ISSA Blog
News
The leader who grew ISSA from $10 million to nearly $80 million in revenue returns to help students turn passion into opportunity...
News
July 2026 fitness industry news: wearables, AI coaching, GLP-1 shifts, gym earnings, and what it means for trainers.
News
ISSA has launched fully revised Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach certifications in English and Spanish, built around scenario-based, coaching-first learning.
News
ISSA Releases 2026 Fitness Hiring Report, Revealing Structural “Readiness Gap” As the Greatest Challenge to Global Fitness Industry Growth Data from the...
News
Industry sources report approximately 80% of new personal trainers leave the profession within the first two years. Not because they can't train,...
News
With more than one billion women globally in menopause, one of the most significant and underserved phases of life is rapidly emerging...
News
24 Hour Fitness, a leader in the health and fitness industry for more than four decades, today announced an education partnership with...
News
ISSA and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) partner to help former NFL athletes and their families transition into fitness careers with ISSA...
News
ISSA’s new GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training course empowers fitness professionals to confidently guide clients using Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. Learn to...
News
Entrenador de Fuerza y Acondicionamiento: The first comprehensive Strength and Conditioning course in Spanish in the US
Training Tips
Overview The Nordic hamstring curl is a bodyweight eccentric exercise in which you kneel, anchor your ankles, and lower your torso toward...
Training Tips
Overview The endomorph is one of three somatotypes, or general body-type categories, often described as having a rounder build, a tendency to...
Training Tips
Overview Calf raises train the two main muscles of the lower leg: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. To develop both, program standing...
Training Tips
Overview The Bulgarian split squat is a single-leg lower-body exercise performed with the rear foot elevated on a bench or box. It...
Training Tips
Overview The cable fly is a chest isolation exercise that uses a cable machine to keep constant tension on the pectoral muscles...
Training Tips
Overview You can build stronger, more stable shoulders using only your body weight. The most effective no-equipment shoulder exercises are pike push-ups,...
Training Tips
Overview The barbell back squat is a foundational compound lift in which a loaded barbell rests across the upper back while you...
Training Tips
An evidence-based review of muscle hypertrophy for trainers: the mechanisms of growth, training variables, and what the research actually supports.
Training Tips
A practical, evidence-based guide to strength and conditioning for softball players: build rotational power, speed, and healthy shoulders.
Training Tips
Learn incline dumbbell press form, the muscles it works, the right bench angle, common mistakes, and smart programming for a fuller upper...
Nutrition
Overview GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide help people lose significant body weight, but a meaningful share of that loss...
Nutrition
ISSA Certified Personal Trainer Jenny Liebl explains why nutrition coaching is now essential to effective training. Drawing on 17+ years of experience,...
Nutrition
Learn how ISSA’s redesigned Nutrition Coach Certification goes beyond nutrition knowledge to teach behavior change, psychology, and coaching skills that help fitness,...
Nutrition
The topic of protein can be really confusing for your clients. This is especially true for women since most information available is...
Nutrition
The Functional Nutritional Alliance Functional Nutrition Guide to Fats and Oils explores fat and oil health benefits, top sources, and frequently asked...
Nutrition
Do you have what it takes to be a successful nutritionist? The best in the business are compassionate, organized, good communicators, and...
Nutrition
What will make you stand out as great nutrition coach? Check out our top 6 qualities of a successful nutrition coach. Then...
Nutrition
Nearly 1 million data points show what it REALLY takes to lose fat, get healthy, and change your body.
Nutrition
Charging too little for your nutrition expertise? Discover the exact pricing strategies top coaches use to earn what they're worth—without scaring away...
Nutrition
Nutrition is the most important part of regaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Explore the education options available to gain the education...
Strength
Most clients want to get better and stronger as they progress in their programming. Here are tips to improve your client’s bench...
Strength
Discover why strength training is essential at every stage of life. From boosting bone density and metabolism to preventing falls and chronic...
Strength
Strength training is an effective and sometimes overlooked way for runners to maximize performance. Get the details here to help your clients...
Strength
Over 40? Learn how to train smart, stay active, and build strength with age. Discover fitness tips for recovery, mobility, and muscle...
Strength
Rucking transforms a walk into a full-body workout that boosts strength, endurance, and mental toughness. Discover beginner tips, physical benefits, and how...
Strength
As a fitness professional, your approach to quadriceps training directly impacts both your clients' results and your professional reputation. Discover the science-backed...
Strength
Advanced knowledge of quadriceps development and function can transform your coaching career. Discover how specialized quad training expertise can help you attract,...
Strength
Strength and conditioning coaches are well respected worldwide. Through years of trial and error, science has proven strength and conditioning to be...
Strength
You want to be a strength and conditioning coach. Is certification required for this role? Learn why there’s not a clear-cut answer....
Strength
There are several benefits to becoming a bodybuilding coach. But what’s the best certification for this type of fitness coach? Here’s what...
