Arguably small business owners and those who work in the service industry have been dealt a tougher blow than most during this pandemic. I think…
Re-opening the gym
The Government of Ontario has announced a plan for businesses and services to start re-opening after being forced to close since mid-March. Gyms are not…
Can you exercise if you have an injury?
We know exercise is good for us and that we should all do it. But whatif we have an injury? It turns out that more…
MY FAVOURITE TRAINING TOOLS #10: The Sled
I love the sled because it’s a great option to strengthen the legs for people who have knee issues. Squats and lunges and split squats and step-ups are all great exercises for strengthening the legs, but in the presence of a knee issue, sometimes there is pain associated with those exercises.
The fitness industry is failing regular people
Look at any advertising for gyms and personal training and the message is that you need to either have or be working toward ripped abs. This message is usually supported with photos or videos of shirtless young people showing off their six pack abs. This, despite the reality that most people will never have a six pack. And probably never wanted one.
The best abdominal exercise for people who arch their backs a lot
Now here’s the interesting thing about dead bugs: They are incredibly hard for people who tend to arch their backs, and they’re pretty easy for people who don’t. The difference in difficulty that this exercises poses between two people of similar strength and fitness level but differences in their typical back posture is astounding.
You don’t have to workout 3 or 4 times per week
I know some trainers who won’t work with a client unless they’re willing to train with them at least three times per week, and I’ve had other trainers tell me that working out once per week is a waste of time.
Here are some comments I’ve received from clients who work out once per week:
Is stretching the answer part 2: Your hamstrings are tight, but are they short?
I gave a talk at a local Running Room last week, where I opened by asking if anyone has tight hamstrings. Guess how many raised their hands. If your guess is about 90%, you’re right. I then asked half the attendees to lie on their backs while the other half observed. I instructed those on the floor to place their arms on the floor at their sides with palms facing up, and straighten their legs with toes pointed toward the ceiling. I then asked them to keep both knees straight and lift one leg up as high as they could.
Is it a glute bridge?
This all makes sense because the human body is an example of a brilliantly designed system. Any engineer will tell you that good design includes backup options. The human is designed such that more than one muscle (or muscle group) can accomplish a task.
8 Easy-looking exercises that are surprisingly hard
It was the best of exercises; it was the worst of exercises. The bird dog truly is a tale of two exercises. When done properly it’s impressively challenging for most people. Unfortunately it’s often not done well, and when it’s not done well, it’s not that hard.