Coaching is a profession that spans multiple industries. We traditionally might think of it in terms of sport coaching or training, but it can also include business, life, or most other types of consulting. Dr. James Gavin, author of Foundations of Professional Coaching, is a licensed psychologist as well as a Master Certified Coach. He has been studying the field of coaching for over 18 years, and in this episode, he shares what he has learned over the years about what it takes to be successful in the profession of coaching.

Foundations of Professional Coaching https://ecs.page.link/yQmX5

James Gavin, PhD, MCC

James Gavin has designed coach training programs for health, wellness, and fitness professionals since 1998. He is a full professor in the department of applied human sciences and the director of the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies at Concordia University in Montreal. He is also a licensed psychologist in the Province of Quebec.

Over the past 18 years, Gavin has become keenly involved in studies and professional pursuits related to the new field of professional coaching. He has been recognized as a Master Certified Coach (MCC) by the International Coaching Federation and an Integral Master Coach (IMC) by Integral Coaching Canada. He codirects and instructs his Concordia-based coach certification program.

Gavin has coached and consulted with a wide range of organizations in North America and is deeply committed to understanding the somatic aspects of human development. He is a strong advocate of somatic awareness and practice in coach training. Through his studies, Gavin has developed a unique model for matching personality with sport and fitness choices. This model has been widely adopted as a unique process for promoting psychological growth. He is engaged in research on coaching issues and enjoys rich coaching experiences with individual and organizational clients. His long-term interests in the practices of aikido, iaido, meditation, and yoga inform his life's work.

When is the last time you did an eccentric exercise? If you're like most, these exercises don't regularly make it into the training plan. In this episode, NSCA certified trainer Aaron Patterson explains what eccentric training is and how it could be a gamechanger for you by including it in your training.

Aaron Patterson, M.S., NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS 

Aaron provides informative and educational content for Human Kinetics in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, and sport performance including exercise technique videos, author interviews, and podcast episodes.

Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has over 11 years of experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS). Training primarily middle school and high school athletes, Aaron recognized the growing need for athletes to also work on their mental performance. It was then that he pursued his Master's degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Exercise and Sport Psychology to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach, and is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Aaron completed his Master of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise and Sport Psychology, from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Have you ever seen someone in the gym standing motionless like a statue? It's possible they could be in deep thought, but most often they are doing an isometric exercise. What is an isometric exercise? What are the benefits? In this episode, NSCA certified trainer Aaron Patterson explains what isometric training is, what the research says about it, and why you should incorporate it into your training plan.

Additional Resources

NSCA's Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Fourth Edition https://ecs.page.link/X8euc

Low Back Disorders, Fourth Edition https://ecs.page.link/QWBPk

Science and Development of Muscular Strength https://ecs.page.link/t49Fw

The Complete Guide to Strength Training Methods https://ecs.page.link/C9kww

Human Kinetics Journals https://ecs.page.link/swHVD

Aaron Patterson, M.S., NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS

Aaron provides informative and educational content for Human Kinetics in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, sport performance, and sport psychology including exercise technique videos, author interviews, and podcast episodes. Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has over 11 years of experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS). Training primarily middle school and high school athletes, Aaron recognized the growing need for athletes to also work on their mental performance. It was then that he pursued his Master's degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Exercise and Sport Psychology to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant. As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach, and is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Aaron completed his Master of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise and Sport Psychology, from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

As a toddler, you might have memories of taking your first steps. If not, your family likely has pictures or videos of the event. It's a pretty big deal at first, and then it becomes routine. While it might be second nature to many of us, the benefits go far beyond using it as a normal activity of daily living. Former race walk champion, registered kinesiologist and clinical exercise physiologist Sarah Zahab knows the important role walking can play in our lives. In this episode, the author of Walk Your Way Fit, joined the conversation to talk about the many benefits of adding walking to your exercise plan.

Walk Your Way Fit https://ecs.page.link/a1VGP

Sarah Zahab

Sarah Zahab is a registered kinesiologist, clinical exercise physiologist, and group fitness instructor with over 25 years of full-time fitness industry experience. She studied human kinetics at the University of Ottawa and graduated with honors (magna cum laude) with a bachelor of health sciences degree and a minor in biology. Zahab is constantly continuing her education with various courses, workshops, and conferences and regularly reviews journals and evidence-based research from multiple sources.

A former international fitness competitor, Zahab was fortunate to represent Canada at the Ms. Fitness World competition four times, placing in the top 20 for three of those competitions (2004, 2005, and 2007). She has been a nationally ranked race walker and is the 2012 and 2014 winner of the Ontario race walk championships (5,000 meters) as well as the 2016 winner of the Canadian Indoor National Championship (3,000 meters). She enjoys leading walking groups and regularly partakes in a vigorous walking regimen herself. A dancer from the age of three, she also has a background in competitive dance (jazz, tap, and hip-hop) as well as an extensive background in ballet and Middle Eastern dance.

