2026 CPTN Personal Trainer Online Summit Session Information
All Online Sessions
CECs: CPTN-7/14
Session Index
Keynote
S01: Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Weight Maintenance: Research and Application
Wayne Westcott, PhD, CSCS
Every meta-analysis of diet studies concludes that almost all diet programs are effective for weight loss, and that almost no diet programs are effective for weight maintenance. This session explains the physiological reasons why it is exceedingly difficult for people to maintain their post-diet body weight. Additionally, this presentation examines a series of research studies that have demonstrated both successful weight loss and sustained weight maintenance. The study subjects concurrently lost fat and gained muscle, reversing the most prevalent and problematic issues associated with aging. Wayne provides practical information for implementing successful weight loss and weight maintenance programs.
Credit(s): 1.0
Functional Aging & Longevity
S02: Feet and Aging: How Our Feet Change As We Age
Dr. Emily Splichal, DPM, MS, CES
Every day 10,000 adults turn age 65, entering one of the fastest-growing sectors. With 65 as the new 50, older adult clients are looking to enjoy some of the best days of their lives. However, thinning skin, arthritis, neuropathy and fat pad atrophy can all impede their ability to walk, run and enjoy their favourite activities. Join Podiatrist Dr. Emily Splichal as she explores the common changes to the foot and how to offset these changes to enhance movement longevity.
Credit(s): 1.0
S03: Functional Exercise for Optimal Aging: From Evidence to Practice (L)
Cody Sipe, PhD
Exercise benefits older adults in virtually all its forms, but not all are equally effective for improving function as people age. This is primarily because older adults vary widely from one another, covering the spectrum from frail to fit, diseased to healthy, and completely sedentary to very active. In this session, we explore the scientific evidence for different forms of exercise to improve and maintain functional capacity for older adults of varying ability levels and provide practical recommendations trainers can use with their clients.
Credit(s): 1.0
S04: The Neurology of Aging and Motor Control
Emily Splichal, DPM, MS, CES
Aging is an inevitable aspect of humanity that we cannot stop — however, with advances in science, there are now many daily rituals we can do which can dramatically slow down the again process. Join Podiatrist and Human Movement Specialist Dr. Emily Splichal as she explores how our nervous system ages and how we can protect our motor control and balance with age. As a movement specialist, her passion lies in applying anti-aging science related to movement longevity.
Credit(s): 1.0
S05: Essential Training Strategies for Functional Longevity
Cody Sipe, PhD
The goal for many older adults is to function as well as possible for as long as possible. They want to work, play, travel and do all of the things they love to do for however long they may be alive. While exercise of almost any kind is beneficial, some prove to be more effective than others. This session will explore exercise training strategies that will give your older clients their best chances to achieve functional longevity.
Credit(s): 1.0
Smart Programming & Coaching
S06: Anatomy of Movement: Squatting as We Get Older
Alwyn Wong, DC, BSc, ART, Med Ac
When we watch a baby squat, we marvel at their ease and depth. So, what happens as we age? Do we lose the ability to squat deeply? The answer is yes and no. Despite a lifetime of injuries and postural habits, we can regain most of this function if we focus on the correct muscles and joints. Addressing the little joints of the foot, the deep muscles of the hip, and the hip flexors can assist with improving this movement that is important for strengthening and our activities of daily living.
Credit(s): 1.0
S07: Anatomical Approach to Exercise Practice
Judi Laprade, PhD, MSc, BSc, BA
Does the foam roller stretch out the IT Band or break down adhesions? Should we let the knees go in front of the feet when we do squats? Stretch after a workout or before--or at all? Weight belts–a help or a hindrance to doing heavy lifting? Get answers to exercise myths, assumptions, and more using anatomical truths and current research.
Credit(s): 1.0
S08: EQualizer™ Older Adult Strength & Stability
Marc Lebert, BA, CPT, NLP Practitioner
The EQualizer™ or EQ's are known for athletic conditioning and calisthenics. This session, however, is a little different. We will regress all the fundamental moves and use the EQs as a tool to enhance balance, mobility, bodyweight strength and stability. Inventor Marc Lebert will start with the basic philosophy of the EQs, a quick refresh on the core EQ moves and then adopt those so that older adults can feel confident and successful in their movements. Great for any age!
