My Favorite Foot Warm-Up for Better Runs, Walks and Workouts

/
My Favorite Foot Warm-Up for Better Runs, Walks and Workouts

Besides ensuring you have proper shoes and support, warming up the 33 joints and 29 muscles in each of your feet is a must. This is especially true before a run or if you are starting to hear the whispers of plantar fasciitis, shin splints or tendonitis (or if you just want to avoid those issues!). So spend just a few minutes (literally) doing some basic and effective foot warm ups. In this quick clip from a longer video with Guy Delia, PT, DPT, COMT of Renew Physical Therapy. Guy walks me through what have become my daily quick and easu go-to drills for keeping my feet, joints and all my tissues happy.

Read More

Why I Keep Writing My Newsletter (And Why You Might Like It)

/
Why I Keep Writing My Newsletter (And Why You Might Like It)

I’m not an “influencer,” and I don’t love influencer language. But honestly, I was just working out when a friend I’ve known at the gym for years came up and told me how much he liked my latest issue. Hearing that in real life makes me really happy—because I worked hard on it. So if you’re curious about fitness, nutrition and health, I’d love for you to read it. This month’s newsletter includes agility tests for all ages, tips on how to avoid overtraining, and 10 lessons from my 10+ years as a pre- and postnatal personal trainer. Hope you enjoy it! Read it here, and sign up for future newsletters from me here.

Read More

JJ in the News: New York Times: Agility at Any Age

/
JJ in the News: New York Times: Agility at Any Age

Pretty stoked to have been interviewed by The New York Times for a piece discussing agility training for all ages. It was a big honor to be asked for my input and included in the article. I won’t lie—I’ve always wanted to contribute to a fitness piece in this important paper. Bucket list: check! Learn how agility training can benefit you no matter where you are in life..

Read More

Training for Birth: What Years of Coaching Pre- & Postnatal Clients Has Taught Me

/
Training for Birth: What Years of Coaching Pre- & Postnatal Clients Has Taught Me

At last count, I’ve worked with over 20 mothers at various fitness levels who wanted to do what they could to make their pregnancies, deliveries, and recoveries as safe and successful as possible. Through my collective experience, I’ve learned that movement is, indeed, medicine—and that a safe exercise program can help both an expectant mother and her baby in many ways, as long as it follows well-established and science-backed guidelines. Here are some of the most important principles that have led to success in my work over the years.

Read More

Do We Need to Worry About Lead in Protein Powder?

/
Do We Need to Worry About Lead in Protein Powder?

This week Consumer Reports published an article with the headline Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead. The article sparked lots of clicks, social media posts, texts and forwards (which I can only assume was the goal of the article). Several clients texted it to me for my input. I encourage folks who use protein powder/products regularly to read the article.

Read More

Unpacking Changes in Food Dyes and High Fructose Corn Syrup

/
Unpacking Changes in Food Dyes and High Fructose Corn Syrup

Recently, clients have been asking about the administration’s intent to ban certain popular food dyes (sorry, Skittles!) and to reduce the consumption of high fructose corn syrup. Notably, Coca-Cola has agreed to make the switch to cane sugar. I turned to my colleague Tarah Valenti, RDN, from Custom Fit to help explain what it all might mean.

Read More

Beginner Agility Ladder Training to Unlock Longevity

/
Beginner Agility Ladder Training to Unlock Longevity

There’s been a big spotlight lately—both in the media and from healthcare experts—on the importance of training for longevity. The work we do now can have a major impact later in life. This includes strength training to build muscle and ward off bone loss and injury, plyometrics to retain mobility and power, and even agility work to stay surefooted and nimble as the years go on.

Read More

Do I Need an Electrolyte Supplement?

/
Do I Need an Electrolyte Supplement?

I’ve been getting questions from clients and colleagues lately about electrolyte supplementation. Ads, influencers and podcasters are promoting brands like LMNT which disagree with current salt intake recommendations and advocate for “More Salt, Not Less”. My gut told me daily electrolyte supplementation is probably unnecessary for most people but that it couldn’t hurt you. To be sure, I checked in with my go-to nutrition expert and registered dietician (and ultra marathoner and all around awesome human) Tarah Valenti from CustomFit for her input.

Read More

Resistance Training for Improved Bone Density at Any Age

/
Resistance Training for Improved Bone Density at Any Age

Back in January of 2023 one of my awesome longtime clients asked if I could do a few virtual training sessions with his mom to help her with some exercise suggestions. A few 30 minute sessions turned into a regular weekly routine of two 50 minute strength and mobility sessions for almost a year now. This week she showed me the results of a recent Dexa scan that noted "Significant change: increase in femoral neck mean bone density of 5.9%" and some other cool stuff. 

Read More

Visit Bay Area's A Runner's Mind for the Perfect Shoes

/
Visit Bay Area's A Runner's Mind for the Perfect Shoes

Since 2019 I’ve been super impressed with the service and selection at A Runner’s Mind and have been lucky enough to work with the General Manager Eileen in San Francisco and Manager Cindy in Burlingame. Rather than just picking the shoe I think looks the best, they’ve taught me over the years what type of shoe my feet and body need to perform my best and keep me pain and injury free. They use sophisticated assessments to analyze the arches of your feet and video your gait to determine your support needs.

