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.

E454 - Are Weak Feet Always The Cause Of Foot Issues? 09/09/2026

E453 - The Two Keys For Strong, Healthy Muscles 09/02/2026

E453 - The Two Keys For Strong, Healthy Muscles Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Most people don’t walk around thinking, “I want strong, healthy muscles.” BUT, nobody walks around thinking, “I want weak, unhealthy muscles.” Unfortunately, unless you are actively pursuing the former, your body is pushing you towards the latter… …which means if you aren’t actively trying to get stronger, your body is naturally getting weaker. So, how can you set yourself up to build strong, healthy muscles no matter your age or fitness level? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into the two keys that must happen to build and maintain strong, healthy muscles with each passing year. If you know you don’t want to get weaker as you get older but aren’t completely certain on what needs to happen to avoid that, this conversation is for you. Check out all the details in this week’s episode! Ready to schedule your first Muscle Activation Techniques® session with us? Click here to get started: 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/42716915

E452 - The Downfall of Most Home Gyms 08/26/2026

E452 - The Downfall of Most Home Gyms Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Having a home gym is one of the most convenient ways to exercise consistently. But, there is a huge issue with many home gyms that actually stops people from getting results. Whether you are trying to get stronger, build muscle, or maintain your overall health, if this issue isn’t addressed, it can completely prevent you from making any progress whatsoever. What is this issue and how do you prevent it? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly the question we are answering. We dive into what this issue is, why it is so prevalent, and how you can easily overcome it with just a couple simple changes. If you have a home gym or are considering investing in one, listen up! This conversation will help make sure your home gym is not affected by this common downfall. 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/42554575

E451 - Your Convenience Doesn't Dictate Your Physiology 08/19/2026

E451 - Your Convenience Doesn't Dictate Your Physiology Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Here’s a hard truth that many people struggle with… What is convenient for your life may not be enough to reach your goals. This applies to all areas of life, but with exercise specifically, we see this too often. Unfortunately, while many people stick to doing what is convenient for them, their health, their strength, and their overall function are sacrificed as a result. So what needs to happen instead? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are discussing. If you feel like you are consistent with your workouts but aren’t getting the results you want, this conversation provides the perspective shift that you may need in order to break through. 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/42462100

E450 - Stop Holding Your Shoulder Blades Still 08/12/2026

E450 - Stop Holding Your Shoulder Blades Still Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Have you ever heard that you need to keep your shoulder blades still? Like they need to be held down and back in order for you to properly do certain movements or exercises? There’s a huge problem with this idea; one that is likely causing many of the issues and symptoms you may be feeling with your shoulders. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are discussing why this advice is so problematic, what your shoulder blades actually need to be doing during any activity, and how you can make sure they are able to do that. If you have ever been told that you need to keep your shoulder blades still, we are here to tell you that advice not only is wrong, but is flat out dangerous. This conversation will explain exactly why. 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/42391860

E449 - One Of The Easiest Ways To Get Stronger 08/05/2026

E449 - One Of The Easiest Ways To Get Stronger Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Getting stronger requires you to consistently push yourself with your workouts while also staying safe and injury-free. Many people often sacrifice one of these two for the other–they either push themselves really hard and completely disregard how well their body is recovering or they lean so far towards staying safe that they never challenge themselves. While we have spent many episodes talking about how to avoid the former pitfall, there is something we haven’t ever discussed about avoiding the latter that will have a huge influence on how strong you get. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into this topic to unveil one of the easiest and most effective ways you can get stronger. If you have been putting in the time to hit the gym each week but aren’t getting the results you want, this one thing likely is missing from the equation for you. Once you add it in, though, your strength can take off. 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/42269690

E448 - Why More Information Rarely Helps You 07/29/2026

E448 - Why More Information Rarely Helps You Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: More information is rarely helpful when it comes to building your health and strength. Instead of falling into the trap of “paralysis by analysis”, taking massive action on the basic things that get you 80% of the way to your goal is far more beneficial for most people. However, there are two groups of people who often do benefit from getting more information. Why does more information help these two groups but hinders most people? On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, that is exactly what we are discussing. We lay out why information overload is killing your progress, how to overcome it, and when you may actually benefit from getting more information on your body. If you have been dragging your feet getting started because you have been waiting for the perfect time or circumstances, listen up! This episode will be the fire you need to take control of your health and workouts despite not having all the pieces to the puzzle. 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/42246650

E447 - Two Interesting Characteristics Of Our Clients Who Get The Best Results 07/22/2026

E447 - Two Interesting Characteristics Of Our Clients Who Get The Best Results Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: Success leaves clues, and when you look at the clients who have the most success with us, they are no exception to this rule. In fact, there are two distinct characteristics of the clients who get the best results with Muscle Activation Techniques® and strength training that we have seen come up time and again. Fortunately, these characteristics are learnable and can be implemented by anybody really quickly. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are discussing what these two characteristics are, why they are so impactful on the results people get, and how you can start implementing them in your life right now. If you want a quick and easy way to start improving the results you get with your workouts and in many areas of your life, this is a discussion you need to hear. 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/42132695

E446 - One Thing That Is More Important Than Frequency With MAT 07/15/2026

E446 - One Thing That Is More Important Than Frequency With MAT Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: With Muscle Activation Techniques®, meeting frequently early on is extremely helpful to build a solid foundation and correct a lot of underlying issues. However, once that foundation is built and your body is feeling stronger and more mobile, there is something that is more important than meeting frequently to help you maintain these results. While frequency is a big piece of the puzzle if you want to continue to progress your strength and function, there is something that takes precedence over frequency once you switch to a maintenance plan with your MAT. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are unveiling what this one thing is and explaining why it is so important. If you have ever wondered if MAT is like many other things where you need to keep getting it done every week for the rest of forever, listen up! This conversation will answer that question 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/42099895

E445 - One Thing That's More Important Than Where Your Pain Is 07/08/2026

E445 - One Thing That's More Important Than Where Your Pain Is Get Started With Muscle Activation Techniques® To Loosen Your Tight & Achy Muscles Without Stretching: One of the most common stories out there is that the pain you feel indicates where your underlying issues are. Elbow hurts? Elbow issue. Back is painful? Back issue. Knee aches? Knee issue. As easy as this story is to follow, it is largely untrue. Fortunately, though, there are indicators that are a lot more telling about where your underlying issues actually are. On this week’s episode of the Exercise Is Health podcast, we are diving into the one that, in our opinion, gives the clearest information about what is going on with your body and how to resolve it. If you have ever been caught on the hamster wheel of, “My symptoms are here so that’s where my issues are,” listen up! What we share in this conversation can provide a huge perspective shift to get you going in the right direction. 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/42000950

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

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