Protests were held July 17, honoring the memory of the late congressman and civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis for “Good Trouble Lives On” national day of action.
Protestors honored the memory of the late congressman and civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis by protesting President Donald Trump’s controversial policies in the streets for “Good Trouble Lives On” national day of action held July 17, NBC News reported.
The peaceful protests and events were held along streets, courthouses, and other public spaces in cities throughout the U.S., including cities targeted by Trump ICE raids like Atlanta and St. Louis, Missouri. Organized by a coalition of nonprofits like Public Citizen, co-president Lisa Gilbert said, given the state of the political climate, showcasing the grievances of the country on a national day of action is necessary. “We are navigating one of the most terrifying moments in our nation’s history,” Gilbert said.
“We are all grappling with a rise of authoritarianism and lawlessness within our administration … as the rights, freedoms, and expectations of our very democracy are being challenged.”
NOW | Hundreds of people rallying in Annapolis right now chanting “No Kings in America.” This is part of the “Good Trouble Lives On,” national day of action. It’s in honor of Civil Rights Leader & Congressman John Lewis. More on @wbaltv11 at 10/11 tonight. pic.twitter.com/REZPL0mg66
Lewis, who was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights activists — a group led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr — passed away in 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Efforts from King and Lewis led to then-President Lyndon Johnson pressing Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act in 1965, just days after Lewis and 600 protesters were beaten by police while crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, a day now known as Bloody Sunday.
Before his passing, Lewis was able to commemorate the 1965 voting rights marches. “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America,” Lewis said.
5 years ago today, the great civil rights activist and representative, John Lewis passed away. Today, let us honor and remember him. Let us recommit to getting in “good trouble.” To standing up for what is right. For speaking out against hate. To fighting for what matters. To… pic.twitter.com/dUa7Difr6f
The “Good Trouble Lives On” protests are added to the growing protests across the country amid Trump’s policies. In early July 2025, federal law enforcement and protestors engaged in a tense standoff due to a chaotic raid and arrests of immigrants on two Southern California marijuana farms, resulting in one farmworker dying after falling from a greenhouse roof, according to The Associated Press.
As demonstrators labeled Trump as a dictator and wannabe king for honoring his birthday with a military parade, “No Kings” demonstrations launched protests with millions of people marching in cities like New York and Charlotte. Thousands of people took over the streets of Los Angeles in early June 2025 after Trump sent the National Guard against them for taking a stance against illegal deportations.
Members of Congress like Rep. Raphael Warnock took to social media to remember their legendary colleague, saying he hoped Lewis’s memory prompts everyone to “continue getting into #GoodTrouble.”
Osteoarthritis affects more than 2.1 million Australians, and that number is rising fast.1 Joint pain, stiffness, and lost mobility are now routine problems for aging adults, but not all joint pain has the same cause. If you’re experiencing stiffness in the morning, pain in your hands, or swelling in your knees, it matters which kind of arthritis you’re dealing with.
Rheumatoid arthritis, though far less common, behaves very differently than osteoarthritis. It often strikes earlier, spreads faster and triggers symptoms beyond joint pain. Your immune system is the culprit, not aging or overuse. Too many people wait until the damage is done. That’s why this article breaks down exactly how to tell the difference between these two conditions — and more importantly, what to do about it.
What Sets Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Apart
The root causes of these two conditions differ significantly. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones gradually breaks down. Rheumatoid arthritis, by contrast, is an autoimmune condition where your immune system mistakenly targets the lining of your joints, causing inflammation and joint damage.2
• They affect people at different life stages — Osteoarthritis usually shows up later in life, often after age 60. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to appear earlier, usually between ages 30 and 60, but it can strike at any age.
• Progression patterns vary widely — Osteoarthritis develops slowly over years, while rheumatoid arthritis tends to worsen rapidly over a matter of weeks or months.
• Affected joints aren’t the same — Osteoarthritis commonly impacts weight-bearing joints like your knees, hips, spine, and fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis often begins in small joints, such as those in your hands, wrists, and feet — and it’s usually symmetrical.
• One type stays local, the other systemic — Osteoarthritis pain is typically limited to the affected joint. Rheumatoid arthritis often causes fatigue, appetite loss, and low-grade fever — clear signs your entire immune system is involved.
• Diagnosis tools differ — Osteoarthritis is diagnosed primarily through clinical exams and history. Rheumatoid arthritis is often confirmed with blood tests detecting specific antibodies, in addition to imaging.
Osteoarthritis Isn’t Just ‘Wear and Tear’ — It’s a Whole-Joint Disease
An article from The Conversation explains that osteoarthritis is a complex condition that impacts cartilage, bones, ligaments, and joint lining, not just the cartilage cushion between bones.3
• Early symptoms don’t always show up on scans — Pain, swelling, and stiffness are often present even if your x-rays or MRIs look normal. Conversely, advanced structural damage doesn’t always correlate with severe pain, adding to diagnostic confusion. This mismatch between symptoms and imaging makes early diagnosis challenging, and it’s one reason osteoarthritis is often ignored until it becomes debilitating.
• Commonly affected joints are weight-bearing ones — Your knees, hips, and big toes carry the brunt of the condition, though fingers and thumbs are also common sites. These are the areas that take the most mechanical load and wear out faster.
Over time, joint shapes change, especially in your hands, where osteoarthritis often visibly distorts knuckles and limits hand function. For most people, these symptoms get worse with movement, though stiffness after inactivity is common too.
