Fitness

By James Garcia; Regional Education Specialist, Life Time Fitness and Instructor, Life Time Academy- Centennial

Want to get paid to go to the gym? One upside to the burgeoning obesity epidemic is that it’s fueling the growth of jobs in the fitness industry.

Laureen Lowe-Albrecht; Orchard Park Health Care- Centennial

With more and more seniors getting fit inside the gym at rehabilitation centers and major advances in technology, plan to see way more electronic fitness resources in 2013. The most advanced rehabilitation centers use “Smart Card” technology. By sliding the card into the small computer monitor, the machine remembers your last workout. The machine’s memory includes personal settings, such as weight, age and gender and also adjusts factors for the speed, resistance and number of reps in physical rehabilitation. The Smart Card system is for exercise planning, recording, feedback and instructions. It also sets up the exercise machines repetition and resistance automatically.

By Ismay Parker, Certified Personal Trainer at Village Fitness- Castle Rock

When people lose the ability to perform everyday tasks, life can become very frustrating. Not being able to get up or down the stairs without discomfort, or rise out of a chair without the help of arms and hands, can limit the quality of life’s experiences. The experience of not being able to do the things that were easy before can create extreme discontent. Limited strength, balance, flexibility and endurance are all problems that limit a person’s physical independence, and therefore can affect his or her quality of life.

By Ismay Parker, Certified Personal Trainer at Team Speed Colorado- Centennial

A request was made to write about different styles of workouts. There is so much out there; the fitness industry is always evolving and new gadgets and training aids pop up all the time. I believe knowledge is power, so I am starting a series- over the next few months my articles will discuss different workout styles.

By Ismay Parker, Certified Personal Trainer at Team Speed Colorado- Centennial

People who exercise often think that if they walk or run, work with resistance, or participate in cardio training regularly, they are in good shape. Not enough people understand that the most effective way to exercise takes more than burning calories. It is more than moving in one pattern or style. A comprehensive exercise program should include a “mixed bag” workout approach. A mixed bag workout program includes more than one exercise style, no matter how diverse the style is. Since variety in an exercise program is needed to keep the body balanced, a mixed bag workout is a great solution.

By Ismay Parker, Certified Personal Trainer at Team Speed Colorado- Centennial

The end of summer is near and vacations are winding up. A new school year is starting, work is calling and, for many of us, it is time to get back into the swing of everyday life. During this time of year people often realize that over the summer some of their conditioning has been lost and some unwanted weight has been gained. Since kids are returning to school, the end of summer is a great time to get back into shape and shed the pounds that have crept on over the past few months.

By Marianne Curtis; personal trainer and group fitness instructor, South Suburban Park and Recreation District

Nordic walking, long popular in Europe, is growing among Americans as a great way to achieve improved fitness levels through walking with poles.  This new offering by South Suburban Parks and Recreation is gaining enthusiasm by both men and women of all ages.  The outdoor walking exercise program will start up again in September with three classes per week: Monday and Wednesdays at 1:30 pm; and Wednesdays at 6 pm.   Classes will take place on the walking path at deKoevend Park, on S. University Blvd., in Centennial, adjacent to Goodson Recreation Center. 

Metro Editorial

Many people equate "exercise" with doing a workout video or heading to the gym. This doesn't have to be the case at all. Regular daily activities provide a lot of the exercise a person needs and can be tweaked to provide even more.

By Deborah Grigsby, dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com

By Cord Prettyman, Certified Personal Trainer at Absolute Workout Fitness and Post-Rehab Studio- Woodland Park

Ahhh, the snow has melted, the hummingbirds have returned, the bears are turning over trash cans and soon you won’t have to drive 20 mph through school zones. We must be approaching summer, which means that children all over Colorado will be freed from the drudgery of being trapped inside classrooms and can retreat to their bedrooms where, for the next two to three months they can play video games, watch television and text incessantly.

By Cord Prettyman, Certified Personal Trainer at Absolute Workout Fitness and Post-Rehab Studio- Woodland Park

A snow-less Rocky Mountain spring providing summer-like weather heralds the early reappearance of two of the most feared creatures that roam our beautiful state – the Colorado black bear prowling through back yards looking for food and “helicopter parents” prowling the sidelines of youth sporting events on a mission to protect their young. In recent years, the latter has proven to be much more dangerous than the former.

By Wendi Epps, Recreation and Marketing Coordinator for the Town of Parker

Does your fitness routine need something new? TRX Suspension Training^® is a body weight exercise that develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously.

Metro Editorial

After hibernating in your den or on your couch all winter, let those first warm breezes of spring be a call to action. There's no better time of year to stretch your mind and muscles -- and launch an exercise routine that will take you through the summer and into the fall. The key to developing a fitness routine that will help you reach your health and weight goals is simpler than you may have thought. There are only two firm rules: Keep it simple and keep it up.

By Cord Prettyman, Certified Personal Trainer at Absolute Workout Fitness and Post-Rehab Studio- Woodland Park

Arnold Schwarzenegger, move over... the secret is out!  Strength Training (weight lifting) is for everyone!  It doesn't matter if you’re 8 years old or 108 years old; male or female; human or alien (well, maybe not alien).  Your training programs will be different but your results will be the same...a positive, long-term impact on your functional fitness, quality of life, resistance to disease and how gracefully you age.

Metro Editorial

Some people think they have to spend hours at the gym sweating on the treadmill or elliptical trainer in order to burn calories and lose weight. As it turns out, the things you do every single day could be burning more calories than you realized. Some discipline with your diet and certain healthy habits can make the difference for those attempting to lose weight.

By Ismay Parker, Certified Personal Trainer at Team Speed Colorado in Centennial

I am often asked, " What is the best time of the day to work out?" The best time to exercise is shortly after a person wakes up. If a person works mostly night-shifts, that time is obviously different from someone who holds a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. There are several important steps to take before exercising to ensure an optimal workout. When waking up, the first action should be to engage in a minute of deep, slow breathing and a two-minute cat stretch while still in bed. This should be followed by a bathroom visit. Then, it is time for rehydration of the body before engaging in 30 minutes of exercise-like movement.

By Ellen Martin, Living Well Coordinator with South Suburban Parks and Recreation

To be sure, fitness is not a fad. Fads are short-lived. Trends, on the other hand, have staying power. Fitness is definitely a necessary trend.

Snowshoeing is a wintertime activity all can enjoy. While skiing may take a little more athletic prowess and training, snowshoeing provides exercise for all ages.

At the dawn of a new calendar year, many people decide it's time to turn over a new leaf and shed those extra pounds that accumulated over the previous 12 months. The resolve to lose weight is perhaps never stronger than at the beginning of a calendar year, when the holiday season has passed but those added inches on the waistline remain.