones like adrenaline," Sabrena Jo, a senior director of science and research at the American Council on Exercise (ACE), told Health. "This hormone actually tells our bodies to ignore feelings of pain and fatigue while enhancing blood flow to large muscles."

Discover the most effective approach to training the biceps. This evidence-based workout features exercises to improve biceps strength and function.

Other studies have shown that skipping is effective for weight loss. Plus, in a report for the American Council on Exercise about the benefits of the activity, fitness expert Pete McCall argues that regularly jumping rope increases the capacity and resilience of lower-leg muscles, significantly strengthening the calves and improving the elasticity of the surrounding tendons and fascia. For runners, this means a reduced risk of experiencing lower-leg injuries.

Recognizing what trauma looks like in a fitness setting and creating safe and supportive movement experiences can help you foster deeper connections with your clients. Learn strategies to promote safety, autonomy and empowerment.

Planks are an easy way to develop core strength, according to the American Council on Exercise. But for some people, they're too taxing on the toes. That can happen when your joints aren’t mobile enough or when you’re dealing with improper form or a pre-existing injury, says Florida-based Pilates instructor Grace Albin.

The fitness world is leaning in, too. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) just launched an Alzheimer’s Fitness Specialist Program to train professionals in using movement and cognitive drills to help prevent and manage dementia.

Su and Trivedi bring their expertise in marketing and AI to the ACE Board of Directors

A new study reveals that long-term endurance training doesn’t just improve cardiovascular and metabolic health—it also enhances immune function at a cellular level. This article explains the science and offers practical insights for health and exercise professionals to help clients harness these immune-boosting benefits through consistent aerobic activity.

Discover the most effective approach to training the hamstrings. This evidence-based workout features exercises to improve function and avoid injury.

Meet Ashley Carter, an ACE Certified Pro living the mission and shaping the future of fitness. Ashley offers strategies for pros just getting started.

Completed by more than 400 participants, the CPAL course is helping empower people to lead inclusive physical activity programs in their communities

That’s where the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a non-profit education and certification provider for health coaches and exercise professionals, and Jonathan Ross of Funtensity, a workout combining brain health and fitness, enter the picture. The two have come together to launch the Alzheimer’s Fitness Specialist Program.

ACE and Jonathan Ross collaborate to bring education on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to health and fitness professionals.

Meet Guy Voisey, an ACE Certified Pro living the mission and shaping the future of fitness. Guy offers strategies for working with clients with intellectual disabilities.

More information The American Council on Exercise has more on physical activity benefits for women.

“When you perform the same exercises over and over, your muscles, joints, and nervous system become more efficient at those movements,” causing progress to plateau, explained Erin Nitschke, CPT, a certified personal trainer and American Council on Exercise health coach. “Changing your workout routine periodically helps you continue to challenge your body, improve your strength and endurance, and keep your workouts mentally engaging.”

Still, research classifies hot yoga as light-to-moderate intensity, meaning that you’ll see an increase in your heart rate, but it won’t be to the upper-limits of your heart rate zones. (An older study done by the American Council on Exercise found that women’s heart rates increased to 72 percent of their maximum heart rate, or Zone 3, during a hot yoga session.)

Then there’s the advice that applies to everyone: hydrate, go gently and listen to your body. The latter is particularly important; a study conducted by the American Council on Exercise on the risks associated with Bikram yoga recommended watching for fatigue, headaches, dizziness, general weakness, paleness, cold, clammy skin and profuse sweating.