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Side Hustles to Help You Earn Money During the Coronavirus Shutdown

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workstation on table with computer notebook and coffee

The coronavirus pandemic continues to take a financial toll on households across the country. People everywhere are facing layoffs, decreased hours, and pay cuts due to restrictions and social distancing orders, and many are struggling to make ends meet as a result. While this situation is just temporary, it’s still very stressful.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans affected by these changes, consider starting a side hustle to earn some income while you search for your next full-time position. You might be surprised by all the ways you can profit from your existing skills and hobbies. Check out the following flexible gigs for ideas!

Online Freelancing

Whether you’re skilled at writing, marketing, web development, or social media engagement, freelancing can be a great way to make money from home. For example, digital marketing is huge right now, so if you’re needing to fill in a gap and that’s your bag, do some freelancing! Online marketing experts are one of many who can offer their services via job boards, which could lead to a permanent position, improved portfolio, and perhaps even your own full-time agency someday—or it could just get you by until you’re ready for the next role. There truly are freelancers for just about everything these days, from legal services to graphic design, so whatever your field is, consider exploring your freelancing options.

Dog Sitting

If you love animals, pet sitting is a fun way to earn some extra cash. Dog sitting in your own home through pet daycare or overnight boarding can be great for people working from home. Either way, you’ll enjoy having a furry friend around to keep you company if you find yourself sticking closer to home. Just make sure your home is prepared for this job. Get rid of toxic house plants, check for choking hazards, hide or cover power cords, and secure trash can lids.

Insurance

Have you ever considered plugging into the insurance industry? It’s a solid career choice, or it can be just something to get you by. There is something for everyone in the field, from analysis and computations for introverts to sales and outreach for extroverts. Make sure you connect with a reputable company that you’ll enjoy working with, though, and check out employee reviews through sites like Indeed or GlassDoor

Tutoring

According to Education Week, the coronavirus outbreak forced the closure of over 124,000 schools in the United States, impacting at least 55.1 million students. As a result, online tutors are in high demand. Tutors can teach a wide variety of subjects without any specific qualifications—all you need is a reliable internet connection and strong communication skills. If this is up your alley, connect with students on tutoring platforms and job boards, and don’t forget to advertise your services on social media.

Selling Stuff Online

The e-commerce world is another opportunity to make money from home. Whether you want to get crafty and create your own products or dropship items straight from the supplier, selling stuff online can be an exciting and rewarding venture. You could even sell stuff from around your home! Sort through your belongings and look for things you no longer want or use, then post these on marketplaces like eBay to find your buyers. Decluttering your home can also help you stay sane when you’re spending more time at home. 

Part-Time Jobs

COVID-19 has caused a huge demand for workers in certain industries. CNN reports that several grocery stores, pharmacies, take-out restaurants, and delivery companies are hiring new employees right now, so this can be an excellent opportunity for part-time work. While these jobs may not match the salary of your full-time position, they can help you pay the bills for now. Just make sure you stay safe out there! Wash your hands frequently, carry hand sanitizer, and practice social distancing. 

Whether you’re between jobs, need to take time off to watch the kids at home, or working reduced hours to care for someone who is sick, a side hustle can help you get by. Even if you’re one of the lucky few still working your full-time job, a side gig may be a good idea to help you build up that emergency fund during these uncertain times. One of these hustles might just turn into your new full-time career!

Announcing Profile Photo Gallery!

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Post Photos to Your Namafit Profile Gallery

We are proud to announce our latest feature, Profile Photo Gallery – aka, “Namagram” 😉 ! Now you can enhance your professional profile with your best and favorite photos. We listened to our users’ feedback and one of the most requested features was a photo gallery on user profiles. So… we have delivered. Try it out now. If you already have a Namafit profile, just go to namafit.com/profile to add your first gallery photo. Of course, you will have to login to be able to do that. For those who do not have a Namafit profile yet, just go to namafit.com/signup and fill out your professional information right away!

fitness instructor profile and image gallery

Adding photos to your profile is really important. Adding photos to your profile not only gives you and your profile page a more professional look, but more importantly, helps you highlight yourself and your work to potential employers. In our experience, profiles with images are up to five times more likely to be hired by businesses. It’s not a bad idea to update your profile pictures at the beginning of a new year. From a business and professional viewpoint, adding photos sends the message that you’re savvy with technology, and if you’re looking for employment, it can help give potential employers a more complete picture that you’re trying to convey of yourself.

We have made adding photos to your profile super easy. Just click the “Add Gallery Photo” button and select the image you want to add. Next, use the slider to zoom in or out on the photo. You can touch or click, and drag the photo into the display box to get the look just how you like it. Next click “Save” and do it again, and again and again!

And don’t forget that your profile website address is a professional permanent page link that you can share. Use it for your landing page, demo of your work or as a link from your certification profile like yogaalliance.com or nasm.

fitness professional profile page photo
drag image and resize using the slider
added image profile photo

The Business of Yoga Part 2: Embracing Authenticity

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When you teach anything, whether it be aerobics or physics, you possess the library of information that will be shared with your students.  It is data you have earned, as an instructor, that’s been passed on from your own teachers, and taught your way.  In your voice.  You physically, mentally, and emotionally, need to be there for your students, even if you’re filming your class for those at home. 

In fact, New York City yoga teacher and influencer Elena Brower (@elenabrower) remarks often in her posts how hesitant she was as she wondered how yoga would translate across a digital platform. Turns out she is increasingly grateful for the experience and how it deepened her teaching practice.  It allowed her to connect to her students in a whole new way, by staying grounded in her authenticity. 

