Man and woman outside in running gear stretching
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Sore From Your At-Home Workout? Try These Physical Therapist-Approved Stretches

While we are confined to our homes, we may find ourselves resorting to new forms of exercise as we develop a fitness routine outside the gym. Bodyweight workouts, running and yoga all come with their own sets of aches and pains, so we asked…
Man running outside in the sunshine
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Breaking Up Your Daily Fitness

As a technology and fitness professional, I have the pleasure of seeing two different worlds. On one end, I see the rapid rate of my Outlook inbox filling with email requests. On the other, I’m reading body language for proper form and signs…
Mature active female in sportswear doing side-bends while training by riverside in urban environment on summer morning
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Smart Aging: Three Quick Tests to Assess Your Strength and Flexibility

Are you "actively aging"? Try these three tests to assess your strength and flexibility and to determine a game plan for your mobility as you age.
Image of a woman using a rowing machine with a personal trainer.

Why I Work With a Personal Trainer

Every one of us has different motivations for hitting the gym. Whether we want to be in better shape, improve our health or optimize our strength and speed, there are many ways to go about reaching our goals. Some may choose to work out on their…
3 no-fail tips to getting back into a gym routine

3 No-Fail Tips to Get Back into Your Gym Routine

The seasons are changing and times of going for a quick run outside are coming to an end. Check out these tips for getting back into a gym routine!
Staying healthy while traveling

Strong Mind | Strong Body #4: Staying Healthy While Traveling

Staying healthy while traveling can be tough, but it's definitely doable! FFC Old Town's Sophia shares tips she's learned to make it easy.
Man stretching
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Sports Fitness Training: Ballistic Training & Plyometrics to Bridge the Gap Between the Gym & Court

Ever wanted to understand the difference between ballistic training and plyometrics? FFC West Loop master trainer Matt breaks them down.
Finding balance in fitness and life

Strong Mind | Strong Body #3: Finding Balance in Fitness, Work, School & Life

FFC Old Town's Sophia shares her experience finding balance and some tips for balancing that in fitness, work, school and all aspects of her life.
How to pick the best classes at the gym and set up a workout schedule

How to Choose the Best Classes at the Gym

Ever wondered how to pick the best workout classes at the gym? Wonder no more! FFC's Julia Baraglia shares tips & how to set up a schedule.
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Strong Mind | Strong Body #1: How I Discovered My Passion for Bodybuilding

Have you ever had that one ‘aha!’ moment that changed your life? For me, that ‘aha’ moment was back in August 2016, when I trained at the USA Gym in Bridgeview, IL. Prior to this, I was already a regular gym-goer, but I did not train…
How does KT Tape work and its benefits

How Does KT Tape Work & What Are Its Benefits?

If you are involved in fitness in any way, you’ve probably heard of KT tape. But how does KT tape work? What is it used for? KT tape was developed by chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase in Japan in the 1970s. The use and popularity of the tape has…
How to find motivation - even when things get tough

Strong Mind | Strong Body #2: How to Find Motivation Even When Things Get Tough

FFC Old Town membership representative Sophia shares her tips for how to find motivation, set goals and achieve them - even when things get tough.
What's in my gym bag? The handy gym essentials checklist - fitness resources Chicago

What’s in My Gym Bag? Gym Bag Essentials Checklist

FFC South Loop fitness specialist Matt Wallace answers the question, ‘what’s in my gym bag?’ and shares his list of top gym essentials to keep handy when you’re sure you’re forgetting something. Having the correct gear for any situation…
Fitness motivation videos: 5 essential fitness YouTube channels you should know

Fitness Motivation Videos: 5 Essential Fitness YouTube Channels

If you're like me, you may spend some nights deep in a YouTube rabbit hole, going from one topic to another until you've wasted hours you could've used to catch up on sleep. The amount of content out there can be hard to sift through, especially…
6 things your doctor doesn't tell you about your workout - fitness tips

6 Things Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You About Your Workout

I frequently come across people who have come to the gym seeking a healthier lifestyle. A number of people have been told by their doctor they need to start exercising or simply need to be exercising more. As easy as it may be to prescribe exercise,…
Why you need a resistance training specialist - fitness tips

Train the Source, Don’t Focus on the Effect of Exercise: Why You Need a Resistance Training Specialist

“Exercise can be described as a ‘tug of war’ around a bone or joint.” –Tom Purvis, RPT Interestingly, this is not a metaphor exclusively for exercise. It also represents the most fundamental struggle we encounter throughout life…
Bad weather workout tips for any time you want to get your fitness in

Bad Weather Workout: Fitness Tips For Any Time of Year

If you’re like me - from an area where it’s always sunny, never drops below 30 degrees and frost is the closest you’ll ever get to snow- then Chicago’s infinitely long winter and elusive spring has probably sucker punched you in the…
Man running on treadmill with headphones on listening to music

Get Better Fitness Results with Workout Music

A classically trained musician since age four, FFC member Kelly Richards can’t recall life without rhythm and melody. Throughout college and corporate life, music remained a focus as she kept close watch over the evolving scenes of favorite…
Benefits of exercise for aging populations

Invaluable Benefits of Exercise for Aging Populations

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to maintain a well-rounded diet and exercise program. Though a wellness-focused lifestyle has always been important, recent studies have shown the growing correlation between exercise and lower blood…
Benefits of adding weight in your fitness routine

8 Benefits of Using Weights In Your Fitness Routine

It’s Monday night (or Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday...) and you’re about to hit the hotel gym. What are your options? Well, you’ve got the treadmill or dumbbells. You don’t know what to do with dumbbells, so treadmill it is! Again.…