The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Struggling to turn dense textbook prep into real coaching skill? We open the door to a smarter path—one that helps you pass your CPT and step onto the floor with confidence. Ashley leads a clear, practical tour through the Overhead Squat Assessment, the must‑know overactive and underactive muscle pairs, and the exact high‑yield topics NASM loves to test. You’ll hear how to replace fear‑based posture rules with strong, simple cues that make clients feel capable and safe, and how the OPT model fits into real training without turning every session into rehab.We share the muscle map you need at test time and in the gym: mid to lower traps, glutes, VMO, TVA, and deep cervical flexors on the underactive side; lats, adductors, hip flexors, upper traps, and the gastroc‑soleus complex on the overactive side. Then we apply it to common compensations like knee valgus and arms falling forward so you can instantly connect what you see to what you program. You’ll get the exact OHS setup, the five checkpoints, and why shoes‑off, multiple views, and consistent reps matter for clean reads.Ashley also lays out a streamlined study system: flashcards that pair each muscle with its tendency, process‑of‑elimination test tactics, and acronym mastery like LPHC to dodge trick questions. We talk realistic use of SMR and the 4‑2‑1 tempo, when stabilization is useful, and where progressive overload leads the way. Beyond the exam, we cover building a referral team with a registered dietitian and physical therapist so you can stay within scope, deliver faster results, and create new income streams while serving clients better.Ready to pass with less stress and coach with more clarity? Grab the Show Up Fitness study guide, join the live calls or tutoring, and start stacking real reps. If this conversation helped, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—then tell us the next topic you want us to break down.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Want a steady stream of five-star reviews, real referrals, and a calendar that fills itself without paid ads? We unpack a simple, ethical system that trades meaningful value for timely action, guiding clients to leave reviews while they’re already engaged and excited. You’ll hear how to personalize outreach, make the incentive irresistible, and remove friction so testimonials flow consistently—organically boosting your Google and Yelp rankings for “personal trainer near me.”We walk through the full lifecycle: crafting offers that clients actually want, scheduling comp sessions tied to reviews, and turning that moment into a clear referral ask that doesn’t feel pushy. Then we layer in a light-touch nurture engine—weekly emails with nutrition tips, fiber and protein guidance, and real-world meal ideas—because most buyers convert after multiple touchpoints. The theme is simple: action beats perfection. Test now, get feedback, improve your scripts, and hit January with systems that already work.Programming gets equal time. If your gym runs 45-minute blocks, we show how to adapt the CCA framework without crushing your main lift. Learn to pair core patterns with complementary moves, protect rest for performance, and finish with a short, client-driven “fun” block that scratches the itch for sweat and novelty without sabotaging progress. We explain the psychology behind finishers, how to educate clients on rest and RPE, and how to stay creative inside real-world constraints so results stay front and center.Along the way, we invite you to tap into our community and hands-on seminars where we sharpen assessments, soft tissue work, programming, sales, and confidence. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a trainer friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps more coaches build sustainable, client-first careers.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!A 63-year-old pivoted careers and passed the NASM CPT by changing how he studied, not who he is. We open the playbook we used together: a clean path through the OPT model, phase-by-phase variables, and the corrective decisions that make both the test and client sessions click. If you’ve felt buried by jargon, this conversation pulls concepts into the light and connects them to simple choices you can make tomorrow.We start with stabilization and build to strength and power, linking tempos, rests, and intensities so you can see why each phase exists. Foam rolling shows up across the board, but stretching changes with the goal—static early, active-isolated through strength, dynamic in power. From there, we map common overactive muscles in the lower body to practical fixes: roll, stretch, then strengthen the underactive counterpart at a controlled tempo. You’ll hear quick wins like how to handle heels lifting in a squat, what to do when shoulders elevate on a row, and why scaption and TRX rows keep showing up on smart Phase One programs.Clarity around planes of motion, muscle roles, and scapular force couples pays off fast. We break down how to spot the sagittal, frontal, or transverse answer in seconds, and how agonists, antagonists, synergists, and stabilizers guide exercise selection. We also hit vital signs that matter—hypertension thresholds, tachycardia as a referral trigger, and the wrist’s radial pulse—as well as nutrition basics: carbohydrate ranges, saturated fat limits, protein’s thermic advantage, and the role of insulin, growth hormone, IGF-1, and cortisol.Most valuable might be the test strategy itself: read the stem slowly, find the keyword like underactive or best strengthen, choose the option that advances the model, and move on. Paul’s story proves it’s not about age or memorizing a manual—it’s about organizing knowledge that actually helps people. Ready to pass and start coaching with purpose? Subscribe, share this with a study partner, and leave a review telling us the NASM concept you want solved next.