Five Ways to Choose a Fitness Program Best for You
Posted: May 17, 2019
As person who has trained alongside hundreds of martial artists and fitness enthusiasts over my adult life, I have had the chance to see firsthand both successful and unsuccessful programs. The following is a list of criteria I would suggest you use as you evaluate and find a program that meets your needs and can deliver on your hopes and dreams.
Enthusiasm of the teachers: Many fitness enthusiasts are self-focused. A criterion they use to enroll you in their program is to talk about themselves. Not that they are bad people but their tendency is to serve their ego rather than serve their students. I love to see a teacher who gets excited about the progress of their students because she knows the importance of what it means to them. When you are trained by a person or a team that enthusiastically cheers you on and transfers that joy to you each and every time, it ensures that you stay inspired to continue to make progress.
Program Longevity and Results Produced: The quality of a program’s success should rest on the results the students have attained. Are the people in the program getting the results and has the teaching team been doing it long enough that they have the depth of experience to know how to work with all different populations? I have seen a lot of programs come and go like the changing of the tides. What is hot today is gone tomorrow. If you are in this for the lifestyle take careful consideration in choosing the program that is right for you.
Pick the right time to maximize your focus
Posted: May 17, 2019
Excerpt from Be Your Personal Best: Focus by Master Christopher Rappold
For me, my prime time for getting things done is in the morning before 11:30 a.m. At this time, my mind feels like it is on autopilot. After lunch I have trouble tying my shoes (not really, but what a huge difference!). I have a choice to make - I can go with what seems over a period of years to be my peak mental focus time or I can ignore it and attempt to stubbornly push through my down time.
Exercise does your mind good
Posted: May 17, 2019
Excerpt from Be Your Personal Best: Focus by Master Christopher Rappold
We have all heard the benefits of exercise: strengthens your muscles, builds your endurance, enhances flexibility and strengthens your heart. All sufficient reasons for investing a little bit of time in yourself each day. The benefits of exercise though reach far and wide beyond what it does for your physical body. There continues to be growing evidence that supports even modest amounts of exercise can relieve stress, help you get a better night’s rest improve your mood and cut stress.
The passion that created a career
Posted: May 17, 2019
It was passion that drew Personal Best Karate owner and instructor Tracy Rappold to her first job: her love of animals. It’s why she chose her job as a veterinarian technician – and she loved helping those animals in need. This medicine field brought her to become a cardiac research lab technician at Massachusetts General Hospital for 11 years.
Tracy follows her passion with nature and makes sure she feeds
her soul with outings in all kinds of weather, all with breathtaking views.
How the lessons on the mat brought a student to Chicago
Posted: May 17, 2019
Chris Bonarrigo now lives in Chicago
and works in the architecture field.