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.

E444 - Should You Do MAT With A Disc Issue? 07/01/2026

E443 - Should You Be Wearing Barefoot Shoes? 06/24/2026

E443 - Should You Be Wearing Barefoot Shoes? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Should you be wearing barefoot shoes? While some people swear by them, others feel like there is absolutely no possible way they could ever wear barefoot shoes. So what’s the deal? Are they right for you? What kinds of benefits do they provide? And are they something you can jump into using without a second thought? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are talking all about barefoot shoes, their pros and cons, and how we recommend everybody approach using them. If you have ever considered barefoot shoes but have been hesitant to do so, listen up! What we discuss in this conversation will give you the confidence to make an informed decision as to whether or not they are right 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41741980

E442 - Why You May Need To Exercise More Intensely If Your Body Is Breaking Down 06/17/2026

E442 - Why You May Need To Exercise More Intensely If Your Body Is Breaking Down Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Does your body feel like it is breaking down? Maybe your knee feels achy, your back feels tight, or your shoulders are pinchy. Or maybe it just feels like you are “getting old”. A lot of times, when people feel this way, they are hesitant to exercise intensely–or exercise at all. But, truth be told, exercising at a low intensity may actually be causing your body to break down faster. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are explaining why this is and how we recommend increasing your exercise intensity while making sure you stay safe. If you have been resistant to exercising intensely because of how your body feels, this conversation will give you the confidence you need to start ramping up your workouts to build your strength and function without feeling achy, sore, or injured. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41662235

E441 - Your Body's Two Fences That Dictate Your Mobility 06/10/2026

E440 - How To Improve Your Cardio Without High Impact 06/03/2026

E440 - How To Improve Your Cardio Without High Impact Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Does your body hurt when you do high-impact exercises? If so, you are not alone. Unfortunately, many ways of doing cardio are higher-impact, which can leave your joints feeling angry when you are just wanting to build a healthier heart. So, how can you improve your cardio without suffering from the negative effects of high-impact exercises? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are answering for you. We lay out our top two recommended ways of working out to build your cardiovascular fitness while still being respectful of your joints. And, we teach you precisely what we do with our clients when helping them do this exact thing. If you have tried to get into better cardiovascular shape but have cut your efforts short because your body couldn’t take the impact, listen up! This conversation will give you two keys you can start applying to your workouts immediately to improve your cardio without stressing your joints. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41519155

E439 - 3 Musts For Getting Your Workouts In Consistently 05/27/2026

E439 - 3 Musts For Getting Your Workouts In Consistently Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: There are three things that must be present in order for you to workout consistently. If you are struggling to consistently workout, one of these three things is guaranteed to be missing. What are these three “musts” and how can you implement them into your day? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are discussing. We break down what each “must” is, why it is important, and what changes you need to make in order to have it be part of your routine. If you know you need to be working out and you want to workout but you aren’t doing so on a regular basis, at least one of these “musts” is missing from your life. This conversation will help you identify which one it is and give you the plan to put it back in. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41416030

E438 - 2 Easy Ways To Make Your Workouts More Effective 05/20/2026

E438 - 2 Easy Ways To Make Your Workouts More Effective Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: You don’t need a new workout routine to get better results from your workouts. You just need to switch a couple things about HOW you are doing your workouts. In fact, you can do the exact same exercises you are currently doing, with the same sets and reps, the same workouts times and times per week, and simply by changing these two things, you will get better results from your workouts. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are detailing out what these two things are and how to use them in your workouts. If you are already putting in the effort to get your workouts in and want better results without needing to workout harder or more often, listen up! These two easy things are the pathway to do just 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41354660

E437 - One Huge Benefit Of Consistent MAT & Exercise 05/13/2026

E437 - One Huge Benefit Of Consistent MAT & Exercise Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Consistently exercising and getting Muscle Activation Techniques® are two of the most important things you can do for your strength and health overall. While there are many benefits that can be experienced soon after you get started with each, there are some unique benefits that you are more likely to experience once you have been consistent for about 12 months. And, one of these benefits in particular is often the most impactful on your strength and function. What is this big benefit and why should it matter to you? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are discussing. We are diving into what this benefit is, why it takes so long to be experienced, and why it is important to get to the place where you can experience it. If you have ever wondered why we are so big on maintaining consistency with your MAT and strength training, this conversation unveils a huge piece of the equation. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41267975

E436 - How Soon After Your MAT Session Can You Exercise? 05/06/2026

E436 - How Soon After Your MAT Session Can You Exercise? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: How soon after your Muscle Activation Techniques® session can you exercise? Many clients want to keep up their regular workout routine while getting their muscles tuned up with MAT, but how long after a session should you wait to workout again? While working out–and strength training in particular–are certainly an important part of maintaining healthy, strong muscles, exercising too soon after your MAT session can actually prevent you from getting the results you want with MAT. So how soon is too soon? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is the exact question we are answering. If you have ever tried to figure out the timing between your MAT dsessions and your workouts and want to know how long between each you should wait, this conversation will clear that up 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/41164995

