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.

E411 - The 3 Things You Must Do To Get Results 11/12/2025

E411 - The 3 Things You Must Do To Get Results Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Getting results from your workouts doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the process is very straightforward. Unfortunately, there is so much hype and messaging out there about different systems and modalities claiming to get you all the results you desire and more that it can feel very confusing as to what actually needs to be done. But, whether you are looking to get stronger, build muscle, lose weight, increase your fitness, or accomplish any other goal from your workout, there are only three things you must do. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are laying out what these three things are and telling you exactly how to start implementing them. If you struggle to get the results you want from your workouts, listen up! This is a telltale sign that you are missing at least one of these three things, but the conversation we have 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/38998115

E410 - 2 Controversial Statements About Your Feet 11/05/2025

E410 - 2 Controversial Statements About Your Feet Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Having strong feet is one of the most important parts of having a strong body. When your feet are strong, all of the other areas of your body have the opportunity to feel and function better. But, while we have spent a lot of time talking about the feet on our podcast, there are a couple viewpoints we have on the view that are particularly controversial, especially compared to what most alleged “foot experts” have to say. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are breaking down what these viewpoints are, why we believe them to be 100% true, and what you can do to start gleaning the benefits of these viewpoints. If you have been taking advice from others on what to do about your feet and feet issues but don’t seem to be making any progress, listen up! This discussion will spell out 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/38901400

E409 - How To Keep Permanently Altered Joints Healthy 10/29/2025

E409 - How To Keep Permanently Altered Joints Healthy Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Do you have a permanently altered joint? Maybe you have a hip that has been replaced or a knee that is arthritic. Or maybe there is a torn labrum in your shoulder or a bulging disc in your low back. Whatever your situation, there are specific things you can do to keep your joints healthy even when they’ve been permanently altered. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into what these things are and how you can implement them into your regular workout routine. If you have been struggling to keep your joints feeling healthy because of various injuries or alterations to them, listen up! The three steps we share in this discussion can completely 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: 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/38809690

E408 - An Unintended Result Of Getting Stronger 10/22/2025

E408 - An Unintended Result Of Getting Stronger Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Getting stronger will 100% help you keep doing all the things in life you love and feel way more confident in your body while doing so. But, did you know there is another result of getting stronger that will have a huge impact on your life?? In fact, this result is a primary reason why getting stronger is such a crucial part of living an active, independent life. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into what this result is, how we have seen it play out in our own life, and how it has affected many of the clients we work with, too. If you have been skipping out on your strength training and aren’t sure why you should add it into your routine, listen up! What we share in this conversation can bring light to one of the biggest benefits you will glean from getting stronger. 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/38743770

E407 - 3 Steps To Decrease Pain When You Strength Train 10/15/2025

E406 - One Big Reason Why Stretching Isn't Helping You Stay Loose 10/08/2025

E406 - One Big Reason Why Stretching Isn't Helping You Stay Loose Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do you find yourself on the tight/loose rollercoaster with stretching? You feel tight so you stretch. Then you feel looser for a little bit. Then within an hour or so you feel tight again. There is a reason why the tightness keeps coming back and why stretching isn’t helping you stay feeling loose. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, that is exactly what we are discussing. While the reason may be shockingly simple, the application of it and how to overcome the feelings of tightness once and for all may surprise you. If you find yourself stretching only to tighten up again faster than you’d like, listen up! There is something you need to know about stretching and tightness that will change how you are looking at things 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/38500500

E405 - The 2 Requirements For Your Muscles To Feel Strong 10/01/2025

E405 - The 2 Requirements For Your Muscles To Feel Strong Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Does it feel like your body is getting weaker with each passing year? In our experience, there are only two potential culprits as to why this is happening, and “getting old” isn’t one of them. The good news is that both of these culprits can be addressed directly and are 100% in your control. What are these reasons that are causing your body to feel weak and what can you do about them? That is exactly what we are discussing in this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast. If you have ever thought to yourself, “Why am I feeling so much weaker than I used to,” listen up! This discussion will lay out the specific requirements your muscles have to feel strong and how you can meet them with every workout. 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/38411130

E404 - How Much Should You Do When You Strength Train? 09/24/2025

E404 - How Much Should You Do When You Strength Train? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: How much should you do when you strength train? Should you do the general three sets of 10 reps that is often promoted, or is there a more nuanced way to get an answer for your individual body? This is a question that a lot of people struggle to answer with their workouts, leaving them feeling sore and injured or feeling like they are unable to consistently make progress. However, there are some fundamental concepts that, once you understand them, will help you easily determine this for yourself every time you lift weights. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are laying out what these concepts are and how to implement them in your workouts. If you have ever wondered how much you should be doing when you strength train, listen up! What we discuss in this conversation will help you answer that question 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/38332980

