Students of the Personal Fitness Trainer and Holistic Health Practitioner programs often have the goal of becoming their own boss, and starting thier own business. Each program devotes an entire course to helping them understand the responsiblity of running their own show.
For those of you dreaming to make a career change, longing to take control of your future -- becoming a business owner can be a scary prospect.
Don't let it be.
Here are some on-line resources that can help quiet some of those fears:
Do you need a Business License? Go to the source. Contact the City Clerk of the city you want to work in and get the answer straight from the horse’s mouth. They will tell you who needs a license, how to get one and what fees are involved. Search on-line for the relevant city. Be careful to choose a web site that includes the name of the city (you do not need a for profit web site although that may be the first one on the list). 
For San Diego City the address is: http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/. If you are in an unincorporated area you need to contact the county clerk. For San Diego County the address is: http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/
Are you ready for Self-Employment Tax? Do you know what it is? As an employee your employer is required to withhold a percentage of your wages for Social Security and Medicare taxes. The employer is also required to contribute a similar amount. When you are self employed you must pay both parts of this tax. A great resource to learn more about this is the Small Business Administration.
Thinking about hiring help? First determine whether they will be Employee or independent contractor. What is the difference? Generally speaking if a person works on your premises and you have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does his or her job, then we are talking about an employee. Go to IRS.gov and choose the Businesses tab for more details. If you hire an employee, you will need an employee identification number and will be required to withhold payroll taxes and file payroll tax reports. If you hire an independent contractor you will need to complete Form W-9 upon hire and file 1099-Misc at year end if you have paid the contractor more than $600.00 in the year. www.irs.gov is a very useful site. Choose the Businesses tab and it will walk you through the necessary steps to get an Employer Identification Number or find the forms you need if employing an independent contractor.
Downloadable Forms you will need to hire employees:
W-4 - www.irs.gov/formspubs
1-9 - www.uscis.gov
Federal publications that can help you determine the taxes you need to withhold, pay and report on:
Circular E: (Federal payroll taxes) is located at www.irs.com
State Publications that can help you determine the taxes you need to withhold pay and report on:
California Employer’s Guide. The web site for most state employer questions is www.edd.ca.gov
Look - this is just the tip of the iceberg! And we know that change is scary...but it is exciting as well! Don't let fear stop you from pursuing your dreams. Educate yourself about the resources that are out there. Then sieze the moment and make your dreams a reality. Carpe Diem!
Mueller College has been helping students with career changes for over 36 years. Find out why by scheduling a visit to learn if Mueller College can help you!
by Erik Blekeberg, Mueller College Instructor, MA in Kinesiology with emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology, NSCA, RKC
“I know a ton about training and how to write programs but, what I need are clients, where do I get them?”
This is a big question for new personal fitness trainers to the industry. When you start to look for clients you need to first establish your product. Remember that your product isn’t just the training you provide, the product is YOU.
Establish a specialty.
You can’t be a jack of all trades because then, you are really a jack of none. Specialize in a style of training you enjoy and one that has a market. If you love endurance style training, market that product, get people in shape for 5ks and tell them the benefits of running. There are so 
many trainers out there that the only way to differentiate yourself is to specialize. You still need to know about nutrition and weights but, know about how it helps your specialty. As you begin to train people, you will find they need massage nutrition etc. That is where the network comes in.
Engage in cooperative care.
Cooperative care is where it takes many people to solve the problem. You will have a trainer, a nutritionist, a massage therapist, a rehab specialist etc. This way you have experts all working to get a client results. You don’t know everything and can’t solve every problem. Someone else might see something you don’t see. This type of care also means you will be seeing each other’s clients and expanding each other’s business.
Find where your specialty clients are.
I coach Olympic style Weightlifting. To meet more weightlifters or potential weightlifters I go to competitions, to crossfit gyms and to football programs. You need to go to where your potential clients are. If you want to be the endurance trainer then go to more 5ks, post ads getting people interested in 5ks. If you are a nutritionist, where do people look for nutrition advice. See if you can table at a local farmers market. This is a specific approach to increase interest and quite simply let people know you exist.
