No matter how many years I spend in fitness, I still see new and surprising things happening in people’s workouts. Some are great new additions, because the ways humans can safely and successfully move is highly varied and what is “correct” is broader than we previously thought. However, almost every day you will see things…
Your core consists of the muscles that stabilize the spine and hips, and includes all the muscles of the abdomen, back, glutes and upper legs. A strong core helps protect the entire midsection, and enhances both mobility and stability, which, in turn, improves movement efficiency and keeps the muscles functioning in coordination with one another….
You can’t escape burpees these days. It’s become the go-to move for high-intensity exercise because it uses a lot of muscle and moves your body mass up and down. This is also why burpees are an exercise that many people love to hate. For some people, rapidly shifting the head up and down creates dizziness….
The ankle is a complex hinge joint that is primarily defined by the shin bone (tibia) and its meeting with the talus bone on top of the foot. There are several other bones that surround this meeting, as well as all the muscles, ligaments and tendons that make these bones moveable in several directions, but…
For many people, working at a computer or typing on a tablet or phone is how we spend a majority of our day. This can lead to several biomechanical issues or ailments including wrist inflammation and, potentially, carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition to setting up an ergonomically effective working environment, and putting down the iPad…
Why should you be doing standing abdominal exercises? By changing the position in which you perform an exercise, you change the way your body moves and how the muscles are activated. You can also avoid the neck pain many people experience during floor-based abdominal exercises. Plus, by moving your abdominal workout from the floor to…
The calves make up the entire space of the posterior lower leg and are used for important everyday activities like walking, running and jumping. Effectively working the calves involves raising the heels against resistance, whether that’s your own body weight or an added load, such as dumbbells or elastic resistance. Also, allowing your ankle increased…
Two of the most common reasons people give for not exercising is lack of time and not knowing what type of exercise they should be doing. This is what leads many people to hire a personal trainer—they want an expert tell them how to achieve their goals. Typically, they also want to know how to…
The BOSU is an effective tool for training both static and dynamic balance, as well as training motor skills, kinesthetic awareness and proprioception. When training on an unstable surface, the core automatically fires and contracts to keep the body upright. Thus, the BOSU challenges individuals to build strength and balance simultaneously. Beginning exercisers should have…
The glutes are one of the largest muscle groups in the body and are vital for both life and sport. Unfortunately, dysfunctions elsewhere in the body can create problems in the glutes and hips. For example, dysfunction in the foot can translate into hip and glute dysfunction. The following exercises are designed to help offset…