• Risk increases sharply with age and weight — One-third of adults over 75 have osteoarthritis. When you carry more weight than your joints are designed to handle, especially in your knees and hips, it increases wear on the joint structures. Obesity also drives systemic inflammation, which adds fuel to the fire and accelerates damage.
• Genetics matters — especially for hand osteoarthritis — If your family members have had it, your risk rises significantly. While injuries, surgery, and repetitive stress on joints increase your risk overall, genetic predisposition appears particularly strong for finger and thumb joints.
Why Osteoarthritis Diagnosis and Treatment Need a Smarter Approach
Osteoarthritis is often dismissed as a natural part of aging, but that’s misleading. This mindset is outdated and counterproductive.4 Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease process driven by a combination of mechanical, inflammatory, and metabolic factors. Framing it as “just part of getting older” delays action, which is the exact opposite of what’s needed.
• Progression isn’t predictable — Some people live for years with minimal symptoms, while others rapidly deteriorate. Injuries or stress to a joint accelerate the damage.
• Scans often don’t match how you feel — One of the more confusing aspects of osteoarthritis is that severity on scans doesn’t always match your symptoms. You might have severe joint pain with little visible damage, or minimal pain despite major degeneration. Treatment should focus on your experience, not your imaging.
• Movement isn’t dangerous — it’s necessary — Exercise reduces stiffness, improves joint lubrication and strengthens the muscles that stabilize joints. It’s one of the most effective and safest tools for managing osteoarthritis.
• Every pound lost eases the burden — Shedding even 10 pounds reduces up to 40 pounds of stress on your knees. That change alone makes a major difference in pain and mobility.
How Your Symptoms Show Which Type of Arthritis You’re Facing
According to MyHealth.Alberta.ca, the Alberta Government and Alberta Health Services’ platform for health and wellness information, patterns help reveal the diagnosis.5 Rheumatoid arthritis tends to cause widespread, symmetrical pain that hits both wrists or both knees. Osteoarthritis usually starts in one joint and moves slowly.
• Onset speed and systemic symptoms matter — Osteoarthritis creeps in over years. Rheumatoid arthritis often escalates in a matter of weeks or months and is usually more aggressive early on. Fatigue and fever also signal rheumatoid arthritis. If you’re feeling rundown or losing your appetite alongside joint pain, it’s likely autoimmune-related. Osteoarthritis rarely affects the rest of your body.
• Morning stiffness is a major clue — One of the most telling differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis lies in how your joints feel when you first wake up. Rheumatoid arthritis stiffness tends to last more than an hour and can leave you feeling locked up until your joints begin to loosen with movement.
In contrast, osteoarthritis-related stiffness usually fades in less than 60 minutes and tends to return after periods of rest or inactivity later in the day.
• Small joints vs. big joints — Rheumatoid arthritis commonly targets the small joints in your fingers, hands and feet before affecting larger areas like knees or elbows. Osteoarthritis shows up more often in places that bear the most mechanical load, like hips, knees, or your spine.
This pattern helps differentiate the two conditions before advanced testing is needed. If you’re feeling pain or swelling in the balls of your feet, knuckles, or wrists, and it’s happening on both sides of your body, that’s a red flag for rheumatoid arthritis.
• Inflammation and swelling tell the story — Inflammation and visible swelling are much more common in rheumatoid arthritis. Your joints often look puffy or feel hot to the touch. Osteoarthritis causes some tenderness or joint thickening over time, but doesn’t usually cause the pronounced swelling seen in rheumatoid arthritis flares. If swelling is your dominant symptom, especially if it’s sudden or painful, it’s worth checking for autoimmune involvement.
• Symmetry in joint pain is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis — If you have it in one wrist, you’ll likely have it in the other. Osteoarthritis doesn’t follow this rule. Instead, symptoms often appear in a single knee or hip and spread slowly, sometimes never reaching the opposite side. That symmetry versus asymmetry rule is one of the simplest self-checks to better understand what kind of arthritis you’re facing.
How to Reduce Inflammation and Protect Your Joints Naturally
If you’ve been living with joint pain or stiffness, whether it started suddenly or crept in over the years, it’s time to take steps that address the real root of the problem, not just mask it.
Whether your symptoms are from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, one thing’s clear: your joints are under attack, and ignoring it won’t stop the damage. You need to lower inflammation, protect the tissue that’s still healthy and help your body rebuild what it can. Here’s how to get started.
1. Cut out vegetable oils to stop feeding the inflammation cycle — Vegetable oils like soybean, canola, corn, safflower, and sunflower oil are loaded with linoleic acid (LA), which fuels oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Eliminating these from your diet is foundational to calming joint inflammation. Switch to saturated fats like grass fed butter, ghee, or tallow.
2. Boost vitamin K2 to block cartilage damage and protect joints — Research confirms vitamin K2 helps keep your joints healthy by preventing cartilage cell death and stopping inflammatory damage.6 It works by increasing levels of protective proteins and blocking calcium from building up in your joints.
This helps reduce stiffness, maintain cartilage thickness, and slow the progression of osteoarthritis. The best sources are grass fed egg yolks, aged cheeses and fermented foods like natto or homemade sauerkraut. For added support, take 180 to 200 mcg daily of MK-7, a highly absorbable form of K2.
3. Start sipping real bone broth to repair your connective tissue — Homemade bone broth delivers collagen, glycine, glucosamine, and chondroitin — compounds that rebuild cartilage and soothe inflammation. Use grass fed, organic bones, and add cartilage-rich parts like chicken feet for best results. Sip slowly throughout the day for consistent absorption.
