Exercise Is Health
At Muscle Activation Schaumburg, we believe your health is your most valuable asset. Join hosts Charlie and Julie Cates as they discuss how to utilize exercise to help improve and maintain your health, as well as interviews with health and wellness experts from various fields including chiropractic, accupuncture, psychology, nutrition, and functional medicine. Both Charlie and Julie are certified personal trainers and Muscle Activation Techniques® practitioners in Schaumburg, IL.
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E378 - 3 Areas You Need To Strengthen If You Have SI Joint Pain
03/26/2025
E378 - 3 Areas You Need To Strengthen If You Have SI Joint Pain
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do you have SI joint pain? This common ailment often makes it difficult to sit, walk, and sleep comfortably, especially when the issue is more intense. However, by getting your body stronger, you can do a lot to help support your SI joints and make sure they aren’t taking on more stress than they need to. But, what areas of your body should you focus on strengthening? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are revealing the three areas of the body that we have seen have the biggest impact on SI joint issues over the last 14 years. If SI joint pain is something you have dealt with in the past or are currently experiencing, listen up! What we share in this discussion can help you build strength in all the right areas of your body to make sure your SI joints are supported properly. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E377 - Why Sleeping On Your Side Isn’t Your Issue
03/19/2025
E377 - Why Sleeping On Your Side Isn’t Your Issue
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are you a side sleeper? Too often, the aches and pains people feel in their shoulders, neck, elbows, and back are blamed on them sleeping on their side. But the truth of the matter is, sleeping on your side is not your issue. There is a completely different issue happening and–good news–there is something you can easily do about it. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing why side sleeping actually isn’t a problem, what the real problem is, and the simple things you can do to resolve this problem once and for all. If your side sleeping preference is seeming to create issues with your neck, shoulders, elbows, or back, listen up! You don’t need to change your side sleeping, but you do need to change something else, and that’s exactly what we teach you to do in this conversation. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E376 - 3 Unusual Signs You Need Muscle Activation Techniques®
03/12/2025
E376 - 3 Unusual Signs You Need Muscle Activation Techniques®
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: How do you know if your body needs Muscle Activation Techniques®? While there are common signs that your muscles are not functioning well–such as certain muscles always feeling tight, flexibility being limited, joints aching, and muscles feeling weak–there are some more uncommon signs that also indicate your body needs MAT. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are highlighting three of the more unusual telltale signs that your muscles are in need of getting tuned up. While these telltale signs don’t jump out as obvious muscle issues, the truth is that each of them is highly influenced by the strength and function of your muscles. And, the better your muscles are functioning, the less likely you are to experience these three telltale signs. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E375 - The #1 Thing Missed When It Comes To Neck Weakness
03/05/2025
E375 - The #1 Thing Missed When It Comes To Neck Weakness
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Does your neck feel weak? Maybe it feels like you have difficulty holding your head in the posture you’d like. Or maybe your neck often feels fatigued throughout the day. Unfortunately, when it comes to trying to build a stronger neck, there are a number of concerns and misconceptions that hold people back from strengthening their neck in an effective and safe way. And there is one huge thing that is often overlooked that can help you to easily strengthen your neck. On this week’s episode of , we are discussing what this one thing is as well as how to overcome the common misconceptions about strengthening the neck. We lay out simple changes you can make to your workouts to build a stronger neck in an efficient manner, and we give you the “how to’s” to make sure you are able to do so safely. If you have wanted to strengthen your neck but aren’t sure how to do so without pain or risking injury, listen up! The information we share this week will give you exactly what you need to know. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E374 - Why Your Achilles Issue Is Actually A Muscle Issue
02/26/2025
E374 - Why Your Achilles Issue Is Actually A Muscle Issue
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Does your Achilles tendon ever feel tight or sore? Too often, the attempted remedies for Achilles issues focus only on the Achilles itself, leaving much to be desired in terms of pain and symptom relief. But, what if we told you that the symptoms in your Achilles aren’t actually indicative of an Achilles issue? Instead, almost every single Achilles issue is actually indicative of a muscle issue. On this week’s episode of , we are exploring why this is, where the muscle issues may be stemming from, and what you can do about them. If you have ever had an Achilles issue that took longer than you wanted to resolve, this conversation is for you! There are simple things you can implement immediately to start getting to the root of any muscle issues that are creating your Achilles symptoms. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E373 - Why Your Forward Shoulders Aren't A Rhomboid Issue
02/19/2025
E373 - Why Your Forward Shoulders Aren't A Rhomboid Issue
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do your shoulders round forward? It is often said that forward shoulders are a result of weakness in a specific muscle group called the rhomboids, but that’s actually not true. While the rhomboids can help to pull your shoulders back, it is extremely unlikely that them being weak will cause your shoulders to round forward. So unlikely in fact, that we have never seen that to be the case in over 14 years of working with people who have forward shoulders. However, we have consistently seen a number of other issues be huge contributors to forward shoulders. On this week’s episode of , we are diving into what these other issues are and what you can do about them. If you have been trying to get your shoulders to pull back and your posture to improve by strengthening your rhomboids, listen up! There are a number of potential reasons why this approach may not be getting you the results you want. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E372 - Should All Of Your Weights Be Equal?