Offer clients something up front.
Why should they train with you? What can you offer so that they want to come? If you are a kickboxer or martial artist, it might be a complimentary self-defense course. If you are a runner, it might be a weekend run club. If you are a lifter, it might be a Barbell Club or open gym day. It is about getting people in the door and building up your reputation. People want to feel like they are a part of something. That is why it is important to remember that the product isn’t always the product. The product is YOU, the environment you create and the culture that goes along with it.
Erik Blekeberg is the coach for the Army & Navy Academy (Carlsbad, CA) Weightlifting team as well as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for their varying sports teams. He has competed in Olympic Weightlifting for 7+ years as a 94kg and 105kg making it to the 2012 USA Weightlifting American Open in Palm Springs, CA; Strongman as a Lightweight (under 231lbs) where he won the title of California's Strongest Man in 2008 for the Lightweight Division, and varying other competitions of strength involving kettlebells, rocks, barbells and anything that can have more weight added on to it.
Why should you choose Mueller College Personal Fitness Trainer Certificate Program? Click below and learn more:
by Deborah Ball, Mueller College Instructor
To say "I think" or "I feel" is a little wishful. For the most part, our thoughts think us and our 
feelings feel us; we do not have much to say in the matter. The door of the mind stands open all the time, and these unpleasant mental states can pad in when they will.
On the other hand, we can learn to tame these mental states. As meditation deepens, compulsions, cravings, and fits of emotion begin to lose power to dictate our behavior. Then we become master artists of our own life.
If sitting still is tough for you try active meditation. In active meditation every thing you do, just think of what you are doing, nothing else don’t allow extra thoughts to come in. Example; if you are drinking a glass of water. Only think of your hand getting the glass, raising it to your mouth and drinking the water. Nothing else, no grocery list, no future plans or anything else that might come into your mind. Just drink the water and be in the moment of that. This is one way of training your mind to be still and focus on one thing and one thing only.
If sitting still is ok for you then find a quiet place in your home or in nature. Sit with your back straight and head in a comfortable position.
Breathe.
Try to do belly breathing. When you breathe in fill your belly with air instead of your lungs and feel your belly expand. When you breathe out, feel your belly move in pushing all the air out. Belly breathing is our natural way to breathe. It will immediately calm down the sympathetic nervous system making you relaxed.
Now take a few deep breaths. Letting go of any stress or tension you might be holding, just let it go and feel your self relax more with every breath.
If you would like to repeat a mantra or a positive affirmation and allow the words to be the only thought that you are thinking. If more thoughts move in, don’t engage with them allow the chatter to simply go. Return to your affirmation or mantra and focus on one word at a time. This is training the mind to do what you want it to do, be still.
Don’t worry if you can’t get your mind to stop. Meditation takes practice. Try your first time sitting down to be 10 or 15 minutes. Each day try to extend your meditation by 5 more minutes. There is no need to rush or force your self. Be gentle with your self and have the time you sit be your rejuvenation time to connect to yourself deeply and fully.
After you get up from sitting, continue throughout your day in active meditation. If you’re washing dishes just think of the dish, the soap and what you are doing … and nothing else. Concentrating on one thing gives you one pointed focus instead of the multi-pointed focus we allow our minds to go. This will harness your mental power, recharge your energy and transform your life.
Make every moment of your life peaceful and joyful!
