A new research project from Aalborg University in Denmark shows Virtual Reality (VR) can get the elderly in nursing homes to be happier about exercising. It seems that a big problem in nursing homes is ... Continue Reading
Lower Body Power: VRT vs Plyometrics vs Olympic Lifts
Variable resistance training (VRT), plyometrics, and the Olympic lifts are three popular means of developing power in athletes. All strategies are proven to be effective, but are there periods when one is ... Continue Reading
Trust Your Training
Less than two miles into my half marathon, I was sure I had made a huge mistake. For a few seconds, I started to get down on myself, because it’s a mistake I’ve made a half dozen times before, and one I’ve ... Continue Reading
Boxing Should Be Your Next Sport
Boxing is one of the world's toughest and most compelling sports. It is also a metaphor for life. When it comes to our common vernacular, boxing is the ultimate activity for conjuring up images and phrases ... Continue Reading
The Art of Mindful Movement
The number of things we are “supposed” to do for our health can be overwhelming. Exercise, eating clean, spending time with our family, getting enough sleep, decreasing screen time, spending time in ... Continue Reading
Find the Right Strength Program for You
If you live in or around a populated area, there’s probably no shortage of general gyms or CrossFit boxes you could join. If you’re a beginner, the different programs offered by these gyms may look about ... Continue Reading
The Anatomy of a Training Program
Finding the perfect workout routine and training schedule is the fitness equivalent of finding the Holy Grail. Such a phenomenon does not exist. No two individuals are the same and therefore cannot expect ... Continue Reading
Training and Nutrition Considerations for Menopause
There are few things women like to talk about less than menopause. But to optimize your health and fitness results during this critical time, you need to think, and yes, talk about it. Your body is going ... Continue Reading
Education Reform to Create a Nation of Heroes
"Our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by society." - Alan Watts "Our ... Continue Reading
Don’t Train In a Dirty Bathroom
The Breaking Muscle Rules for Finding the Right Gym Entering a gym shouldn't be the start of a journey through Dante's Inferno. The first thing you need to understand is, no matter who you are, you are ... Continue Reading
Your First 4 Steps Toward a Fitter Life
I started my journey as a strength and conditioning trainee when I was 12 years old. My dad signed me up for a program in Pewaukee, Wisconsin at a facility called NX Level Athletics. Since then, NX has ... Continue Reading
The Dark Side of Mindfulness
Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzzword in the fitness world, and that’s mostly a good thing. Whether through formal meditation or simple focused attention during your workouts, mindfulness practice can ... Continue Reading
Don’t Like to Practice? Then Teach
From my earliest training in martial arts, I was always encouraged to teach. I was a little self-conscious about it at first. I didn’t think I was good enough. I found that as I taught more I became more ... Continue Reading
2 Alignment Fixes to Prevent CrossFit Injuries
I personally love CrossFit. I am certified as a Level 1 trainer in CrossFit, I love to participate in the sport, and most of all I love watching the competitions. But as a Posture Alignment ... Continue Reading
4 Mobility Tests to Reality Check Your Squat Depth
Many athletes experience low back pain during lifting. Poor technique when performing deep squats places excessive stress on the low back. In the strength community, debate encircles the amount of pelvic ... Continue Reading
Thank Norbert Shemansky for Your Weightlifting Category
I have recently written about the deaths of three legendary sportsmen, namely Tommy Kono, Muhammad Ali, and Gordie Howe. Sadly, the Grim Reaper has recently claimed a couple more sporting immortals. One of ... Continue Reading
3 Guiding Principles for Every Athlete
Watch any large group of people and you almost can’t help but be overwhelmed by the vast spectrum of different body types, backgrounds, goals, and experiences. I see all kinds of people in my own coaching ... Continue Reading
The Disconnected Values Model of Motivation
It is easy to motivate or help someone who already values being healthy, moving well, and moving often. But what if they aren’t? The fitness industry primarily markets to people who are already active and ... Continue Reading
Developing My Athletes’ Competitive Fervor
Part of my job as a coach is to prepare my athletes’ psyches for competition. All of my athletes are competitive, stubborn, and inclined to derive satisfaction from concluding whatever they start. It is my ... Continue Reading
Your Fitness Truths Are Just a Story
Everything that has happened to you, from your childhood to the moment you started reading this article, is just a story. It’s nothing. It has absolutely no substance whatsoever. In order for you to even ... Continue Reading
Revisiting CrossFit’s Definition of Fitness
Time for a little self evaluation: Are you fit? After all, you work out three to five times per week and have been doing so for more than a year. You do regular weight and cardiovascular training, and you ... Continue Reading
Meditation for Meatheads
If you and I are anything alike, then the second you hear words like ‘meditation’ and ‘mindfulness’, your BS alarms go off. I used to be the same way. Until recently, the subjects of meditation and ... Continue Reading
A “No Program” Approach for Limitless Growth
The fitness arena is evolving in a refreshing way; the paradigm is shifting, and we’re ushering in the era of movement training. Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to this revolution than handstands ... Continue Reading
Placebo: Fake Inputs, Real Results
The concept of the mind's power over the body goes by many names. Some call it “mind over matter,” or “the power of belief.” Others call it “willpower.” Call it what you like; it’s hard to deny the power ... Continue Reading