4. Drop excess weight if you’re carrying more than your frame supports — Every extra pound on your body adds 4 pounds of force on your knees, so shedding even a few pounds dramatically reduces joint stress. Focus on cutting LA, walking daily and getting morning sunlight to support your metabolism.
5. Support your mitochondria to calm autoimmune inflammation —Healthy mitochondria help regulate your immune system by producing superoxide — a molecule that triggers IL-10, your body’s “off switch” for inflammation.7
When mitochondria malfunction, IL-10 levels drop and inflammation spirals out of control. To keep them strong, eat fiber-rich foods like whole fruit that increase butyrate, move your body daily, get sunshine exposure and eliminate vegetable oils.
These steps help your macrophages control inflammation and reduce autoimmune flares. Research also shows that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) increases joint flexibility in rheumatoid arthritis by 20 to 30 degrees in some cases, without relapse.8 That’s a simple, powerful tool worth considering.
FAQs About Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Q: How can I tell the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
A: Osteoarthritis typically develops gradually with age and affects weight-bearing joints like knees, hips, and your spine. It often causes stiffness that improves within an hour of waking and worsens with activity.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that progresses rapidly, often affects both sides of your body symmetrically, and causes systemic symptoms like fatigue and low-grade fever. Morning stiffness with RA usually lasts more than an hour and often includes joint swelling and warmth.
Q: What causes each type of arthritis?
A: Osteoarthritis results from wear-and-tear, mechanical stress, inflammation, and metabolic changes that damage joint cartilage and surrounding tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an overactive immune response that mistakenly attacks joint linings, leading to inflammation and tissue destruction throughout your body.
Q: Why is early diagnosis important for both OA and RA?
A: Early detection helps limit permanent joint damage and guides appropriate treatment. Osteoarthritis doesn’t always show up clearly on early scans, making symptom awareness important. RA often shows up in blood tests before severe joint damage occurs. Knowing the difference allows for faster action and better outcomes.
Q: What natural steps help manage joint pain and inflammation?
A: Cutting out vegetable oils from your diet, increasing vitamin K2 intake, sipping bone broth, maintaining a healthy weight and supporting mitochondrial health all help reduce inflammation and protect joints. These strategies target the root causes, whether mechanical or immune-driven, rather than just masking symptoms.
Q: What are the early warning signs I shouldn’t ignore?
A: Persistent joint pain, especially if it’s symmetrical or accompanied by swelling, fatigue, or morning stiffness lasting more than an hour, signal rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis, watch for stiffness that eases with movement, joint tenderness after activity and gradual loss of flexibility. Visible joint changes, like enlarged knuckles or a shifting thumb joint, are also red flags.
Seeing your mortgage payment surge 20% can feel like a punch to the gut, especially when you weren’t expecting it. A jump that large can derail your monthly budget and stress your family’s finances. But there’s a path forward—you’re not helpless. Understanding why the increase happened and knowing the right moves can stop panic from taking over. So, here is what you need to know if your mortgage payment goes up.
Pinpoint the Cause of the Increase
When your mortgage payment goes up, first identify the trigger. Is it due to an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) resetting, a buydown period ending, or soaring property taxes or insurance? Even fixed-rate mortgages can climb if escrow shortages or rising tax assessments come into play. Dive into your statement—focus on the breakdown: principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI). If something feels off, call your servicer immediately to get clarity.
Challenge Errors or Servicing Fees
Lenders sometimes add surprise servicing fees or miscalculate escrow accounts. When your mortgage payment goes up, these charges can sneak in unnoticed. If you suspect a mistake, call your servicer right away, document your call, and request a corrected statement. If that doesn’t resolve it, formally dispute the error in writing following CFPB guidelines. Don’t let errors become permanent charges on your account.
Refinance to Lock in a Better Rate
Refinancing is one of the most effective ways to combat a mortgage payment that goes up scenario especially if your loan is past a buydown or ARM period. Refinancing can secure a lower rate or extend the term to reduce monthly costs. A 15-year refinance might add stability and save on interest long-term despite higher payments than a 30-year loan. Crunch the numbers—refinancing fees matter—but it might ease immediate financial strain.
Explore Loan Modifications or Extensions
If refinancing isn’t a fit, your lender may offer a loan modification to adjust terms and prevent foreclosure. Options include extending the loan term, lowering your interest rate, or even pausing payments temporarily via forbearance. Some government programs let borrowers cap monthly payments at a manageable percentage of income. This could reduce your monthly payment even if refinancing isn’t possible.
Manage Escrow Surprises
Escrow increases from higher taxes or insurance premiums are common culprits when your mortgage payment goes up, even on fixed-rate loans. Review your escrow analysis; sometimes lenders allow spreading shortages over 12 months, easing the immediate impact. If your homeowner’s insurance jumped, shop around or ask your broker for better rates. Lowering these dashboard components can reduce your total payment dramatically.
Cancel Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Did you start your mortgage with a down payment under 20%? Your loan likely came with PMI. Reaching 20-22% equity means you’re typically eligible to cancel PMI, dropping a big chunk of your monthly bill. Even before hitting that mark, refinancing into a loan without PMI could be worthwhile. If your mortgage payment goes up just because PMI hasn’t been canceled, it’s time to act.
Go Biweekly or Increase Payments
When your mortgage payment goes up, making biweekly payments or small extra payments can reduce the interest owed over time. That doesn’t lower your current bill, but it shortens the loan’s lifespan and speeds up equity growth. Over the long run, this strategy can offset future rate hikes. If refinancing or modifying isn’t an option, consider this as part of a strategy to get ahead.