02/12/2025
E372 - Should All Of Your Weights Be Equal?
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: When you lift weights, should all of the weights you use for specific areas of the body be the same? Should you use the same amount of weight when you do leg extensions as when you do leg curls? Or rows and chest presses? Or squats and deadlifts? This is a question that we get a lot, and on this week’s episode of , we are addressing it directly. Not only do we answer the question how it is often intended, but we answer another potential variation of it that actually has bigger implications for your strength and function overall. If you have ever wondered if you should be using the same weights for different exercises, listen up! This discussion will clear it up for you once and for all. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E371 - One Big Thing That Is Misunderstood About Tight Calves
02/05/2025
E371 - One Big Thing That Is Misunderstood About Tight Calves
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do your calves get tight when you walk or workout? There are many methods and remedies to try to stretch and loosen the calves, but all of them are missing one big variable that helps your calves relax. Unfortunately, this common misunderstanding about tight calves leads many people to constantly feel like their calves are tight every time they try to exert themselves. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are identifying what this misunderstanding is and what you can do to easily overcome it. We lay out a simple plan of action for you to follow to effectively relieve your calf tightness once and for all and give you the steps to start implementing the plan immediately. If your calves refuse to relax no matter how much you try to work on them, listen up! What we share in this discussion will be the missing piece of the puzzle for you. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E370 - Tight Quads? Here's What May Be Going On.
01/29/2025
E370 - Tight Quads? Here's What May Be Going On.
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do your quads constantly feel tight despite your best efforts to get them to relax? Maybe you notice it after sitting for a while or after you have been standing more than normal. Or maybe they are always tight all times of day. While most approaches focus directly on trying to relax the tightness, there are multiple variables that may be contributing to the tightness. On this week’s episode of , we are discussing many of these variables and what you should be considering with each of them so you can finally have quads that feel relieved of tightness. If you have tried everything to get your quads to relax with minimal success, listen up! What we share in this discussion can finally unveil what you actually need to be focusing on. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E369 - One Huge Missed Component When Trying To Improve Your Golf Swing
01/22/2025
E369 - One Huge Missed Component When Trying To Improve Your Golf Swing
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do you want to head into golf season swinging your best? You can spend hours at the range and take weeks of lessons this winter, but if you are missing this one thing, your swing (and golf game) are going to fall well short of their potential. On this week’s episode of , we are discussing what this one thing is, why it is critical to the improvement of your golf swing, and how you can start implementing it throughout your week. If you want to make sure your golf swing is at its best heading into spring and summer, listen up! What we share in this discussion can completely change the game for you. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E368 - 3 Considerations If You Have Forearm Pain
01/15/2025
E368 - 3 Considerations If You Have Forearm Pain
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Forearm pain can be one of the most nagging, long-lasting issues you experience. While many remedies focus strictly on the forearms themselves, there are often things that are completely overlooked with these types of approaches. However, taking an approach that doesn’t solely focus on the forearms can actually create faster and longer-lasting relief. On this week’s episode of , we are exploring three considerations that we have found to be helpful when working through forearm pain. If you are tired of the traditional approaches to addressing forearm pain, or if you’d like to learn what they may be missing, this conversation is for you. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E367 - One Simple Thing To Add To Your Workouts To Increase Your Strength & Consistency
01/08/2025
E367 - One Simple Thing To Add To Your Workouts To Increase Your Strength & Consistency
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: What if there was something simple you could add to your workouts that would not only help you get better results, but help you stay more consistent with your workouts, too? And what if this thing didn’t require any additional time or energy on your part? You could keep doing exactly what you are doing with your workouts, but just make a slight tweak to them. Believe it or not, there is something that does all of this! On this week’s episode of , we are unveiling what this one simple thing is, how you can easily add it into your workouts, and why it is so important to do so. If you have ever had difficulty sticking to your workouts or feeling like your body is ready to workout, listen up! This one thing can make all the difference for you and your workouts once you start to do it consistently. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E366 - The Easiest Way To Stay Consistent With Your Workouts
01/01/2025
E366 - The Easiest Way To Stay Consistent With Your Workouts
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Being consistent with your workouts is a key component of the results you will get from your workouts both in the short term and over the long term. But, one of the most difficult parts of working out is staying consistent with your workouts. Sure, you can go to the gym once, but how do you make sure you are able to keep going back on a regular basis for years to come? On this week’s episode of , we explore this idea of consistency and lay out the framework we have seen be the most effective way to make sure you get your workouts in. Everybody who works out consistently has one specific thing in common, and in this episode we unveil what that thing is and how you can apply it to your own life. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E365 - Better, More, New
