Staying informed on the latest research and theories is essential for fitness and exercise experts aiming to optimize their clients’ performance, health, and well-being. Books offer deep insights into everything from biomechanics to psychology, helping fitness professionals craft more effective exercise regimens. Here’s a list of books recommended by fitness experts that can inspire the development of cutting-edge training programs.
Table of Contents
Anatomy Trains
Anatomy Trains by Thomas W. Myers helped me understand how muscles are connected together through fascia. Textbooks in certification and school teach you how each muscle works independently, but that’s not how humans function. We move as a symphony of muscles working together, and if one area of the body is tight, it messes up the function of its partner muscles.
Teresa Cedeno, Personal Trainer, Fitness Manifest
Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger
Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger by Michael Matthews is great for anyone who wants to improve their workouts and nutrition. For example, the book’s advice on tracking macros has helped me fine-tune my diet to better support my training goals. The workout plans in the book have also guided me in structuring my routines to ensure I’m targeting the right muscle groups effectively.
Chrissie Wellington’s A Life Without Limits is another favorite. Her story of becoming a world champion triathlete is super inspiring. It reminds me to keep pushing through challenges and never give up. One of the key lessons I took from this book is the importance of mental toughness. Whenever I hit a tough spot in my training, I think back to her perseverance and it motivates me to keep going.
Both of these books have made a big impact on how I approach fitness and life.
Samrah Yousuf, Content Lead, SQUATWOLF
Move Your DNA
It’s got to be Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman. It’s like she cracked the code on how our bodies were meant to move. Forget about fancy gym equipment and isolating muscles—this book’s all about getting back to basics and using our whole bodies. It’s opened my eyes to how important natural movement is for overall health and well-being. Seriously, it’s a must-read for anyone in the industry.
Daisy Cabral, Visionary Founder and CEO, Teami Blends
The New Rules of Lifting
A book I’d highly recommend to anyone in the fitness industry is The New Rules of Lifting by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove. This book has been a game-changer for me, particularly in how I design workout programs. It emphasizes the importance of variety and balance in training, moving away from the typical “body-part split” routines and focusing more on functional, full-body workouts. The authors do a great job of breaking down complex concepts into practical advice, making it easy to apply their principles to real-world training.
Amie Alexander, Accredited Dietitian, Gym Enthusiast and Head of Product, Nutri Peak
How Minds Change
My top pick would have to be How Minds Change by David McRaney. Although not explicitly about fitness, it has profound insights into the psychology of belief and persuasion, which is very relevant when trying to foster behavior change and address misconceptions in clients. McRaney’s exploration of how minds are changed via empathy, understanding, and creating a safe environment is directly applicable to coaching.
My biggest takeaway is that facts alone rarely change someone’s mind, especially if those facts challenge deeply held beliefs. McRaney emphasizes the importance of building rapport and allowing people to come to their own conclusions by gently guiding them through self-reflection and motivational interviewing techniques. This can be extremely useful in helping clients overcome resistance to certain training methods or nutritional advice, leading to more effective and sustainable long-term behavior change. I think this must-read book will transform how fitness professionals approach the psychological barriers clients face to exercise.
Piotr Lewandowski, Physiotherapist & Exercise Scientist, Sports Physio Online
About ‘What Experts Read’
In our unique series, ‘What Experts Read,’ discover the literary inspirations and must-reads of thought leaders and industry experts. Each article highlights the books that have impacted the viewpoints, tactics, and success of successful entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders in their respective areas.
Discover a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare, and more, as professionals share their best book suggestions and talk about the significant influence these reads have had on their careers. Discover priceless information, expand your horizons, and gain insightful knowledge from experts at the forefront of their fields.
‘What Experts Read’ is an insightful look at the relationship between knowledge, experience, and the written word, and it may be of interest to anybody looking for motivation, strategic advice, or just to learn more about the reading preferences of prominent industry figures. Join us for this insightful tour of the most important leaders’ bookshelves of today.
General Site Disclaimer: The Chrysalis BREW Project does not provide professional advice. All views and opinions expressed in each post are the contributor’s own. Whereas we implement editorial policies and aim for content accuracy, the details shared on our platforms are intended for informational purposes only. We recommend evaluating each third party site independently, as we cannot be held responsible for any results from their use. In all cases and with no exceptions, you are expected to conduct your own research and seek professional assistance as necessary prior to making any financial, medical, personal, business, or life-changing decisions arising from any content published on this site. All brands and trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. For more about our content terms and conditions, refer to the links below.
Important Reads: About Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer and Disclosure
Share Your Insights
How about you? Have you read the books that our experts and thought leaders read? What other books do you read? Which one(s) would you strongly recommend? Why?
We’d love to know what you think. Do share your thoughts on the comments below.
Read More Articles in the ‘What Experts Read’ Series
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Useful Links
- A Calendar of BREW Events
- Book Reviews and Recommendations
- BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards
- BREW Book Awards
- BREW International Blog Award
- BREW Poetry Award
- General Award Nomination Policies
- BREW Award Winners
- Become a BREW Awards Judge
- BREW Book Awards Judging Criteria
- BREW Brilliance: Insights and Updates from BREW Awardees
- Policy for Self-reporting, Reporting on Awardees, and Minimum Nominee Criteria
- From the BREW Community
- Get Featured: Showcase Your Work Through The Chrysalis BREW Project
- Giving Back
- Our Free Services for You
- What You Can Also Do
- Partner With Us
- Our Offers
- About
Announcements
Welcome to The Chrysalis BREW Project! We’re excited to offer new service slots to shine a spotlight on your masterpiece—place your order while spots last! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out through our Contact Form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. All the best, now and always—keep shining!
Congratulations to our latest BREW award winners!
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Share this:
Discover more from The Chrysalis BREW Project
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A recent injury has taught me the importance of understanding our body’s anatomy and mechanics. But I also love Mrs. Cabral’s recommendation because I feel we’ve overcomplicated fitness, and we really need to get back to basics.
[…] post What Experts Read # 17: Must-Read Books for Fitness and Exercise Experts and Their Impact on Exercis… appeared first on The Chrysalis BREW […]