E435 - The #1 Thing That Determines Your Workout Success 04/29/2026

E434 - What To Default To When Your Body Feels Off 04/22/2026

E434 - What To Default To When Your Body Feels Off Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: What do you do when your body feels off? Maybe you have a nagging pain that just isn’t going away. Or maybe you woke up feeling like you, once again, “slept wrong”. Or maybe you just feel like your entire body is wading through thick mud today–heavy, lethargic, fatigued… What do you do when you have a day–or a week or a month–like this? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are discussing what we recommend almost everybody default to doing when they are feeling off in these ways. While there are many promoted remedies and plans for fixes, we have seen time and again that skipping past the information overwhelm and instead taking this one action makes a huge difference in the right direction for most people. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40955155

E433 - PSA - Stronger Is Always Better 04/15/2026

E432 - What Happens When You Stop Strength Training? 04/08/2026

E432 - What Happens When You Stop Strength Training? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: What happens when you stop strength training? Many people who are active in their teens and twenties slow down their strength training by the time they hit their thirties, but what does this mean for their body? How long can you expect to hold onto the strength you have built and how quickly will your body regress once it starts to lose strength? And, once you are on the downward slope of losing strength, is there a way to get back to the strength levels you were at before? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are answering all of these questions and more. If you have taken some time away from strength training, this conversation can be a look into the crystal ball of what you can expect to happen to your body in the years to come as well as provide a practical plan to flatten out the downward slope as much as possible. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40765490

E431 - Why You Need Muscle Connection AND Muscle Strength 04/01/2026

E431 - Why You Need Muscle Connection AND Muscle Strength Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: How strong your muscles are is distinctly different from how connected your muscles are, and both are absolutely essential to living an active life in a body that feels good. While most people may only be focusing on one aspect or the other, we see time and again that when clients start focusing on BOTH, their ability to live life on their terms improves dramatically. But what exactly is the difference between muscle strength and muscle connection and why is each so necessary to your overall wellbeing? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are discussing. We are diving into what we mean by muscle strength and muscle connection, why you need to be focusing on both throughout your week, and practical steps you can take to improve each. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40682010

E430 - One Thing You Need To Know Before Starting Muscle Activation Techniques® 03/25/2026

E430 - One Thing You Need To Know Before Starting Muscle Activation Techniques® Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Some of the biggest fans of Muscle Activation Techniques® are people who had such a dramatic change after one session that they are convinced that is all it takes. While these types of sessions do happen, the truth is that it is mostly dumb luck when they do. Unfortunately, believing the hype that you only need one session for MAT to fix everything leaves a lot of people frustrated with MAT when they don’t have that same experience. Instead, there is one thing we have seen time and again have a huge influence on how successful somebody is with MAT. And, when you know what this one thing is before you start MAT, you can dramatically improve the likelihood of getting the successful outcome you want. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are discussing what this one thing is and why it is so important to understand if you are getting MAT. If you started doing MAT because somebody told you it only took them one session to have everything fixed, listen up! There is a crucial part of this story you need to know in order to give you the best chance of success with MAT. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40605820

E429 - Why Stretching Isn't Helping You Stay Loose 03/18/2026

E429 - Why Stretching Isn't Helping You Stay Loose Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Stretching is the most common way to loosen up tight muscles, but there’s a big problem–it doesn’t help you STAY loose. Sure, stretching can create a short-term feeling of looseness, but it doesn’t actually keep the tightness away. In fact, the tightness often comes back more intense than before, which traps many people in a cycle of feeling tight, stretching, creating short-term relief, and then feeling tight all over again. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into why this is and what needs to be done instead. If you have ever found yourself on the “tight/loose rollercoaster” of stretching, listen up! There is something that stretching misses that will keep you feeling that way indefinitely unless you change your actions. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40512080

E428 - What Does Effective Total Body Strength Training Look Like? 03/11/2026

E428 - What Does Effective Total Body Strength Training Look Like? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Total body strength training is something we recommend to almost all of our clients. Time and again we have seen this to be an effective and efficient way to build strength, but how total body strength training is portrayed by mainstream fitness gives the absolute wrong impression of what actually needs to be done. In fact, what we recommend for total body strength training is a complete 180 to what is commonly thought of as total body strength training. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into what we mean by total body strength training, why it is so effective compared to what the mainstream fitness industry promotes as total body, and how to easily implement it into your workout routine. If you are looking for a simple way to strengthen your muscles, total body strength training is a must. We explain exactly what this is and how to do it 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40391700