We share what we do to and with the world.  Our accomplishments and expertise, our happy memories and our schedules.  Self-promotion, even in the spirit of celebration is paramount for anyone who has a social media account.  Otherwise, why have one, right?  Our lives are now so carefully curated we can feel more alone and isolated than ever.  So we must remember that we, and everyone else out there, is only going to show what makes them look the most together, happy, and dare I assume, authentic. In our waking life (away from the dream of alphanumeric realities) if we look inward instead of keeping up with the digital Joneses, we will cease to scrutinize our own lives and accomplishments.  Instead the practice is and always will be expressing gratitude for the here and now.  Someone inspirational said that gratitude turns everything you have into enough, and more.  Your presence, fully and completely, is enough.

We can agree that anything online is not necessarily indicative of real life, even though we may want to believe it is an extension of it.  But is a false light of life.  The word ‘media’ is even in the description of this world that lives in our phones.  Yet, some bright-eyed hopeful, post-millennial trendsetters definitely (probably) believe it is the gateway to creating their own brand, or ‘empire’ as it’s cheekily called.  When did followers equate to fans instead of people you just knew in life?  And what about these emperors made labels and advertisers begin to drool at the prospect of people advertising a way of life to sell stuff we don’t need in a society where hoarding is a disease? 

yoga instructor in a park

What do the people who want to influence really want?  To be at the top of their own pyramid in their chosen field.  And, if we’re being honest with ourselves, a part of us must listen, if only to ask why, and see our own shadows of success reflected in their contoured faces.  After all, most of them are the product of a technological boom that saw every toddler with a camera in their face before a book, or even another human being. 

But whether we use social media to promote ourselves as yoga educators, we must remember our motivation for becoming teachers in the first place.  We may receive ‘likes’ or increased attendance in our classes, or validation on our shared thought processes that contain the seedlings of other business ideas, (and the occasional discount on some cute but overpriced yoga pants) but there is one thing we are also striving for, that the shadow of the false yoga mogul’s dig out of us.  It is the desire that we must have in common with the truly joyful educators with a meaningful message, if we are committed to sharing a message that is meaningful to us: authenticity.  For in that word is the legitimacy so many crave, the proof that the path is a true one.

The idea is pretty ironic, though, considering social media, as I’ve said, is a digitally curated identity arranged, in Freudian terms, by your own ego.  We are taught every time the word ego is mentioned, that it is fear talking—the projection of the desired self-image onto anyone who clicks “follow” on any page you have.  In the ego’s ideal scenario, when we think we have transcended more earthly wants what we are really giving into is a codependency sparked by the joy of being led, of relinquishing responsibility for our own lives.  Next time you are shy about sharing your world and your thoughts, or your yoga/spiritual journey, or have been wasting the evening ‘investigating’ fellow instructors, consider it an interesting exercise in self-observation.  You can even explore online platforms to increase your chances of teaching remotely, or through videos.  You’ll learn YouTube, at the very least.   So it’s nice to have a plan to springboard off your friends and following while you experiment.

And just post it.  As you watch yourself grow, you’ll be able to see the teacher you are becoming, as well as the teacher you want to be. 

Being a yoga teacher can afford an individual a life slightly off the beaten path, no matter how corporate the environment they teach in is.  That is part of the joy of the profession–the connection, the sharing of accumulated knowledge, and the constantly percolating business savvy that lies in each of us.  Part of the reason many instructors get into teaching yoga is because there are so many opportunities to bounce around and teach a multitude of people all the cool and hopefully healing stuff we’ve learned in training. 

campfire in the dark

Exposure, in this case, becomes an ally to authenticity. And, no I do not mean taking scantily clad photos of yourself doing yoga in a bikini on a glamorous beach and hoping your high school crush sees it.  However, giving your students a way to connect with you and your lifestyle, if that indeed is something you want to share, is a way to share aspects of your authentic self, even the insecure bits, and create buzz about your teaching style.  This makes it easier for your students to see you as a human being, and that will, many times, bring them back to your class.  I’ve also found making announcements to remind them about your ideas and the various places and spaces you teach in to be incredibly important to connecting to the people you see every week.  Or once in a while. 

The practice of yoga attracts every walk of life for countless reasons.  With that comes all kinds of teachers, each with a singular flavor.  Some want to make yoga accessible to everyone and focus on the adaptability and recovery in poses and sequences, while others incorporate classical tradition into their practice with mantras, chanting, and meditation. There are the soothers and the sweaters, the kundalini warriors and kinesthetic yoga therapists.  Some have yearly retreats in Bali and others teach from a spare room in their own homes.  Some are former ballerinas.  Others are aspiring attorneys. All have a profound effect on the students that come into their space, with any luck, imparting new insight and awareness of the body and mind, and at the very least, sometimes, a pretty decent workout.  And it all begins with you, the teacher, and the energy you bring, on and off line, which can spread the authenticity movement across the globe, one yogi at a time.

Whether you are a new teacher or an experienced teacher, there is a likelihood that you will want to seek new teaching opportunities from time to time. Namafit is the perfect tool for finding teaching opportunities near you. You can learn more about what Namafit has to offer and how to get started here

Business of Yoga Part I: Intentions for Success

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The definition of success has many forms.  In order to approach our teaching career as a business, the first thing on our to-do list would be to define what success looks like.  Chances are, it will line up with what also brings joy, which also equates to getting paid for what we love.  More important than that, however, is the intention for becoming a teacher outside the realms of financial security.  