Success Stories
Michael Daniels discovered fitness while serving eight years at FPC Morgantown, where workouts became a way to stay grounded and, eventually, a...
Success Stories
From injury and frustration to global impact, Pears Dabhi shares how earning his personal training certification through ISSA helped him rebuild his...
Success Stories
AI is changing fitness fast, but not in the way headlines suggest. ISSA’s new whitepaper, The Human Advantage: How AI Is Reshaping...
Success Stories
Fueled by a 14-year boxing career, Miles knew he needed to find the best coaching education certification available to start the next...
Success Stories
ISSA students share how meaningful support, clear instruction, and practical training shape their success. Their stories highlight what makes ISSA the trusted...
Success Stories
With ISSA’s Career Connect and certification programs, one determined student, Denny Reeder, turned rejection emails into a full-time role at 24 Hour...
Success Stories
After 120 lbs lost on semaglutide, Lewis used ISSA’s GLP-1 training to avoid weight regain, preserve muscle, and build sustainable fitness and...
Success Stories
At FPC Morgantown, ISSA and trainer Matt Billotti lead a groundbreaking CPT program helping inmates earn certifications, rebuild confidence, and re-enter society...
Success Stories
ISSA partners with UFAS and URJA Academy to elevate fitness certification in India and Sri Lanka, empowering 1,000+ future coaches with global...
Success Stories
From India to Canada, ISSA Master Trainer Sukhmani Samra uses fitness education to overcome health challenges, empower women, and build a global...
Safety and Injuries
Overview Gracilis muscle pain is discomfort along the long, thin inner-thigh muscle that runs from the pubic bone to the inside of...
Safety and Injuries
Overview Use ice for fresh, acute injuries when the goal is to calm pain in the first day or two, and use...
Safety and Injuries
Does your client have a pelvic tilt? It's more common than you might think!
Safety and Injuries
The physical environment of your fitness space significantly impacts client experience, particularly for those with trauma histories. Learn practical strategies to create...
Safety and Injuries
Understanding trauma's impact on exercise experience is becoming essential for fitness professionals. Learn the core principles of trauma-informed coaching to create safer,...
Safety and Injuries
Discover how becoming an Exercise Recovery Specialist can improve your client’s fitness. From injury prevention to maximizing performance. Explore all of the...
Safety and Injuries
Is it too hot to exercise? Heat and humidity are not just excuses to skip a workout. Exercising in the heat can...
Safety and Injuries
How do you know whether exercise therapy can help a client? The best way to decide is to follow the science. Here’s...
Safety and Injuries
Want to better help your personal training clients who are injured or have a chronic illness? You can do this as an...
Safety and Injuries
Never heard of an Exercise Therapy Specialist? Well, let's take a deeper look at who these people are, why they are so...
Business
Personal trainer certification renewal isn't just paperwork. It keeps your credentials active, and for most trainers, it's also what keeps your professional...
Business
Post-menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in fitness. Here is why the longevity economy is the smartest niche for coaches in 2026.
Business
The certifications that best prepare coaches to train female clients across their life stages, and what to look for when choosing.
Business
A side-by-side comparison of a general CPT and a women's health specialization to help you choose the right certification path.
Business
General personal training certifications skip the physiology of menopause. Here is what they miss and how to close the gap.
Business
A step-by-step blueprint for building a career in women's fitness in 2026, from foundational certification to nutrition and menopause specialization.
Business
Becoming a certified personal trainer is just the beginning. This ISSA perspective explains why liability insurance matters, what it covers, and how...
Business
Discover the latest personal trainer salary trends for 2025, including average pay, top states, high-paying sectors, and expert tips to boost your...
Business
ISSA-certified trainers can now accept HSA and FSA payments through Flex, making personal training, health coaching, and fitness services more affordable for...
Business
Renewing your personal training certification is important for your career, but do you know how to do it? We’ll help you understand...
Wellness
Overview You can lower cortisol naturally by improving the everyday inputs that regulate your stress response: consistent, sufficient sleep, a training load...
Wellness
Have you been thinking about Pilates as a career or side hustle? If you’re on the fence, here are ten good reasons...
Wellness
If you’re a health coach, getting national board certified can help advance your career. The NBHWC offers health coaches national credentials. Here’s...
Wellness
Transformation specialists can work in a variety of fields. Some even help promote behavioral changes in health and fitness. Here are several...
Wellness
It can be incredibly rewarding to work as a transformation specialist. Not familiar with this fitness role? Learn what a transformation specialist...
Wellness
There’s a type of meditation for everyone! Try these styles of meditation to find the best fit for you or your yoga...
Wellness
Learn how to use yoga to manage stress, relieve anxiety, and bring the body and mind into greater states of relaxation.
Wellness
Yoga has proven blood pressure benefits. Learn why, along with which styles and poses help best.
Wellness
Do you work with senior clients? If so, consider all the benefits of getting them started on a meditation practice. It’s easy,...
Wellness
You’re a certified health coach! Congratulations! Now, how do you get clients? Try these tips and strategies to get your business off...