Featured Article: April 2012

FINDING THE RIGHT PERSONAL TRAINER

GET IN THE KNOW WITH THESE IMPORTANT IDEAS

AUTHOR:  LAURIE DICKSON (NPAA ALL-CANADIAN/IFPA PRO ATHLETE)

Perhaps you have had the opportunity or are entertaining the thought of hiring a personal trainer as one of your implementation tools on the road to your fitness objectives.  There are many variables to consider before attempting to integrate a trainer into your personal aspirations and goals.
Based on a study conducted at my local gym, I found that the most important common denominator between client and trainer was the coaching capabilities the trainer exhibits.  A vested interest in his\her clients' personal progression is paramount. This attained passion implicated from the trainer creates the perfect equation for a clients fitness success.  Along with a vast knowledge base of dietary requirements, your trainer should have a substantial sport specific and diverse understanding of the requirements involved in a sought after sport.
For example: if your desire is to lose weight and tone, does your trainer put you on a competitive bodybuilding program?  When executing a particular exercise, do you find yourself extracting information with an informative response? Parting with anatomical education is just a part of the role that a trainer should emit. He\she should be able to explain the essential aspect of integration during proper form and detail the definition of 'tempo' and 'muscle loading' phases of your workout.
Applied education is vital to any level of success, but it takes a genuine interest in a client's set goals to put the 'personal' in 'Personal Trainer'.

Laurie Dickson is a full time personal trainer with an impressive career as a championship level fitness competitor, coach, and mentor with a long list of accolades.  Please click here to visit her official website. 

Interview with Eldridge Abat of Elevate Fitness

We had the pleasure of being interviewed by Eldridge Abat of Elevate Fitness about NPAA and our upcoming events (below).

Please click here to visit the Elevate Fitness website and to learn more about the training and informative services they provide!

Introduction to High Performance Relationships

Authors: Bob Tomes and Jane Warren

It’s Friday night and while your friends are out at the wine bar socializing you’re at the gym doing one more leg set before heading home to that prescribed post-workout meal.  Your significant other is also quieting going quieter as he wonders what happened to him in your priority list.  So it can be in the life of an elite fitness athlete.

Being in a successful, vibrant, loving relationship is the eighth wonder of the world.  And now you’ve found a passion and it’s taking you away from home and focusing your attention on reps, nutrition, style and more reps.  

So how can you be in a vibrant relationship all the while preparing for that upcoming competition?

We will be providing our answers to this question in our upcoming “High Performance Relationship Workshop” on Saturday, April 28^th where we’ll be joining Steph Marques as part of her ‘Life In The Off Season Seminar Series’.  Steph is a NPAA All Canadian Pro fitness model and runs programs for elite fitness competitors.

High performing relationships are much more than the conventional communication and sharing your feelings models that are commonly talked about today.  With all the potential stressors we have in our day to day life we need to discover playful ways to be with each other so we can get back to that special feeling we had when we first met.

The biggest step in creating high performance relationship is coming to the realization that we are the ones who choose how we feel and act and what we say or don’t say.  The days of “You make me feel …” no longer hold true.  With this knowledge, understanding and acceptance we then become open to play in new ways that will shift us out of being the victim, villain or hero and assist us in realigning with who we truly are and the life we really want to live.

What we’re finding is that men are typically the ones that are afraid to explore and expand their existing relationships.  These are also the men who are truly surprised when their relationship runs into difficult times and ends in divorce.  This doesn’t have to be the path.  Discovering fun, playful ways to be in a long-term relationship can change the “ho-hum” into the “holy cow!!”  Learning the tools we’ll be offering is a great way to divorce proof your marriage.

So if you’re an elite fitness athlete or the partner of one of these athletes then we highly encourage you to come play with us.  This could be the investment that recharges your relationship and your life and then you can become that model relationship that others aspire to.

Be sure to register for NPAA All-Canadian/IFPA Pro Steph Marques' - Life in the OFF Season Speaker Series "High Performance Relationships" at Bay Club World Health. Limited spots are available due to the interactive nature of the workshop. Email info@stephmarques.com to register

Featured Article: April 2012

BECOMING A FITNESS PERSONALITY

AUTHOR: NPAA ALL-CANADIAN/IFPA PRO ATHLETE STEPH MARQUES

Hello all my little fitness monsters out there! Alas today I shall blog about the magical journey of becoming fitness models and sponsored athletes.

How do you get there, you ask? Where do I start? What is it that I’m really after? It’s important to establish clear goals on your journey. Know where you want to be and what you want to represent. Perhaps you really dig clothing, and you want to marry fashion trends with health and wellness, maybe you’re hardwired to  investigate the ‘science’ behind nutrition and want to become more knowledgeable on supplements? There is no right or wrong to any of these ambitions, you have to like it, and it should be fun!

 So, next, establish a professional portfolio of few marketing photos, showing your personality and make sure they align with your target sponsors business philosophy. E.g. If a sponsor is looking for a vibrant, bright, and energetic spokesperson, find a photo that fits that description. An ominous and serious shot of you with dumbbells might not tell the right story. Keep in mind, when you’ve trained hard and are ready for that photo shoot, bring a few outfits. Shoot different scenes, with you doing several things. This will maximize your own portfolio so when you’re actively marketing yourself, you have a great repertoire of ‘looks’ that you can present or submit. So you got an audition? Perfect!! Arrive prepared and organized, representing the same photo that got you there in the first place! BE YOURSELF! Laugh, cry, make jokes, or just listen. Doesn’t matter! Be genuine.  Most often I blow in there like a hurricane (typical behaviour for moi), and have almost everyone in stitches within minutes, but that’s just me. If the role is meant for you, all the stars will align. If you believe, you shall receive!

This mystical journey is not easy. It’s a ton of work. But remember, just when you think you want to throw in the towel, is when a door will open, and opportunities will present themselves. This is a lifestyle that is an on-going craft, it is near impossible to turn on and off at will and still get to your goals. Keep plugging away, chipping away, and tweak, adjust, push, and lift... one rep, one set, one session at time.

Happy training everyone!

STEPH MARQUES

Steph Marques is an NPAA Athlete Ambassador, NPAA All-Canadian/IFPA Pro Athlete, and Sponsored Athlete.  Her "Life in the Offseason Seminar Series" cover various topics in health and fitness for people of all backgrounds and experience levels.  Please click here to visit her website.

ATHLETE FEEDBACK - BRITISH COLUMBIA

Congratulations on competiting with NPAA!

We hope you are proud of your accomplishment(s) and encourage you to discuss your off season goals with your coach/trainer.

Due to the number of requests and administrative hours required to provide thorough feedback,

a fee of $25.00 is charged per request.

Feedback will be provided within 4 - 8 weeks.

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2019 BC Championships - Oct 19, 2019

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Women's Bikini Model Women's Fitness Model Women's Figure Athlete Men's Physique Men's Classic Physique Men's Bodybuilding

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Women's Bikini Model Women's Fitness Model Women's Figure Athlete Men's Physique Men's Classic Physique Men's Bodybuilding

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Please note:  The "Badge # (Competition number)" and "Cross Over Category (If Athlete Competed In Second Category)" are mandatory fields to fill for thorough feedback.

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