Physical wellness a top priority for 2025
Even if you’ve resolved not to make any resolutions for this year, chances are good that you paused to reflect on potential improvements.
Chances are also good that those improvements included physical wellness.
Each year, polls show that more exercise, better eating and other healthy choices rank among habits people want to adopt, and often higher than spending more time with loved ones, improving finances and perfmorming better at work.
It makes sense: A healthy body is essential for accomplishing those goals and more.
To help, we've turned to alumni of NAIT’s Personal Fitness Trainer program, who offer these 12 pieces of easy-to-follow advice that will have you feeling your best throughout the year to come.
Learn more about NAIT’s Personal Fitness Trainer diploma, one of Alberta's most in-demand fitness programs
1. Set yourself up for measurable success
Setting real goals is a process that involves careful consideration, planning and measurement. Jarryd Reed (Personal Fitness Trainer ’21) explains how to do it.
2. Make the time
Whether it’s the job, kids, trying to find time for hobbies, or all of the above, you’ve got a lot going on. Is morning the time to make a committment to fitness work? Amy Eversley (class of ’10) shows how to be an early bird.
3. Don’t let winter stop you
Winter can be a physical and psychological barrier to achieving your exercise goals. From Falon Fleming (class of ’15), here’s how to overcome the cold.
4. Body weight is all it takes
If you have the opportunity to go to a gym that has all the latest gear, why not? If you don’t, fear not. Check out this full-body, equipment-free home workout from Brittany Uchach (class of ’05).
5. Sometimes online will do just fine
The pandemic showed us how much we can accomplish through video calls. Can the same apply to working out? Under the guidance of trainer Jarryd Reed, one techlifetoday writer discovered that it could. Check out his first-person account of a transformative two-month program.
6. Look for the right qualifications
It takes more than being fit or sporty to be a personal trainer. “I would say buyer beware,” says one fitness expert. Here’s her advice on finding someone who has the knowledge needed to tailor a plan that suits your goals and that will move you safely and steadily toward them.
7. Shift your focus away from weight
The conventional bathroom scale does not offer a complete picture of the composition of your body. That’s why it’s unlikely to be the right tool for measuring progress. Here, two NAIT alumni trainers explain why it’s important not to obsess about a number.
8. Stroll your way to wellness
Don’t discount the power of a brisk walk. It may be low-impact but it’s impactful in other ways. Check out instructor Dr. Kenneth Riess’s five tips on finding your stride with a walking program.
9. Train for a 5K
Ten weeks is all it takes to go from the couch to crushing a five-kilometre run. Here’s instructor Dr. Tim Just’s take on a standard, step-wise program designed to tackle a manageable distance.
10. Aim for an ultra
Why stop at a marathon when ultramarathon running is booming as an endurance sport? Perhaps the answer is obvious (i.e., it’s not easy). But the rewards include a unique self-knowledge thatcan be applied to better living in general. Running coach Conway Belcourt (class of ’21) explains.
11. Don’t let sitting bring you down
If you spend most of your day in a chair, your hips are likely aching for a break. To loosen up and prevent that soreness from affecting your posture and gait, consider these seven tips for healthier hips from Ruth MacGillivray (class of ’21).
12. Shed shoulder tension
Your shoulders see a lot of use, inviting strain even from everyday activities such as cooking and driving. If your response to that is a shrug that shouldn't hurt but does, MacGillvray has more tips for exercises that will help keep you pain-free.
Banner image by Bastian-Weltjen/istockphoto.com