Zahab presents fitness workshops at conferences in Canada and internationally. She is passionate about elevating health care practitioners' knowledge and skills to help the general population improve overall health and wellness. She is often sought out to present, and she draws record numbers of delegates to her sessions. She was awarded the Canfitpro Canadian Presenter of the Year Award in 2023.

Zahab is the owner of Continuum Fitness & Movement Performance, a multidisciplinary clinic in Ottawa that has assisted 12 athletes in successfully participating in the Olympic Games. She is a former fitness expert for the CTV Morning Live television show (Ottawa), where she provided expert advice to their large viewing audience for over 10 years. She has also authored articles featured in various publications.

Injuries happen. Some are preventable while others might occur regardless of how much we prepare. In this episode, certified trainers Aaron Patterson and Frank Eyeson discuss the difference between acute and chronic injuries, why injuries occur, and what we can do to prevent or reduce the risk.

Additional Resources

Rock Solid Resilience https://ecs.page.link/De8S9 

Training and Conditioning Young Athletes, Second Edition https://ecs.page.link/H7QnY

Sport Injury Prevention Anatomy https://ecs.page.link/HVvUg

Biomechanics of Injury, Third Edition https://ecs.page.link/UoaAD

Sport First Aid, Sixth Edition https://ecs.page.link/DPGXe

Aaron Patterson, M.S., NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS 

Aaron provides informative and educational content for Human Kinetics in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, and sport performance including exercise technique videos, author interviews, and podcast episodes.

Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has over 11 years of experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS). Training primarily middle school and high school athletes, Aaron recognized the growing need for athletes to also work on their mental performance. It was then that he pursued his Master's degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Exercise and Sport Psychology to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach, and is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Aaron completed his Master of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise and Sport Psychology, from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Frank Eyeson, MS, NASM-CPT, CWC, CNC,

Frank Eyeson provides informative and educational content for Human Kinetics in the areas of health and fitness, including exercise technique videos and podcast episodes. As a marketing and social media manager, Frank also develops strategic campaigns that connect audiences with trusted, evidence-based resources to help them move better, train smarter, and live healthier.

With over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry, Frank is a certified personal trainer, wellness coach, and nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He holds a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Western Illinois University and a master's degree in Strategic Brand Communication from the University of Illinois.

Frank’s content resonates with health-conscious individuals and fitness professionals alike, bridging the gap between expert knowledge and real-world application. On the Human Kinetics podcast, he brings a grounded, audience-first voice to conversations covering everything fitness—from strength training, recovery, and sport performance to nutrition, mental health, injury prevention, and overall wellness. He is passionate about making fitness education accessible, sustainable, and rooted in science.

Outside of the gym and work, Frank enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, and relaxing with a good show.

Strength, power, and maybe even hypertrophy. We train them all, and each for our own valid reasons. But what about balance and stability? Those two components are often taken for granted but they are vital in both sport and activities of daily living. In this episode, certified trainers Aaron Patterson and Frank Eyeson discuss what it means to train for balance and stability, and why it is important.

Additional Resources

High Performance Training for Sports

Developing the Core, Second Edition 

Able Bodies Balance Training https://ecs.page.link/ZhDZS

Aaron Patterson, M.S., NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS 

Aaron provides informative and educational content for Human Kinetics in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, and sport performance including exercise technique videos, author interviews, and podcast episodes.

Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has over 11 years of experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS). Training primarily middle school and high school athletes, Aaron recognized the growing need for athletes to also work on their mental performance. It was then that he pursued his Master's degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Exercise and Sport Psychology to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach, and is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Aaron completed his Master of Science in Kinesiology, Exercise and Sport Psychology, from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Frank Eyeson, MS, NASM-CPT, CWC,CNC,

Frank Eyeson provides informative and educational content for Human Kinetics in the areas of health and fitness, including exercise technique videos and podcast episodes. As a marketing and social media manager, Frank also develops strategic campaigns that connect audiences with trusted, evidence-based resources to help them move better, train smarter, and live healthier.

With over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry, Frank is a certified personal trainer, wellness coach, and nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He holds a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Western Illinois University and a master's degree in Strategic Brand Communication from the University of Illinois.

Frank’s content resonates with health-conscious individuals and fitness professionals alike, bridging the gap between expert knowledge and real-world application. On the Human Kinetics podcast, he brings a grounded, audience-first voice to conversations covering everything fitness—from strength training, recovery, and sport performance to nutrition, mental health, injury prevention, and overall wellness. He is passionate about making fitness education accessible, sustainable, and rooted in science.

Outside of the gym and work, Frank enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, and relaxing with a good show.

When you were a kid, playing sports was everything. You trained, practiced, and strived to make that game-winning shot, goal, or drive in that decisive run. As you progress in life, some things change, but the desire to compete and feel athletic shouldn't be on the list. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Ibrahim discusses how to never stop training like a pro. Learn more in his book, Train Like a Pro: Programming to Develop Your Inner Athlete.

Train Like a Pro: Programming to Develop Your Inner Athlete https://ecs.page.link/U5ckh

Dr. Matthew S. Ibrahim, PhD, CSCS, LMT

Dr. Matthew Ibrahim is a strength and conditioning coach, college professor, public speaker, and author. He has served as Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Endicott College, and is the founder of Athletic Performance University (APU). He also holds adjunct faculty roles at Maryville University (undergraduate) and American International College (graduate). Dr. Ibrahim also serves on the Massachusetts State Advisory Board for the NSCA. He is a sought-after speaker, and has presented worldwide--including in Europe and across more than 25 U.S. states--at EXOS , Google HQ, UFC Performance Institute, Stanford, Duke, NSCA, and Perform Better. His expertise has been featured in Muscle & Fitness, Men's Journal, NSCA Personal Training Quarterly, Science for Sport, and T-Nation. He is the author of Train Like a Pro: Programming to Develop Your Inner Athlete, published through Human Kinetics.

Mike Boyle's name is known across the world among the most successful strength and conditioning coaches. From his time working at Boston University to duties with the Boston Bruins and the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, to founding Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning in 1996, he has found the most successful strategies and coaching methods in the industry. He joined Aaron Patterson and Human Kinetics for an exclusive interview about his career journey, what he has learned over the years, and his book, Strength and Conditioning Coaching: Winning Methods, Programs, and Facilities.

Strength and Conditioning Coaching: Winning Methods, Programs, and Facilities https://ecs.page.link/gXFt9

Mike Boyle

Mike Boyle cofounded Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning in 1996 as one of the first for-profit strength and conditioning companies in the world. Athletes trained range from junior high school students to all-stars in almost every major professional sport. The business now includes an adult fitness component. Prior to founding Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Boyle served as the head strength and conditioning coach at Boston University for 15 years. From 1996 to 2012, he continued to serve as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Boston University, primarily responsible for ice hockey. In addition to his duties at Boston University, from 1991 to 1999, Boyle served as the strength and conditioning coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2012 and 2013, he served as the strength and conditioning consultant to the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. He was also the strength and conditioning coach for the 1998 and 2010 U.S. Women's Olympic Ice Hockey teams and served as a consultant in the development of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program now in Plymouth, Michigan. Boyle has been a featured speaker at numerous strength and conditioning and athletic training clinics around the world and has produced 30 educational products in the area of strength and conditioning.

The Rubber Band Method has a cool name, but what is it, and how does it work? In this episode, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Massage Therapist Kiara Armstrong explains what the Rubber Band Method is, why she developed it, and how it works. She dives into her journey in becoming a yoga teacher, and talks about her book, Hands-On Yoga Assists.

Hands-On Yoga Assists https://ecs.page.link/CsTSJ

Kiara Armstrong, e-RYT 500, CMT, YACEP

Kiara Armstrong first started practicing yoga in 2002. It played a central role in her personal journey to overcome mental and physical illness, and in 201, she began her first 200-hour yoga teacher training before beginning to teach in 2011. Five years later, she began leading 200-hour yoga teacher trainings and has since taught continuing education programs, including 300-hour yoga teacher trainings. 

In addition to being an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with 500 hours of training, Kiara is also a Certified Massage Therapist, which is the highest level of accreditation in her state of California. She is also a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider, and developer of the Rubber Band Method.

"How much can you bench, bro?" Really, how much can you bench? How much can you squat? And what does it all mean? In this episode, Tim Suchomel, author of Science and Development of Muscular Strength, defines strength and discusses the various measures of strength. What is the difference between absolute strength and relative strength? What about concentric and eccentric strength? Dr. Suchomel breaks down why it is important to define strength and distinguish between the various measures. He also explains why the term "sport-specific" might have a more applicable name we haven't been using.

Timothy J. Suchomel, PhD, CSCS, *D, RSCC, *D, mISCP

Tim Suchomel is an associate professor and the director of the sports science master' program at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as strength and power development, weightlifting movements and their derivatives, eccentric training methods, postactivation potentiation, and athlete monitoring.

He has served the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as the chair of the Sport Science Special Interest Group, the Wisconsin state director, and a research committee member, and he currently serves as a senior associate editor of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and associate editor for Strength and Conditioning Journal. He was honored by the NSCA with the State/Provincial Director of the Year Award in 2019, the Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2022, and the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Editorial Excellence Award in 2023. Suchomel is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with distinction, and a registered strength and conditioning coach with distinction through the NSCA and has been recognized as a master international strength and conditioning practitioner (mISCP) through the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA).

Suchomel completed his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2010, master's degree in Human Performance at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2012, and doctoral degree in Sport Physiology and Performance at East Tennessee State University in 2015.