PHYSICAL LITERACY
Physical literacy is confidence and competence in movement and physical activity. But what kind of movement and physical activity, you may be wondering? The answer is any and all. To become physically literate, one should do the same. Always be open to trying a new activity, scaled to your ability level, as it enhances your ability to continue learning skills and improving/maintaining motor function throughout your life.
SMART GOALS: HOW TO BUILD YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY
In order to make a plan for a fitness journey, we must know where we are going, for without a result to build towards, we are just wandering. With a final goal in mind, we can logically work backward from the end and establish our beginning. What steps do we take to get there, and how do we outline our path to our goal?
MINI WODS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
This time of year can be very difficult for most of us. We so badly want to enjoy the holidays, and we should. We deserve this time to rest and socialize without worry that all of our progress in the gym won’t disappear. I promise you, it won’t. Here are a few 15-20 minute WODs I like to do first thing in the morning when I am preparing to take a break from the gym and intentionally overeat (gasp).
PFP PHYSICAL LITERACY
Being physically active or participating in sports and recreational activities is considered to be “the norm” by many families. Parents that played sports in their youth or adulthood are likely to seek those experiences for their children to create similar formative experiences to what they went through. But what if you have yet to have a positive experience with sports or physical activity?
WARMUPS - DON’T SKIP THEM!
In recreation and in sports, warmups are often skipped or overlooked for being boring, taking up too much time, or feeling like a waste of time. A good warmup should be brief, fun, and targeted in order to get the best result out of yourself. If you’re not warming up, you could be leaving a lot on the table.
OUR PFP METHOD
What’s the PFP Method? PFP Method is our general group fitness class. The class itself is one hour long; the classes focus on both full body strength and cardiovascular conditioning. Could this be the method for you?!
MEET NEW COACH, ANDREW DUFF!
Meet our newest coach Andrew! Andrew has a Master’s of Sports Science at The University of Pittsburgh and has extensive experience with injury risk factors in military and athletic populations. Andrew loves working with people to help them achieve their goals and find their full potential. As a coach, he strives to create relationships and environments where success is inevitable.
RECOVERY YOGA
Whether it's processing a long day at work or losing a job, nurturing your muscles and tendons after a workout, or coping with incredible loss; yoga is a wonderful tool for anyone recovering from something in their lives.
PFP FIT-FEST
Fit-Fest is finally here! Here’s a rundown of all the health and fitness we have to offer this Saturday!
OUR NEWEST-ISH TRAINERS & COACHES
We’ve had some new trainer and coach faces at the gym over the course of the last few months, and we wanted to finally take a second to introduce you all to them via blog. Meet Nick, Haylie, and Joseph - we’re so excited for you to get to know, work with, and learn from their expertise!
SEVEN SUMMER TIPS FOR RUNNING RECOVERY
Summer is a great time to get out those racing shoes. But just like a training plan, runners should have a recovery plan too. If you often feel fatigued or soreness after training, build these seven summer running recovery tips into your routine.
GET OUTSIDE & MOVE: NON-WORKOUT EXERCISES FOR SUMMER
Summer is the perfect time to get outside and be active. Getting outside doesn't mean there needs to be a structured workout plan either, below you can find some ideas for activities to burn some calories and get some vitamin D.
MEET BRENNA, OUR NEWEST TRAINER!
Meet PFP’s newest trainer, Brenna! Brenna received her Bachelor of Science at the UW Oshkosh as well as completed her Master’s in exercise physiology at the University of Kentucky. Brenna has taught a range of group exercise classes and found her passion through exercise and fitness and loves the opportunity to work with others to find their love for it as well.
HOW TO STAY MENTALLY MOTIVATED
How to stay mentally motivated. Everyone is susceptible to falling off the motivation train. Staying mentally on task all the time is a nearly impossible task for almost anyone. Below are a few tips to help you through periods of checking out mentally. These tips can be applied to fitness or life in general.
EXERCISE FOR SELF-CARE
We often consider exercise as a way to improve our physical health. Many of us join a gym when we want to get stronger, faster, or to change our overall body condition. But did you know that regular exercise can also lift your mood, improve your sleep, and help you manage anxiety, depression, stress, and more?
WAYS TO WIN YOUR WORKOUT WHEN PROGRESS SLOWS DOWN
In order to continue to improve each season, let's focus on other qualities of our workouts in order to find daily “wins” & stay motivated.
WALKING, JOGGING, & SPRINTING: The Differences & How to Use Them in Your Training
The differences between walking, jogging, and sprinting are, in all reality, very minimal. They can mainly be chalked up to differences in speed. So how do you choose which is right for you? The best approach is to choose whichever method of movement allows you to exercise at a moderate intensity for the duration of a workout.
PROCESS DRIVEN FITNESS:
At Pittsburgh Fitness Project, we chose to focus on the process because it is the strategy that allows for the most long-term success while increasing our fun to success ratio. No matter what the outcome goal is, hitting the goal will not bring us happiness by itself. The magic of goal setting and the pursuit of goals are the lessons and experiences that come along with the pursuit.