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Ever watched a dream job slip through your fingers because of nerves and tech chaos, then found a way to win it back? That’s the heart of our conversation with Ayanna, a determined trainer who went from CrossFit and PT settings to a full-time role at Lifetime Fitness—after a botched remote interview and a bold, make-good workout that changed everything.We dig into the difference between reading a cert and becoming a coach. Live, interactive learning built her confidence: anatomy that matters, programming that works on the floor, and real-time feedback from a community of trainers at clubs like Lifetime and Equinox. You’ll hear how case studies, avatars, and practical assignments created a loop of learn, apply, and refine that paid off when she faced a high-stakes practical. Instead of overcomplicating things, she stuck to assessments, clean progressions, and clear cues—proof that fundamentals beat flash.Once hired, the work shifted to member engagement. Ayanna shares how she walked the floor with purpose, offered quick wins without pressure, and used simple progressions to move people beyond stale routines. We compare the career math at different gyms, why Lifetime’s early support helps new trainers thrive, and how pricing confidence grows when clients invest in 12 to 36 sessions. We also outline a repeatable plan: mirror top performers’ activity, double your availability, script your first five minutes, and track client wins that turn into stories and referrals.If you’re trying to break into a top club or rebuild momentum after a setback, this episode gives you a blueprint: apologize fast, add value immediately, ask for specific feedback, and keep going until you get a firm no. Subscribe for more real-world tactics, share this with a trainer who needs a push, and leave a review to tell us the bold move you’ll make this week.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!From Rugby at Cal to Online SUF-CPT: Coach Caleb: caleb_tomasin You don’t need a massive following to build a real coaching business. You need fundamentals, live feedback, and the courage to ship imperfect work. We sit down with Caleb to unpack how hands-on experience at a performance gym evolved into a focused online strength and conditioning model, especially for rugby athletes, and why simple systems beat flashy tactics when the goal is results.We walk through what credible programming actually looks like: a warm-up that matters, strength blocks that pair main lifts with explosive work, accessories that build resilience, and conditioning that respects the sport using zone two and interval days off-feet. Caleb breaks down his onboarding process—from fit and expectations to payment, setup, and rapid delivery—then shows how he tracks sets, reps, RPE, rest, and progress in-app. On nutrition, we start with real life: photo food journals to spot patterns and easy swaps, then macros for those ready to weigh and measure, all designed for adherence over perfection.The business side echoes the training side: reps build confidence. Free value content grows trust and reach. A single communication channel, midweek check-ins, and Sunday reviews keep clients engaged without chaos. We talk mindset, too—avoiding comparison traps, embracing long timelines, and serving people just a couple steps behind you. If you’ve hesitated to coach online because the space feels loud, this conversation gives you a blueprint rooted in fundamentals, clarity, and action.If this resonates, follow Caleb on Instagram at @caleb_tomasin, then subscribe, share the show with a coach who needs it, and leave a quick review so more trainers can find these tools.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!The fastest way to raise your rates isn’t a new logo or a shiny app. It’s raising your standard. We sit down with Dr. David Skolnik, a physical therapist who teaches trainers, to unpack why the floor of fitness education is so low—and the exact skills that move you from “gig job” to trusted professional with a full roster.We start with movement assessment that actually maps to training. Instead of relying on narrow screens, we break down how to evaluate squat, hinge, lunge, push, pull, and locomotion in real time, under load, and with constraints that reveal what matters. Then we tackle pain without panic. Using a simple green–yellow–red framework, we show how to keep training productive during flare-ups, preserve capacity after surgery, and build client confidence by finding what can be trained today.The game-changer is collaboration with physical therapists. You’ll hear how to speak the same language, what quality PT care looks like on the floor, and how to lead with reciprocity to spark a steady referral loop. We share examples of co-treating that maintain aerobic fitness, train the non-injured side, and support faster returns to full strength. Along the way, we draw a clear line between coaches who coach and influencers who post, and why hands-on practice still beats shortcuts when you want consistent results.If you’re in Arizona, Dr. Skolnik outlines a new eight-week, in-person program in Mesa designed for working coaches who want to master assessment, pain navigation, and advanced programming. Prefer to start today? Audit your client assessments, define your pain rules, and book a coffee with a PT who loads patients on the floor.If this helped you see the path from $15 to $150 an hour, tap follow, share with a coach who needs it, and leave a quick review. Tell us: which skill will you upgrade first—assessment, pain coaching, or PT partnerships?Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Nicholas: Tik Tok Crag Monkey FitnessReady for a blunt look at what actually makes a great trainer? We sit down with Nicholas, a new coach who passed a major certification, stepped onto the gym floor, and realized the test didn’t prepare him to handle real clients with pain, limitations, and shifting goals. His turnaround came from mentorship, relentless anatomy study, and the discipline to plan, pivot, and communicate clearly—all before chasing trends or complicated gear.We walk through his path from music major to fitness coach, the early shock of seeing clients arrive injured from unstable programming, and the mindset shift from “gain experience” to “earn competence.” Nicholas breaks down how he studied the knee—ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL, supporting musculature—and used simple tools like a cable machine and a plyo box to design safe, effective sessions for a client who couldn’t stand comfortably. Along the way, we cover the sales psychology that keeps training human: framing questions that respect autonomy, building trust through clear plans, and measuring progress clients can feel in daily life.You’ll leave with a blueprint for faster growth: find a mentor, study one joint at a time, master regressions and progressions, choose a gym environment that lets you coach well, and skip the gimmicks. We share concrete strategies for retention, client assessment, and building your pipeline when you’re new and hungry. If you’ve ever wondered why a shiny badge doesn’t equal real-world skill—or how to bridge that gap with smart, ethical coaching—this conversation gives you the steps and the confidence to do it.