Johnson Fitness & Wellness Blog
Articles
Wellness
Barre Workouts You Can Do At Home: Part I
One of the hottest trends in fitness right now is a fresh take on an old classic … barre workouts. Offered by boutique studios around the country, these workouts emphasize precision and the development of long, lean muscle by building on the techniques of yoga, pilates, and dance. Using a few simple props and the […]
Coaching
Three Treadmill Workouts to Improve Speed
I’m transitioning my running to the treadmill this season and wondered how I can work on my speed. Do you have any tips or a workout you would recommend? Thanks, Amy Kudos to you. The treadmill is an effective and safe way to continue your running workouts as the weather shifts to the winter. It […]
Motivation
Harness Psychology To Beat Motivational Struggles
Do you find that you’re super motivated to exercise and eat well for a few days, only to have your motivation fizzle out once reality sets in? That’s because willpower is a limited resource. The key to staying motivated for the long-term is to build healthy habits and systems that force you to stay on […]
Coaching
How to Improve Your Running with Elliptical Training
She couldn’t believe her eyes when she crossed the finish line nearly five and a half minutes faster than she’d ever run a 10K race. Her season started like it always did with a challenge from her running buddies to race in her town’s fall 10K. This year she wanted to focus on two goals, […]
Coaching
What is Runner’s High and How Do I Experience It?
Question: I’m training for my first half marathon and I’m surprised at this point that I haven’t felt “runner’s high.” What does it take to get to that point where you can run forever? Answer: All good things in fitness are earned, but just because you haven’t felt your runner’s high, doesn’t mean you can’t […]
Elliptical Workouts
How to Recover from an Injury and Maintain Fitness Using the Elliptical
When aches and pains cross our path, it’s easy to think our fitness will be lost as we heal, but in many cases, we can maintain and recover efficiently by employing a new paradigm of training called active recovery. Healing from knee pain. Take Emily, for example. She was training for her first half marathon […]
Coaching
8 Hot Fitness Trends That Are New This Fall
Let’s face it, the summer months can be brutal when it comes to your fitness routine! Not only do you have the constant temptations of picnics, vacations, festivals, etc., but throw in some good, hot steamy weather and you have a recipe for disaster when it comes to added weight and lack of motivation. But […]
Nutrition
Big Time Recovery Boosters
For the best workout foods outside of your workout fueling and immediate recovery window, you need to maximize micro-nutrients for overall health and long term muscle recovery, as well as include plenty of protein and produce to support muscle building and your immune system around the clock. Start working these powerhouses into your meal prep […]
Coaching
Start Doing Functional Fitness: What You Need to Know (Part I)
Whether you’re in love with functional fitness or admit it’s the sport you love to hate, you can’t deny its impact on today’s approach to physical training. Functional fitness provides constantly varied movements at a high intensity (this can be scaled for all levels) to ensure that by not specializing in one specific movement or […]
Coaching
Start Doing Functional Fitness: What You Need to Know (Part II)
Whether you’ve decided to participate in a local gym or make use of the extensive on-line Community, functional fitness provides powerful workouts to take your training to the next level. The style of workout is designed to push you to your limits, while remaining scalable for all levels of fitness. Assuming you’ve done your preparation through […]
Motivation
Use these Four Tricks to Power Through Tough Workouts
The mind is an effective tool when you know how unleash its power. This is especially important when you’re challenging yourself in a hard workout, or pushing in a race. Managing your mind is just as important as training your body, because the minute your thoughts go south, it affects everything from your how your […]
Motivation
What To Do After You've Run Your Race
You did it! You committed to run a race. You got up early and trained tenaciously. And you finished your race! Now what? It’s common to feel a little down after a race. I call it Post Race Syndrome, or an emotional condition that sets in after you finish reaching a goal. You spend weeks […]
Coaching
5 Reasons to Run Socially
Although running is an independent sport, when done in a social environment, whether with your buddy or a group, it can be highly beneficial. Here are five reasons to grab a buddy or join a group on your next run. Accountability Have you ever set your alarm for 5am with the best intentions of getting […]
Wellness
How To Stay Fit Into Your Seventh Decade And Beyond
More than any other age group, one size does not fit all when it comes to creating a training plan for older adults. While we can all give examples of phenomenal athletes who continue to compete into their seventh decade (and beyond), many of us are more concerned with continuing our daily activities and avoiding […]
Wellness
The Answer To A Mom's Question: How To Do Yoga With A Three-Year Old?
Question: I recently started taking a yoga class for active recovery and love how it makes me feel. I’d like to share yoga with my three year old daughter, but I don’t know where to start. Do you have any tips on practicing yoga with small children? Answer: I’m so glad to hear that you’re […]
Motivation
How Passport Player Transformed My Home Workouts
Product Review: Passport Player with Virtual Active Technology The interactive workouts of the future are today’s reality. Virtual Active technology provides the experience of exercising in a beautiful setting with a changing terrain that mimics selected workouts. The Passport Media Player by Horizon Fitness offers a convenient and responsive way to experience Virtual Active Technology […]
Coaching
4 Fun Elliptical Workouts to Give Your Joints a Break
The elliptical machine is one of my favorite modes for both my personal training and as well as my training clients. It’s like the little black dress – it goes with everything and it’s multi-functional. I’ve been using my Horizon Elite Elliptical this summer to train to climb Mt. Rainier. I use the Peak Interval […]
Coaching
6 Exercises To Strengthen Your Core
Your core muscles work to stabilize the spine and hips and include the abdomen, back, glutes and upper legs. A strong core is key to improving your mobility, balance, posture and strength. Most of us think crunches and other exercises done while lying in a supine position are best for increasing core strength. This is […]
Motivation
Am I A Real Runner?
How did you know when you had truly become a runner? I’m working on running but I’m wondering what it will take to feel like I am a real runner? ~ Tiffany The moment I became a runner in my mind was the moment I finished my first 5K. Up until that point, I felt […]
Coaching
The Real Differences Between Running on Roads, Trails and Treadmills
One of the greatest reasons running is a fabulous activity, is that you can do it in so many different places. You can take in nature on the trails, run a specific hill or speed workout on a treadmill or hit your neighborhood streets. But before you venture off, it’s important to know the differences […]