Deborah Ball is a certified massage therapist whose mission is to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their goals for health and wellbeing at any stage of their life through a holistic way of healing and living. She specializes in deep tissue, Shiatsu, Swedish, Sports, Tui-na, Reflexology, Reiki and Aromatherapy. To learn more about her thriving practice, visit http://www.healingholistically.com
There are more great tips and hints on how YOU can lead a healthy, holistic life each and every day. Click on either one of them in the right-hand column for your FREE download. To learn about how we train our students for careers as Holistic Health Practitioners, schedule a visit by clicking the icon below!
by Rod Devreese, Guest Blogger
A Healthier Life: Best Weight Loss Plans & Workout Routines
The quest to lose weight starts with burning calories more than the amount consumed. One effective way of losing weight and burning calories is to perform exercises. The good thing is that there is a variety of workout plans that you can modify according to your interests and goals. A good example of this workout plan is the weight training program, along with cardiovascular fitness program. Here are different workouts that you can follow to realize your dream of losing weight permanently.
Aerobic Activity
Anyone who wants to obtain a healthy heart and overall fitness should perform aerobic activity. For beginners, it is recommended to perform at least 20 to 40 minutes five times a week of aerobics activities that include vigorous walking and jogging. Likewise, you can do kickboxing, dance routines, and classic aerobics.
Strength Training
Another strength training that is perfect for losing weight is the calisthenics. Crunches and 
sit-ups are good for abdominal muscles. Squats, bridges, and lunges can help in strengthening the lower body.
Flexibility
In order to prevent injury, it is important to make your muscles flexible. Likewise, it promotes good posture and overall fitness. That is why after the workout, it is necessary to gradually cool down the muscles. In addition, before doing vigorous workout, you should perform light activity like walking for 5 to 10 minutes before stretching. Yoga is perfect for promoting both strength and flexibility.
Running
Running is the best workout routine that can burn a large amount of calories. Running on tracks and trails is a good alternative for running in treadmill. However, the good thing about treadmill is that you can work out even if the weather outside is not so good.
Cycling
Cycling offers low impact of aerobic workout as compared to jumping rope and running. This activity is ideal for those who have knee issues, orthopedic problems, and arthritis. You can use a stationary bike even at your home so that you can do the activity even if the weather is not good.
Interval Training
Interval training is an effective yet simple workout plan that ensures burning calories in just a short time. In performing interval training, you should integrate intense exercise with less intensity exercise. The duration of high-intensity intervals should add according to the level of strength and endurance levels.
Jumping Rope
This workout can burn calories and eventually lose weight effectively. However, for more effective workout, it is ideal to combine weight training with jumping rope. Jumping two inches above the 
ground can help in avoiding hip injuries. Likewise, make sure that the rope goes under your feet, and the elbows are close to your body.
Dancing
As you can see, people who are into dancing are physically fit and good body shape. It is because dancing helps in burning out calories. Start your workout playing slower songs and increase the tempo gradually.
While doing workout programs to lose weight, you should also monitor other aspects such as heart rate, calories burned, and other details to ensure that you are in the right track. Likewise, you should consult first your health care provider to ensure that you are capable of doing workout.
About the Author:
Rod Devreese is a health & fitness enthusiast. He writes on topics such as the best workout routine and bodybuilding exercises. Through AllWorkoutRoutines.com he strives to help everyone achieve their fitness and weight loss goals and provide access to the information and education they need to do to so.
Do you like to workout? So you like helping others work out? Then it's time to consider a career as a Personal Fitness Trainer...and Mueller College can help! Download the FREE Guide to our Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Program!
Popular syndicated sports radio personality Dan Patrick is fond of throwing around the term "passion bucket" when he is excited. My passion bucket is overflowing today, he might say during an overview of a particularly exhilarating game.
The term caught on, and soon other sportscasters started using it after a great athletic moment, and athletes began using it in post game interviews after an MVP-like performance. There was a stretch of time, as a sports fan, you could not help but notice when someone would use it.
Here at Mueller College, the passion bucket is always overflowing, and there is only one reason for that:
Our teachers.
Simply put - they are the most passionate group of professionals assembled here at Mueller College. They are not only subject matter experts, but they all have their own businesses or have been in their industry for a decade or more. That real-world experience goes so much further as they prepare students for careers as fitness trainers, alcohol & drug counselors, and massage therapists/holistic health practitioners.