Tighten Your Budget or Explore Side Income
A 20% jump in housing costs could force tough decisions. Review where you can trim discretionary spending and tighten your budget. Could lifestyle adjustments—for example, dialing back streaming, dining out, or leisure—help balance things out? Or use this as motivation to find side gigs or extra revenue, like freelancing or ridesharing? Taking action can cushion the blow while you’re resolving your mortgage situation.
Consider Downsizing or Renting Out Space
If your mortgage payment goes up to a point beyond affordability, it may be time to evaluate whether your current home still fits your financial reality. Downsizing to a smaller property or a lower-cost area could slash monthly housing costs. Alternatively, renting out a spare room or basement suite may offset the increase. While not easy, these options can be financial lifelines if remaining costs become unmanageable.
Don’t Let Payment Hikes Derail Your Financial Plan
A 20% increase in your mortgage payment can be scary, but not unbeatable. Taking control starts with knowing why your mortgage payment goes up, then exploring every available safety net—escrow adjustments, PMI cancellation, refinancing, modifications, budgeting, or side income. Homeownership means facing unexpected challenges, but being proactive keeps surprises from becoming crises. If your mortgage payment went up, start with understanding, then choose a strategy that matches your goals.
Has your mortgage payment soared recently? What steps did you take to handle it? Share your experience in the comments to help others facing the same challenge.
Amanda Blankenship is a full-time stay-at-home mom. Her family recently welcomed their second child, a baby boy, into the world. She loves writing about various topics, including politics and personal finance. In her spare time, Amanda loves to play with her kids, make food from scratch, crochet, and read.
Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer is a powerful first step in transforming lives, but your earning potential truly expands when you pursue specialized credentials. Whether you’re looking to attract new clients, increase your rates, or diversify your services, adding niche certifications can help you stand out in a competitive field. AFPA offers several industry-leading specialty programs designed to deepen your expertise and open up lucrative opportunities. In this post, we’ll explore five high-impact specializations that not only improve your skills but can also significantly boost your income as a personal trainer:
Let’s break down how each of these programs equips you to better serve clients and expand your fitness career.
Pre & Postnatal Fitness Specialist Certification
Pregnancy and postpartum represent some of the most physically and emotionally transformative times in a person’s life. As a Certified Pre & Postnatal Fitness Specialist through AFPA, you’ll be qualified to guide clients safely and confidently through every phase of this journey, from the first trimester through postpartum recovery.
This 100% online, self-paced certification (offered in partnership with ProNatal Fitness®) is built on an evidence-based curriculum that empowers you to:
Design prenatal fitness programs that promote smoother births and faster recoveries
Guide clients through effective postnatal fitness strategies
Address common pregnancy-related pains and injuries
Help new mothers return to strength and function safely
With 17 learning modules, 130+ exercise videos, ready-to-use programming templates, and downloadable intake forms, this pre and postnatal fitness certification gives you all the tools to launch or expand your services for pregnant and postpartum clients.
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How It Boosts Your Income
The market for pre and postnatal fitness may seem niche, but it’s anything but small. Each year, millions of babies are born (3.6 million babies were born in 2024 in the United States alone, according to CDC data). That’s millions of new and expecting parents, parents who need support and guidance to stay healthy and active during pregnancy and recover with confidence after birth.
Offering prenatal and postnatal fitness services can be both personally rewarding and financially sustainable. A well-structured postnatal fitness program can generate an estimated $50,000 to $150,000 in annual revenue, depending on your model, pricing, and reach.
Stepping into this specialized field not only expands your income opportunities, but it also positions you as a trusted expert for a uniquely motivated and loyal population. You’re not just helping someone build strength or hit a goal; you’re supporting people through one of the most significant transitions of their lives. That kind of work doesn’t just build a career. It builds legacy and trust, qualities that will open doors for years to come.
Kettlebell Essentials: The Iron Cardio Approach Certificate
Kettlebells are no longer a fringe tool in the gym—they’re a cornerstone of functional strength and endurance training. AFPA’s Kettlebell Essentials course, led by renowned coach Brett Jones, introduces the Iron Cardio method: a fluid, endurance-based system that combines kettlebell strength and cardiovascular conditioning.
This specialty certificate includes:
Six video-based modules teaching core lifts: Clean, Press, Squat, Snatch
Structured progressions using the Iron Cardio protocol
Real-world programming samples
Hands-on technique instruction
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trainer, this course helps you build safe, effective kettlebell workouts that challenge the body without maxing out intensity. The Iron Cardio method emphasizes sustainability and flow—perfect for clients who want to build strength and conditioning without burnout.
How It Boosts Your Income
Kettlebell training attracts a wide audience, from busy professionals to athletes. With this specialty certificate under your belt, you can offer dynamic one-on-one sessions to help your clients get stronger, burn calories, and become more athletic. This is a high-value skillset that appeals to functional fitness fans, hybrid training enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a break from more traditional workouts.
In 2023, the kettlebell global industry was valued at $51 billion, and it’s projected to grow to $116.2 billion by 2031, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. North America alone holds about 40% of that market, with strong growth expected over the next decade.
What does that mean for instructors? It means more clients are buying kettlebells, signing up for classes, and searching online for kettlebell programming. As demand grows, so does your opportunity to charge premium rates for this specialized, effective type of training.
You can teach group classes in commercial gyms or studios, run virtual kettlebell bootcamps from anywhere, or create digital programs and instructional content. The expanding audience translates into greater income potential and flexibility for your career.
Pilates Instructor Certification
If you want to expand into low-impact training that delivers major results, Pilates is a powerful path forward. AFPA’s Pilates Fitness Instructor Certification is an accessible, fully online program that prepares you to teach Pilates mat classes with confidence.
