Now that you have learned a little bit about Michelle’s background, Michelle reveals why it is so important to share her love of fitness with others, how she helps people find their inner athlete and gives some great advice for someone just starting out a workout program.

What role does fitness play in your life & why is it so important for you to share it with others?
Fitness plays a huge role in my life. Fitness for many reasons, gave me the will to keep going when things got tough for me. Being fit and healthy makes you feel strong, confident and happy. I share my love for fitness with others because I feel so many of us do not live up to our full potential. Being fit translates across all areas of your life. Nothing gives me greater joy than seeing others experience transformations both physically and mentally. Viewing life from a renewed sense of vigor unveils so much for us to be grateful for.

What do you love most about teaching?
The shared energy exchange, group camaraderie (we are not in this alone) and the shear joy of movement.

What advice would you give someone just starting a workout program?
Take it one step at a time. Know that your body is capable of being in top physical shape but allow it time to transform one step at a time. The good news about exercise is it gets easier and more enjoyable with time.

You are known for helping people find their inner athlete – how do you do it?
I absolutely believe we ALL have athletic ability. Even if you didn’t experience athletics when you were young, there is always time to learn, grow and progress. Our bodies are capable of so much more than most people allow themselves to believe. I am lucky I get to experience this process with people every week. Seeing the joy and wow in their eyes as they do their first push up, or jump or lunge or bend with ease is one of the most rewarding things for me. When you accomplish a new athletic skiIl, it gives you a sense of “what else can I do” in life.

Women have many things to juggle in life – how can making time for workouts & maintaining a healthy lifestyle help?
I really be believe you have to MAKE time and schedule it in just like you schedule in other things in your life. Make fitness an appointment you just can’t miss. It is the best thing you can do for yourself. If you have the choice do it first thing in the morning before any part of your day can get in the way.

Internationally recognized fitness expert, award-winning athlete, creator of multiple top-selling DVDs, and owner of Breakthru Fitness in Pasadena Ca., Michelle Dozois has been helping people lose weight, get fit and lead healthier lives for over 15 years. Her contagious energy and unique, effective programming have helped her sell in excess of 4 million DVDs.

Michelle’s ability to appeal to a wide audience, from the beginner to the super fit, has made her an inspiring and motivating teacher for people of all levels of fitness. She was one of the stars of Jenny Craig’s Fit in 15 and has created easy to learn workout videos for both Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. Michelle is also the creator of the new PeakFit Challenge designed for experienced exercisers wanting to get ripped, lose fat and reach theirpeakfitness level. Michelle is also a regular contributor to numerous consumer magazines such as Fit, Shape, Fitness, and Natural Health.

Learn more about Michelle Dozois:

Denise Klatte walks us through the plank, step by step. The plank is a great exercise to stabilize your core, shoulders and back. It is also a great overall body exercise.

Now that you have learned about Denise’s background, Denise explains how her approach to health is different as a result of her unique expertise, tips on how to stay healthy while at work or working long hours and advice on how to start a fitness routine later in life.

You’re a physical therapist and a fitness instructor. How is your approach to health different as a result of your unique expertise?
My work experience allows me to work with people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities. Quite often, my PT and fitness programs and progressions overlap. And certainly both have an impact on the choices I make in my own life. Because most of my physical therapy patients are older, I often see the repercussions and benefits of the lifestyles that people have led, including choices of food, exercise, work responsibilities, body mechanics and postural alignment. This insight is infused into my teaching style, where I’m often seen as conservative and overly concerned with postural alignment, breathing and less aggressive progressions. However that doesn’t believe that a workout should be “easy”, for myself or others…just safe and effective for each person!

You work with companies to develop corporate wellness programs – how can women stay healthy while at work or working long hours?
It’s very important for individuals to infuse activity, proper posture and alignment and correct movement strategies while in their working environments. If a job requires prolonged sitting, I recommend taking intermittent walks, standing breaks and performing chair stretches to increase circulation, range of motion and changing one’s alignment. When sitting at a desk, ensure that your work environment supports correct postural alignment and the best possible organization of your environment to avoid unnecessary bending, lifting and rotation. Additionally, choose a chair that offers back support and allows your knees to remain over your ankles while your feet are on the floor. If your job requires prolonged standing and walking, ensure that your shoes offer good support and comfort. Take the time to stretch your ankles, hips and back, as well as standing tall with beautiful posture! Most of all drink plenty of water and remain hydrated!

What’s your advice for someone who wants to start a fitness routine later in life?
My advice is that it’s NEVER too late to start a fitness routine! Make it fun and make it personal! By this, I mean, choose a routine that you will enjoy doing and adjust the moves and exercises so that you feel simultaneously challenged and successful. There are many different fitness programs available, including ones that are dance based, use light weights, performed in a chair or require a trained professional to guide and instruct you. Additionally, start gradually and build up your endurance, strength, balance and mobility. There is no need to be exhausted or injured! My favorite saying is that “it’s better to finish and say ‘I could have done more… rather than saying ‘I over did it and now I’m paying for it”.

What do you tell your clients to keep them motivated?
I remind them of the benefits of including activity in their lives, including improved heart health, flexibility, decreased osteoporosis and improved ability to participate in all facets of life…for the rest of their life.

What is your favorite fitness routine/go-to workout when you’re short on time?
If my day is jam packed and I can’t get to my normal workout, I squeeze in 1-5 minute bursts of jogging in place throughout my day. This may sound crazy, but it increases my heart rate, boosts my metabolism, and certainly elevates my mood.