Today is National Teachers Appreciation Day. And as I woke up this morning, I could not help but think of this great little spoken-word poem about teachers, by former teacher Taylor Mali.
Yes indeed, we see it everyday. We see it in the eyes of our instructors, whose passion buckets truly do overflow into the minds and hearts of their students.
Mueller College instructors make a difference, and help fulfill the mission of this school by embodying the mantra of creating a more humane world led through service to others, with an attitude of tolerance and compassion.
For that, we can only offer a very heartfelt, albeit simple sentiment:
Thank you.
Teachers are one of many reasons why you should choose Mueller College ... find out the top reasons why with this FREE download!
by Marsha Bernstein, Clinical Coordinator-Mueller College, MSW, LAADC, CADC II, IC&RC, CCS
"Treatment is Temporary: RECOVERY is forever. It doesn’t matter what road we take. We just have to get there."
Counselors tell this to their clients all of the time. Treatment programs will often require their clients to attend a specific number of 12 Step meetings per week, secure a sponsor and complete a designated number of steps in order to successfully complete treatment. What happens if your client comes to you, and for whatever reason, says that they are not comfortable with 12 step and find that it is harmful, not helpful. What do you we tell them? What is our responsibility?
If we refer back to the 12 Core Functions (completely unrelated to the 12 steps) we find ourselves face to face with Client Education. This is a tremendous responsibility. Most counselors come into the field of drug and alcohol counseling fairly well versed in the 12 steps. (AA/NA primarily) Sadly, most counselors are unfamiliar with programs outside of the 12 step community. So, what do we do? The first step, (no pun intended) is to educate ourselves on the different programs available. Not just their names and when and where the meetings are, but on their principals, values and beliefs. This means we should go to the meetings. Check them out. Talk to the people. Learn. We can’t be expected to agree with everything but as counselors we should have open minds and walk out of a meeting with something positive to relate back to the clients.
On April 25, 2013, Laura Martin Makey, and internationally respected expert on non 12 Step approaches, spoke to the ADC students on exactly this topic. Laura has been featured on Huffington Post and on internet radio as a main speaker and on panel presentations. Laura taught us all about Women for Sobriety and several other online communities. We learned how to research where the meetings are locally and how to introduce the idea of alternate self help groups to our clients. She encouraged us to promote long term recovery on all levels and reinforced meeting our clients where they are at with support and knowledge.
I know that I learned a tremendous amount that day and am excited to explore available alternatives. The key is to educate ourselves so that we can educate our clients. We need to remember that we are responsible to provide the best care we can and not short change our clients’ personal growth because of our own ignorance and biases.
To learn more about our Alcohol & Drug Counseling certificate program, click on the icon below and download our FREE Program Guide!
by Erik Blekeberg, Mueller College Instructor, MA in Kinesiology with emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology, NSCA, RKC
For those looking to get into Kinesiology as a field of study, the first question you need to ask
yourself is why.
Why are you getting this degree? Is it to become a personal trainer and start training your own clients, would you like to own your own business?
If this is the case, 4 years of university schooling might not be the answer you are looking for. Let me highlight a few key points about my bachelor program and how the program at Mueller differs.
At the University:
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4.5 years of classes to get a bachelor degree in Kinesiology with Emphasis in Fitness Nutrition and Health.
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Study on my own for my certification (which is still required to get a coaching/training job), pay for the certification out of pocket ($500) AND had to drive up to LA from San Diego to take the exam.
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1-2 classes where you get taught HOW to get exercise.
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Instructors are excellent scientists but, not trainers or coaches and very few have ever instructed another in exercise.
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Many bachelor programs lack a strong internship placement process and some don’t even require you to have one.
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No gym membership included.
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Often times, no business component is included.
At Mueller College:
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15 months of classes to get 2 certifications (NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer and NASN licensed sport nutritionist).
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All classes are geared towards helping you learn the information of your certification and beyond. The cost of certifications is included in tuition.