When you think of success, what does your world look like? What is your goal? For some educators, it is the ultimate picture of that private studio in a big city, while others may want to travel all over the world and document their teaching journey from exotic locations.  But we all start somewhere, and it can take time to discover what it is we truly want to achieve.

cathedral gates

 In the beginning, teaching can feel difficult in startling ways.  The stakes of achieving perfection right out of the gate are heightened and the desire to serve can, at times, be eclipsed by the desire to be liked by our students.  If teaching is your passion, or if you are just getting your instructor feet wet, any practice teaching is valuable hours earned. Whether we are teaching ten or one hundred people, each student who comes to class is sharing the singular dynamism they brought with them.  It is the students, first and foremost, who can assuage and even transform the energy of how you teach.

Below are some reminders when embarking on your journey.  Finding your motivation to serve, connect, and dive into the sensational world of teaching yoga takes a personal bravery.  Understanding your own parameters of success relates to finding your signature intention: 

  1. Have a message: When we approach our teaching engagements and trials with an attitude of excitement and mystery, we are apt to grow into astute and intuitive individuals, and thus, better teachers.  So take into account your own beliefs and knowledge about the branch of yoga you are exploring that week or the various meanings of a mantra. Prioritize your learning and practice above all else. When we begin to identify what draws us to the work that we do, our message will become clearer and clearer.  All the steps that brought you where you are today should be honored, even celebrated. It is your foundation, and you are helping to create that for your students. If you are interested in what you’re teaching, your students will be too.
  2. Observe the vibe: Ultimately, we are observing bodies as they move in space, and making sure no one hurts themselves during our careful sequence.  It is a journey of endless recording and insight. Each class serves as a reminder of how well we can explain what we want to see our students achieving, physically and mentally. If a sequence proves to be too challenging for the student body before you, then soften it while drawing from the same overall intention.  What are you trying to accomplish here with this sequence? How can it be modified? How we approach these unplanned hiccups reveals the hidden intention, because you are asked to put whatever plans you had for the class aside and surrender to the moment in order to make it the best class for all.  
  3. Know your worth: We all want to believe that the gift of teaching is enough. The way we revere our teachers that came before us, we think it should be.  There is a common misconception that the ego (that deems money as a necessity and gets anxious when it believes there isn’t enough to go around) should be silenced or transcended instead of integrated.  We all have expenses, not even including our own continuing education adventures. There are many types of pay scales, from students paying as they go, which makes you, the teacher an independent contractor, to having a membership at a gym.  Where you teach and how much you charge for private lessons informs how much money you make per class. Do your research. 
  4. Make the rounds: It takes practice to figure out what type of teacher you want to be, and how to hone your own style.  Western yoga-culture has definitely evolved, especially in the last ten years or so.  Depending on where you live and practice, the number of teachers getting certified can outweigh the classes and studios there is to fill them.  And if you are looking to make a living teaching yoga, where do you begin?  Knocking on gym doors and dropping off resumes is certainly a start, and many are willing to give a fresh instructor a chance to teach a class that always draws in students. This can feel overwhelming at first, as it is different than teaching in a studio. Fear not. Teaching in a gym also allows you to lead a large group, modify sequences often, and find your voice as an instructor.  Apply everywhere close by.
  5. Tune In: While you practice your own private meditation, try to imagine your version of paradise, where there are no obstacles to your dreams.  Notice your surroundings, the sights and smells, anything vivid you can paint with your imagination. Envision yourself rising after a long sleep.  What are you most excited about today? What is it you care about most and want to share with others? That is your gift, your way to serve. Use this intention, which is deeply personal, yet can apply universally because it represents an act of service and can be brought into any teaching environment.  Use your consciousness for good, as they say.
  6. Focus: All that choose this path of teaching, however regulated, either feed into or shatter the stereotypes of what we think of when we picture a yoga teacher.  Our ego loves to compare and measure. We come in all shapes and sizes, have studied in different schools and with teachers that range from the prestigious (whatever that means) to the virtually unknown, (but unforgettable).  When we practice, we remember those classes that affected us most, and I’ll bet you that it wasn’t at a giant festival with some famous yogi/DJ combo, however cool the balancing sequence was. So connect to the feeling signatures of remarkable practices you’ve had.  Flip through your memory. They won’t be hard to find. This may serve as a reminder of why you were drawn to teaching in the first place, and your appreciation for your own practice, which does not fit into a box but it shaped entirely by you, to mold as you please.
  7. Gratitude: Perhaps the greatest perk of the job is that being a yoga teacher allows you to deepen your own practice by guiding others. Think about it.  You get to spend a lot of time in intentionally stress free zones, hyper focused on your intention for the class and how they are listening, choreographing breath to movement, while at the same time heightening a sense of community, togetherness.  And when we give of our knowledge and energy—our time, unique experiences, and tips we’ve picked up along the way–we also receive something from our students. Their energy, focus, and attention. Give thanks. Without them, you’re just practicing alone.