12/25/2024
E365 - Better, More, New
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Have you not been satisfied with the results you’ve gotten from your workouts and are looking for the next new thing to help you out? While it can be tempting to jump from one program to the next, doing this consistently is almost a guaranteed way to not get the results you want. So, if jumping on the hot new trend isn’t how you get results, what is? On this week’s episode of , we discuss what it actually takes to get results from your workouts and how to structure your workouts to set you up for success both now and long term. If you have been frustrated with the lack of results you have gotten from your workouts in the past, this episode is for you! This conversation will reveal what the issues have been and you can avoid them going forward. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E364 - PSA - Stop Doing What Is Hurting You
12/18/2024
E364 - PSA - Stop Doing What Is Hurting You
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: We have a Public Service Announcement for you that you need to hear if you have been battling any aches and pains… Stop Doing What Is Hurting You. While this may seem like obvious advice, it is often what people need to hear in order to actually help their bodies feel and function better. On this week’s episode of , we are diving into this idea and explaining how you can actually keep doing the things you enjoy most, even if they are hurting you right now. If you have ever felt frustrated that your body just isn’t holding up to doing the things you like to do as well as it used to, this discussion is for you! We lay out a simple plan to follow to get back to doing those activities without issues ASAP. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E363 - 3 Strategies To Build Stronger Hands (& Why You Need To)
12/11/2024
E363 - 3 Strategies To Build Stronger Hands (& Why You Need To)
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: One of the most important areas of your body to keep strong as you age is your hands. Your hands are something you use for almost every task throughout your day, so maintaining their strength and function as the years go by is key to being able to keep doing your daily tasks independently. However, there are very few things that challenge most peoples’ hands during their average day, which means that their hands are getting weaker with every passing year. So, how can you make sure to keep your hands strong and possibly build back their strength if anything has been lost? On this week’s episode of , we are laying out a plan to help you do just that. If your hands have been feeling like they are getting weaker but you aren’t sure how to change that, listen up! The plan we lay out can guide you through exactly what you need to do. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E362 - What Is Your Body’s Injury Prevention Insurance Policy?
12/04/2024
E362 - What Is Your Body’s Injury Prevention Insurance Policy?
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Your body has an injury prevention insurance policy that is built into it, but did you know you can change how robust this policy is? If you are active and using your body in your day to day life, eventually life is going to happen and something is going to get tweaked or strained. Keeping this metaphorical insurance policy strong and up to date is of the utmost importance to minimize the negative effects of the minor injuries that happen every once in a while, but how do you do that? On this week’s episode of , we are discussing all things about this metaphorical insurance policy–what it is, why it is important, and what you can do to build it up. If you have ever skipped out on doing the things you want in life out of fear of injury or lacking confidence that your body will fare well, listen up! We give you the top things you can do to keep your body resilient to injuries and issues. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E361 - How To Exercise If You Have Tight IT Bands
11/27/2024
E361 - How To Exercise If You Have Tight IT Bands
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do your tight IT bands keep you from working out on a regular basis? Tight IT bands are one of the most common complaints among people who try to exercise consistently, especially when doing running and other forms of endurance exercise. They can also be one of the most debilitating, as well, stopping many otherwise active people from working out for months on end. So if your IT bands are tight, are you just doomed to having to rest and become deconditioned until they feel better? Or are there ways you can workout without making your IT band tightness worse? On this week’s episode of , we are laying out specific principles for you to follow with your workouts if you have tight IT bands. Not only will these principles help keep you active despite the IT band tightness, they can also help you get to the root of what is causing this issue. If you feel like tight IT bands are keeping you from exercising how you want, listen up! What we share in this discussion can finally change that for you. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E360 - The #1 Thing To Do With Your Workouts To Keep Your Body From Flaring Up
11/20/2024
E360 - The #1 Thing To Do With Your Workouts To Keep Your Body From Flaring Up
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Does your body flare up when you push yourself too hard? Maybe your back gets stiff after a round of golf… Or your knees ache after going for a walk… Or your shoulders and neck bother you after doing yard work… There is one thing that we have seen time and again be the absolute best thing you can do to keep these flare ups to a minimum, and on this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are unveiling what that is. We dive into the key points you need to understand about this one thing so you can make sure to effectively implement it into your workouts right away. And, we give you a specific action plan to follow to help you get consistent results and keep you doing all the things you love. If you have ever had to miss out on living life because your body was holding you back, listen up! What we share in this discussion can change that for you once and for all. Check out all the details in this week’s episode. Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E359 - What's The Difference Between Rest & Active Recovery?