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Exercise in every class, learning about how the body is trained in a variety of manners from machines, to free weights, to balance balls and suspension trainers.
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All instructors work in the field as personal trainers, nutritionists or strength coaches. Each have certifications in a variety of disciplines and organizations and know about the testing style of the NSCA and NASN.
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Practical Experience (Externship) is required to finish the program. Mueller College has a large bank of sites to work at as you finish off the program and learn more methods to help expand your versatility in the job market.
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Gym membership included while you attend Mueller.
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Review sessions offered to help you study for the NSCA-CPT and NASN exams.
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Business is a mandatory class to teach you how to build your training business, organize and get clients.
Erik Blekeberg is the coach for the Army & Navy Academy (Carlsbad, CA) Weightlifting team as well as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for their varying sports teams. He has competed in Olympic Weightlifting for 7+ years as a 94kg and 105kg making it to the 2012 USA Weightlifting American Open in Palm Springs, CA; Strongman as a Lightweight (under 231lbs) where he won the title of California's Strongest Man in 2008 for the Lightweight Division, and varying other competitions of strength involving kettlebells, rocks, barbells and anything that can have more weight added on to it.
If you're looking to be a fitness trainer, than you should consider a program like this ... why waste 4.5 years when you could be finished in 15 months!
Learn more about Mueller College by speaking with an Admissions Representative or click the icon below!
“The presence of the body means that it is knowable in a gradation of coarse,
Subtle, very subtle, and ultimately as indivisible Oneness.”
~ Dakini Sayings
There are various stages of meditation on the path of siddha-tantra. The first is an “active meditation” stage. In this stage we stabilizes our attention on the sensation of inner-rhythm (e.g. breath) without any goal of doing anything to the rhythm, just sensing and feeling. In second stage, the attention moves from inner-rhythm to perceiving the whole being, external and internal. One becomes more and more aware of the sensation and feelings that arise in different aspect of our being, the various currents that cross our being and the dynamics of inner-tension and fluidity. In third stage one looses the sense of separateness, and simultaneously becomes aware of natural and spontaneous inherent movement that unfolds itself throughout the whole being. It is felt as a dance in which whole of cosmos is participating. The spontaneous inner-movement unfolds only when one has totally let-go of will to “do” or modify anything and has surrendered to the innerunfolding.
Although the listening happens from whole of our being but is centered in our heart and in an instant all of our fears, doubts, and wavering thoughts gently dissolve into vibrant silence of inner-stillness. It is this inherent-motion that in cranial work is referred as “breath of life”. Craniosacral Work focuses on “breath of life” and uses a whole-person approach to healing and wellness.
Craniosacral Work is known to helps with chronic conditions of TMJ Pain, Headaches, Migraines, Neck & Back Pain, Whiplash, Chronic Pains, Sleep Disorders, Sinus Problems, Stress, Anxiety, Depression and more. Siddha-Cranial Healing work is an alchemical synthesis of Himalayan Shamanism and Visionary Craniosacral Work.
In this initiatory workshop we will explore :
1. Perceptual clarity, and compassionate touch, which becomes the context for our study of cranial wave, field and dynamic stillness.
2. Cranial anatomy along with hands-on work with a partner to deepen the understanding.
3. Working from the various depths of Heart to enhance the potency of healing work.
There are no prerequisites. If you have never experienced Craniosacral Work for yourself, it is recommended (not required) that you have a session prior to workshop.
About Prana | Siddha Ayurveda | Craniosacral Work | Pranaji.com
My life has been a living quest on how healing and transformation happens. What is Prana (Qi, “Breath-of life”, vayu, mana, etc), Nada and Bindu? How does stillness help in healing and transformation? Born in India, I have spent over thirty years studying and practicing healing work using Siddha tradition. Travelled many months in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, and India, learning Tantric meditative and healing practices. I studied the art of Visionary Craniosacral work from with Hugh Milne.
