Depression often results in significant economic and health burdens on society. One factor that contributes to this burden is the challenge in successful treatment of depression. Research indicates that nearly half of patients do not respond to initial treatment and one-third remain depressed even after multiple treatment attempts. While this indicates a need for more effective ways to treat people with depression, many researchers are also examining strategies to prevent depression.

In my research, I’ve observed patients with depression whose conditions have improved by following an exercise program as a part of treatment. Now, a recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry indicates that exercise may also be one way to prevent depression. The researchers who conducted this study found that 1-2 hours of exercise per week is enough to significantly reduce the risk of depression. People who reported no exercise were 44 percent more likely to be depressed in the future compared to those who exercised for 1-2 hours per week.

While 1-2 hours per week may sound like a daunting goal for someone who doesn’t exercise, so it is even more encouraging that the results suggest that as little as 30 minutes of exercise per week may be beneficial. Also, the researchers found that the intensity of the exercise did not impact the preventive effect. So, one 30-minute walk per week may be enough to help prevent depression.

While the results of this study are encouraging, more research in this area is needed. We need to develop effective interventions to increase exercise among persons at risk for depression and we need to understand the biology of how exercise prevents depression. With a greater understanding of these issues, we can hopefully reduce the burden caused by depression.

Chad D. Rethorst, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care
Department of Psychiatry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Instagram can be an incredibly beneficial marketing tool for fitness professionals at all levels. Whether you teach group exercises classes at a local church, take personal training clients at a local gym, or provide online/virtual fitness services, Instagram is the fastest growing tool for reaching both current and potential clients.

Here are a few quick tips to maximize your #instaefforts:

1. Create a profile specifically for your business, and make classify it as a "business" account. You want to do this for two reasons: First, it's more professional. Potential clients will take you more seriously if you focus the account on content that provides them with valuable information related directly to your service. Second, a business account distinguishes you from "hobbyists" when potential clients are searching for a professional. A business account also gives you the ability to put your contact information and a call to action directly in your bio, making it easier for a potential client to initiate contact with you. Additionally, a business account will give you access to valuable insights/analytics about your content to let you know if it's "working."

2. Show some personality. Let potential clients see who you are and understand your values and fitness philosophy. This will help them determine if you are the right fitness professional to meet their needs. Share images or videos of you being active with friends, family, pets and in your community. Share the mantras that are essential to your fitness philosophy. Give them a taste of what it is like to work with you directly. They need to feel comfortable about you as a person before they will consider hiring you.

3. Display your expertise. Think about sharing client testimonials, videos showing proper technique, images of you attending professional education classes or a combination of these along with any other measures. A client will be more likely to contact you if you've demonstrated that you really know your stuff. After all, entrusting someone with your fitness journey is a big commitment!

4. Use #hashtags correctly. There are a lot of different philosophies on how to "correctly" use hashtags, but the truth is, what will work best for you completely relies on your intended goals. If you teach classes or take clients in-person at a local facility, it's important to attract clients within a specific geographic area. Therefore, use hashtags that have local relevance. For example, #FitAtlanta would be more targeted than #fitness. If you're offering online services, use hashtags that are directly relevant to the clients you're looking for, i.e. a virtual trainer looking for weight loss clients would be wise to use #weightlosstrainer.

1. Part two of this rule is: do your research! Look to see what hashtags your peer fitness professionals are using. By peer, I mean those who are marketing to the same clientele that you want to attract. Also vet your hashtags before you use them. Be sure that they don't have a double meaning that you could misspeak on, or that they aren't too widely used or are too generic. The likelihood that your use of #fitness would be seen in the sea of 220 million+ posts using that hashtag is SMALL. The likelihood of being found using a targeted hashtag like #weightlosstrainer, which only has about 1,700 posts, is more significant.

5. Consider using paid ads. You would be surprised how many potential clients you can reach with a very small budget if you do it right! Some things to consider:

1. Be VERY SPECIFIC when selecting your target audience for an ad: gender, age, geographic location, interests, etc.
2. Make sure that the visual in your ad is a solid representation of who you are and the service that you offer. Keep this image free of any large graphics that contain too many words or information. Let the image "speak for itself." *Inserting a logo for your fitness business in a corner is totally great and even encouraged, though. It's a display of professionalism and that you take your business seriously.
3. Keep your accompanying copy brief and to the point, with a specific call to action. Be sure to let them know what you want them to do. Use wording like "Click for more information," with a link to your website contact page, or "Call now!" followed by your phone number. An effective ad will leave no doubt in the customers mind as to what you are offering and how they should proceed.

I hope that these tips will help you get started (or continue) building a solid Instagram presence that will boost your fitness career. Stay tuned to the ACSM Certification blog for more helpful tips, and be sure to follow our special media accounts for content inspiration and information!

Instagram: @ACSM1954
Twitter: @ACSMnews
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACSMNews/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/43598/

Caitlin is ACSM's Social Media and Digital Content Manager. She has over five years of experience developing social media strategies for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large, internationally-recognized brands. She has been teaching fitness classes since 2010, and spent two years as the owner/manager of a boutique fitness studio. You can followher @caitlinmarie89.