E427 - The Unspoken Truth About Making Strength Gains 03/04/2026

E427 - The Unspoken Truth About Making Strength Gains Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: There is a lot of information out there about what it takes to get stronger and this is something we have spoken about often, as well. What isn’t talked about too much, though, is what the actual process of getting stronger looks like how quickly you should expect to see strength gains, how long those strength gains will go on for, etc. Unfortunately, there is one big misconception about the process of increasing your muscle strength that deters a lot of people from continuing to try even when they are making progress. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into this misconception and unveiling the truth about what actually happens during the strengthening process. If you have ever felt discouraged that you weren’t doing the right things because of seeing your numbers in the weight room fluctuate, listen up! There is something you aren’t being told by the mainstream fitness industry that will clear all of this up 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40317420

E426 - An Early Marker of Improved Muscle Strength & Function 02/25/2026

E426 - An Early Marker of Improved Muscle Strength & Function Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Muscle strength is often measured by the amount of weight that you can lift, but did you know there is actually an earlier indication that your muscles are getting stronger? This early marker is one of the first things we see improve with many of our clients, and without realizing how important of a sign it is, it is really easy to overlook. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into what this early marker is, why it is so important, and how to recognize it within yourself. If you have ever wondered if making strength gains means more than just seeing your weight room numbers increase, listen up! What we share in this conversation will give you confidence that you are making progress much sooner than expected. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40233480

E425 - An Unexpected Benefit Of Muscle Activation Techniques® 02/18/2026

E425 - An Unexpected Benefit Of Muscle Activation Techniques® Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: There are many well-known benefits of Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT) like increasing strength and relieving tight muscles. However, there is one benefit of MAT that very few people know about when they start but almost everybody experiences at some point in their MAT journey. This benefit, while not discussed as much as the changes in strength and symptoms, actually has one of the biggest impacts on people’s overall quality of life and what they are able to consistently do throughout their day. And to us, it is one of the most valuable responses to consistently getting MAT. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, this unexpected benefit is exactly what we are discussing. We break down what this benefit is, how it happens, and why it is so impactful for so many people. If increased strength and mobility sound great but you are wondering if MAT can provide you more than that, listen up! We dive into one of the biggest benefits many people get from MAT. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40142920

E424 - What To Do If Your Everyday Activities Are Flaring Up Your Body 02/11/2026

E424 - What To Do If Your Everyday Activities Are Flaring Up Your Body Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Does your body get flared up even though you are just doing all the things you normally do? Meaning, there’s nothing out of the ordinary that you did, and yet your body still flares up… Believe it or not, everyday activities are one of the biggest culprits we see that cause people’s bodies to not feel well, so how can you overcome this if the things you enjoy doing every day and the things you need to do every day are causing your body to break down? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are diving into. There are specific considerations that need to be taken if you feel like the things you do all the time are the things that are causing your issues, and knowing how to navigate that process is key to making sure you can get back to feeling well while living your life. If you feel like your regular activities are taking a toll on your body, listen up! There are some simple steps you can take to change this. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/40060410

E423 - What To Expect When You Go From Symptom-Focused MAT To Strength-Focused MAT 02/04/2026

E423 - What To Expect When You Go From Symptom-Focused MAT To Strength-Focused MAT Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT) is one of the most effective ways to calm down muscle- and joint-related symptoms, but its power doesn’t end there. Once your symptoms are addressed and you are feeling well, it is time to move to the next stage of MAT, and this is where things get taken to a whole new level. And, when you make that jump with MAT to level up your body, the progress from one session to the next can look different than when you were simply having symptoms addressed. While this progression catches a lot of people off guard, it is actually a really good sign from your body, and on this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into why this is and what is happening with your body at these new levels. If you have ever wondered if MAT is only useful for addressing symptoms, listen up! There is a whole world of possibilities that you get access to when you start to level up your MAT, and that’s exactly what we are telling you about 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39971370

E422 - New MAT Updates We've Been Using 01/28/2026

E422 - New MAT Updates We've Been Using Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: For over a decade we’ve been practicing MATRx–the highest level of Muscle Activation Techniques®–but two months ago that changed. For the last couple of months we have been practicing a brand new version of Muscle Activation Techniques®, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. The changes we have seen within our clients and ourselves during our sessions have left us truly amazed by this new process, and that is what we want to tell you about today. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing all of the incredible things we have seen and experienced since implementing this new Muscle Activation Techniques® process. We lay out why this new process is so powerful and why the changes that have been made are so impactful when it comes to living a strong, pain-free life. If you have been hearing about some new Muscle Activation Techniques® processes that are being taught but aren’t sure what they are all about, listen up! This conversation will shed light on 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39897135