Denise Klatte received her degrees, BS Exercise Science and Masters Degree in Physical Therapy, from The University of Southern California and is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM). She has written and published fitness and health related articles, presented fitness workshops and lectures throughout the US and internationally, and has been a consultant for numerous Mind/Body and Fitness Video/DVD projects.

Denise is the co-creator of the flow- yoga Teacher Training Program and has been a Program Developer and Consultant for several fitness and wellness companies, including Nfiniti Sports, Oxygenfit, Mad Dogg Athletics and Bodyblade. She teaches fitness and mind/body classes and works one-on-one with Physical Therapy patients in the South Bay region of Los Angeles.

Learn more about Denise:

Now that you have learned a little bit about Alex’s background, Alex reveals some great exercises to do when you’re short on time, how he gets his clients to push harder and why he shares his love of fitness with others.

What role does fitness play in your life & why is it so important for you to share it with others?
Fitness is an important part of my life. But growing up it wasn’t called fitness, it was being a kid. We always played tag, hide and go seek, etc. Then it continued through organized sports, movement was becoming a lifestyle. It still carries on today whether I’m teaching class, taking class, taking dance, playing volleyball or rollerblading, movement is essential to a healthy life. It’s important to me to share because sometimes it’s just about discovery, it can be a serendipitous find that can change a person’s outlook. For example, I work with Upward Bound students as a fitness professional for the summer. Upward Bound helps to increase high school graduation and college enrollment rates for students with limited resources. First, the students had to choose to come to class, it was during their free time. By the end of the summer, not only were they performing skills that college and professional level athletes use, scholastically they were acing their final exams. Talk about growth when there’s belief!  So why do I pay it forward? Because “service to others is the rent you pay for living on this planet” Marian Wright Edelman.

What is your favorite part about teaching?
My favorite part about teaching is connecting with people and learning their stories. People come for the social aspect, an avenue to improve health, or out of habit. For example, one member was told by his doctor he had 6 – 8 months to live. Now, several years later, the doctors are astounded by his improvement in and commitment to health. A successful teacher is invested in the members, not just for the class, not for the day, sometimes a lifetime!

You do it all! Do you have a favorite fitness style?
(IF TAKING CLASS) Yes, I do have favorite fitness classes I like to take, it depends on my mood. I like to take a dance class and dance my heart out, getting lost in the music. Sometimes, I like to grunt and push through an intense boot camp class. Other times, I like to feel like a champion and punch and kick my way through a challenging kickboxing class.

(IF TEACHING CLASS) My favorite fitness style to teach is dance because there is no right or wrong, it’s about doing what feels natural for your body. We can all step touch, but the music will change how a person feels it. It’ll look different with Latin music vs. African vs. jazz vs. hip hop. That’s the beauty of movement, people can express themselves in similar ways but unique and individual in their interpretation.

How do you get your clients to push harder?
To get clients to push harder, I remind them of their progress. People tend to lose sight of how far they’ve come without remembering their starting point. In class, when it gets challenging, I always tell people, “You’re stronger than you were in January!” Then they say, “Oh yeah” and work hard to finish.

What are your favorite exercises to do when you’re short on time?
When I am short on time, my favorite exercises are bodyweight exercises because they can be done anywhere. My circuit alternates a cardio push and a strength exercise. It includes prisoner squat jumps, T pushups, burpees, side lunges with balance, mountain climbers and side planks with rotation.

This week we are featuring FitnessGlo instructor, Alex McLean. In the fitness industry for 15 years, Alex McLean is certified through AFAA and ACE as a group exercise instructor and AFAA, ACE and NASM as a personal trainer.He is completing the comprehensive Pilates certification in Mat, Reformer and Equipment through Balanced Body University. He completed specialty workshops such as Kettlebells, ViPR, TRX and Kinesis to complement his training. Alex presented master classes for various fitness companies such as Reebok, Ballys and the Evolution Fitness Conference and numerous national charities such as the Workout for Hope, American Heart Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A top 5 finalist in the Nike Rockstar Instructor Search, he is a master trainer for the Total Gym Gravity program and is currently working with Batuka to introduce its dance and fitness programming to the United States.

Learn more about Alex:

Ilyse Baker shares a sure-fire tip to get you up and moving when you just don’t feel like working out.

It’s the beginning of another great FitnessGlo Teacher Week and this week we are featuring Ilyse Baker. Ilyse is an acclaimed dancer, a respected choreographer and expert dance instructor. Her vivacious personality, easy-to-follow technique and resultant sweat-laden routines combine with a message of empowerment and spiritual uplift to transform the lives of everyone fortunate enough to experience her magic. Not only was she the 2008 winner of Exercise TV’s Top Trainer in the country for dance, but Ilyse was selected to be a Lululemon Ambassador, handpicked by Reebok and Cirque du Soleil to helm their latest workout Jukari-Fit to Fly; and she participated in the SHAPE Bikini Body Tour teaching Beach Body Dance Jam. She has presented at many conventions including AFEEX in Beijing, China. Ilyse co-starred in a dance video with ABC’s Dancing with the Stars champion, Cheryl Burke. She has also worked with NBC’s Biggest Losertrainer, Kim Lyons.

Learn more about Ilyse:

We are in the third week of our FitnessGlo Teacher Week series and this week we are featuring Jeffrey Scott. Jeffrey is an International Fitness Presenter, Schwinn Master Trainer, Reebok Master Trainer and an Area Group Fitness Manager for Equinox Fitness Clubs. With over 20 years of experience in the Health and Fitness industry Jeffrey has conducted training workshops in over 15 countries around the world and is recognized as a top fitness educator, instructor and personal trainer who is known for his creative choreography and motivational teaching.

Learn more about Jeffrey