Mobility Training

HIIT your workouts.

Santa Fe high-intensity interval training, HIIT benefits

HIIT—The Science of Getting Fitter, Faster

With New Year’s resolutions (or swimsuit season) around the corner, everyone wants fat loss and fitness gains—fast. Here’s the good news: sound research proves you don’t have to spend endless hours on the treadmill. Short, high-intensity bursts (HIIT) can deliver all the metabolic, fat-burning, and heart-health benefits of hours of traditional cardio, in as little as 90 minutes a week.

A study from Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Birmingham split sedentary adults into two groups—one did just three HIIT sessions per week, while the other logged 5+ hours of low-intensity cardio per week. The results? Identical improvements in all health markers. That’s massive time savings, and a huge boost for anyone with a busy schedule.

Why Does HIIT Work So Well?

High-intensity intervals don’t just pack a punch in less time—they trigger unique physiological responses. Only this kind of exercise boosts Human Growth Hormone (HGH), the so-called “youth hormone” that helps burn fat, build muscle, and keep energy up as we age.

And then there’s the “afterburn” effect (EPOC): post-workout, the body keeps burning calories at a higher rate for hours, leading to faster fat loss with consistent effort.

How to Integrate HIIT for Truly Lasting Results

HIIT isn’t about going “all out” daily—it’s most effective (and safest) just 2-3 times per week, with a thoughtful progression of exercises and intensity. If you’re new or have any health concerns, get clearance from a doctor. Better yet, work with a qualified personal trainer: they’ll assess your baseline, program the right intervals, and ensure you progress safely while maximizing benefits.

And don’t forget: no program can out-train a bad diet. Even the best HIIT routines work best with smart nutrition—like metabolic typing and real, whole foods.

Start Strong, Stay Safe

Add HIIT into your week, pay attention to sleep, hydration, and recovery, and combine smart training with healthy eating. With the right professional support and consistency, HIIT can get you stronger, leaner, and fitter—in a fraction of the time.

Want a HIIT program personally designed for your goals and lifestyle?
https://www.solcorefitness.com/personal-training-and-manual-therapy/

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How Exercise Is Also Brain Exercise How to Enlarge the Size of Your Brain

Exercise, brain health, and creativity boost visual

Exercise Is Brain Exercise—It’s More Than Muscles

Ever get the urge to break out of the “too much work, not enough play” routine? You’re not alone. Picture this: rafting the world’s deepest canyon in Peru, a group spans teens to 60+—and a woman in her late thirties realizes, mid-paddle, she’s the physically weakest in the group. That spark led her to a personal trainer, and over time something unexpected happened. Yes, she lost weight and got stronger. But her biggest gains? A brighter mood, better memory, and more focus. The puzzle: how does exercise change the brain?

From Rats in ‘Disneyland’ to Real-Life Results

Wendy Suzuki, a neural science professor, dove into research after her own exercise transformation. Classic animal studies, like Marian Diamond’s cherished rat experiment, show that stimulating, enriched environments—think play, space, activity—grow bigger, healthier brains than dull, unstimulating ones. The “secret sauce”? Movement. Rats with more toys and action had thicker cortices and more blood vessels—actual brain growth.

Creativity, Memory, and ‘Out of the Box’ Thinking—Thanks to Movement

Inspired by those findings, Suzuki reshaped her research (and published Healthy Brain, Happy Life) around exercise’s impact on human brains. She noticed improvements not just in her mood and memory, but creativity: easier brainstorming, new hobbies, adventurous collaborations. Science backs her up—a 2013 study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found regular exercisers score better on creativity tests than sedentary types, boosting both divergent and convergent thinking.

John Ratey’s influential book Spark takes it further, showing that exercise literally remodels your brain through neuroplasticity. The end result? More creative ideas, clearer focus, boosted resilience and mental edge—at every age.

