

Exercise Is Health
Muscle Activation Schaumburg
At Muscle Activation Schaumburg, we believe your health is your most valuable asset. Join hosts Charlie and Julie Cates as they discuss how to utilize exercise to help improve and maintain your health, as well as interviews with health and wellness experts from various fields including chiropractic, accupuncture, psychology, nutrition, and functional medicine. Both Charlie and Julie are certified personal trainers and Muscle Activation Techniques® practitioners in Schaumburg, IL.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2026 • 18min
E423 - What To Expect When You Go From Symptom-Focused MAT To Strength-Focused MAT
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT) is one of the most effective ways to calm down muscle- and joint-related symptoms, but its power doesn't end there. Once your symptoms are addressed and you are feeling well, it is time to move to the next stage of MAT, and this is where things get taken to a whole new level. And, when you make that jump with MAT to level up your body, the progress from one session to the next can look different than when you were simply having symptoms addressed. While this progression catches a lot of people off guard, it is actually a really good sign from your body, and on this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into why this is and what is happening with your body at these new levels. If you have ever wondered if MAT is only useful for addressing symptoms, listen up! There is a whole world of possibilities that you get access to when you start to level up your MAT, and that's exactly what we are telling you about in this conversation. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Jan 28, 2026 • 15min
E422 - New MAT Updates We've Been Using
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com For over a decade we've been practicing MATRx–the highest level of Muscle Activation Techniques®–but two months ago that changed. For the last couple of months we have been practicing a brand new version of Muscle Activation Techniques®, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. The changes we have seen within our clients and ourselves during our sessions have left us truly amazed by this new process, and that is what we want to tell you about today. On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing all of the incredible things we have seen and experienced since implementing this new Muscle Activation Techniques® process. We lay out why this new process is so powerful and why the changes that have been made are so impactful when it comes to living a strong, pain-free life. If you have been hearing about some new Muscle Activation Techniques® processes that are being taught but aren't sure what they are all about, listen up! This conversation will shed light on exactly what you need to know. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Jan 21, 2026 • 21min
E421 - How To Navigate An Acute Muscle Flare Up
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com What do you do when your body flares up while living your life? Maybe you were shoveling snow and all of the sudden your back got tweaked. Or perhaps you were putting boxes up high on a shelf and all of a sudden your shoulder started to hurt. Or maybe walking down your stairs and your knee muscles felt like they were going to give out. Whatever flare up happens, having a plan of action to get your body back on course is critical to make sure you are able to continue living your life. So, what is your plan of action when these events happen? On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are laying out the exact plan of action we recommend to all of our clients when something comes up with their body. If you have ever had to spend weeks nursing your body back to health after something got flared up, listen up! What we share in this conversation can get you back to living your life to the fullest faster. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Jan 15, 2026 • 20min
E420 - How To Stay Safe While Lifting Heavy
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com Challenging your body is a non-negotiable if you want to build strength and get results with your workouts. Often, increasing the challenge means increasing the amount of weight you use when you strength train. However, many people are hesitant to increase their weights and lift heavier out of fear of injuring themselves. So, how can you actually lift as heavy as you need to in order to get the results you want while still staying safe during your workouts? On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are doing a deep dive on what needs to happen during your workouts to toe this line of "lift as heavy as you can while maintaining as low of a risk for injury as possible". If you know you need to start challenging yourself more during your workouts but aren't sure how to do so without hurting yourself, listen up! What we share in this conversation is must-know information. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Jan 7, 2026 • 17min
E419 - The One Thing To Prioritize With Your Workouts In 2026
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com What should you prioritize with your workouts to get the biggest bang for your buck this coming year? While there are many programs out there promoting the benefits of balance, mobility, and overall fitness, there is one aspect of exercise that needs to take precedence over them all. On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into what this one thing is, why it is so important, and how you can start implementing it into your week. If you know you want to exercise consistently over the next twelve months but aren't sure what you should focus on, listen up! This conversation will point you in the right direction. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Dec 31, 2025 • 14min
E418 - Our Biggest Takeaways From 2025
In 2025, the focus shifted to what truly enhances client strength and well-being. Discover why maintaining and building strength is crucial for recovery and daily movement. Embrace challenges with progressive overload, even if it shortens your range temporarily. A robust body better tolerates stress and reduces flare-ups. Combining Muscle Activation Techniques with systemic strength work enhances overall function. The conversation wraps up with three key takeaways: strength matters, stronger is better, and robustness improves resilience.

