Rees Fitness Personal Training
Strength, Fitness & Behaviour Coaching
Do less, score more.
This is a line I heard a top level coach telling one of his fighters. The fighter was moving around, ducking, weaving, attacking, blocking…generally doing plenty of work and making his presence felt…but he was not actually scoring any points, or getting the job done!
We should all strive to have a fit and capable body. I don’t care if you are:
Fit and capable body trapped inside.
A fit and capable body is hidden away inside all of us, and for health, performance and quality of life reasons, we all should try to help it get out. There are different components of a fit and capable body. Here are my favorite ones:
It is official. A lady at work told me about a chiropractor who says that women should not squat with more than 10 kilograms, because it is dangerous for them. He did not say that a particular woman, with a particular injury, should not use more than 10 kilos…no, he said no women should do it…
If you are a woman and if you go to the gym, please take 5 minutes to read this: http://www.excelsiorgroup.co.uk/blog/being-woman-gym-diary-intern Almost every other day I talk to a woman in work who refuse to do anything that does not involve little pink dumbells in fear of “turning into a man”.
Front Squat – Good
Name: Front Squat
Also known as: (if you know this by any other name, leave a comment below).
Main muscles used: Legs.
Other muscles used: Bum.
Top tips:
Supine Leg Lower – Good
Name: Supine Leg Lower
Also known as: Leg lever, (if you know this by any other name, leave a comment below).
Main muscles used: Abdominals, hip flexors.
Other muscles used:
Top tips:
A few weeks ago I wrote a bit on Recovery Strategies (click here). That article was geared more towards those who train harder and more regularly than your average punter. But it is the new year now, and millions of people have made the resolution to get fit and join up with gyms/exercise classes. So this article is aimed more at that crowd…exercise virgins, if you like!
I carry on a lot about getting the basic fundamentals right and not stressing about the little details (click here, here, here, here, here and here.) This is totally unsexy and not at all what people want to hear when they ask my advice. But what the hell. I’m paid to get results, and I don’t have a warehouse full of “Ab-Dominator!” machines to flog.
This link (click here) is by James Marshall. He is a fantastic strength and conditioning coach who trains many people (including international athletes). Here he lists some of the most important things you have to get right to become a better elite athlete. And if you think it includes some secret, mystical exercises with the … Read more
There are a couple of sentences in there that jumped out at me:
When people come into the gym I work at during the day, I often encourage them to find/bring a training partner. This one simple thing has many benefits for people who exercise recreationally or just train hard. Just some of these benefits include:
It is a well known, but well forgotten fact that our bodies don’t improve during exercise/training. Instead, they improve after exercise/training. Put simply, during training, our bodies are damaged/broken/busted up. And in the hours/days following, our bodies repair/improve/upgrade themselves, and make them just that little bit better than before.
“The British Army is rolling out an ‘improvised’ fitness guide to all soldiers operating in isolated spots away from main bases.” Click here for the video. Keeping fit without expensive equipment. Image from http://ukforcesafghanistan.wordpress.com/ I absolutely love this kind of “guerilla” exercising. You don’t need a gym full of expensive machinery to get you fit … Read more
A good Pull Up
Name: Pull up.
Also known as: Chin up.
Main muscles used: Back muscles.
Other muscles used: Arms.
Top tips:
Back Extension
Name: Back extensions Also known as: Back raises, porpoises. Main muscles used: Back. Other muscles used: Bum
Single leg squat – or a “pistol”
Name: Single Leg Squat
Also known as: Pistols
Main muscles used: Legs, bum.
Other muscles used: Hip flexors.
Top tips:
Box Jump
Name: Box Jumps
Also known as: (if you know these by any other name, leave a comment below).
Main muscles used: Legs, bum.
Other muscles used: Heart.
Top tips:
Single leg deadlift
Name: Single Leg Deadlift.
Also known as: (if you know this by any other name, leave a comment below).
Main muscles used: Bum, legs.
Other muscles used: Back.
Top tips:
Squat Jump
Name: Squat Jumps.
Also known as:
Main muscles used: Legs, bum.
Other muscles used: Heart.
Top tips:
Step Down.
Name: The Stepdown.
Also known as: The Stepback.
Main muscles used: Bum.
Other muscles used: Legs.
Top tips: