Chicago

Client Testimonial: Jim Caiafa

Jim Caiafa, a bodybuilder in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, talks about his experience with Muscle Activation Techniques™ at Muscle Activation Schaumburg.  Jim shares the improvement he has seen in his training after four sessions of MAT™, as well as the progress he has seen with his back after suffering an injury eight months prior (*disclosed in the video*).

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Check out this fantastic testimonial from Jim Caiafa, a bodybuilder in the Chicago area, as he discusses his experience with the MATRx™ process and working with Charlie in preparation for his show:

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By Charlie Cates, ago

The Struggle Of Exercise

The benefits of exercise are waiting and are too great to be ignored, but the struggle to actually do exercise is REAL.

I am a personal trainer in Schaumburg.  Being a personal trainer does not mean that I love to workout.  Being a personal trainer means that I love learning about the opportunities that exercise can provide when applied appropriately to the body.  I love learning and exploring this opportunity of exercise so much that I made it a profession.

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By Julie Cates, ago

Are you investing intelligently into your exercise account?

A lot of times when we go to the gym we are focused on what we are going to do right then.  “What exercises am I going to do?  How many sets and reps?  What weight will I be using?”  All of these are valid questions to consider.  However, as a personal trainer and Muscle Activation Techniques™ specialist in Schaumburg, IL, I often have to talk with my clients about the value of investing intelligently into their exercise account, which means exercising for tomorrow and not just for today.

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By Charlie Cates, ago

“Should I use more weight?”

“Should I use more weight?”

“That would depend on your goal…”

As a personal trainer in Schaumburg, I realize that a lot of times we get caught up on the idea of more is better.  If we can use more weight, we should.  If we can perform more reps, we should.  If we can eek out a couple more sets, we should.  But here’s the issue:  the value in exercise is not actually found in the doing of the exercise, but rather in your body’s response to doing the exercise.

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By Charlie Cates, ago

What does muscle have to do with it?

As a Muscle Activation Techniques™ (MAT™) specialist and personal trainer in Schaumburg, I know that many people seek out MAT™ because it makes A LOT of people feel better!  This is one reason why I absolutely LOVE MAT™ and why I love being an MAT™ Specialist.

There is one problem with this, though.  MAT™ does not treat pain.  It never has and never will.  In this blog post, I want to discuss what you can expect from an MAT™ session and how you can know you are making progress, even when pain symptoms are not changing.  

Let’s start with the obvious, again.  MAT™ does not treat pain.

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By Julie Cates, ago

‘Tis The (Flip-Flops) Season

Whether you consider Memorial Day to mark the start of summer or you hold off until it officially turns in late June, almost one thing is for certain:  flip-flops season is now in full swing. While this lightweight form of footwear can have you feeling footloose and fancy-free, there are potential repercussions on the horizon by sporting the open-backed staple of summer.

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By Charlie Cates, ago

Squatting For Bigger Arms? Think Again.

“Why are we squatting?  I want bigger arms.”

“Well, if you do heavy lifts for your legs, you will produce a greater base of anabolic hormones to work off of later and that will allow you to build bigger arms.”

As a personal trainer in Schaumburg, I swear I have had this conversation with almost all of my male clients at some point in time.  Unfortunately, the advice I gave is dead wrong.  Check out why in my review of literature for this study!

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By Charlie Cates, ago

Your Check Engine Light

As a personal trainer and MAT™ Specialist in Schaumburg, I am often telling people that they need to get their body tuned up with Muscle Activation Techniques™.  Why?  Because much like our cars need to get tuned up so they keep running well, our bodies need the same attention.  And just like our car’s check engine light that will illuminate when something is off, our body has a check engine light as well – pain, fatigue, exhaustion, achy muscles, sore joints, etc.

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By Charlie Cates, ago