Merritt Clubs Blog

It’s common knowledge that the heart is an extremely important organ in the body. Taking care of it is vital in overall health which is why every February the whole country observes heart health awareness with American Heart Month. And in 2021, it is even more important. Those who suffer from heart disease have an increased risk of severe illness from the COVID-19 virus.

To help keep you heart healthy and happy, here are a few tips:

Suffice it to say, this year’s holiday season will have its limitations. And it’s common knowledge that this year has been a difficult and challenging one for everybody. Some of us have lost loved ones. Some of us have gotten sick. We have made adjustments to what used to be our regular lives. The new normal has become uncomfortable, inconvenient, and just plain hard. But we adapt to help keep each other safe and to hope for that light at the end of the tunnel, or at least some fancy new twinkle lights to help us find our holiday spirits.

Did you know February is American Heart Month? While maintaining a healthy heart should not be restricted to just this month, we do want to use this time to help you prevent heart disease. Here are some workout tips we gathered after we spoke with Merritt Clubs Fort Avenue Fitness Director Heidi Shaneybrook.

Hello 2019! With every new year, we hear about new resolutions, new goals, new plans. We see that with gyms being packed in the month of January. Everybody is eager to start a new journey and to get results.

"Our bodies are made to move."

Such are the words of Merritt Clubs Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach Janelle Duttenhoffer as she spoke about fitness for all ages. Whether it be for a playful 4 year-old, a sedentary 30 year-old with a desk job, or a retired 75 year-old, being active is important in having a high quality of life. 

Read on as Janelle talks about her personal experience with getting fit and healthy, the importance of educating yourself about fitness and nutrition (check your resources though!), and why active agers need strength training.

Then, see what holiday fitness and nutrition tips Janelle has in store!

People who exercise regularly know very well that stretching is vital when working out. It reduces the chances of injury and will help their overall performance. In this blog we previously talked about Dynamic Stretches vs. Static Stretches.

When you ask a mother what the most important moments of her life are, for sure one of her answers will be giving birth to her child(ren). 

Carrying a growing, human life inside of her for several months and then bringing that precious baby out into the world is one journey that is both memorable and life-changing. And while a woman's body is designed for pregnancy and giving birth, it is still key to prepare it for these important events.

For this month's Q&A, we talked to Merritt Clubs Towson's Heather Jordan about the importance of exercise for helping to alleviate pregnancy pains, for labor preparation, and for postpartum recovery. Heather is an NSPA certified Postnatal Fitness Specialist and is a mother of two.

Everybody knows Bruce Lee. And if you work out at Merritt Clubs Cranbrook, chances are you've had at least one conversation with him.

That's because Bruce is the type of guy who cares about every person that comes into the gym. He loves engaging with anybody on the fitness floor. He values all members of Merritt and strives to have them feel that the club is an extension of family.

In this Q&A we talk about the importance of a gym community with Bruce Lee, Personal Training Director and Assistant General Manager at Merritt Clubs Cranbrook.

It is no secret that exercise is an integral part of a healthy life. But what happens when we get older and our bodies age, and being sedentary looks a lot more appealing? Why do we need to keep active, no matter where we're at in life?

We recently talked to Ellyn Gildea, Merritt Towson's Fitness Director, about the importance and benefits of regular exercise for older adults. Ellyn also discussed why the social aspect of the club gives active agers the motivation to keep coming back to the gym.

You enter the gym, choose a machine, set the weight, and do your thing. Lather, rinse, repeat. 

And then you stop and wonder, "Have I been working out properly? Am I moving my body the right way? Am I optimizing it to its full potential?" 

Fitness experts and Merritt Clubs Fort Avenue trainers Tony Strittmatter and James Rehak sat down with us to talk about the importance of knowing the intricacies of your body, of moving correctly, and fixing bad patterns.