E421 - How To Navigate An Acute Muscle Flare Up 01/21/2026

E421 - How To Navigate An Acute Muscle Flare Up Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: What do you do when your body flares up while living your life? Maybe you were shoveling snow and all of the sudden your back got tweaked. Or perhaps you were putting boxes up high on a shelf and all of a sudden your shoulder started to hurt. Or maybe walking down your stairs and your knee muscles felt like they were going to give out. Whatever flare up happens, having a plan of action to get your body back on course is critical to make sure you are able to continue living your life. So, what is your plan of action when these events happen? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are laying out the exact plan of action we recommend to all of our clients when something comes up with their body. If you have ever had to spend weeks nursing your body back to health after something got flared up, listen up! What we share in this conversation can get you back to living your life to the fullest faster. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39810345

E420 - How To Stay Safe While Lifting Heavy 01/15/2026

E420 - How To Stay Safe While Lifting Heavy Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Challenging your body is a non-negotiable if you want to build strength and get results with your workouts. Often, increasing the challenge means increasing the amount of weight you use when you strength train. However, many people are hesitant to increase their weights and lift heavier out of fear of injuring themselves. So, how can you actually lift as heavy as you need to in order to get the results you want while still staying safe during your workouts? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are doing a deep dive on what needs to happen during your workouts to toe this line of “lift as heavy as you can while maintaining as low of a risk for injury as possible”. If you know you need to start challenging yourself more during your workouts but aren’t sure how to do so without hurting yourself, listen up! What we share in this conversation is must-know information. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39740600

E419 - The One Thing To Prioritize With Your Workouts In 2026 01/07/2026

E418 - Our Biggest Takeaways From 2025 12/31/2025

E418 - Our Biggest Takeaways From 2025 Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: 2025 was a year full of getting more and more clear on what really matters in order for our clients to feel and function their best. While much of our philosophy has stayed the same over the past 12 months, there were some really big takeaways that we are bringing into 2026 with us that have shown themselves to be key elements to feeling strong and functioning well long-term. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are sharing what our big takeaways from 2025 are and how you can use them to help you increase your strength and overall wellbeing. If you aren’t sure what key principles you should be applying to your health and fitness goals entering the new year, listen up! This conversation lays out exactly what we believe to be the most important 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39574395

E417 - Little Red Flags vs. Big Red Flags With Exercise 12/24/2025

E417 - Little Red Flags vs. Big Red Flags With Exercise Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Your body is constantly talking to you when you workout, and how you interpret what it is saying will have a big impact on the results you get from your workouts. Oftentimes, when somebody’s body tells them they don’t like a specific exercise through aches or pains, that can be justification to not do the exercise, but this can be a huge mistake! Avoiding an exercise entirely because of an ache or pain can be a surefire way to limit your strength and mobility, so how do you make sure you are respecting what your body is saying while still helping it get stronger and more mobile? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing a framework that we teach our clients to help determine whether what they are feeling means we need to stop an exercise or whether we can keep going forward. This “red flags” framework will help you navigate all the signals your body sends you when you workout to decide whether you are going in the right direction or you need to change course so you don’t get injured. If you have ever felt frustrated because it seems like every exercise you do hurts so you just avoid them altogether, listen up! This conversation can change how you use that “hurting” information during your workouts to make better decisions for your body so you can keep getting stronger without injury. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39524020

E416 - How Soon Can You Start Getting MAT After An Injury? 12/17/2025

E416 - How Soon Can You Start Getting MAT After An Injury? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: How long should you wait to start getting Muscle Activation Techniques® after an injury? This is a question that a lot of prospective clients have asked us through the years, and while you have heard us discuss MAT before, our answer to this question may surprise you. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving right into this question to give you a very clear answer and show you exactly where we stand on the matter. We discuss considerations we take with every client before giving a firm recommendation, and what you should work through in your own mind before determining whether or not you are ready for MAT. If you know that MAT can help you heal up faster but aren’t sure when it would be appropriate to start, listen up! What we talk about in this conversation will clear that 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39429880

E415 - A Simple Framework For A 20-Minute Workout 12/10/2025

E415 - A Simple Framework For A 20-Minute Workout Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: This time of year, schedules can be crazy and the opportunities to exercise can feel few and far between. So how can you make sure you make the most of each workout opportunity you have by not wasting time and focusing on exactly what you need to? Over the last six years, we have developed a framework to get a super effective strength training workout done in under 20 minutes, and we want to share it with you on this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast. Building off last week’s conversation where we discussed what you need to do to make sure you get your workouts in when your schedule is crazy, we are going to lay out exactly how to structure your workouts for maximum impact in a tight time frame. If you have been unsure of exactly what to do during your workouts and find yourself spending more time making decisions about exercises than actually doing the exercises, you are going to want to write down what we are teaching you in this discussion. 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: Looking for custom workout programming that gets designed to your exact specifications to build your strength and athleticism? Sign up for PRO Strength & Performance Programming: 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/39344015

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