Inside the course, you’ll learn:
Foundational Pilates mat exercises and progressions
Anatomy, movement principles, and injury considerations
How to teach multi-level classes and provide modifications
Routines for special populations, including clients with lower back pain
With over 300 photo-supported exercises, downloadable routines, and three digital textbooks, this course equips you to deliver safe, engaging Pilates experiences in-person or online.
Instructor numbers are rising, but not fast enough to fill the gap. Since 2015, the number of new instructors entering the field has grown by 15%. Yet demand continues to outpace supply, creating strong job prospects for newly certified professionals. Also worth noting, the survey showed that career satisfaction among Pilates instructors is high. 92% of instructors would recommend becoming a Pilates instructor to others, 89% say they love their job, and 79% look forward to going to work every day.
From big box gyms to boutique studios to private virtual sessions, clients are seeking expert Pilates instruction. Adding this credential will allow you to reach new demographics, offer specialized services that complement your personal training, and ultimately, increase your earning potential.
Certified Health and Wellness Coach Program
What if you could help clients achieve transformation beyond the gym? With AFPA’s Health and Wellness Coach Certification, you’ll be equipped to support long-term lifestyle change by addressing physical, emotional, and behavioral factors.
This program goes far beyond fitness. It’s a complete, board-eligible training in holistic coaching. You’ll learn:
Motivational interviewing and behavior change science
Holistic health strategies including stress management, nutrition, and movement
Legal and ethical considerations for coaching
Client communication and business development
Featuring over 35 hours of video content, simulated coaching sessions, and downloadable handouts, this certification empowers you to help clients navigate complex wellness challenges, whether it’s eating habits, work-life balance, or mental well-being.
How It Boosts Your Income
Health and wellness coaching is a powerful add-on service to personal training. For example, with this certification you could expand from weekly workouts to more holistic monthly wellness coaching packages. This course allows you to offer clients more comprehensive support and unlock recurring revenue streams. Plus, it opens doors to working with clients remotely, one-on-one, or in group coaching formats.
Designed by expert educator and yoga professional Rena Shoshana Forester, this 100% online, self-paced course provides the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to lead safe, meaningful classes for students of all levels. Unlike more rigid, time-intensive yoga programs, this certification was created to be flexible and more cost-effective.
This course covers:
Yoga philosophy & fundamentals (Eight Limbs, Chakras, Pranayama) presented in clear, modern language
Essential asana breakdowns with sequencing tips you can plug straight into classes or one-on-one sessions
Ready-to-teach resources: downloadable lesson plans, meditation scripts, and three full-length practice videos (90-, 45-, and 30-minute formats)
Flexible, self-paced learning across 19 bite-size modules you can complete in six months or less, entirely online
How It Boosts Your Income
Yoga instruction is a versatile service that you can offer in countless settings: gyms, studios, corporate offices, retreats, wellness platforms, or even from your own home. And thanks to the rise of online fitness and wellness, yoga instructors today can teach both in person and virtually, expanding their reach and income potential. Whether you want to teach a weekly class at your local gym, offer online private sessions, or incorporate yoga into your existing fitness or coaching business, this certification adds a valuable, income-generating skill to your toolkit.
Increase Your Earning Potential with the Right Certification
Adding a specialization isn’t just about gaining new skills, it’s about creating new opportunities. Each of these AFPA certifications allows you to serve a specific client group with deeper knowledge, better results, and more confidence.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose your next step:
Certification
Client Focus
What You’ll Learn
How It Boosts Income
Pre & Postnatal FitnessSpecialist
Pregnant & postpartum clients
Design safe, effective fitness programs for before and after birth
Attract a niche client base seeking specialized support during a life-changing season
Kettlebell Essentials: The Iron Cardio Approach Certificate
General fitness & strength clients
Iron Cardio kettlebell programming and technique
Offer high-performance, functional training classes or hybrid programs
Pilates Fitness Instructor
All fitness levels, especially rehab/prehab clients
Pilates mat exercises, progressions, and injury considerations
Teach group classes, private sessions, or online Pilates programs
Health & Wellness Coach
Clients with holistic lifestyle goals
Motivational interviewing, holistic coaching, and business skills
Add premium coaching packages, remote services, and long-term client programs
Yoga Instructor
Clients seeking mind-body movement
Yoga philosophy, sequencing, breathwork, and posture instruction
Teach in studios, corporate settings, or online
Choose the Specialization That Aligns With Your Purpose
As a personal trainer, you’ve already taken on the role of educator, motivator, and change-maker. Specializing allows you to refine your skills and expand your impact, all while helping you meet your financial goals. Whether you’re passionate about helping new mothers regain strength, keeping athletes at the top of their game, or coaching clients toward holistic wellness, AFPA has a certification that aligns with your mission. Explore these and other AFPA programs to invest in your future in health and fitness work.
Find Your Ideal AFPA Course
Take this short quiz to find the AFPA course that best fits your interests and career aspirations.
Reviewed by
Diane Vives, M.S.
Senior Director, Health & Wellness Professional Education
ChatGPT can now create a PowerPoint presentation or make purchases online for you — with just a prompt.
OpenAI released the new ChatGPT agent on Thursday, a general-purpose AI tool that can complete complex tasks on a user’s behalf, like searching the web, running code, and creating slideshows and spreadsheets. The AI agent can click, type, and submit forms on its own based on a natural language prompt, and users can interrupt it at any time. It’s part of OpenAI’s effort to make ChatGPT more of a tool capable of handling autonomous tasks instead of just a chatbot that answers questions. As of March, ChatGPT had over 500 million global weekly users.
