Balance - Nielsen Fitness Premium Personal Training

Warrior Pose: Why We Love This Exercise

Warrior poses are a great way to elevate your endurance, mobility, stability, and focus. They’re among the most powerful tools for building functional strength and improving alignment, helping to create a grounded, stable foundation while opening the hips, strengthening the legs, and sharpening concentration. In this post, we’ll discuss the different versions of the warrior pose and how our in-home […]

Balance Functional Strength Healthy Living

Want to Improve Your Reflexes? Here’s How Exercise Can Help

Though our in-home and virtual personal training programs are often focused on strength and endurance, physical fitness impacts all areas of life. One area that people overlook is reflex speed: the ability to react quickly to sudden changes and movements. We’re not talking about somatic or autonomic reflexes here; those physical responses are “quick reactions your body makes without thinking […]

Balance Healthy Living Nutrition

What is the 80/20 Rule and Why Does it Work?

Balance is an important practice in many ways, especially in the world of exercise and nutrition. One popular approach to maintaining balance is found in the 80/20 rule: a simple but powerful method that helps you build a sustainable and healthy lifestyle without feeling deprived or burnt out. As experienced in-home and virtual personal trainers, we’ve found that understanding and […]

Balance Core Strength Fitness

Why we love downward dog

Whether you’re new to mobility work or have been practicing for years, the downward dog should be a regular part of your routine. “The downward dog pose—also known as downward-facing dog, down dog, or Adho Mukha Svanasana in Sanskrit—is perhaps one of the most recognizable in yoga practices. Although it’s often associated with flexibility, the benefits go far beyond that” (Well […]

Balance Core Strength Exercise

Leg Swings: Why We Love Them

If you’ve ever seen someone at the gym or in the park swinging their leg back and forth like a human pendulum, you’ve likely witnessed one of the most underrated warm-up exercises: leg swings. This simple, dynamic movement can play a powerful role in prepping your body for action and preventing injury. Whether you’re working with a virtual personal trainer […]

Balance Core Strength Exercise

Why We Love Side Planks

If you’re looking for a simple yet highly effective exercise to strengthen your core, improve stability, reduce lower back discomfort, and enhance overall fitness, then side planks are for you. Nielsen Fitness trainers use this staple movement in almost every client program – and for good reason. Read on to learn the benefits of the side plank, how to perform […]

Balance Core Strength Exercise

Your Guide to Proper Core Engagement

Core engagement is a fundamental aspect of fitness, heavily influencing your posture and movement efficiency. Whether you’re lifting weights, running, or simply sitting at a desk, a properly engaged core stabilizes your body while enhancing your daily performance. However, as in-home and virtual personal trainers, we know many people struggle to activate their core effectively. Read on to learn why […]

Balance Exercise Fitness

Multi-planar exercises: What, why & how

You’re likely familiar with staple exercises like squats, lunges, and push-ups — which are all great options for building strength. But here’s the thing: real life doesn’t happen in straight lines. Whether you’re reaching to grab something off a shelf, twisting to check your blind spot while driving, or chasing after kids or pets, you’re moving in all directions. That’s […]

Balance Exercise Fitness

Everything you need to know about quadriceps

Your quadriceps (quads) are one of your most powerful and essential muscle groups. “Whether you’re new to exercise or you’re a professional athlete, your quads are an important muscle group to pay attention to. Everything from getting out of a chair to walking or running requires these muscles to work” (Healthline, 2023). As in-home and virtual personal trainers, we help […]

Balance Core Strength Functional Strength

What you need to know about isometrics

While dynamic movements like squats, push-ups, and lunges often make up the bulk of exercise programming, isometric exercises can be a great tool for improving your endurance, posture, and stability. Isometrics involve holding a position or contracting your muscles without changing their length or moving a joint. Read on to learn a few of the benefits of isometric exercises, their […]