This workshop is $210, and will meet from 10 am - 5 pm on May 17th and May 24th. To register for this dynamic workshop, contact Tools 4 Healers at 619-298-1584, or click on the icon below!
by Erik Blekeberg - Mueller College Instructor, MA in Kinesiology with emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology, NSCA, RKC
I have been seeing an increasing problem in the fitness industry. Weekend certifications workshops.
This is nothing against workshops (which are certification-like in essence). Workshops are great. They are a way to gain new information, meet new people and stay current in the industry. The difference between workshops and certifications is that workshops show you ideas and give you examples about how to apply them, where as certifications tell you how to do everything and that this is the way it SHOULD be done.
To really explain what weekend certifications are and why they are a problem. I need to first give an example:
Sex, long term relationships and one night stands.
Now that I have everyone's attention I will delve into this a bit more. First off, in this example coaching/training clients/teaching (whatever you want to call it) is sex; Long Term Relationships represent long standing certification agencies like NSCA-CSCS or an ACSM-HFS; and One Night Stands are weekend certifications (Crossfit, RKC, Movnat, AKC and even USAWlv1).
I know this example might upset those that believe in waiting till marriage to have sex but, you really need to go with this example to understand what I mean. If I have a girlfriend and start to have sex with her, its not going to be anything great the first few times. We are learning each other, growing and becoming more comfortable with each others bodies. After a while, sex will be either great and the relationship continues or bad and we break it off. Either way, we learned valuable lessons along the road and come out better for it. We are both far more experienced with sex and have learned to experiment to some degree.
If I were to now have a one night stand with the girl I meet at a bar or at a friends house, go to a given location and we have some sex - it might be great, it might not. But, either way, after its over I haven't learned much of anything unless something really bad happened. You don't get better at sex from one night stands, you get better at sex from relationships.
This example carries right over to the fitness world. The certification agencies represent really a wedding ring in the relationship. It shows that you have invested the time, training and dedication to pass the rigorous exam. But you aren't really BETTER for taking it, it was an assessment of your current knowledge and a demonstration of your commitment.
Contrast that with a weekend cert where they pretty much give it to you after the weekend is over. Yes, some do test (USAW gives a written and RKC has a physical, teaching and skill demonstration component) but, they all give a false sense of security. They try to tell the person that they now have some knowledge that elevates them beyond what they were before.
Do they, really? They have some new ideas to tinker with but, true knowledge and skill comes from development.
Again, I am not saying that the weekend certifications are not giving you some great information ... but, remember that you are not suddenly better for having done them. Getting a USAWlv1 certification means you went to go get some new information. It does not mean you KNOW how to do the olympic lifts.
So, spend some time and invest in a methodology of training for more then a month or so.
Commit.
I know its scary and you don't want to be tied down but, you will be richer for it.
Mueller College Instructor Erik Blekeberg is the coach for the Army & Navy Academy (Carlsbad, CA) Weightlifting team as well as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for their varying sports teams. He has competed in Olympic Weightlifting for 7+ years as a 94kg and 105kg making it to the 2012 USA Weightlifting American Open in Palm Springs, CA; Strongman as a Lightweight (under 231lbs) where he won the title of California's Strongest Man in 2008 for the Lightweight Division, and varying other competitions of strength involving kettlebells, rocks, barbells and anything that can have more weight added on to it.You can find out more about Erik and his practice at www.squatmore.org
Are you thinking of becoming a Personal Fitness Trainer? To find out more about the strength of becoming NSCA-certified, download the FREE guide by clicking on the icon below!
It's always interesting getting asked "What's it like at Mueller College?"
Well, I can tell you this - it's awesome. We have some of the most passionate, inspiring and caring people here - students, instructors and staff - everyone. Whether it's volunteering, attending class or hard at work - the people at this school are in it to win it! But, I could write volumes upon volumes about these folks. Instead, I'll let the following pictures tell the story.
Welcome to Springtime at Mueller College - Experience Healing!
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