Not Just for Athletes—Everyone Benefits

Whether you’re an artist, writer, entrepreneur, or just want to face each day sharper, consistent exercise isn’t just a body fix. It’s a brain upgrade. As Suzuki says: “Exercise can keep your brain healthy longer.” So the real win isn’t just fitting into your jeans—it’s boosting the most important muscle in your body: your brain.

See how a holistic exercise and fitness program benefits your whole being.

The Ultimate Guide For A Holistic Exercises And Fitness Program
https://www.solcorefitness.com/the-ultimate-guide-for-a-holistic-exercises-and-fitness-program/

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Personal Training Success Story – Amy Weyhrauch

Inspiring client story - ankylosing spondylitis relief through personal training

Amy’s Story—Strength, Resilience, and Hope in Santa Fe

“Life is what you make of it. You can be happy or sad. It’s up to you.” That’s the wisdom Amy Weyhrauch grew up with, and it shows in everything she does. A mom of four, Amy has advanced ankylosing spondylitis, but she has never let that define who she is.

When Amy started at SolCore Fitness and Ekemba Sooh she moved stiffly and cautiously, in real pain and unable to turn her neck easily. Her number one goal was simple: just to get out of pain and move again without fear. Years of being misdiagnosed after a clavicle injury, and even being tested for leukemia, would make anyone hesitant—but Amy’s resolve was stronger than her setbacks.

To explain how AS affects her, I always put it this way: “Everything that you do is magnified. When somebody else doesn’t stretch for a day, they get a little tight. When you miss your stretches for a day or two, your body starts to lock up. Literally!”

Yet, day after day, Amy showed up, embracing our core principle: “Consistent Steady Improvement.” After a year-plus of private training 3–4 days a week, Amy has seen remarkable progress.

Q & A: Amy’s Perspective

1) What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?
“My Ankylosing was the main reason to seek out help. It just made me feel so bad, and it is really hard to motivate yourself when you don’t feel good. I just kept giving myself excuses as to why I shouldn’t and couldn’t do it. Well, I finally got to the point where I felt so bad that I reached out to a friend of mine, Liz Karp, and she recommended you to me.”

2) What did you do before?
“Yoga tapes, exercise tapes, tennis, hiking, sometimes skiing. I also had this chart that was given to me on stretches I should do for Ankylosing. But I knew I needed somebody to teach me the right way.”

3) What results have you achieved since starting your program that you are proud of?
“Well, I have lost 7-8% body fat and around 10 pounds, but what I am most proud of is the fact that I am a happier better person because I don’t hurt all the time. It got to the point where I didn’t want to go out and be social. The weight of that pain on me all day took all my effort, and to think about spending more effort on going out was too much. I also LOVE that I now have tools to keep myself moving and feeling great. Not only the stretches and exercises but also the fitness journal you gave me was a big help—especially at the start. It is eye-opening to look back and see how you really did, not just how you thought you did!”

4) Do you have a favorite exercise? Least? What do you like or don’t like about them?
“I do not like the Mountain Climbers! I love the wall stretch L5-S1, love the hip stretch (Glute Med). Actually, I love all the hip stretches and all the spine stretches.”

5) What are some challenges or goals you are currently working on?
“Weight loss is my next big goal along with staying out of pain and keeping my body mobile. I also want to keep changing my habits and keep getting better with the advanced workouts you guys have been giving me.”

6) What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?
“The knowledge that you guys have is invaluable. I also love that you are flexible. You guys always have a program ready, but if I come in and say I am feeling a certain way, you are able to change the program on the fly to meet my needs. I also really appreciate that you guys push me to levels that I didn’t think I could do before, but you never push me too far.”

7) What advice would you give to other SolCore Fitness members?
“KEEP IT UP! Keep coming to class. Keep doing your homework. Keep making those small improvements each day.”

8) What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?
“I wish I had had somebody who I trusted to push me to start this sooner. Think about how many times you have procrastinated. I waited almost a year from knowing about SolCore Fitness to starting with them. To get better you have to start. So start now!”