ChatGPT agent can also act as a virtual assistant, connecting to apps like Gmail and Google Calendar to carry out tasks like drafting emails and making appointments. It completes tasks using its own virtual computer and shifts on its own between reasoning and action to carry out instructions.
OpenAI says the new tool can “analyze three competitors and make a slide deck” — the agent will chart out a course of action, go through websites, and create an editable slideshow.
It can also create editable Excel spreadsheets by taking in a prompt like “make a spreadsheet based on the San Francisco annual comprehensive financial reports (ACFR).”
The agent can also shop online for users, though it will always ask for approval before carrying out a sensitive action, like entering personal information or making a purchase.
OpenAI is embedding the agent within ChatGPT and allowing paying users to access it immediately by selecting “agent mode” in ChatGPT’s dropdown tool menu. The agent starts rolling out today for Pro, Plus, and Team users, with plans to become available to Enterprise and Education customers over the summer.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
OpenAI says the agent could help workers, like financial analysts, complete tasks more quickly.
“We think that this model is actually going to be quite good at low-level, first-, second-year, financial analysis type work that might have taken someone a night to do if they’re getting pinged by their boss late at night,” ChatGPT agent product manager Neel Ajjarapu told The Wall Street Journal.
ChatGPT isn’t the first AI tool to be able to make PowerPoint presentations, but it is the most mainstream AI product to offer the agentic capability. Other AI presentation tools include Microsoft Copilot, which is integrated into PowerPoint and can generate presentations from prompts, and Google Workspace add-on SlidesAI.io, which converts any text into a Google Slides presentation.
Meanwhile, other companies are leveraging internal AI tools to create slide decks. For example, McKinsey consultants are using an internal AI tool to create PowerPoint presentations, taking over junior employee tasks.
ChatGPT agent is a combination of two other agents OpenAI released earlier this year: Operator, which can browse the web to fill out forms and take action like a virtual assistant, and Deep Research, which searches the web for answers to research questions and presents the findings in a paper with citations — though it far exceeds the capabilities of both.
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ChatGPT can now create a PowerPoint presentation or make purchases online for you — with just a prompt.
OpenAI released the new ChatGPT agent on Thursday, a general-purpose AI tool that can complete complex tasks on a user’s behalf, like searching the web, running code, and creating slideshows and spreadsheets. The AI agent can click, type, and submit forms on its own based on a natural language prompt, and users can interrupt it at any time. It’s part of OpenAI’s effort to make ChatGPT more of a tool capable of handling autonomous tasks instead of just a chatbot that answers questions. As of March, ChatGPT had over 500 million global weekly users.
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Hi friends! A brand new podcast episode is live and I’m so excited to share this conversation with Mario Brainović all about the most essential element of health: Water
Here’s what we discuss:
– Why Mario believes our bodies have an innate ability to heal—and how water plays a key role in that process
– What Analemma technology is, and how it transforms regular water into a coherent state that supports energy, brain function, and vitality
– The science behind hydrogen water, and why it’s gaining momentum in the health world
– How water stores frequencies, acts as an energy transmitter, and connects us to nature on a biological level
– The link between water quality, cellular energy, and long-term wellness
– Why meditation and whole foods are cornerstones of a sustainable healthy lifestyle
– How our personal energy can influence the biology of those around us (!)
…and so.much.more!
If you’ve ever wondered whether the water you drink is truly supporting your health, this episode will leave you inspired to see it in a whole new light. ✨
186: The Healing Power of Water and Energy with Mario Brainović
Mario Brainović, CEO of New Earth Technologies Ltd.
Mario is an entrepreneur, researcher and a visionary in the field of health and wellness. For years he ran a successful international advertising agency and a production house. He was always very passionate about health and wellness, about finding natural ways to heal, regenerate and restore the delicate balance between body, mind and spirit. This led him to establish a natural pharmaceutical company that successfully helped many people for years. After a while he became very passionate about water.
Realizing its extraordinary significance he established New Earth Technologies, a company that offers Analemma Water to the world, as well as invests in the research of coherent water and its effects on biological systems – humans, plants and animals.
If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. You can absolutely join if you don’t currently work in the health or fitness industry; many IHPs don’t begin on this path. They’re friends who are passionate to learn more about health and wellness, and want to share this information with those they love. You can do this as a passion, or start an entirely new career.
Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please be sure to subscribe, and leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you.
Success! Check your email for a free 30-day meal and fitness cheat sheet
IT leaders from across the country gathered at Cisco Live US 2025 to explore the latest innovations, strategies, and best practices in technology. The event featured tailored sessions and keynotes designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing manufacturing, transportation, utilities and other industrial organizations. Here are a few highlights from the week.
Modernizing Industrial Operations
The most innovative demonstration on the show floor at Cisco Live featured a guitar refurbishment factory illustrating how industrial networks are becoming the nervous system of modern manufacturing. In this advanced assembly line, guitars underwent meticulous inspection and tuning by AI-driven robotics, showcasing the wide-ranging capabilities enabled by sophisticated networking technology.
The demo featured AI-powered machine vision, virtualized programmable logic controllers, industrial visibility, network segmentation, secure remote access, data extraction, and more—highlighting how cutting-edge networking is fueling innovation and operational efficiency in industrial settings. Check out the below video to see the technology in action.
Cisco Customer Achievement Awards
The Cisco Customer Achievement Awards recognized outstanding Cisco customers who achieved exceptional results through innovative use of Cisco solutions. The awards celebrated excellence in areas such as AI-readiness, future-proof workplaces, digital resilience, and sustainability, highlighting transformative business outcomes and customer success stories. Winners were announced during the awards ceremony at Cisco Live San Diego 2025 and featured the below industrial customers.