The purpose of ACSM recertification is to ensure that ACSM Certified Professionals enhance skills and knowledge above and beyond minimum competence. Periodic recertification occurs through the documentation of (and confirmation, when audited) of required continuing educational activities over a three-year cycle.  Each level of certification requires a different amount of continuing education.

Notice: CEC Earning and Tracking information has been updated for 2019 and beyond.

View the essential update

Process Update 2019 and beyond: How to Renew Your ACSM Certification

Go to the easier process now

When you renew your certification, you are required to acknowledge completion of the required continuing education credits, have current CPR certification and pay the required renewal fee. ACSM audits a percentage of randomly selected certification renewals at each credential level every year. If audited, you will be required to provide documented proof of your CECs to the ACSM National Office within 30 days. Below are a few quick tips regarding CECs and recertification:

1. Need CECs? ACSMceOnline offers many affordable options to fulfill your CEC requirement. This site is available 24/7, 365 for you to earn CECs. ACSM members do receive a discount here, if you are a member, contact the membership department for the discount code.
2. ACSM accepts CECs you earn from other organizations that are directly related to your ACSM certification.Here is the criteria:

• Content outside of the scope of your certification will not be accepted.
• You must have been awarded CECs or contact hours from the organization that sponsored the event or from any other major fitness organization.

1. CECs, CMEs, CEUs and contact hours are sometimes used interchangeably, fortunately we do accept all related increments of instructional hours. Organizations have different ways of calculating CECs, the general rule is that the CEC equivalency is always 1 = 1, but if the organization uses the decimal system (i.e. ACE or NSCA) then its .1 = 1. If there is any doubt, it typically equates to 1 CEC per hour of participation. For a listing of what is accepted, click here. 
2. You do not have to send in your CECs unless you are audited. Be sure to keep all of those certificates of attendance/completion that you've received. You can be audited up to a year after recertification.
3. Earning CECs does not automatically renew your certification for you. You still must actively complete the renewal form and pay. The form will have you input the number of CECs you've earned in the designated fields, you will not have to list out each course. If you are audited, a more detailed form must be submitted along with your audit documents .
4. When you earn CECs from attending an ACSM Annual Meeting or Health and Fitness Summit, those will automatically show up in your My CEC/CME History tab when you log into your MyACSM profile. All other CECs you must manually input using the Self-Reporting Tool. This currently is not required but is a great way to track your continuing education.

 ACSM Self- Reporting Tool

1. To track your continuing education using the Self-Reporting tool, login to your MyACSM profile.
2. Next, you will click My Profile, the MyCEC/CME History tab and then click the Self-Reporting tool button.
3. Enter your course information into the form and submit.

As an ACSM certified exercise professional, you have the unique ability to use the certification name or acronym as a mark of distinction in the fitness industry. ACSM prefers that you use the full certification name whenever possible. You may also use the acronyms or letters in signature blocks, business cards, and personalized stationary. You can also distinguish yourself on your LinkedIn, Twitter, and similar social media bios and blog profiles as a certified exercise professional.

During the 2017 ACSM Annual Conference,the Committee on Certification and Registry Board (CCRB) had a robust discussion on the certification names and related acronyms. As a result, CCRB has updated the adopted naming convention as follows:

Below are example usages:

Within text:

John Doe, an ACSM Exercise Physiologist, states that participating in physical activity may reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Signature block:

Email signature block:

In health,

John Doe, MS, ACSM-CEP, ACSM-GEI

Assistant Director of Fitness, University of State 1234 University Lane

City, State 56789-0000

Hi all,

My name is Francis Neric and I'm the new National Director of Certification for the American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM). It is an absolute honor to be able to lead the development and administration of certifications for such a prestigious organization. I think it would an appropriate time to provide some background information and my vision for certification at ACSM.

I was conferred a BS in Exercise Science from California State University, Long Beach in 2002 and MS in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton in 2005. My thesis titled,"Comparison of Swim Recovery and Muscle Stimulation on Lactate Removal After Sprint Swimming" was published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning and Research (December 2009). Most recently, I was conferred my MBA with a concentration in management from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 2016.

Professionally, I coached age-group through master's level swimmers for over 10 years. I recently worked for the National Strength and Conditioning Association from 2008 to 2016 in roles and projects that spanned continuing education, exam development, and project management. On a personal level, my wife and I have two beautiful children, Emily (8) and Lila(4). We enjoy exploring and investing in life experiences. My family is the prism through which I view my personal and professional worlds. My girls offer me an invaluable perspective into the importance of patience, empathy, sincerity, prioritization, and balance.

ACSM has long been heralded as the "gold standard" for the exercise profession through its unwavering commitment to cutting-edge research and rigorous certification standards. My goal at the College is to carry forward the legacy and provide: (1) greater transparency in the exam development; (2) a more efficient online registration and recertification processes; (3) increased professional development opportunities; and, (4) top-quality customer service that folks have come to expect of the College. We plan on achieving this by providing greater insights to policy changes through regular updates on the certification blog and social media channels. We will review the current exam registration and recertification processes, and investigate innovative solutions for user experience. Lastly, we will work closely with our exam candidates and certified professionals in discovering in how we can better serve you.

The future for ACSM indeed looks bright and I look forward to serving this esteemed organization.

In health,

Francis Neric, MS, MBA

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fneric/ 

Twitter: @FNeric