Credit(s): 1.0
S09: Refining Joint Mobility Exercises
Karsten Jensen, MSc, CPTN-CPT.M
We use Dynamic Mobility Exercises to prepare for a specific movement. In contrast, we use joint mobility exercises to nourish a specific joint with synovial fluid. This workshop will expose you to 1) joint mobility exercises for all joints of the body—as the backdrop for discussing complexity as the parameter for the progression of joint mobility exercises; 2) ways of directing attention to fine-tuning the training outcome (the observer effect); 3) the best ways to breathe; and 4) ways of using joint mobility exercises to refine the body's bio-energy field. The exercise progressions are simple yet elegant and do not require extraordinary flexibility or coordination.
Credit(s): 1.5
S10: Program Design for Special Populations
Deanna Lawson-Langford, BA, CCF-CMCP, CPTN-CPT.M, OFC-TFL
When working with clients with a well-known medical condition, we become very familiar with contraindications and what not to do, for example, high blood pressure. However, sometimes, we struggle with what to do. This session takes a 'regular' fitness program and adapts it for three conditions: people with high blood pressure, people with osteoporosis and those folks who cannot participate in exercises on the floor.
Credit(s): 1.5
Injury Prevention & Neurology
S11: Fascia and the Nervous System for Training
Melissa Putt, BA, MES, RNCP, CPT, DO(C)
This session will summarize the ascending and descending nervous system pathways, the cerebellum, basil ganglion, VOR (vestibular ocular reflex) and how all these systems integrate into joint and mechanical proprioception. Functional movement and exercise skills will follow this foundation to enhance client balance and coordination, contributing to more significant fitness gains. We will review the fascial system and how it supports the nervous system and its pathways highlighted. Participants can expect to create a toolbox of testing skills, a theoretical understanding of the nervous system, an anatomical knowledge of the fascial system, and a comprehensive set of movement exercises to enhance the proprioceptive feedback system.
Credit(s): 1.0
S12: Perspectives on Resistance Training for Older Adults (L)
Dr. Cody Sipe, PhD, CPTN-CPT
Resistance training is one of the most recommended strategies for older adults. The question is not so much “Should they do it?” but more about “How should they do it?” And this is where there are lots of different opinions. What kinds of movements are best? How heavy should they lift? What type of equipment should they use? What kind of safeguards should be in place? Should certain older adults avoid lifting? All of these questions are important. This session we take an evidence-based approach to resistance training for older adults of all ability levels and clarify these issues.
Credit(s): 1.0
S13: Falls & Fractures in Osteoporosis: What Can Exercise Do?
Judi Laprade, PhD, MSc, BSc, BA
Osteoporotic fractures resulting from a fall are the most significant negative consequence of the disease itself. Fragility fractures are more common than many chronic conditions and diseases, but fortunately, research demonstrates that exercise directly reduces fall-related injuries. This session will provide practical examples and an overview of the most up-to-date exercise recommendations derived from the best evidence, including determining fracture risk, factors for falls, and what specific interventions are effective in preventing falls and improving quality of life.
Credit(s): 1.0
S14: Flexible Steel: Untying the 4 Knots
Louka Kurcer, BFA, CES
The shoulders and the hips tie the arms and the legs to your body; this is obvious. But to take the knot analogy further, to function correctly, a knot cannot be too loose — it comes undone, and your shoe comes off, or it's too tight, in which case you cannot untie it; you cannot ever remove your shoe. To have a functioning knot, you must have a perfect balance of strength and flexibility. You must be like flexible steel. Flexible steel bends but does not break. The session will be on gaining more flexibility and mobility in the hips, thoracic spine (Tspine), and shoulders. Why? Because we will get a massive bang for our buck if we can make even minor improvements in these key areas.