If Amy’s story sounds familiar, and you’re ready for personal, compassionate coaching to help you break through pain and reach your goals, see how SolCore Fitness’ programs can help:
https://www.solcorefitness.com/personal-training-and-manual-therapy/

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Personal Training Success Story – Barbara Hendrick

Client success story—overcoming back pain with personal training Santa Fe

Barbara’s Story—Back in Action, Pain-Free

When Barbara Hendrick came to SolCore Fitness, back pain from a horseback riding accident had derailed her active life and was only getting worse. She’d tried physical therapy, osteopathic treatments, and even expensive injections—nothing worked until she committed to a new approach. After a thorough consult, it was clear Barbara was ready to work hard and make lasting changes.

An avid bookkeeper and “ridiculously active” outdoor enthusiast, Barbara’s passion for hiking, paddle boarding, water aerobics, pilates, and gardening made it essential for her to move pain-free. For her, being able to hike with her husband was non-negotiable: “If I couldn’t hike with Chris, then what’s the use in living?”

Q & A: Barbara’s Journey in Her Words

What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?
Back pain. I had hurt my back horseback riding and it was getting unbearable. I was desperate.

What did you do before?
I had done PT, Osteopath treatments and a 3 set round of Prolotherapy, and none of it worked to ease my back pain.

What results have you achieved since starting your program that you are proud of?
I have much better posture now. My spine is much more flexible and has a lot more mobility. And now even when I do activates that really cause my back to tighten up (like gardening) it goes back to normal really quickly.
Editor’s note: Barbara got hurt in August 2013. She started classes in May 2014, and by August 2014 she was able to go horseback riding without pain!

Do you have a favorite exercise? Least? What do you like or don’t like about them?
Frogs (inner thigh stretches) and butterflies (upper back strengthening) are my least favorite even though I know they are good for me. I love all the other exercises, because I know that I am doing a lot of good for my body by making it stronger and more flexible. If I did have to choose two movements that I especially love, it would be the 90/90/90s and the sliding back and forth move with my spine. The sliding move (lateral translation) really opened my spine, and the 90/90/90 (obturator internus myo-fascial stretch) balanced my pelvis and kept my back out of pain.

What are some challenges or goals you are currently working on?
To keep my body in a place where I can keep playing. I want to hike, horseback ride, paddle board, work out, garden, etc., without the fear of getting hurt.

What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?
You guys make it so comfortable to come and work out. And it is a lot of fun in class. Really humorous.

What advice would you give to the other SolCore Fitness members?
Do your homework! (I swear I didn’t make her say that)
Side note: It took Barbara about four months before she started doing her homework. When she did, her results started to be extremely rapid.

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?
Give it a try. To try it for three months is nothing.

Inspired by Barbara’s journey and want to get moving again without pain?
Explore how our Personal Training and Manual Therapy can help:
https://www.solcorefitness.com/personal-training-and-manual-therapy/

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Do You Have an Exercise Program? (Spring Edition)

Spring fitness, structured exercise program, injury prevention Santa Fe

Why Spring Movement Demands a Real Exercise Program

Santa Fe’s wild weather inspires people to get moving—but that rush outside comes with risk. Most returning hikers, bikers, and runners are unexpectedly de-conditioned, leading to a spike in injuries each spring.

The Danger of Weekend Warrior Syndrome

Winter inactivity, extra food, and a few “get up and move!” moments don’t prepare the body for intense activity. Without an individualized, balanced program, jumping into high-intensity (or popular, one-size-fits-all) workouts may do more harm than good.

Build a Foundation—Don’t Improvise Your Health!

A structured, custom exercise program assesses your goals, corrects imbalances, and preps you for the activities you actually want to enjoy. SolCore Fitness’s programs guide every client through stability, activation, and progressive strength—protecting against pain and boosting energy for the entire year.

Want fewer injuries, better posture, and a stronger, more active spring and summer?

For custom, expert-guided fitness programs in Santa Fe:
Group Exercise Classes
https://www.solcorefitness.com/group-exercise-classes/

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