E403 - The Two Types of Exercise You Need To Know About 09/17/2025

E403 - The Two Types of Exercise You Need To Know About Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are you working out consistently but find that your body keeps feeling achier and more beat up? If exercise is supposed to leave us feeling healthier and stronger, why does it often seem to have the opposite effect? Truth be told, there are two distinct types of exercise, and if you are only doing one of them, the results can take a compounding toll on your body. However, once you start to implement the other type of exercise, all of that can quickly change. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing what these two types of exercise are, what the difference is between them, and how to know if you are doing one versus the other. If you want to use your workouts to set you up for living a long life in a body that feels healthy and strong, listen up! What we share in the conversation is a huge piece of the puzzle to doing exactly 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/38239890

E402 - 3 Common Contributors To Achilles Issues 09/10/2025

E402 - 3 Common Contributors To Achilles Issues Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Achilles issues are one of the most common complaints we help people with at Muscle Activation Schaumburg. Whether it is Achilles tightness in a professional athlete or Achilles pain in a 55 year old runner, the Achilles is a major point of stress for a lot of people. Over the years, however, we have seen three common things come up time and again as contributing factors to Achilles issues. Fortunately, once these are identified within somebody, the steps to address them are relatively straightforward. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are unveiling what these contributing factors are and what we have seen to be the most effective ways to take care of them. If you have ever experienced Achilles issues only to rely on stretching and icing to help, listen up! There is a much more proactive approach you can take to not only resolve any issues that are present, but ward off future ones from developing, as well. 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/38149760

E401 - Functional Training vs. Training To Improve Your Function 09/03/2025

E401 - Functional Training vs. Training To Improve Your Function Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: “Functional training” is a term often used by the fitness industry to describe ways of exercising that look like they improve people’s ability to perform everyday activities. Key phrase… “that look like”. Because when it comes down to it, most forms of “functional training” actually do the exact opposite. But that does not mean that all ways of exercising will diminish your ability to do everyday activities. So how can you determine if an exercise is helpful or hurtful to your efforts to keep doing the things you enjoy most and what should you be focusing on with your workouts to give you the best chance possible of staying active and independent long-term? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, that is exactly what we are diving into. We tell you what you need to know to sift through the nonsense of the mainstream fitness industry and spend your time and energy doing the exercises that will actually move the needle for you. If you have found yourself caught in the “functional training” craze only to find that your progress has been minimal, 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: 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/38066120

E400 - Our Biggest Insights From 400 Episodes Of Podcasting 08/27/2025

E399 - An Overlooked Aspect Of Recovery With Muscle Activation Techniques® 08/20/2025

E399 - An Overlooked Aspect Of Recovery With Muscle Activation Techniques® Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Muscle Activation Techniques®, or MAT, is extremely helpful at helping people recover from a number of tweaks, twinges, and injuries. But, there is an aspect of the recovery process with MAT that is often overlooked, and this can have a HUGE influence on how fast the recovery process goes. Over the last 14 years, we have seen that when this aspect of recovery is accounted for, the recovery process can easily be up to 20 times faster than when it is disregarded. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are unveiling what this aspect of recovery is, why it is so impactful, and what you need to know to use it to your advantage. There is something very straightforward you can do to help your body recover faster with MAT, and this discussion brings it all to light. 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/37885900

E398 - Celebrating a HUGE Client Win 08/13/2025

E397 - Are You Using The Right Tools? 08/06/2025

E397 - Are You Using The Right Tools? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Accomplishing the fitness goals you have doesn’t have to be difficult. However, many people make it harder for themselves than it needs to be because they are using the wrong tools to help them get to their goals. In fact, there are just a couple specific things you need to make sure you are doing regularly to help you reach almost any fitness goal you have, but most people completely neglect one or both of them. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are identifying what these tools are, why they are so important, and how you can start using them consistently. Not only will this make reaching your goals significantly easier, but it will also help you do so quickly and safely. If you have been putting in the effort to reach your goals but feel like you keep falling short, listen up! You may just need to switch the tools you are using to help you reach your goals. 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/37697040