Credit(s): 1.0
S15: Neurologic Training Tools for Seniors: Bringing the Nervous System on Board to Correct Balance, Coordination and Strength Gains
Melissa Putt, BA, MES, RNCP, CPT, DO(C)
The training of targeted muscle groups such as the gluteals or abdominals, for seniors, is often counterproductive and can further exacerbate faulty posture and prime muscle weaknesses. Thus, a weak glute could relate to a pathway originating in the brain or a more distal one like a toe. Adding a load to the glute would only create a localized tone without coordination and no real change. Without organized neurological pathways, our seniors lose balance, experience potential falls, faulty posture and coordination. In this session, you will learn to test and retest primary motor pathways, learn tools to address FHP, kyphosis, and lordosis with eyes and tongue, and learn how to use the inner ear to affect coordination.
Credit(s): 1.0
S16: Ground Force Method: Movement Exploration
Louka Kurcer, BFA, CES
Ground Force Method (GFM) is a movement system focused on the quality of your movement. Moving better should be the goal before you move more, stronger, or faster. The GFM Session can be used as a warm-up and warm-down. The goal is to build movement literacy while having fun and working in the flow state, which makes people want to perform any activity more than once. The flow in this set-up is an ultimate work-capacity builder. In the flow state, you can do more because time becomes secondary to the drive to move, to move well, and to string any number of movements together in a sequence.
Credit(s): 1.0
Business & Client Retention
S17: Utilizing Psychological Skills Training to Support Clients
Serena MacLeod, CPsychol, HCPC, MSc, BSc, Dip Social Worker
This workshop will equip personal trainers with psychological skills to support their clients. Psychological skills training consists of practising different strategies, dependent on the individual, to improve and maintain performance levels. We will explore how to implement various psychological skills, including self-talk, reframing, goal setting and self-regulation techniques. The workshop also includes client case studies and how to navigate challenging cases.
Credit(s): 1.0
S18: Great Regressions (WS)
Libby Norris, BA, PTS, FIS
Add to your repertoire and tools working with the older adults that represent a growing demographic and opportunity with training and revenue, value-added service, and customer experience. This session provides a program design chart and tools based on foundational movement patterns that support activities of daily living. In this session, we will cover sample exercises in each category with a full range of progressions and regressions that provide creative and functional options along the continuum that will engage and get results. Learn how to step back and move forward by training clients in small and full group programs.
Credit(s): 1.25
S19: Integrating Yoga Into Your Personal Training Practice (WS)
Lori Kirwan, PhD, CYT 350, CPT, CGFL
Yoga is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5000 years ago and now in the year 2020 there seems to be a Yoga studio on every street corner. It is estimated that over 60 million North Americans practice yoga at least once a week and the numbers are growing exponentially. This CPTN intensive is an introduction to the Yoga Specialist Certification and will educate you on ways integrating yoga into your personal training sessions will add significant value and benefit to your clients. You will learn how to safely teach common asanas of yoga. Personal training allows for one on one attention and the hands on adjustments in these asanas will be taught so you can give your clients significantly more benefit than going to group classes. In addition you will learn how to use yoga as a way of teaching clients core foundation work and breathing techniques that can be applied to their overall training programs. Lastly and importantly you will learn what caution you could teach your clients regarding potential sources of injury that might occur if they practice incorrectly. This has implications particularly with the large prevalence of yoga in the community and the variation in quality of classes that exist.
Credit(s): 1.0
S20: Maximizing At-Home Personal Training
Deanna Lawson-Langford, BA, CPTN-CPT.M, CCF-CMCP, OFC-TFL
The shift to in-home training over the last few years has been one of the largest the fitness field has ever experienced. While many folks returned to in-person training as soon as possible, at-home training is here to stay for many clients. Are you maximizing all the opportunities this training format allows? This session consists of two components: 1) the logistics/business side of training at home (e.g. session type and timing, “dos” and “don'ts” for in-home work) and 2) the exercise and program design side of training at home (e.g. how to keep programs engaging, practical and keep clients motivated).
Credit(s): 1.0