What is most important to you on your teaching journey? It may be the students you get to meet and guide, the opportunity to learn mystic chants in archaic languages, or it could be the physiological deep strengthening of your breath and muscles to age gracefully and inspire others to do the same. Every teacher has their own exciting and, at times, thought-provoking career path that has as many challenges as it does rewards. 

pink lotus flower in a garden

Body Positivity in the Fitness Industry: An Interview with Carly Compton

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I’m ecstatic to share an in-depth and personal interview with someone I deeply look up to and have had the pleasure to work with. As co-facilitators at Project HEAL’s Communities of Healing program, she constantly inspires me to love and respect my body each and every day, and reminds me what it means to practice true self love and self-compassion.
Carly Compton is a model, fitness trainer, mentor, and coach, and I can’t wait for you to get up close and personal with her in this interview. She will explain the how and why behind her wellness company Paradise Fitness with Carly and how she practices body positivity within the fitness industry.
CARLY COMPTON model
Carly Compton from Paradise Fitness with Carly

ALI: What inspired you to start your own fitness brand?

CARLY: Despite being a multi-sport athlete and actively participating in things like yoga and hiking while growing up, I always hated my body. I struggled every single day to love my body and accept it for what it was even though it had always supported me and pushed me through difficult games, practices, drills, and other physical activities. Looking back, I believe the lack of representation I saw of my body type in popular media and especially in fitness played a huge role in fostering my insecurity, as did the diet and fitness industries that prey on your insecurities and always promise versions of a “better” you.

Throughout middle school and high school, I attempted every single diet and workout program, but none of them “worked” as I had wanted; my body wasn’t changing, and I was frustrated. My junior year of high school, I had a friend who was losing a lot of weight and getting a lot of attention for her “improved” looks. After asking what she was doing to get such visible results, I found out it was not because she had suddenly acquired a newfound passion for health and fitness but, rather, because she was bulimic. I immediately realized that I could do the same thing! I could lose weight and still eat in front of friends and family without them having any suspicion. 

After five long years of battling bulimia, I was constantly tired, my body was malnourished, I was over-exercising, my throat constantly hurt, and I was just tired of lying. I realized I could just no longer live that lifestyle and, instead of succumbing to societal expectations that were only negatively impacting my physical and mental health, I instead needed to fight the cause of my insecurities head-on. In my attempt to lose weight in order to become “more healthy,” I was actually the unhealthiest I had ever been. Throughout my recovery and afterward, I knew that I wanted to continue to exercise and properly fuel my body, but I also knew that I somehow had to do so without focusing on weight loss.

However, I did not know of any workout programs or nutrition guides that didn’t somehow have weight loss as an explicit or primary goal. I didn’t know of any trainers that weren’t going to ask me how much I weighed, how much weight I wanted to lose, and how quickly I wanted to do it. So, instead of relying on these toxic workout and nutrition plans that were counter to my actual goals, I created Paradise Fitness with Carly, an at-home workout and lifestyle program that helps individuals develop a HEALTHY relationship with food and exercise. Since recovering and changing my mindset toward physical activity and eating, my relationship with myself has never been better. I finally feel like I can truly be me.

CARLY COMPTON stretching

“Looking back, I believe the lack of representation I saw of my body type in popular media and especially in fitness played a huge role in fostering my insecurity…”

ALI: What is the mission behind Paradise Fitness with Carly?

CARLY: Paradise Fitness with Carly is, at its simplest, a lifestyle and way of thinking; it is everything I believe in and everything I hope to change about the fitness industry and its role in shaping society. The first thing that came about through Paradise Fitness with Carly was PFWC: At-Home Transformation, an at-home workout and lifestyle program that helps individuals develop a healthy relationship with food and exercise, but–most importantly–by starting with THEMSELVES. It takes the focus away from weight loss and shifts it toward strength, confidence, and self-love. The program consists of at-home high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that don’t require weights or equipment. This was VERY intentional. I wanted to create something that was convenient, low-stress, low-cost, and great for all levels. My mission behind PFWC: At-Home Transformation is to allow individuals to take back control of their lives, move their bodies how and when they want to, fuel their bodies without complete restriction, and work everyday on strengthening that self-love muscle. Recently, I’ve started the PFWC Podcast to talk about similar topics like this with like-minded people.

ALI: What is the hardest part of being a body positivity advocate within the fitness industry?

CARLY: Many people believe I am promoting an “unhealthy” lifestyle by promoting body positivity. This could not be further from the truth. Body positivity to me is accepting every person’s body for what it is. It is about representing minorities in size and color, acceptance and de-stigmatizing of fat bodies, desexualizing black and brown bodies, and eschewing the gender binary, among other things. These ideas that form the backbone of the body positive movement are directly translatable to the fitness industry. Healthy looks different on every body; there is not just one specific body type that represents healthy. Most of the fitness industry unfortunately relies on the complete opposite of this idea, that there is a singular “type” or societal standard that we should all strive to look like. My hope is to change that idea.

ALI: How do you see body positivity portrayed in the fitness industry – online and in-person?

CARLY: Body positivity in the fitness industry is about loving and accepting every body no matter one’s shape, size, color, and ethnicity, as well their own respective athletic ability. It is about showing that people can move their bodies and do amazing things no matter their abilities. For me, it’s so important to remind individuals that their body type shouldn’t stop them from doing what they love. The toxic sides of the fitness industry and society at large should not stop them from moving their bodies in whatever way makes them happy.

CARLY COMPTON by a basketball court
“When people look at me, they don’t see what they expect a “typical” healthy lifestyle coach to look like. They see my bigger body and just assume I’m “unhealthy,” which is an incorrect correlation we have been fed by the diet and fitness industry.”

ALI: What obstacles have you come up against within the fitness industry related to your body?