Future-Proofed Workplaces
The Future-proofed Workplaces Awards honored customers modernizing work environments, ensuring secure access, immersive collaboration, hybrid work, and innovations in smart building tech and secure networking.
Fairlife – Modernized Infrastructure Maestro Award Winner
High Impact Sessions
There were numerous high impact sessions throughout the week including:
This session highlighted practical strategies for improving plant floor security and minimizing downtime in manufacturing settings. General Motors is tackling challenges like limited visibility into network traffic and endpoints, along with a shortage of skills and training, to secure its global plants. With the implementation of Identity Services Engine (ISE) for policy management and the deployment of Catalyst Industrial Ethernet (IE) solutions, IP67 switches, and Catalyst Center, GM is achieving increased efficiencies and a strong ROI.
This session explored the application of Software-Defined Access (SDA) technology in industrial automation environments. It featured Audi, showcasing their innovative approach to virtualizing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) hardware. By leveraging hyperconverged infrastructure and SDA, Audi is creating efficient virtual environments that connect seamlessly to the plant floor.
Explore Cisco Live US 2025 On-Demand Sessions
Don’t miss the opportunity to catch up on all the valuable insights and innovations shared at Cisco Live US 2025 by exploring the Cisco Live on-demand session library. Whether you want to revisit your favorite presentations or discover new topics relevant to your organization, the on-demand sessions offer flexible access to expert-led discussions, product demonstrations, and industry best practices.
Be sure to check out must-watch sessions such as Connecting and Protecting Manufacturing Organizations in the AI Era, for in-depth perspectives on how AI is transforming security and connectivity in manufacturing. It’s the perfect way to stay informed, inspire your team, and make the most of Cisco Live—anytime, anywhere.
I grew up with a solidly middle class upbringing. My parents owned our home, my dad worked full-time and my mom worked part-time.
We were frugal, as many immigrants are, because we had to be.
My dad came here on an education visa with a one-way ticket. He would send money home all the time.
Money was a scarce resource and you had to be careful with it.
Financial insecurity is the anxiety and stress you feel about your financial situation. It’s an emotional response, not a logical one, and it can stick with you regardless of how much money you make or how much wealth you’ve accumulated.
🎧 Case in point: Here’s a short clip of a chat between Scott Galloway (~$100mm net worth) and Sam Parr (~$20mm net worth) and their financial insecurities – yes, it sounds absurd to have insecurities when you have tens to hundreds of millions… but it’s common! Khe Hy writes about it.
I once felt this acutely and despite our net worth increasing, there are still times I feel it but there are steps you can take to mitigate it.
Whether it’s a partner, close friend, or a therapist, it’s important to talk about your feelings with someone you trust. More or less, we all have emotional feelings about money. And like any other feelings, talking about them often makes them better.
The person you talk to doesn’t need to have the answers or be able to help you solve your problems. They can simply be there to listen. Just putting it into words may help you deal with some of the anxiety and stress.
I always find it funny that money is a taboo subject in such a capitalist society. Find someone you trust who you can talk to and it could significantly help your mental health.
💰 Keep a larger cash cushion
Remember, financial security is an emotional feeling, not a logical one, and so you have to trick yourself into believing you are financial secure – that means keeping a larger cash cushion in your checking and savings account.
Call it an emergency fund. Call it a rainy day fund. Call it your regular ole checking – it’s fine to keep more than you truly need if it can help alleviate your anxiety.
How much? That depends on how you feel.
I keep a few months of expenses in our checking and savings account. I know it’s better off in something else but this peace of mind is worth the few extra dollars in interest. Most of it is in the savings account, which protects the checking account from overdrafts, so I’m not giving up that much in interest.
📔 Check in on finances regularly
I update our net worth each month and this is a very important part of our financial system.
Every month, I log into each account and record the numbers. I used to check more often with tools like Empower Personal Dashboard but for monthly check-ins, I log in manually to each account. This has pushed me to simplify our finances, so I log into fewer accounts.
By recording our net worth, I know how much we have.
I don’t “feel” how much we have, I can see it.
And I’m reminded that some months the market does badly and the number goes down by a lot. Sometimes the market does well and it goes up by a lot. This slowly inoculates me from the emotional response to market volatility, which is inevitable.
🥅 Establish a financial plan with goals
A financial plan is good regardless of how you feel about your money.
One with goals will give you a sense of progress and growth as well as a path forward.
Uncertainty is what creates worry. Having a plan can help with that uncertainty because now instead of fearing the unknown, you’re working towards a goal. You can redirect that energy.
I do want to add that there is something known as the boring middle. This is when you’ve established a plan and you’re simply working towards your goals. There’s nothing to do, per se, except continue on the path you’ve chosen. It’s “boring” because there are no decisions, but that’s part of any trip.
Don’t let insecurity creep in during the boring middle – keep following your plan.
📱 Calculate your debt-to-income ratio
If you have a “lot of debt,” that can be stressful. Sometimes it’s the numerical figure that causes you stress. Sometimes it’s simply its existence.
By calculating your debt-to-income ratio, you can put that debt into context.
And not all debts are equal. Unsecured credit card debt is different than mortgage debt. I’d argue that most people with a mortgage probably have a seemingly sky-high debt to income ratio… but that’s normal, especially if you’re young.
📺 Stop watching the news
During Covid, the news was a direct cause of my anxiety. It also caused financial anxiety because the markets were crumbling as the whole of the United States shut down.
