Everyone you meet has a story. I’ve learned that not all stories are happy ones. Some clients you meet may have a negative attitude towards themselves or life in general. Having several clients with the same attitude is emotionally draining. As a trainer it’s important to learn how to manage these clients. What’s equally as important is to learn how to overcome negativity in order to be an effective trainer.             Most of the clients I meet are convinced their story is the worst of the worst. They believe that their situation...

by Colin Milner Technology continues to transform the way we live and work What will it take to age well? This simple question has spawned industries around the world, as researchers, product developers and service providers all search for optimal solutions. There is a growing thirst within society, among young and old alike, not only to manage the challenges of poor health, but also to embrace the opportunities associated with aging well. The heartbeat of aging well? It might just be technology. Today’s technology offers us the ability to fill the gaps, to meet new expectations...

Reprinted from Fitness Business Canada March 2018 Health Systems Group (HSG) has been in the fitness, recreation and wellness business for 40 years. The development of our staff is crucial to our operations and has significantly evolved with changing times and trends. We discovered long ago that employees who are competent and on top of changing industry standards, help us hold a position as a leader in the fitness and recreation industry. It’s our people that make the difference! HSG has always been committed to the continuous improvement and growth of our staff. This commitment can be a time-consuming...

IHRSA’s Passport program is one of the association’s most popular member offerings. It gives IHRSA facilities a valuable added benefit they can offer their members—a way for them to remain physically active, and continue to pursue their fitness goals, whenever they travel, either for business or pleasure. The program allows members to purchase a discounted guest pass, and—just that easily—obtain access to any IHRSA club, worldwide, that participates in the Passport network. This year, for the first time, this benefit is being made available on mobile devices via a convenient, user-friendly,...

As we age, certain body functions slow down. Some changes are inevitable, such as grey hair, and possibly less of it. Our lungs lose capacity and even our brains lose volume. As our body fitness declines, must our brain fitness as well? There is no doubt that most over the age of 65 have more trouble with memory than in the past. That’s especially true for short-term memory. “Where did I leave my keys?” is the common question asked by many. But the more important question is “Do I know what to do with my keys once I find them?” These questions point out the difference between...

A new year often brings the onslaught of what I call “Resolutionists.” These are people who are keen to get started on a new healthy path. Often after a few months of enthusiasm they taper off and sink back in to their old habits. Why can’t people stick with it? Creating a habit takes time, practice and energy. It takes time, practice and energy to be unhealthy. This means old habits often creep back in. We have to use our time and energy to help our clients practice good habits. How can we encourage our clients to successful and realistic in order to create better habits? Be Realistic:...