CARLY: I have been fat shamed by so many people. When people look at me, they don’t see what they expect a “typical” healthy lifestyle coach to look like. They see my bigger body and just assume I’m “unhealthy,” which is an incorrect correlation we have been fed by the diet and fitness industry. It can be hard at times because I sometimes let the bully inside my head tell me that I don’t have the right to help people live a healthy life. I have days when the comments get to me, and I think “You’re right! Maybe I shouldn’t be a healthy lifestyle coach because I don’t have the ‘look.’” But then I simply ask myself, “What does a healthy lifestyle coach look like and why?” This always helps me snap out of any negative thoughts. There is not a specific look or body shape you must have in order to have a positive influence and help individuals take back control of their lives.

ALI: How do you stay aligned to your mission of body positivity as a fitness trainer?

CARLY: I always think back to the “junior in high school Carly”, the girl who hated her body because she did not see her shape and size represented. I think about how strong my body was and how active and successful it helped me become even though I had convinced myself it wasn’t good enough. These are feelings I have since overcome and that I am trying to help others avoid. I believe that as long as you move your body, fuel your body, talk positively to yourself, and give up comparing your body to others, you will do AMAZING things. When you treat your body with love and respect, it treats you back.

CARLY COMPTON in the desert
“Do what you LOVE.”

ALI: What advice would you give other women about their own journey with fitness and body positivity?

CARLY: Do what you LOVE. Find a form of exercise that brings you excitement and happiness. Stop looking at what everyone else is doing, stop falling for the fad diets and workout programs, and start doing what makes you happy, whether that is running, yoga, walking, rock climbing, etc. Do it for YOU! The same goes for food. Fuel your body and recognize when your body feels good and not so good. But, at the same time, take days to enjoy the foods you love. Life is all about balance; EMBRACE that balance! Lastly, embrace YOU. You are beautiful, strong, and capable already–it’s just about believing it within yourself.

CARLY COMPTON modeling at the beach
Website: Paradise Fitness with Carly
Instagram: @paradisefitnesswithcarly

What to Look For in a Gym or Personal Trainer

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It’s never a bad time to commit to a healthier lifestyle that combines diet and exercise with mental and spiritual well being to achieve your best self.  Always consult with a doctor before starting any fitness program.

As you get started down your path to fitness, you will no doubt have many questions about every aspect of your journey. It will be a process that you take one step at a time. Our goal for today is to learn what to look for in a gym or personal trainer.

We are going to help you figure out what kind of gym you need.

If you are thinking about going to the gym and getting fit, it is common to wonder what gym is the best one to join. Some gyms are small and only offer the basics, while others better resemble a fitness center where every possible activity has its own space. 

We are going to help you choose a personal trainer.

Some gyms will offer a personal trainer as part of their membership package, or for an additional fee. If you are looking for a trainer to help you achieve your goals, this could be the right solution for you. Otherwise, you will need to seek out and select a trainer and develop a schedule that works for both of you.

Here are several things that you will want to look for in a gym and a trainer.

Location

One of the biggest concerns you will face when choosing a gym and personal trainer is its location. There may be several gyms in a city or large community, but only one or two within driving distance if you live in a rural area or small town. Transportation can also be a problem if you don’t drive. Weather is also a concern if you live in a location that receives excessive snowfall every year.

Your trainer’s location will also be vital if the gym does not offer training. Long-distance between you and the trainer can complicate early morning or late night meetings and weather will also be a more significant factor.

Availability

You will need your gym and your personal trainer to be available when you are, or at the very least, be available at times that work for you. If you don’t like working out in the morning, don’t get a trainer that trains in the morning. If you can only work out at 3 am, you will need a gym that’s open twenty-four hours a day.

Trying to fit your workout into a time frame that does not suit you will waste everyone’s time and your money. You will grow frustrated at your inability to wake up or your rushed workouts, and it will be counterproductive to your fitness goals.

You need to determine how often and at what times you can work out and find a gym and a trainer that operate during those times.

Cost

Cost is going to be one of the most significant determining factors when choosing a gym or a trainer. A fair price is going to be influenced by everything we talk about, as well as your gut-feeling. 

You can try out most gyms a few times for free or by paying a try out fee, but most will want you to sign up for a monthly membership pretty quickly. Some gyms will give more significant discounts corresponding to the length of your commitment.

Sometimes the size of the gym can influence the cost. For example, a gym with a swimming pool might be more expensive than a gym without one. If you need or will make use of a pool, you might justify the cost increase. Otherwise, paying for a pool is wasted money. Many gyms have package deals that include or don’t include the pool and other extras. 

Personal trainers are much more costly than gym memberships, and they can charge by the quarter, half, or full hour. Sessions are usually once a week, but they can be every other week, or once a month depending on your budget and fitness goals.  Someone in need of rehabilitation might meet a trainer several times a week.

Reputation

Reputation is always important to consider when choosing a gym or a trainer.  You certainly want a gym that has a reputation for being well managed with clean, well-maintained equipment. Your trainer needs to have a reputation for getting results. 

Specialties or Perks

Going to the gym can open up more possibilities than just bench presses and squats. Many gyms offer Aerobics, Zumba, Boxing, Yoga, Swimming, Racquetball, and Tennis as well as many other specialty classes that you might find interesting. 

These specialty classes can be instrumental in helping you achieve your goals.  If you enjoy participating in them, you will stay motivated to keep returning and working out.