11/13/2024
E359 - What's The Difference Between Rest & Active Recovery?
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do you know the difference between rest and active recovery? While rest is often what is thought to be needed to help your body recover and feel better, that may not always be the case. In fact, there are many situations where active recovery is more effective than rest at getting your body back to feeling 100%. But what exactly is active recovery, how is it different from rest, and when should you aim to use one versus the other? On this week’s episode of , this is exactly what we are diving into. Not only do we lay out what you need to know about both rest and active recovery, but we give you guidelines to follow to know which you should be doing. If you have ever wondered if you should focus more on taking days completely off versus getting some light activity in to help you recover from your workouts, listen up! This discussion has all the information you need. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E358 - What Professional Athletes Do All The Time That You Don't
11/06/2024
E358 - What Professional Athletes Do All The Time That You Don't
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Professional athletes may be known for their speed, strength, and athleticism, but there is one thing that they do differently than most non-athletes that allows them to compete and perform at their highest level year after year. While you can look at their physical size, their young age, and their genetic gifts and think, “There’s nothing that they do that is applicable to me,” the truth is that there is a key component of their athletic success that they abide by religiously that you can 100% apply to your own life. On this week’s episode of , we are unveiling what this key component is and how it applies to you. We lay out a framework for you to follow to make sure you are able to implement this key into your own life so you can continue to perform at your highest level every single day. If you want to feel like your body is on your side and is fully able to help you live your life, listen up! This discussion has the information you need to implement. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E357 - What To Do When You Wake Up With A Stiff Neck
10/30/2024
E357 - What To Do When You Wake Up With A Stiff Neck
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Have you ever woken up with your neck feeling super stiff?Sch This is an issue that many people experience, and while the temptation often is to massage it or stretch it out, there are some steps that you can take that we’ve found to be far more effective and impactful. On this week’s episode of , we are laying out three things you can do today if you woke up with your neck feeling stiff and achy. Fortunately, more times than not, waking up with a stiff neck does not necessarily mean you injured yourself, but it is indicative of another issue that is likely going on. This conversation will identify what that issue is and exactly what you can do about it. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E356 - A Crazy Joint Replacement Story
10/23/2024
E356 - A Crazy Joint Replacement Story
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: How important are your muscles for the health and function of your joints? On this week’s episode of , we are sharing a crazy story from a client who was given no other option but to have a full knee replacement. If you have ever needed to have a joint replacement or are concerned about having one in the future, listen up! The story we share may change your perspective on how much control and influence you have over your situation. Check out the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E355 - A Little-Discussed Aspect Of Your Long-Term Health
10/16/2024
E355 - A Little-Discussed Aspect Of Your Long-Term Health
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Heart health, brain health, and metabolic health are often talked about in relation to your longevity and quality of life long-term. But did you know that there is another organ whose health has a tremendous impact on your long-term health and wellbeing, but rarely gets any press? On this week’s episode of , we are discussing what this organ is, why it is so important to keep healthy, and what specifically you can do about it. If you want to maintain your physical function and independence as the years go by, this episode is for you! We lay out the roadmap to follow to make sure you keep doing all the things you want to do for as long as you want to do them. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E354 - Why A Tight Psoas Isn't Your Problem
10/09/2024
E354 - Why A Tight Psoas Isn't Your Problem
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Have you been told you have a tight psoas? Maybe you’ve been to some type of therapist who told you you have a tight psoas. Or maybe you have done some internet searches and landed on a tight psoas as the self-diagnosed cause of your issues. While your psoas may feel tight, the truth is that it actually isn’t the thing that is causing your symptoms, whether they be in your back, hips, knees, or elsewhere. So what is the real issue if a tight psoas isn’t to blame? On this week’s episode of , that is exactly what we are exploring. We lay out all the different reasons why your psoas may be tight and why only focusing on the psoas won’t get you the long-term changes you desire, even if your symptoms change temporarily. If you have ever been led to believe that a tight psoas was the underlying cause of your symptoms, listen up! This discussion sheds light on information you need to implement to make changes that last. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E353 - How To Take Control Of Your Hamstring Tightness
