Recap: canfitpro Global Fitness Trade Show 2025

Recently, we had the privilege of presenting, learning, and connecting at the canfitpro Global Fitness Trade Show. It was a packed few days of ideas, conversations, and inspiration with coaches, leaders, and educators from across the industry.

Here are some highlights from the sessions we presented and panels we contributed to — along with practical takeaways you can apply with your clients right now.

Presentation 1: Mind Over Muscle – Coaching Through Psychological Barriers

Fear, hesitation, and pain are often bigger roadblocks than the physical limitations themselves. We introduced a 3-step framework to help trainers coach clients through these moments:

1. Identify the Barrier – Listen carefully, observe body language, and make notes. Barriers often show up in subtle ways.
2. Adapt Communication – Meet clients where they are. Adjust tone, cues, and expectations to reduce anxiety and build trust.
3. Progress Through Safe Action – Start small. Celebrate “wins” that reinforce capability and shift the client’s mindset.

 Actionable takeaway: Don’t just write programs — coach the person. A single safe rep, done with confidence, can unlock the next 10.

Presentation 2: Prime to Prepare – Warm-Up Strategies for Superior Results

Warm-ups are more than “just getting loose.” They set the stage for strength, performance, and injury resilience. We broke it down into five phases:

1. Tissue Prep: Foam rolling or soft tissue work to reduce restrictions.
2. Mobility: Dynamic stretches to access usable ranges of motion.
3. Mechanical primers:  Activate key muscles (glute bridges, face pulls, plank variations).
4. Neurological primers: Fire up the CNS for speed and power (jumps, med ball slams, sprints).
5. Train: Ramping sets beginning with easier/lighter variations of the main exercise

Primer Examples

 Actionable takeaway: Think of warm-ups as “performance primers,” not just prep. A good primer sequence can turn an average session into a peak one.

Panel 1: Coaching the Coach – Leadership in the Fitness Industry

We explored what leadership looks like in today’s coaching world:

• Leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about service and influence.
• Build your network and collaborate rather than compete.
• Diversify your path: from coaching, to content, to mentorship.
• Protect the profession: no need for online bashing; raise the standard instead.
• Niche down (especially if you coach online): you don’t need to be for everyone — but you do need to own your lane.

 Actionable takeaway: Lead by example. Every post, session, and interaction is leadership — whether you have a title or not.

Panel 2: Women’s Hormone Optimization Across the Lifespan

Women deserve more clarity and confidence when it comes to hormones, training, and aging. On this panel, we discussed:

• The value of hormone testing to better inform training and recovery.
• Autoregulation: learning to adapt training based on energy and cycle phases.
• How hormones shift throughout the cycle and impact strength, recovery, and motivation.
• Adjusting training parameters (volume, intensity, exercise selection) to work with physiology, not against it.

 Actionable takeaway: Build the runway early. The more strength and awareness women build in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, the smoother the transition will be through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.

Final Thoughts

Conferences like canfitpro remind us: fitness is not just about sets and reps. It’s about coaching humans, building connections, and shaping an industry that serves all people in every phase of life.

As you head back into your own coaching practice this week, ask yourself:

 How can I prime not just my clients’ muscles, but also their mindset?

 How can I lead without needing a title?

 How can I build a longer runway for my clients, instead of chasing short-term fixes?

Let’s keep raising the bar together!

Talk soon,

Coach Tasha & Dan

PS - We have a brand new course in the works: The Coaches Eye: Mastering Movement Assessment. We are currently accepting video submissions of yourself or your clients that will be utilized in the course itself. Our instructors will be hosting a roundtable discussion providing coaching insights on your videos. Click the link and join the waitlist for more details on how you can be a part of it.

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