I spend a lot of time talking about the basics. And for good reason! You can't run if you can't walk. We all know it, we've heard it, but we rarely take it to heart. When you are trying to learn something ... Continue Reading
10 Life-Changing Reasons to Drink More Water
Has it occurred to you today that you are thirsty? Guess what – by the time you experience the sensation of the thirst, you are already dehydrated. That thirst is your body calling for ... Continue Reading
Can Wearing a Mouthguard Increase Your Performance?
Coming from a background in combat sports, I am used to seeing my teammates train while wearing their mouthpieces. It is accepted practice that training with the mouthpiece will help your cardio, as it ... Continue Reading
The Map Is Not the Territory: Plan Less, Lift More
Back in my bodybuilding days, before I saw the light and switched over to strength sports, I used to train with a couple of buddies: Adam and Justin. All three of us worked part-time as personal trainers ... Continue Reading
Scrape Away The Pain – Guasha
I am typing today while sore as heck with a nose that’s running like a faucet. Today is no fun. Fortunately, I have a lovely live-in acupuncturist who is going to make me feel much better using a little ... Continue Reading
6 Must Read Articles for Serious CrossFitters
So, you discovered CrossFit and now you love it. You're at the gym all the time and you're starting to collect all the proper equipment and make a real commitment to your training. Maybe you're an emerging ... Continue Reading
Being in the Zone: The Flow State in Athletic Endeavors
Sometimes in an athletic endeavor, you can’t go wrong. You anticipate next steps, you are right where you need to be, and you feel invincible. You might describe it as being “on” or “on a roll.” A good ... Continue Reading
Weightlifting Belts: Should You Use One? Pro and Con
Depending upon who you ask the question, "Should I wear a weightlifting belt?" you can end up getting an emphatic "yes", a condescending "no", or an uninterested "I don't care." For instance, powerlifters ... Continue Reading
Supplemental High Intensity Rowing and Combat Sports
Indoor rowing is rapidly gaining popularity among recreational and elite athletes. Rowing specific gyms and workout studios like Josh Crosby’s Indo-Row, are now popping up around the country. Rowing can ... Continue Reading
How I Fell In Love with My Bike: Bike Commuting Basics
When I relocated from Los Angeles to Portland back in August, I pretty much knew Portland was the love of my life. I did not expect, however, that this wonderful city full of food, art, and music, would ... Continue Reading
The Rule of 3 Workout Routine: Veni, Vidi, Vici!
Have you ever watched The Three Stooges? Ever heard a joke like, "A priest, a doctor, and a lawyer walk into a bar ..."? Why did Goldilocks have to deal with three bears? Something about the number ... Continue Reading
Featured Coach: Chris LaLanne, Part 2 – Coaching Challenges
Last week we talked with Chris LaLanne about how he became a coach, how he programs for his students at LaLanne Fitness, and how he carries on the family tradition established by his grand-uncle, Jack ... Continue Reading
5 Tips For Creating a Simple Meditation Space
Taking the time to designate a special space for meditation, will allow you to easily transition into making meditation a daily practice. A meditation space can be any size. You might be lucky enough to ... Continue Reading
Sleep Apnea: Causes and Treatments
At a talk he gave at Team CrossFit Academy in Monrovia, CA, in August 2010, biochemist and The Paleo Solution author Robb Wolf noted that the single most influential factor in our health is the amount of ... Continue Reading
Game Day: A Mental Approach to Competition, with Kenny Kane
Last week we talked with CrossFit LA team coach Kenny Kane about the mental approach to training versus the mental approach to competition. All too frequently beginner or amateur athletes blur the line ... Continue Reading
10 Tips to Fight the Freshman 15
The freedom of college is one of the greatest feelings in the world. You truly don’t have the responsibility of an adult, you have escaped the confines of high school, and you get a fresh start. The ... Continue Reading
3D Analysis of the Starting Position of the Snatch
A recent study in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning examined the start position of the snatch, one of the Olympic lifts. Previous studies have mainly focused on the peak vertical bar velocity of ... Continue Reading
Featured Coach: Chris LaLanne, Part 1 – The Family Tradition
The surname LaLanne is a well-known one, not just in the field of fitness, but in the world beyond. Most of us have some exposure to the teachings of health-and-exercise guru, Jack LaLanne. The ... Continue Reading
Active Release Techniques Aid in Soft Tissue Maintenance
If you work out, you experience aches and pains. You pull muscles, you become stiff, you feel the aftermath of a hard training session. Sometimes these aches and pains are mild and disappear quickly; they ... Continue Reading
5 Simple Tips To Start a Meditation Practice
A meditation can take place anywhere, at any time all that you need is yourself and your breath. Last week we discussed 5 Common Myths About a Meditation Practice. This week we will go a bit deeper and ... Continue Reading
Strength and Conditioning Implications for Supercross BMX Athletes
The sport of Supercross BMX is a rapidly growing sport. Supercross BMX racing became an Olympic sport at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. BMX races are essentially sprint races on built off road racing ... Continue Reading
Causes and Treatment for Fallen Arches
Of the many body parts we benignly neglect, our feet may be the most taken for granted. They get us where we need to go, supporting a lot of weight given their size relative to the rest of our bodies. They ... Continue Reading
Fun & Flow: A Mental Approach to Training, with Kenny Kane
If you attended the CrossFit Games in summer of 2011, you may have witnessed the dancing, chanting band of pirates, otherwise known as Team CrossFit LA. While some did not know what to make of the team, ... Continue Reading
Does the Menstrual Cycle Influence Athletic Performance?
Athletes and coaches have long questioned the role that the menstrual cycle plays in a female athlete’s athletic performance. Understanding the impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal fluctuations on ... Continue Reading