Your personal trainer’s specialty is going to be very important. A physical therapist is not going to be the best option if you want to body build or train for boxing. You need a trainer that specializes in helping others achieve the goals you would like to reach, whether it be weight loss, muscle gain, etc.

Trainer Specific

We’ve pretty much covered what you need to look for in a gym, but there are still a few things you need to look for in a personal trainer.

Credentials

Credentials mainly in the form of certifications can be an essential determining factor, especially if the cost is high. There are four widely recognized certifications and hundreds of others. The main four are as follows.

  • National Academy of Sports Medicine – NASM
  • American Council on Exercise – ACE
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association – NACA
  • American College of Sports Medicine – ACSM

If your trainer has other certifications, we recommend checking to see what receiving that certification entails. Some certifications only require an afternoon while others require a college degree.

Experience

The more experience a trainer has, the more likely they have seen someone like you before and will be able to help you. Someone terrible at their job usually doesn’t stay in business very long.

Personality 

For many people, this is a crucial factor. You cannot reach your goals if you cannot get along with your trainer. Your trainer will need to push you to your limits and keep you motivated while remaining receptive to your needs and goals.

Summary

Hopefully, after reading this over, you will have a good idea of what you need. Remember, training is only a small part of the fitness equation with your diet being the main ingredient. Your mental state and motivation level is also an essential factor. Never follow any plans blindly, always do your research to be sure your heading toward your goals.  

Balancing Poses: Beginner to Advanced Modifications

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Yoga helps you find your balance. In the most obvious sense, you gain control of your daily movements as a direct result of practicing “asana” (postures). It becomes easier to put on your shoes, to catch yourself when you trip, or to hike up a mountain trail. If you are a diligent yoga practitioner, you will become more graceful over the course of years, and be less likely to injure yourself. Simply the act of daily attempting the postures trains the body, creating muscle memory that kicks in throughout all areas of life, not just on the yoga mat. Indeed, many seniors have found that a regular yoga practice allows them to maintain high levels of activity well into retirement, when bone density may become an issue, and falls carry an increased risk of serious injury. Even a beginning yogi can modify balancing postures, with the assistance of chairs, blocks, or the wall. Starting with a modified version and working your way up to the traditional posture can help ease the way towards developing the confidence to progress in your practice. Here are a few balancing postures to try, with various modifications. 

Tree Pose: The traditional posture has the raised foot resting on the thigh, hands above the head. But the raised foot can also be lower, toes resting on the ground, and the sole of the foot on the ankle. Work your way up as you gain confidence in your balance. The second foot placement is between the ankle and knee. The heel should be underneath the knee, toes pointing straight down, just above the ankle. Once you’ve mastered that, move the foot up to the thigh. Be sure to maintain proper foot alignment, keeping the foot pointing straight down and fully above the knee. Avoid pushing on the knee joint with the raised foot, as that can cause injury. If your balance seems a bit wobbly, float your fingers against a wall or on the back of a chair. For an extra challenge, try prayer hands behind your back. 

  • side plank leg up

Thread the needle with leg raise: Raising the leg during thread the needle is both a balance challenge and a core strengthener. The raised leg is opposite the shoulder resting on the ground. Lift the leg on an inhale, pushing through the heel and flexing the toes. Drop the elbow down to stabilize yourself if you become shaky. 

Chair pose: Traditional chair pose keeps both feet on the ground. Practicing chair with one leg up, ankle resting on the opposite knee, will train you to be able to lift one leg at a time and balance easily on the other. Sink your hips low, keeping hands together at heart center. Try to rest your forearms on the raised leg. Keeping your gaze low on the ground in front of you, and focussing on a single point, will help you remain stable. To increase the challenge, try to grab your standing ankle with both hands. 

Chair pose, airplane variation: Begin with traditional chair pose; hands are up in the air, knees bent, hips set back. Take a deep breath in, and on an exhale sweep your hands back and up while lowering your chest down to your knees. Try to lift your heels off the ground – this can be a large movement, coming on to your toes with the heels elevated a few inches, or a slight movement with just the heels lifting less than an inch. As you breathe in again, return to chair pose. Repeat 3-5 times, always going with your breath.

Crow pose: Although many beginning yogis see this pose as unattainable, it really is much easier than it first appears. Successfully achieving crow pose is more about finding your fulcrum, the balancing point where your knees are resting on your elbows, than it is about arm strength. Yes, you do need arm strength. But you need not be a weight lifter with giant muscles to find your way into this pose. The key is bringing your gaze low, between 12 and 18 inches in front of you on the ground. Elbows point straight back towards the short end of the mat. Open your knees out wide, tucking the elbows directly under the knee. Slowly and carefully, begin to shift your weight onto your elbows. Once you find the fulcrum where your weight begins to pull you down in front, shift back. Practice rocking back and forth on the fulcrum with your toes resting gently on the ground. If you feel confident enough to come up onto your toes, try lifting one foot at a time ever so slightly, and then trading back and forth. Having a block underneath your forehead can alleviate the fear of falling. If practicing at home, surrounding yourself with pillows can help as well. For an extra challenge, cross your ankles before coming into the pose. Try to go back and forth, crossing and uncrossing and switching which foot is on top. See how many times you can switch, and then try to beat yourself the next time!