Dec 24, 2025 • 18min
E417 - Little Red Flags vs. Big Red Flags With Exercise
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com Your body is constantly talking to you when you workout, and how you interpret what it is saying will have a big impact on the results you get from your workouts. Oftentimes, when somebody's body tells them they don't like a specific exercise through aches or pains, that can be justification to not do the exercise, but this can be a huge mistake! Avoiding an exercise entirely because of an ache or pain can be a surefire way to limit your strength and mobility, so how do you make sure you are respecting what your body is saying while still helping it get stronger and more mobile? On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing a framework that we teach our clients to help determine whether what they are feeling means we need to stop an exercise or whether we can keep going forward. This "red flags" framework will help you navigate all the signals your body sends you when you workout to decide whether you are going in the right direction or you need to change course so you don't get injured. If you have ever felt frustrated because it seems like every exercise you do hurts so you just avoid them altogether, listen up! This conversation can change how you use that "hurting" information during your workouts to make better decisions for your body so you can keep getting stronger without injury. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Dec 17, 2025 • 18min
E416 - How Soon Can You Start Getting MAT After An Injury?
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com How long should you wait to start getting Muscle Activation Techniques® after an injury? This is a question that a lot of prospective clients have asked us through the years, and while you have heard us discuss MAT before, our answer to this question may surprise you. On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving right into this question to give you a very clear answer and show you exactly where we stand on the matter. We discuss considerations we take with every client before giving a firm recommendation, and what you should work through in your own mind before determining whether or not you are ready for MAT. If you know that MAT can help you heal up faster but aren't sure when it would be appropriate to start, listen up! What we talk about in this conversation will clear that up for you once and for all. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Dec 10, 2025 • 11min
E415 - A Simple Framework For A 20-Minute Workout
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com This time of year, schedules can be crazy and the opportunities to exercise can feel few and far between. So how can you make sure you make the most of each workout opportunity you have by not wasting time and focusing on exactly what you need to? Over the last six years, we have developed a framework to get a super effective strength training workout done in under 20 minutes, and we want to share it with you on this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast. Building off last week's conversation where we discussed what you need to do to make sure you get your workouts in when your schedule is crazy, we are going to lay out exactly how to structure your workouts for maximum impact in a tight time frame. If you have been unsure of exactly what to do during your workouts and find yourself spending more time making decisions about exercises than actually doing the exercises, you are going to want to write down what we are teaching you in this discussion. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates

Dec 3, 2025 • 15min
E414 - How To Get Your Workouts In When Your Schedule Is Crazy
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: https://www.matschaumburg.com When your schedule is crazy, working out can be the last thing on your mind. But even if you are booked full with commitments, that doesn't make exercising any less necessary if you want to feel healthy and strong. So how can you make sure you still get your workouts in even when your schedule is slammed? On this week's episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are giving you three steps to follow to do just that. With the holiday season in full swing, life can easily get in the way of staying consistent with your workouts. However, by adhering to what we talk about in this conversation, you easily get your workouts in no matter how crazy your schedule is. Check out all the details in this week's episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: http://vagaro.com/muscleactivationschaumburg/services Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: https://www.charliecates.com/programming Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to www.exerciseforlifestudios.com to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exercise-is-health/id1330420565 – Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6H1CneHjsPiPStrAeFTP25?si=X1IuXkp0T1KCv3gCtt3j5g Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, "The Exercise For Life Method"? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! www.exerciseforlifemethod.com Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: @muscleactivationschaumburg – Julie Cates: @julcates – Charlie Cates: @charliecates


