E9 – Core Work and Low Back Tightness – Q&A #2

This week on the Exercise Is Health podcast, Julie and Charlie are answering your questions about training your core and what to do about low back tightness.  To have your question answered during next month’s Q&A, send an email to info@matschaumburg.com with “Podcast Q&A” in the subject line. You can also message Team MAS on Instagram and Facebook! In this episode, Julie and Charlie reference the 5-Minute Mobility Check, which can be downloaded for free here. Read more

By Team MAS, ago

Injury Risk – Three things you can do to decrease this

When the topic of “how to decrease injury” is discussed, oftentimes ideas such as stretching, joint mobility, and core training come up.  While these are all fine and well, an idea this is often not thrown around is that of improving how well your muscles function.  However, improving this aspect of your health could be the missing link that you have been looking for to help you prevent injuries.

Before we talk about how improving muscle function could reduce your risk for injury, we have to answer a few other questions.  First, we need to identify what muscles actually do.  Second, we need to discuss how they do that thing they do.  Third, we need to talk about how doing that thing will actually help you reduce your risk for injury.  And finally, we need to leave you with some practical application steps of things you can do to start taking action now.

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By Charlie Cates, ago

E8 – The Importance of Gut Health with Nicole Moneer

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Exercise Is Health podcast.  This week, your hosts Julie and Charlie interview author, speaker, internationally-recognized fitness model, and mom, Nicole Moneer.  Nicole discusses her health journey from her childhood through to today – the health battles she faced as a child and young adult, how she learned how to heal herself through proper nutrition, the importance of gut health in everything she was experiencing, and the work she has Read more

By Team MAS, ago

The Most Commonly Skipped Form of Exercise

When you think of exercise, what is the first thought that comes to mind?  It may be a specific activity, such as running or lifting weights.  It may be a physical feeling, like fatigue, soreness, or strength.  It may be a goal, such as weight loss or completing a marathon.  It may be an emotion, such as excitement, happiness, or possibly dread.  But, when you think of exercise, is the first thing you think of “health”?  Likely not, and unfortunately this disconnect between exercise being an activity you do for the sake of the activity instead of something you do for your health is contributing to you skipping a vital form of exercise.

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By Charlie Cates, ago

E7 – MAT® vs. Personal Training – Similarities and Differences

This week on the Exercise Is Health podcast, Julie and Charlie discuss their two specialties at Muscle Activation Schaumburg – MAT® and personal training.  How are these two services the same?  How are they different?  When might one be appropriate versus the other? Why are both necessary for optimal health and performance?  Check out all of this and more during this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast. And make sure to subscribe to Read more

By Team MAS, ago

Navigating a new gym? Check out our tips.

Welcome back to this week’s edition of 2-Minute Tuesdays where we are talking about one exercise topic for two minutes and giving you three reasons why you should follow our advice.  Now this week, we are talking to those of you who are at a new gym.  How do you navigate the landscape and layout of a new gym?  How can you make sure you are able to still get a good workout in despite not being super familiar with your surroundings?


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By Team MAS, ago

Pro Athletes – What’s the biggest difference between them and you?

At Muscle Activation Schaumburg, we see a wide variety of clients for Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT®).  We see clients who are younger and older, clients who are more physically fit and those who are not, and clients who are highly athletic as well as those whose athleticism may be lacking.  But, despite this variety, there is a consistency that we see regarding the differences between our clients who are professional athletes and those who are not.

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By Charlie Cates, ago

E6 – Internal vs. External Exercise

This week on the Exercise Is Health podcast, Julie and Charlie discuss the idea of internal exercise and how it is different than external exercise.  One of the biggest problems with the fitness industry is the focus that is placed on the external – weight, reps, time, speed, looks, etc.  Julie and Charlie discuss the steps that need to be taken in order to switch the focus of your exercise from the external to the Read more

By Team MAS, ago