Key Things to Consider Before Signing a Lease for Your Fitness Business
An early spring storm was raging outside, but my cardio hip hop class was pumping on a Thursday evening. The class was just hitting its stride when one of my regulars motioned to me, and I saw that she was dripping, not just from sweat, but from what was now becoming a fairly steady stream […]
5 Fitness Gift Ideas for Friends and Family
We’re well into the holiday season, and maybe you’re scrambling to find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Uh oh. Fortunately, there are plenty of fitness tools and accessories out there that might fit the bill, and at a range of prices. (Of course, discretion is important too — it’s probably best to only […]
A Ph.D. Student’s Take on ACSM’s Leadership & Diversity Training Program
Rafael Alamilla’s affiliation with ACSM’s Leadership & Diversity Training Program (LDTP) began with an interesting coincidence. An IU President’s Doctoral Fellow in Indiana University’s Department of Health Sciences, Alamilla had heard about ACSM’s LDTP somewhat by chance — whether it was from ACSM social media, an email, or some other communication, he can’t exactly recall. […]
The Importance of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, A 10-Year Update
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) policy statement “The Importance of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the United States: The Need for a National Registry.” In my teaching and lecturing, I have often commented that the field of exercise physiology is a very young area of science. Much of the foundations […]
Dietary Nitrate and Women’s Athletic Performance: A Call for Further Research
Nitrate supplementation has consistently been shown to benefit exercise performance due to its capacity to increase nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that plays an important role in skeletal muscle function during exercise. Once ingested, nitrate is converted to nitrite via anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity and nitrite is converted to NO especially under conditions […]
Do Sports Medicine Physicians Exercise More Regularly than Primary Care Physicians?
It is well established that regular physical activity is beneficial for the human body and mind. Many studies have outlined the effects of aerobic exercise and resistance training for longevity and optimization of the health span. There are well-established guidelines for physical activity, such as Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans by the U.S. Department of Health and […]
Breathe Easier | Smoking Cessation Resources for Better Health
Updated November 2025 Only 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop. Within a few days, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to a normal rate. After a few weeks your circulation and lung function improve, and after a year your risk of heart attack drops significantly. […]
Understanding Ages & Stages to Inform Developmentally Appropriate Youth Sports
Dr. Rick Howard joins the podcast to discuss developmentally appropriate youth sports informed by long-term athletic development.
Coaching Skills for Deep Empathy
This infographic describes the three types of empathy and five ways to incorporate empathy into your work as a fitness professional, health coach, or medical practitioner.
The Impact of Adolescent Development on Fitness and Conditioning Age
Dr. Rick Howard joins the podcast to discuss the impact of adolescent development on fitness and conditioning age and stage.