Side plank: Traditional side plank is quite a challenging pose. But there many variations of this pose that allow a beginner to confidently progress, eventually achieving the most difficult version. To begin, keep the lower knee down on the mat, with the foot perpendicular to the body, off the mat. Intermediate students can stagger the feet, with both knees off the ground. This gives a wider base on which to balance. Finally, stack the feet, keeping both knees elevated. If wrist pain and weakness is an issue, try side plank with the forearm down. Weight is distributed over a larger area, alleviating pressure on the wrist. For an extra challenge, try to lift the upper leg. Begin by floating it just a few inches above the lower leg, and then try to progress into lifting it higher and higher.

While trying these poses, remember that yoga is a “practice” and life is the real thing. Everything you learn on the mat can be taken applied to situations outside of the studio. In a physical sense, increasing your ability to balance on the mat will increase your confidence as you move through life, and decrease the chances of injury. But in some ways, the physical effects of yoga are only secondary to the psychological effects. While we are training the body to balance, our minds receive benefits as well. We learn to balance the monotonous demands of our daily lives with the pursuit of happiness, and the temptation of immediate pleasures with the satisfaction of holding out for something better down the road. In some ways, all of life is one great balancing act, between giving energy to others as parents, friends, or employees, and taking needed time to ourselves for relaxation and self care. The balance of self care is so important because if you fail to care for yourself, you lose the ability to care for others as well. So take some time today to work on your balance – physical, emotional, and psychological. Find the sweet spot between pushing yourself to go further, and patiently allowing time for growth without injury. Close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and look for the balance between relaxation and productivity. Most importantly, find a balance between what you bring to your mat, what you leave behind, and what you take home.

5 Simple Tricks for a Killer Group Fitness Playlist

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Are you new to group fitness instruction? Or are you a seasoned veteran? No matter how many years of group fitness training you’ve done, you’re going to want to read this.

As trainers, there are so many things we have to think about before class… preparing the room with equipment, the layout of the class, the intensity level, and of course, remembering all the key instructions. Your playlist should be something that you can throw on and know it will get your audience in the zone.

  1. Know your audience.

What audience will you be training? Teens, young adults, or older individuals? What type of music do you imagine they listen to in their cars? This is the most important factor to address when beginning your playlist curation. If there is a mix of ages and demographics, try to stick to songs you can imagine a variety of people would enjoy.

Ex. If I was making a playlist for middle aged and young adults in Los Angeles, I would make sure to include some current hit songs and classic songs that I know all ages would enjoy.

2. Keep it fresh and CLEAN.

No matter the age, no matter the demographic, it is always considered disrespectful (and sometimes against company policy) to play songs with offensive words. Whatever you do, try to screen the music beforehand to make sure it’s appropriate. The last thing you want to do is offend someone, as it could be their first (and possible last) class with you!

Ex. If I was making a playlist for teens who I know enjoy hip-hop and rap music, I would search for ‘Clean Rap Music’ on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you create playlists. Tip: there are lots of pre-made ‘Clean’ Playlists on Spotify, all you have to do is search for them in the search bar.

3. Understand the ebb & flow of class.

Although this can differ slightly if you’re teaching yoga or a bootcamp, there is a universal, natural flow of class including warm-up, main portion of work consisting of some high intensity and some low intensity, and eventually a cool down. Try to create your playlist using BPM (beats per minute) to gently increase and decrease music intensity during these portions of class.

  • Warm-up and cool down: Use songs with 80-115 BPM
  • Low intensity or mat work: Use songs with 115-140 BPM
  • HIIT portion of class: Use songs with 140-175 BPM

You can check how many BPM your song has using this BPM counter.

4. Song change = time check!

You’ve taken all this time to pick your songs to naturally match the energy and intensity of class, so why not use the music to help you! This is one of my favorite tricks as a group trainer. If you create your routine based on the playlist, you can match the specific sections of your workout to different songs.

Ex. I allotted two songs to my warm-up routine. Once those songs are over, I know I have to move on to the next portion of class. The third song has a higher BPM and that signals me to get the class moving to the core section.

5. Follow other instructors’ playlists.

Learn from your fellow trainers! We are all each other’s best teachers. Try going to a new group fitness class and observe their style. You will not only learn from another instructor’s cues and routine, but exposing yourself to new music that you might not personally listen to will help in your new playlist discoveries.

Ex. If I train at a group class and I enjoyed the playlist, I make a point to introduce myself to the instructor and ask to follow their playlist. Don’t be shy… who doesn’t love a compliment?

No matter where you are in your group training journey, I hope this helps you feel empowered to create some new killer playlists that you and your clients will love.

How To Use Social Media as a Fitness Professional

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One thing that many people in the fitness industry need to focus on is really creating their own brand and personality that separates them from all the other fitness professionals in the industry. This really starts with creating a presence where your future clients are, and that’s online. I have worked with some small businesses and have been working on building my own brand as a yoga instructor and here are some tips and tricks I found from both my education in Public Relations and just going through all the trial and error of trying to build my own presence online.