E396 - What Nobody Is Telling You About Making Progress 07/30/2025

E396 - What Nobody Is Telling You About Making Progress Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: If you have been trying to make progress with your strength and fitness, there have likely been some roadblocks you have hit along the way. While we would all love progress to be a linear trajectory from the moment we start working out until the moment we stop, the truth is that progress is anything but linear. In fact, there are three distinct stages of progress that, if you don’t realize it, can completely stop you from achieving the goals you are after with your workouts. However, once you know what these stages are, you can better understand how to navigate each stage and see more clearly when you need to push hard and when you need to back off or change direction. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are exploring these three distinct stages of progress and laying out what you need to know as you go through each to successfully reach your goals. If you feel stuck with your workouts or believe that what you are doing isn’t working, listen up! You may be getting caught in one of these three stages and metaphorically turning left when you should turn right. This conversation will teach you exactly what you need to do to keep moving 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: 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/37601465

E395 - The Big Myth of Aging 07/23/2025

E395 - The Big Myth of Aging Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: There is a big myth of aging that is constantly told to us from the time we are young. Unfortunately, buying into this myth holds many people back from living the life they want on their terms. And to make matters worse, we can see examples of this myth being true all around us, which makes this myth even easier to believe. What is this big myth of aging? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are unveiling that answer plus teaching you exactly what you can do to overcome it. We lay out a simple plan to follow that will have you laughing to yourself anytime you hear one of your friends talk about this big myth like it is a fact. And, we share precisely what needs to happen to make sure your body feels and functions great the entire time. If you have been feeling like age–and its effects–are impacting your life, listen up! What we share in this conversation can completely 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: 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/37511850

E394 - How Do You Explain Muscle Activation Techniques®? 07/16/2025

E394 - How Do You Explain Muscle Activation Techniques®? Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Muscle Activation Techniques®, or MAT, is the most powerful process we have come across for helping people increase their strength and mobility while reducing pain and tightness. But, while the effects of MAT are profound, explaining it to somebody can be challenging. Over the years of practicing MAT, we have seen that there are some key concepts that can be easily explained and help people quickly understand not only what MAT is, but why it is important. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are breaking down these key concepts to present MAT in a simple, straightforward way that is easy to understand. If you have heard us speak about MAT before but aren’t completely sure what it is or how you would explain it to somebody else, listen up! 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/37421990

E393 - Big Changes We've Made To Our Workouts This Year 07/09/2025

E393 - Big Changes We've Made To Our Workouts This Year Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: One key to long-term success with your workouts is staying consistent with them. While much of the world is focused on constantly switching things up, the truth is you need to keep doing the same things over and over again in order to build lasting strength and health. But, sometimes things do need to change, and that is exactly what has happened with our workouts recently. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into the changes we have each made to our workouts, why we made those changes, the results we have been seeing since making the changes, and how you can go about implementing them yourself. If you are looking for some keys to take your strength and results to the next level, listen up! The information we share in this discussion will help you do exactly 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/37340315

E392 - The Big Problem With "Good" Posture 07/02/2025

E392 - The Big Problem With "Good" Posture Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Poor posture is blamed for many aches and pains people experience from back tightness to shoulder and neck stiffness to general achiness all over. But, while the common solution is to create “good” posture, there is a lie being told about “good” posture that holds many people back from actually resolving their issues. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are exposing what that lie is and how to make sure you don’t get caught up in it. If you have ever felt like improving your posture would resolve any issues you’re experiencing, listen up! There is something really important you need to understand about the posture discussion if you actually want to make progress with both your body and your posture. 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/37239470

E391 - What To Do If Exercise Feels Too Stressful For Your Body 06/25/2025

E391 - What To Do If Exercise Feels Too Stressful For Your Body Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Does exercise feel too stressful for your body? It is very common for people to stop working out altogether when they feel like their workouts are always breaking their body down, but this doesn’t have to be you! There are some key shifts that need to take place within your mind and your body if you want to keep exercising and do so in a way that actually feels good. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are discussing what these key shifts are and how you can start implementing them into your life today. There is a whole world of exercise opportunities that are available to you and will have you feeling strong and energized, and in this conversation we are unveiling how to find 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: 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/37140455

