Podcast fitness: Personal trainers to go

Personal trainer Mike Causadias runs nonstop, working with clients across southern Florida.

But Causadias recently learned how to extend his reach. Now, fitness buffs all over the country, and the world, can work out with him.

They just download his weekly podcast — an energetic mix of strength-building exercises and workout tips — on WhatIWantPodcasting.com.

Count his fitness-focused podcast among hundreds available to anyone looking for free advice and a little motivation. It's the latest twist in the growing world of podcasting, which has mushroomed with the soaring sales of MP3 players.

Sure, you can get fitness tips from magazines, books and TV. But podcasts are mobile, available anytime and usually free.

"Like you're eavesdropping"

At her Sunrise, Fla., home and nearby parks, Tracy Gittens, 24, and twin sister, Nadiah, listen to Causadias to get them moving.

"People need someone to help motivate them and here he is," says Tracy, a clothing designer. "Anytime you want to listen, he's right there."

That's exactly what Causadias had in mind.

"A lot of people don't find it convenient to get to a gym," says Causadias, 28, who started his podcast two months ago. "I've made it simple. People can do these exercises at the park, in the kitchen, wherever. People can get out of bed and do this."

Causadias' podcasts demonstrate everything from tummy tightening to building up your lower body. But that's just one option. A run through podcast directories shows myriad offerings.

Physical therapists give tips on injury prevention. Personal trainers help you build bigger biceps. Veteran runners tell you how to train.

Motivational podcasts are among the choices; ditto, weight loss. Sometimes there's a single speaker. Others feature two or three people, chatting like radio DJs. A few, including Causadias', include video so you can see the podcaster in action, if you have a portable player with video capability.

Some hosts post podcasts regularly, say, once a week. Others, only when the host gets around to it. Some podcasters are polished; others stumble and stammer.

But listeners don't appear to care. Some are even drawn to the nonintimidating, unpolished tone. It's like listening to ordinary people share their know-how among friends.

"It's almost like you're eavesdropping on someone's conversation," says Doug Kelsey, an Austin, Texas, physical therapist who does a podcast and listens to others. "It feels more authentic. Not so corporate. People are hungry for that."

Information at the ready

You can listen to a podcast on your computer or on the go with your iPod or other MP3 player. When you subscribe to a podcast, it's automatically downloaded to your computer. Then you transfer the podcast to your MP3 player.

Why people plug into podcasts varies as much as the advice spilling from the ear buds.

Miami attorney Amy Agnoli, 47, a Causadias' client in the flesh, travels extensively. So she downloads his podcasts to take with her.

"This way I can keep up with my training," she says.

In contrast, Justin Kavanaugh, 20, isn't looking for fitness tips when he listens to strengthradio.com. He runs a Miami sports performance company and is already in good shape.

That podcast features interviews with fitness professionals, including nutritionists and strength coaches. It's done by Jason White, a New York City fitness trainer.

"For me to get my hands on all that information — that's priceless," Kavanaugh says. "Once I've downloaded it, I can listen to what they say again and again."

Fitness professionals aren't surprised that podcasts are growing at a sprinter's pace. About half the people who frequent gyms own MP3 players, says Gregory Florez, an American Council on Exercise spokesman. So they already have the equipment.

If podcasts help people stick with a program, they serve a purpose, he says.

"More than 70 percent of people who start an exercise program quit within six months," Florez says. "Among the top reasons are boredom and lack of motivation. So if listening to a podcast keeps them exercising, that's something."

Questionable credibility

Nonetheless, people need to listen with critical ears. Hosts talking about special diets or exercise programs don't necessarily have any expertise. Some are pushing products that could harm your health or offer advice that could cause or aggravate an injury.

"It's buyer beware," Florez says. "The credibility of these things is all over the map. I've heard everything from certified fitness professionals offering valid advice to people pushing things based on no scientific information whatsoever."

Indeed, anyone can jump into the podcasting pool, and they do. Physical therapists. Personal trainers. Recreational athletes. Professional entertainers.

They're all doing podcasts for reasons ranging from marketing to having fun. Most podcasts are free, but some hosts look for sponsors to defray costs. Some hope eventually to charge for subscriptions.

In New York City, performer Marina Kamen writes and sings music for marinaspodcast.com. Her credentials: After getting to 215 pounds, she lost nearly 100 pounds and speaks from experience about dealing with food.

With the number of fitness-focused podcasts increasing, who knows where this latest craze will lead? But Florez, a fitness-business veteran, has an idea.

About seven years ago, he watched online personal training programs mushroom, then fade, leaving a few survivors. He predicts the same for fitness podcasting, still a novelty.

Some podcast hosts who don't lure paid subscribers eventually will drop out. Other hosts will lose fans because they don't produce useful podcasts regularly.

"Whether you're training or trying to lose weight, you need consistency," Florez says. "It's the same with podcasting. Without that, success won't happen."