Healthy body, healthy mind

Back when chariot-racing and gladiatorbashing were all the rage, the Roman poet Juvenal penned the now-famous line,mensa sana in corpore sano, which, roughly translated, means "a healthy mind in a healthy body."

What old Juvenal was getting at was this:You can't have a healthy mind without a healthy body, and nowhere is this more evident than in today's workplace,where innovation and creativity are the currency of the day; where you spend more time in meetings and teleconferences than you spend with your family and friends; and where the "80-hours-a-week-andloving it" ethic keeps you from eating right, sleeping right, and most of all, from exercising right, if at all.Not surprisingly,Americans are plumping up,while willowy CEOs of French champagne conglomerates write annoying books like French Women Don't Get Fat, as if we didn't have enough reasons to despise our paradoxical friends across the pond.

So, how can you, all by yourself, achieve any semblance of Juvenal's nearly 2,000-year-old ideal of balance and health in today's wired, worrisome, and work-ridden world? The short answer is, unless you have the intestinal fortitude of an ox, it's tough, if not impossible.

That's why many smart business people turn to professional help from a personal trainer.

Once the sole domain of rock stars and Baywatch beauties, personal trainers have become nearly as prevalent as Starbucks and, in some cases, as trendy and affordable, too, depending on your point of view.

The fact is, they're everywhere in fact, nine accrediting agencies currently certify personal fitness trainers in this country, and those are just the wellknown ones.Nevertheless, the main reason for the rise in personal training among business professionals is fundamental: People who work out with personal trainers get results, and results are the one thing that fast-track executives (and those who aspire to be) understand.

So, if you're less than optimally mensa sana in corpore sano, I'll give you ten good reasons to consider kicking your fitness mental and physical up a notch with the help of any one of northern Nevada's accredited personal fitness trainers: * Mind Your Waist.

It's the No.

1 reason busy professionals hire a trainer: to lose weight and to get in shape.

The workplace is increasingly competitive, and looking good helps more than most people want to admit.A two- or three-times a week date with a trainer works wonders to help you build muscle, burn fat, and keep a youthful spring in your step, no matter what it says on your birth certificate.

* Motivation.

As an owner, an employer, a manager, or even as a co-worker, you spend a ton of time motivating other people.

Isn't it time someone spent some time motivating you? The whole point of hiring a personal trainer is to have someone to push you to be your very best.After all, if you could do it yourself, you would have already.

* It's All About You.

Talk about the ultimate executive gift.

Every human being is different, with varying needs,wants, goals, and areas of concern.

A personal trainer can help you deal with chronic health or body image conditions, recover from injuries, achieve training goals such as climbing Everest or finishing the Boston Marathon, or simply consult with your physician or therapist to design a safe, efficient plan to help you look and feel your best.

* Break Through.No,we're not talking about glass ceilings or even

writer's block.

Your body the amazing organism that it is can get used to your workout routine, and so you "plateau," or get stuck at a certain level of fitness, or body size, or both.A personal trainer can blast you past these "sticking points" and send you healthily on your way to new levels of fitness and personal achievement.

* Fly Solo.

It's not always lonely at the top.

For some do-it-yourself types, training with a personal trainer for a few months is a great way to learn how to design your own routines and maximize your time in the gym.Any trainer worth his or her accreditation will be happy to show you the ropes after all, you're likely to refer a friend or two who are impressed with your results.

* Life Is Short.

Play Hard.

From boardroom to mailroom, almost everybody has a sport or activity that they secretly dream of being great at.

Confide this fact to your personal trainer, and he or she will incorporate sportspecific training that will help you reach the top of your game.

* Time Is Money.

For bottom-line oriented folks:When it's time to finally get serious with your workouts, a personal trainer will design a program to help you get optimal results in a minimal amount of time.

* Beginner's Luck.

Say you're the Sultan of Spreadsheets, but you don't know a dumbbell from a doorknob? Believe it or not, some people who never played sports as kids decide to become athletic later in life ... and for these novices, a personal trainer can be the perfect guide to the brave new world of bodies in motion, helping to build strength, balance, coordination, timing, and confidence one workout at a time.

* Play It Safe.

There are dozens of ways to hurt yourself in a gym, and most of them spring from not knowing your limits or how to use equipment properly.Add a personal trainer, and suddenly you've got an objective set of eyes watching your form,monitoring your heart rate and respiration, and watching for potential problems.Many personal trainers are also certified in CPR and first aid in the rare event you should collapse or injure yourself.

* Home In On It.

Finally, if you're spending way too much time at the office and just can't find the time to make it to the gym,many personal trainers will be happy to come to your home.

They'll bring their own equipment and incorporate freehand exercises to give you a great workout, no matter whether you live and you'll live better, brighter, and longer for doing so.

Robert "Bam Bam"Budd is owner of Bam! Fitness of Reno, a firm specializing in the fitness needs of women over 40.

Contact him at (775) 250-3060.