10/02/2024
E353 - How To Take Control Of Your Hamstring Tightness
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are your hamstrings chronically tight? Much of the fitness and therapy worlds would lead you to believe that you need to focus more on stretching muscles, relaxing muscles, mobilizing joints, and releasing tissues; but if you have listened to our podcast for any period of time, you know that is not our take on the situation. Too often, we have seen the former approaches creating only short-term sensation changes with minimal positive long-term effects. So how can you get out of the never-ending cycle of stretching your hamstrings only to have them tighten up again? On this week’s episode of , we are laying out the steps that we have seen be most effective over the last 14 years at helping people relieve their hamstring tightness once and for all. If you constantly find yourself trying to loosen up your hamstrings, listen up! What we discuss can help you change that once and for all. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E352 - One Critical Fact Most People Don't Know About Their Knees
09/25/2024
E352 - One Critical Fact Most People Don't Know About Their Knees
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are you having knee issues? There is one thing many people don’t understand about their knees that can have a tremendous influence on how their knees feel and function. On this week’s episode of , we are discussing what this thing is and what you need to know about it to help your knees feel their best. If you have ever tried to strengthen your knees but haven’t had the improvement you were hoping for, this conversation is for you. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E351 - How To Prepare Your Feet For Running
09/18/2024
E351 - How To Prepare Your Feet For Running
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are your feet ready to run? Whether you are already running consistently or you are preparing to start, your feet need to have the strength and mobility to hold up to the stress. Unfortunately, while many people see the need to make sure their hips, knees, and back are ready, the feet are an often overlooked area that, when neglected, can create big issues. So how do you make sure your feet are prepared for the miles you are about to put on them? On this week’s episode of , we dive into exactly what we recommend all of our clients do for their feet when they want to start running. We lay out what we believe the most important steps to take are and how to go about doing them no matter what your fitness level. If you are ready to start running, you need to make sure your feet are up for the task, and this discussion has all the info you need to do that. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E350 - A Simple Plan To Get Your Low Back Moving Better
09/11/2024
E350 - A Simple Plan To Get Your Low Back Moving Better
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Does your low back feel like it’s not moving well? Too often, the strategies that are promoted to help your low back feel less restricted are over-complicated and ultimately ineffective. So what can you do to help get your low back moving well on a consistent basis without getting bogged down in the complexities of many popular methodologies? On this week’s episode of , that is exactly what we are laying out for you. We give you simple steps to follow to help your low back get moving and stay moving well without needing to follow an overwhelming process. If you have been in search of a way to help your low back feel more mobile, this discussion has your answers! Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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E349 - Should You Be Wearing Barefoot Shoes?
09/04/2024
E349 - Should You Be Wearing Barefoot Shoes?
Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Barefoot shoes ebb and flow in popularity with the general public, and even though we are personally fans of them for ourselves, it does not mean that they are right for every person. So what things do you need to consider when deciding whether or not barefoot shoes are for you? On this week’s episode of , we are diving into the pros and cons of barefoot shoes and what you can do to make sure your feet and body are ready to wear them. If you have ever wondered if you should wear barefoot shoes, this episode is for you! We lay out the top things you need to know and weigh in on how to go about making that decision. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: Would you like to have our guidance implementing the 4 Exercise For Life Principles while you workout? Join the Exercise For Life Membership for free for 30 days! Just head to to get started! Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving us a rating and review on the following platforms: – Apple Podcasts: – Spotify: Want to grab a free copy of our best-selling book, “The Exercise For Life Method”? Click here to order yours while copies are still available! Just cover the cost of shipping and handling to have it delivered right to you. Follow us on Instagram for more exercise tips and content about MAT® here: – Muscle Activation Schaumburg: – Julie Cates: – Charlie Cates:
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