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a coach who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more trainers find practical, no-fluff guidance.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!The pickleball surge isn’t just hype—it’s a business runway for trainers who know how to assess, prevent injury, and program with purpose. We dig into a practical system you can use today: start by hiring a top local pickleball coach, learn the game from the inside, and open a direct line to the exact clients who need you most. From there, we map out how to host simple prehab clinics at clubs, set up a referral structure that actually moves people, and demonstrate value fast with hands-on solutions for nagging pain.We go deep on what the sport demands and how to train for it. You’ll hear how to prioritize rotation, frontal plane stability, and single-leg control without wasting time on irrelevant screens. We break down energy systems for short, explosive points and show where conditioning fits. For common issues like lateral elbow pain, we explain effective soft tissue strategies, smart isometrics, and progressive loading so clients feel relief and keep progressing. You’ll learn how to package this knowledge into crisp, 60-minute sessions that build power, resilience, and confidence on the court.To make it concrete, we outline a full three-day framework for an intermediate player: lateral plyos with controlled landings, split-stance pressing and rowing, landmine anti-rotation, med ball throws and catches, goblet squats, carries, and mobility work like hip CARs and 90-90s. Every element ties back to the sport’s demands and the client’s goals. Pair these results with a clear referral offer—real cash for real sign-ups—and you’ll grow through trust, not trends.Ready to turn the pickleball boom into meaningful impact and steady clients? Follow, share with a coach who needs this, and leave a review with your biggest win or question from the episode.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Most trainers don’t fail for lack of passion; they fail because no one showed them how to turn knowledge into coached reps and coached reps into confident sales. We walk straight through the credential maze—C-tier certs like NASM/ACE/ISSA, nonprofit mainstays NSCA/ACSM, the CSCS and kinesiology degrees, and why applied internships and mentorships sit at the top when it comes to getting hired and keeping clients safe.We share the hard numbers managers see on the floor, the real reasons accreditation doesn’t equal readiness, and the practical skills that move the needle: assessments that drive programming, modifications for common injuries, communication that calms nerves, and simple, ethical closing frameworks that make pricing feel natural. You’ll hear how case-based learning (think: “Pickleball Pete” with lateral elbow pain) builds pattern recognition fast, why unsupervised “experience” can cement bad habits, and how structured supervision turns you into the coach clients trust with complex goals and limitations.If you’re sitting on a C-tier cert right now, we outline an honest path: pass quickly, get floor time, stack hands-on seminars, and document real outcomes. If you’re targeting elite clubs like Equinox or Lifetime, we show exactly what hiring managers look for—competence, composure, and a clear system for assessment and progression. Along the way, we unpack who actually owns the big cert brands, how marketing shapes perception, and why the best question isn’t “Is it accredited?” but “Will this help me coach a real human on Monday?”Ready to build a career, not just collect acronyms? Hit play, take notes, and then take action. Subscribe for more candid guidance, share this with a coach who needs momentum, and leave a review with the next skill you’re committed to mastering.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Pass any Textbook personal training certification with the SUF study guide.SUF has helped over 5,300 personal trainers get certified Most trainers are told to read more and “trust the process,” then left to sink in a sea of acronyms and 800-page manuals. We take a sharper route: pass your NASM, ACE, ISSA, NSCA, or ACSM quickly, then turn that momentum into hands‑on skill, confident coaching, and a book of business that lasts. Our goal is simple—make the exam make sense, and make your training career real.We walk through the essentials you’re most likely to see on the test—clinical red flags like hypertension and tachycardia, ACSM risk stratification, and the behavior change stages—then connect those terms to real assessments and training decisions. You’ll decode planes of motion, open vs closed chain, and the roles of agonists, synergists, and stabilizers on big lifts like squats, pull-ups, presses, and rows. We map NASM’s OPT phases and ACE’s IFT model to actual programming: stabilization setups, strength endurance supersets, hypertrophy ranges, maximal strength rest periods, and power pairings that develop force and speed without guesswork.We also dive into performance testing and bioenergetics so your intervals match the sport—ATP‑PC efforts with long recovery, glycolytic repeats with targeted rest, and steady oxidative work when it counts. On the nutrition side, we keep you in scope and exam‑ready: macros, calories per gram, fiber targets, and practical protein ranges from sedentary to strength and mass phases. Most importantly, we show how to move from textbook answers to client outcomes: clean assessments, simple cues that fix valgus without fear, workouts that hit stated goals on day one, and a clear, confident close that turns great coaching into paid sessions.If you’re done cramming and ready to perform, grab the study guide, pass in 30 days, and join us for hands‑on learning that builds real-world confidence. Subscribe, share this with a trainer who needs a win, and leave a review to help more coaches show up strong.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com