E390 - One Common Trait Among Those Who Thrive After 35 06/18/2025

E390 - One Common Trait Among Those Who Thrive After 35 Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: What’s the difference between people who continue to feel strong and move well after their mid 30s and those who do not? While everybody has hit their natural physical peak by this stage in life, there are some people who continue to progress while others start their physical decline. For nearly a decade and a half we have seen a common trait among those who continue to thrive after the age of 35 that has become so obvious to us, but is hidden from most people. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are sharing what this common trait is and how you can adopt it into your own life to make sure you continue to thrive no matter your age. If you feel like your body is on the wrong side of the aging and abilities continuum and want to get back to feeling strong and energized, this conversation has exactly what you need to hear. We break down what this common trait is, what it means for you, and how you can easily integrate it into your weekly routine. 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/37040755

E389 - 2 Things Nobody Is Telling You About Your Discs 06/11/2025

E388 - How To Make Sure Your Body Is Always Ready To Go 06/04/2025

E388 - How To Make Sure Your Body Is Always Ready To Go Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: How can you make sure that your body is always ready to go? That at a moment’s notice, you can be ready to go for a run, play basketball, or pickup a child without worrying about injuring yourself or feeling like you need to take 30 minutes to warm up? Almost everybody experiences this level of physical freedom in their teens, but by the mid to late 30s, this feeling is often lost. Is there anything you can do to get it back? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are laying out two things that absolutely must be done to get your body to the point where you feel like you are always capable of doing whatever activities life brings your way. We give you the three steps to follow to accomplish these two things, and put in a plan of action to help you do just that. If you have ever wanted to have that feeling back of being ready and able to play, perform, and live life at a moment’s notice, this discussion has 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: 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/36839345

E387 - One Universal Truth About The Human Body 05/28/2025

E386 - 2 Things To Do When Your Body Gets Tweaked 05/21/2025

E386 - 2 Things To Do When Your Body Gets Tweaked Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: What do you do when your body gets tweaked? Maybe you felt a twinge in your back while working in the yard. Or perhaps you felt your hamstring tighten up while going for a jog. Or maybe your neck was particularly stiff when you woke up this morning. When these types of aches and pains show themselves, what is your strategy to help them get resolved? Over the years, we have seen there are two key things that can help significantly speed up the recovery time of these tweaks, and on this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are sharing them with you. Not only do we unveil the steps we have seen to be most effective at resolving tweaks, we also dive into exactly how to go about implementing these steps in your life. If you are looking for a way to get your body back to 100% faster, this discussion has exactly 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/36649650

E385 - A Simple Way To Quickly Increase Your Mobility 05/14/2025

E385 - A Simple Way To Quickly Increase Your Mobility Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Do you struggle to feel mobile despite doing the traditional stretches, exercises, and drills? If you want to increase your mobility, you need to understand the two basic things that influence your mobility. Once you do, you will be able to control these variables and do exactly what you need to in order to move more fluidly with less pain and tightness. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are diving into what the two things are that dictate your mobility and give you one specific thing you can do to quickly increase your mobility all on your own. If you feel like it is getting more and more difficult to move your body in the ways you want to, listen up! Your mobility can quickly and easily increase, and this conversation shares exactly how to do 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: 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/36564575

E384 - 3 Common Signs You Need Muscle Activation Techniques® 05/07/2025

E383 - The Two Things You MUST Do To Build Your Strongest Core 04/30/2025

E383 - The Two Things You MUST Do To Build Your Strongest Core Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are you trying to strengthen your core but feel like you’re not making as much progress as you’d like? There are two things that absolutely must be done if you are trying to build your core strength up and most people are missing at least one of them within their training. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are identifying what these two things are and how you can easily implement them into your workout routine. You know that having a strong core is a vital part of feeling well and staying active, but many people are not going about it in an effective and sustainable way. This conversation will shed light on exactly what you need to be doing to make sure you are able to build a strong core 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/36363510

E382 - The One Issue That Over 98% Of People Have 04/23/2025

E382 - The One Issue That Over 98% Of People Have Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Keep Your Muscles Strong & Functioning Well: Are you falling short of your health and performance goals? Is your strength not at the level you want? Is your mobility more limited than you’d like? Is your energy throughout the day lower than you’d prefer? There is one issue that over 98% of people have that may be holding you back from reaching the levels of strength, health, and athletic performance that you want. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health® podcast, we are identifying what this one issue is and detailing out how you can easily overcome it. And, once you take the steps we discuss, not only will you see how easily you can level-up your strength, health, and performance, but you will also experience how quickly you can grow in all areas of your life. If you feel like there is something holding your body back from operating how you want it to, listen up! What we share in this conversation can take care of 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: /episode/index/show/exerciseishealth/id/36263805

Exercise Is Health

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