Squats, deadlifts, strict press, bench, and pull up. They often are (and should be) staples in your routine around which the rest of your program should circulate. This article isn’t about that. It’s about the parts you don’t notice, the weaker points that you have allowed to atrophy.
It’s...
Cesar Ruiz has become an established guard on the offensive line with the New Orleans Saints, joining the team as an NFL first round draft pick in 2020, but while the ferocious footballer has always had strength on his side, a fractured foot forced him to learn more about looking after his body...
I didn’t realize how much mobility training mattered until it was too late. I was standing over a heavily loaded barbell, ready to tackle a Sumo deadlift, thinking I had all my bases covered. But as I bent down, my lower back rounded because my hips lacked the mobility to hinge properly, and as...
When most people first pick up a dumbbell, they often gravitate toward losing fat, building muscle, and looking buff—what we might call ‘vanity goals.” And rightfully so, these goals can also contribute to improved health. But, for a moment, let’s set these goals aside and delve into the...
Mobility training is the utilization and the ability to actively move a joint (where two bones meet) before being restricted by surrounding tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles). Examples of mobile joints include ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders.
Performance refers to how effectively...
Too many articles zero in on the how-to when it comes to stretching, so this one will be a little different. What’s equally, if not more important than how to perform a stretch, is knowing the types of stretches to use, and when. This should help.
5 Types of Stretches
When most people think...
Walk into any gym, and you’ll undoubtedly see two types of training being performed isotonic exercises and isometric exercises. Isotonic training include classic lifts that are more commonly performed, with a concentric or “lifting” phase, and an eccentric or “lowering” phase to every rep. For...
The pushup is a strength training staple renowned for its simplicity and effectiveness. But what if you could simultaneously elevate the traditional pushup to target more muscle while improving your strength and mobility? Enter the yoga pushup, an exercise that combines the conventional pushup...
Injuries are the worst thing one would have to deal with in the gym, and working around any number of tweaks and tears can be nerve wracking. Notably, the lower back is one of the regions of the body that’s most prone to injury due to lifting, making it one of the most common areas to sideline a...
Mobility and strength are two sides of the same coin. Good strength training will improve overall mobility when the exercise is performed through a full range of motion. And uncomplicated mobility training improves your ability to go through a full ROM with strength exercises. What does that all...
Some people are born with flexibility while others have to work for it. And no matter what category you fall under, gaining a greater range of motion, both in muscles and joints, takes persistence and time.
Stretching plays an important role in keeping the body flexible and has even been known...
The soreness that sets in after leg day can make it hard to complete normal daily tasks like walking up the stairs, (we’ve all seen the leg day memes), let alone combining leg day and hiking a semi-advanced terrain.
On the flip side, post-hike soreness can also make leg day seem (and feel)...
Did the chicken or the egg come first? Who cares? Both chicken and the egg are delicious—and you’re wondering what this has to do with mobility exercises.
Stay with me for a moment. In the fitness universe, “experts” have often debated which exercise quality is more important to train...
Mark Lauren’s professional career and personal development has amounted to a life-changing series of teachings that has garnered more than 1.7 million book sales and continues with the release of the highly anticipated “Strong and Lean;” offering up valuable training sessions that can be...
In 1997, Randy Hetrick created his first version of the TRX out of a Jiu-Jitsu belt and parachute webbing. Even when bullets were whizzing past his ears, he wanted to stay in tip-top shape. Now TRX training is a worldwide phenomenon that’s common in gyms and homes everywhere and not just the...
The thing about most articles on the internet that have to do with lifting weights and training hard: They have one goal in mind – always gaining, and never maintaining.
It’s ambitious, and honestly, it’s something to be commended. But there’s being a hero, and there’s being realistic.
Here’s...
Whether you are a box-jumping legend, or have stayed away from this training apparatus altogether, the same general principles can be applied for improving your performance. While higher jumps are no doubt great for the ego, owning the correct technique to get those extra inches will bring...