  • The biggest thing is CONTENT: All other workshops and groups will stress this day in and day out! Content and giving your audience something they can use will not only show how credible you are as a source, but also give future clients an insight to how you work as a professional.
    • It’s OK to repost! If you follow someone with similar content feel free to repost that content, be sure to provide the source! This will generate people to your site or platform where you have like minded content.
    • Speak to your specific audience! If you have a specific population your are looking to access – talk to them! That’s what social media is about! Use words like Ladies! Guys! Fellow Grads! Etc. to show who your audience is and access them on a more intimate level.
  • Consistency/Frequency: When thinking about content make a calendar and be specific about your posting schedule: For example, I use for posting that every other day I am using quotes to emphasize my blog topic or podcast topic to keep reinforcing my audience to go back to the podcast or blog post to drive people to continue to view my site and maybe collect people I may have missed on the weekend! This also gives some uniformity to my sites because visually there are positive messages between images of yoga poses, nutrition, etc.
    • More on the posting schedule: You do NOT need to post every day! (woah, did I just say that?) There are a lot of analytics out there that say even 1x a day (depending on the platform is enough) Your audience doesn’t need to know the 3 meals and 2 workouts you did each and every day, nor do they really want to! If one day you are focusing on nutrition, post one great meal and give a recipe! If it’s a leg workout, maybe doing a quick video with modifications and going live to show key portions of your workout will be enough to show quality content without just force feeding. No one likes the person who lives on their social media and shows everything!
    • The key to a great platform is trying to be consistent – your followers will know you for your content and know what to expect each day and will look forward to those nuggets of wisdom only you can offer!
    • Personal tip: I set on my to do list a posting schedule and try to set alarms catered to the schedule based on when I know my followers will be on. I do this without using an organized platform like Hootsuite, but you can definitely look into these automated posting websites that will help relieve some of the hassle of trying to make your posts on a deadline!
  • Make your profiles “business” profiles: this mostly is catered to Instagram, but this allows you to look up analytics to see who you are accessing, how many people you are accessing, and even location. These insights allow you to really hone in to who you are reaching out and maybe seeing what areas you need to focus on.
    • age group: try to keep content within the age group of your niche and do some look as to what content that age group wants.
    • location: use the location tab and incorporate location of your business to get people looking at local businesses to find you!
Screenshot of my insights from Instagram
  • Hashtags: USE them! You are allowed to use 30 hashtags per post, I recommend using them as a comment after the post so it’s not in the forefront of what your audience sees, but use them to drag people to your content.
    • I personally like: All Hashtag they generate for you the top 30 hashtags based on the word you use and you are able to just copy paste into a comment! You’re also able to see analytics as to how well certain hashtags are doing if you want to get super techy with your marketing!
  • Know how your audience functions and when they are looking for you!: Look up peak times that people view certain posts on social media. Also what platforms are they on?
    • Don’t waste your time!: This is the time to really find your audience and post during those times where you know people are searching for that content. Typically this is around lunch or after work in the evening. If you are posting at 6 am and there’s no one watching, what good will that do? Here’s a great review of times for social media on SocialSprout!
    • Pick a/a few platforms: you don’t need to be on ALL the platforms, and all the time! If you know your audience research where to bring your focus on. Also have a feel for different types of platforms. If your jam is on Facebook and creating Facebook content focus on that and maybe start to play with another social media platform that is more evident for your age group.
      • 22+ : Facebook still highly ranked with Instagram coming in close second. If you have a high visual content you may want to play with both but bring your focus to Insta. Pinterest is also emphasized for clients over 50 because it allows them for more searchable content.
      • <22: Snapchat is growing and Facebook users are steadily declining. Recommend access through more visual social media platforms due to need for high quality visual content with this age group.
      • Source: Business Insider
  • Be SOCIAL: Don’t just respond with emojis, actually respond to people, reach out to similar profiles and businesses and connect.
    • Follow like businesses and profiles: When I mentioned this to a small business there was a lot of hesitation, and I get it, why would you like and share content so similar to you, wouldn’t people go shop or take their business there? There is power in creating a network of like-minded business people. You support each other! Sharing each other’s content creates a broader outreach which means more clients to all! It also gives you insights as to what is working within your niche or field and what is not. This helps you for content creation as well!
    • My personal rule of thumb: as you are scrolling through content, which we all do almost every min of the day, like but also comment on one post (be sincere and add more than an emoji!). Who knows, you may spark a convo which brings people to your profile for more?!
  • Set a call to action!: People want to be involved with social media, so why not involve them? Ask them what areas they want to focus on when it comes to working out, ask what your peak yoga pose should be in the class. Ask questions and engage with people will also allow you to show your personality and get people to trust and want to work with you.
    • Personal Tip: I try once every two weeks to incorporate those yoga students who follow me in their classes by asking which peak pose they want. I put the question as either a choice between 2 or 4 different poses. Or, I will ask between two areas of focus (i.e hip openers vs inversions). This allows you to create a personal relationship with your audience and when they see you in class it shows you are actively listening and engaging with them. It’s a nice special touch.

I hope these tips help! Use these steps to get started on making a more uniformed and professional looking profile that will allow you to grow your personal business/fitness personality!

Linking your social media to your Namafit page is a great way to stand out!

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When you create a Namafit account, you get a professional profile page with a unique URL address that you can use to promote yourself! Take charge of the level or privacy you want, and add your instagram, twitter, facebook and website links to your profile to get more exposure, more SEO love, and showcase your dedication. Stand out to employers and the industry!

Instructors, trainers, teachers, professionals aren’t the only ones who can add social links to your page. BUSINESSES can too! Go to https://namafit.com/business/edit to add your social links to your business page and get more exposure for the business you work hard to make successful.

Link your social media to your professional Namafit page
Linking your social media to Namafit is a great way to stand out

If you have a Namafit account already go to http://namafit.com/profile/edit to add your social links to your page.

If you haven’t created your professional profile page yet, you should! Just go to https://namafit.com/signup – it only take a few minutes and will open up new opportunities for you in this industry!

You can also confirm and adjust your account privacy by going to https://namafit.com/settings

Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world…and happy job hunting