Goal Setting that Builds Trust and Self-Efficacy

Humans are driven toward autonomy – the need to have control over one’s choices; to march to one’s own drummer and be the captain of one’s own ship. This leads to the kind of motivation that supports sustainable engagement in healthy behaviors. Using the coach approach, you are not responsible for your client’s choices but […]

6 Ways to Support Your Clients’ Mental & Physical Well-Being

Regular physical activity provides several long-term benefits that can help prevent and treat mental health disorders. Check out these six tips for fitness professionals looking to support their clients’ mental well-being developed by the ACSM American Fitness Index. Click on image to download PDF.

Building Client Connections with Beautiful Questions

The first instinct many exercise professionals have is to share their extensive knowledge with their client; the relationship moves in one direction, from the professional with the expertise to the client who’s hired them for their expertise. And in general, that’s the idea — exercise pros solve problems, design interventions and help people advance in […]

Fighting, Faith and Asynchronous Cardiac Rehab: Get to Know Alexis Bhagat, ACSM-CEP

ACSM background

Alexis Bhagat fought her way into sports medicine. The 32-year-old clinical exercise physiologist is a true Millennial: like many of us, she went to the mat, so to speak, on an extracurricular activity. Specifically karate, which blossomed into an impressive athletic career. And it was no surprise: Both of her older brothers were also fiercely […]

GSSI Webinar Q&A: An Update on Caffeine and Exercise Performance

Miss the webinar? Access it below. Webinar Recording Q: Do you know caffeine’s impact on the fascia I’ve seen some things saying caffeine has negative effects of fascia system? To be honest, I have not seen any peer-reviewed scientific papers on the effects of caffeine ingestion on fascia. Q: There has been a lot of […]

Continuing Education for Professional Growth

As the associate vice president of certification and credentialing at ACSM, one area I am most passionate about is supporting ACSM’s exercise professionals in navigating their career goals. I have had the distinct pleasure of connecting with numerous stakeholders across the spectrum of the exercise profession: students starting their careers in the exercise sciences, professors […]

Doing What We Mean to Do: Following Through with Fitness Goals

As February comes to a close, I have to ask — have you kept up with your fitness resolutions? We’re in the period where people tend to fall off, after all.  If you’re reading this, you’re probably not the kind of person who needs to make a New Years’ resolution to get in shape. But […]

Exercising Caution: The Dangers of Cold Temperatures

In the new year, fitness pros often see their facilities and schedules inundated with people looking to make a change. In the right conditions, and under proper supervision, a resolutioner really can shift the direction of their life. But under the wrong conditions, inexperienced (and even experienced) exercisers, athletes and recreational enthusiasts can get into […]

GSSI Pre-Conference

The Physiology of Hydration: More Than Water Alone

This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts. 

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  • Session 1: Sweating the detail: New insights on hydration considerations for athlete performance
    • Lewis James, PhD, Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University
  • Session 2: Functional ingredients in fluid replacement beverages for athletes
    • Lindsay Baker, PhD, Director at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
  • Session 3: The hydration toolkit: Practical approaches to athlete support
    • Floris Wardenaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University