Merritt Clubs Blog

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.

Young athletes, check this out. If you want to excel in your sport while at the same time reduce the chance of getting injured, Merritt Clubs Eldersburg trainer Josh Kruhm is your guy. He and a couple other Eldersburg trainers coach student athletes at the club through a program called Parisi Speed School.

We sat down with Josh as he talks about how a young athlete can be fast, strong and explosive.

It's tough being a woman in a man's world. But then again, "tough" is a word that would best describe Merritt Clubs trainer Courtney Feldheim.

The Math-teacher-turned-boxer-slash-coach-slash-personal-trainer has endured struggles being a female athlete in a male-dominated sport. Currently she trains clients to box either as a workout, as a stress reliever, or to fight. But a comeback to the ring is in the plans.

Courtney recently sat down with us to discuss her background and how boxing can help any type of person - even somebody new to fitness.