All of our kids were home. We were stressed. And now I’m watching scenes of overflowing hospitals and infection figures. It was terrible.
I stopped watching the news. Being informed wasn’t helping me manage my day to day. It was making it worse.
Stopping was the best thing I did for our mental health during that period.
You can watch the news if it doesn’t cause you anxiety but if it does, consider stopping. Stop it and anything else that makes the feelings of anxiety and insecurity worse. Perhaps it’s staying off social media. Perhaps it’s something else – but try to identify it and stop.
🧠 Remember, it’s a work in progress
To this day, despite being in a much stronger financial position, I don’t like spending a lot of money. I also love finding a good deal. It’s hard to shake the things you learn as a kid but it’s something that you need to do, especially if they no longer serve you.
Yes, the dopamine hit you get when you find a deal is always fun but it costs you precious time. While I won’t drive across the street to save 5 cents a gallon on gasoline, I will search for coupons before I buy something. 🤣
It’s a work in progress and the work is never done. There’s always going to be a time when it creeps in and you just have to use your tools to calm it down. Hopefully some of these ideas will help.
Ever feel like you’re running on fumes and your brain feels like scrambled eggs?
You, my friend, are likely battling mental fatigue—a sneaky energy thief that can leave even the most active, health-conscious women feeling utterly drained. The culprit? Your cognitive load and the sheer volume of decisions, stressors, and emotional labor you’re juggling daily.
If you’re a woman who prides herself on getting things done, being the “go-to” person, and constantly striving to achieve, you know this feeling all too well. This kind of invisible burnout can sabotage your fitness goals, dull your mental clarity, and leave you feeling less vibrant than you deserve.
Understanding how your mental energy budget works is crucial for safeguarding your well-being and finally feeling refreshed and resilient.
Your Brain’s Bank Account: Understanding Mental Energy
Think of your mental energy like a bank account (and no, don’t worry—we’re not getting technical here because I suck at math and accounting). But every single task, every tiny decision, every interaction (positive or otherwise) is a transaction. When you’re constantly making choices, big or small, you’re dipping into your decision fatigue reserves. Each decision is like a small withdrawal—and too many of them leave you staring at an empty balance.
Stress is one of the biggest culprits. It hijacks your focus and places a massive damper on your “energy account.” Chronic stress keeps your brain on high alert, burning through energy like an uncontrolled spending spree. That’s why you might feel mentally fried even after a relaxing weekend—your internal system is still buzzing, constantly drawing down your available funds and threatening to push you into overdraft.
Mastering Your Energy Flow: Spend Smart, Deposit More
The good news? You can absolutely learn to manage your energy budget like a savvy investor. It’s all about identifying sneaky withdrawals and consciously depositing into what truly fuels you.
1. Cut the Energy Leaks
These sneaky siphons drain your mental reserves without you even realizing it—leaving you teetering on the edge of burnout.
Comparisonitis. Constantly scrolling through social media, comparing your current body or life to someone else’s highlight reel—or worse, to a former version of yourself? That’s a massive, unnecessary withdrawal from your mental energy account. It breeds inadequacy and anxiety, two huge energy suckers that leave you in the red.
Boundary Busting. Saying “yes” when you desperately want to say “no,” or failing to advocate for your own needs because you’re worried about disappointing someone? Every time you override your authentic needs, it’s like a penalty fee hitting your energy budget. It drains your self-respect and leaves you feeling resentful and depleted.
Pointless Pings & Scrolling. Those endless notifications and mindless scrolling sessions? They’re designed to hook you. Each ping is a tiny interruption that fragments your focus and prevents your brain from truly resting. It’s like a million tiny, unauthorized charges on your bank statement. Each one might seem small, but collectively they plunge you into a mental overdraft.
2. Invest in High-ROI Habits
Here’s where you build your energy reserves back up. These are the non-negotiables that truly replenish your mental coffers and boost resilience.
Prioritize Sleep. Beyond physical rest, sleep is when your brain cleans house, consolidates memories, and literally recharges. Consider it your daily energy direct deposit—and make it non-negotiable.
Consistent Movement. Movement is a powerful stress reliever and mood booster that directly impacts your mental energy. Find movement you genuinely enjoy—and commit to it.
Intentional Play & Fun. Schedule genuine fun like you would a work meeting. Laughter, hobbies, dancing—these are potent antidotes to mental fatigue and deliver BIG deposits into your energy account.
Nervous System Regulation. Even five minutes of structured breathing or a walk in nature can pull you out of fight-or-flight mode and conserve precious energy. It’s a critical investment.
Cultivate a Supportive Community. Connecting with people who uplift you and allow you to be your authentic self? That’s like a constant stream of tiny positive deposits into your well-being fund.
Reclaim Your Mental Edge
Treat your mental energy like the finite, valuable resource it is—and it will transform how you show up in your life.
By plugging the leaks that push you into overdraft and consciously investing in activities that truly replenish you, you’ll stop feeling perpetually drained. You’ll build a body and mind that keep up with your busy-as-hell life—feeling strong, energized, and up to a decade younger without burning out or second-guessing every move.
It’s time to stop constantly giving—and start strategically replenishing.
What’s one energy leak you’re ready to plug today to reclaim your mental energy?— Alex
P.S. If you’re tired of feeling mentally drained and ready to build unshakeable self-trust, my Unfuckwittable Membership is where we get real about identifying those sneaky energy leaks and plugging them for good. We’ll boost your mental, physical, and emotional bandwidth so you can conquer any challenge life throws your way, confidently and resiliently. Learn more and join this powerful community HERE.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