Read More

Can I Exercise if I Get COVID?

/
Can I Exercise if I Get COVID?

It’s definitely COVID and flu season. And despite all our best efforts some of us are going to get sick. A handful of my virtual clients and friends have come down with mild (thankfully) COVID cases already this month. Some feel crummier than others. In my universe no one has (knock on wood) had a super rough go of it. They describe it mostly as a general nuisance and a foil to their plans of being productive and active. Folks have asked me “can I still exercise?” I can’t answer that for anyone. There is no universal guidance on whether one can/should exercise with COVID. Obviously one should avoid the gym and other people so as not to spread their germs. I’ve dug around trying my best to get an answer and like so many things in the realm of health and wellness, “it depends”. 

Read More

JJFit Video Tutorial: How to Perform a Kettlebell or Dumbbell Swing

/
JJFit Video Tutorial: How to Perform a Kettlebell or Dumbbell Swing

I love me a good kettlebell swing. It’s a staple for many of my clients and on-demand classes. Swings are great for building total body strength and really hitting those glutes and hamstrings. But it’s a move you definitely need to know what you’re doing to execute safely. Here’s a quick lesson if you need some tips for getting the most out of your swing and protecting your lower back! Don’t have a kettle bell? No worries, a basic dumbbell works great too!

Read More

Get More Mobile Ankles and Stronger Feet in 3 Minutes

/
Get More Mobile Ankles and Stronger Feet in 3 Minutes

I’ve had multiple clients ask me this week how to take better care of their feet. Whether you have joint pain (foot, knee, hip or back) now or simply want to avoid it in the future, here’s my gameplay for healthy tootsies.

Read More

15 Goal Ideas to Inspire More Movement and Joy

/
15 Goal Ideas to Inspire More Movement and Joy

Traditionally a lot of people jump into the holidays with two feet (see what I did there?!) and the best of intentions for crushing big fitness and wellness goals starting in the new year. Trainers like me used to see spikes in new gym memberships and requests for strict meal plans (instead of spikes in Coronavirus variants and virtual training sessions). If you are struggling with motivation and finding a goal that resonates with you, here are 15 some of my peeps are going for in the coming months that will influence their weekly fitness routines.

Read More

Dr. Mark and JJ Discuss and Demo the Latest Uses for BFR Training

/
Dr. Mark and JJ Discuss and Demo the Latest Uses for BFR Training

I’ve written about BFR (“Blood Flow Restriction”) or “Occlusion” Training on and off since 2017. This modality of resistance training has been clinically proven as a way to effectively and safely “hypertrophy” muscle. So when I was recently visiting my AMAZING physical therapist Dr. Mark Bautista, I was surprised to see patients being treated with BFR cuffs. I asked Dr. Mark about it and I learned about the deluge of recent clinical studies that have broadened the usage of BFR to include injury-specific rehab/prehab, sports performance, endurance, strength as well as traditional hypertrophy.

Read More

How To Protect Your Skin When Working Out

/
How To Protect Your Skin When Working Out

Exercise means sweating and sweating can lead to skin-related issues like irritation, inflammation and breakouts. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can follow to avoid these problems and protect your skin without sacrificing your fitness goals. I used to get terrible adult acne. And it really upset me. So I saw a dermatologist and esthetician and they gave me some great tips for keeping skin in great shape when working out.

Read More

A Quick Guide to Choosing the Best Running Shoes for You

/
A Quick Guide to Choosing the Best Running Shoes for You

About 50 million Americans participate in some form of running or jogging, according to a 2020 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. This year, with running events like the San Francisco Marathon set to resume in September, it’s a great time to get in gear and start training.If you want to maximize the many benefits of running and prevent injury, you first have to get yourself some dedicated running shoes. Here’s a handy guide to help you find your perfect pair.

Read More

How To Pick The Right Physical Therapist For Your Injury

/
How To Pick The Right Physical Therapist For Your Injury

As a trainer, I often work together with my clients’ physical therapists to ensure the safest and most effective rehab program from an injury. If you think you may need a physical therapist, it's crucial to choose the right one for your injury. Don’t delay or assume that the issue will fix itself. You only have one body, and you should take the best care of it. Here are some important factors that will help you make your decision and questions you’ll want to ask.

Read More

In the News: The Best Foam Rolling Exercises You Need for a Full-Body Release

/
In the News: The Best Foam Rolling Exercises You Need for a Full-Body Release

I've been getting a lot of questions and requests for my best recommendations for foam rolling, stretching and mobility. As a trainer and a massage therapist I love helping clients and students with the best strategies for taking care of their fascia and muscles. Check out my collaboration with LiveStrong for the best foam rolling techniques for the whole body.

Read More

In the News: The 5 Best Weight-Lifting Exercises for Better Posture

/
In the News: The 5 Best Weight-Lifting Exercises for Better Posture

Super proud to have collaborated with @krgrundy for Livestrong to show off my favorite posture improving strength moves. If you want to improve your posture to reduce pain, improve performance or just to look your best these five moves are a must.

Read More