Battling Ropes
There are certain pieces of equipment that have been around for a long time such as ellipticals and treadmills but over the last 10 years, we’ve seen more creative and “functional” equipment hit the fitness scene like battling ropes. Battling ropes have emerged and become more common in strength and conditioning facilities as well as […]
Should Your Clients Overhead Press?
The overhead press has been a staple in resistance training since the very beginnings. Whether you are looking to build muscle and strength or overall work capacity in your shoulders, few could argue the benefits. Trainers should bear in mind, however, that overhead pressing may not be the best fit for each of your clients. […]
The Value of Suspension Training
I can still recall my first impression of seeing a suspension trainer back in 2009. It consisted of two nylon straps webbed together and anchored to the ceiling at my local gym. I honestly thought it was a gimmicky product and would be only good for group exercise classes. I mean, how could you possibly […]
Suspension Trainer Tricep Extension
Using a suspension trainer should be in every trainer’s toolbox because of its inherent convenience, versatility, and impressive efficacy. There are endless possibilities for exercise options, limited only by creativity. The suspension tricep extension is one of the best exercises for integrating core work with targeted arm work. You are basically getting the benefits from […]
Assess, Don’t Guess: Using Assessments to Support Client Coaching
As personal trainers we must take our due diligence to keep our clients safe and injury-free in tandem with helping them reach their goals. Before your new client picks up so much as a dumbbell, a savvy trainer will take the time to perform various performance and postural assessments. An assessment is an opportunity to […]
How to Do a Kickstand Romanian Deadlift
When done correctly, single-leg Romanian deadlifts are a terrific exercise. The keyword here is “correctly”. Because this variation on a deadlift is a difficult and advanced exercise, it takes time to master or, at least, to execute effectively. You could always stick with bilateral Romanian deadlifts, but your clients will miss out on the benefits […]
The Importance of Programming Exercise Regressions
I always say a skilled personal trainer is not about being hard or tough but one that meets a client where they are and gradually progress them to achieve a greater level of fitness. Most of the time, especially for clients that are over 40 and or just getting back into working out, making an […]
Do This, Not This, Do That: The Optimal Method to Demo’ing Exercises
Do you ever get frustrated trying to get clients to do an exercise correctly? I certainly have. Sometimes I ask myself if I said too much or not enough, which perhaps lead to confusion and a complete botchery of the exercise demonstrated. Through my experience as a personal trainer and managing other trainers in my […]
How to Do the Pallof Press
I’ve found that the exercises that look the least complicated are typically the best for you. At first glance, the Pallof Press would certainly fit that description. There’s very little movement to it, which is what makes the exercise feel much harder than it looks; you have to resist movement in order to effectively train […]
Medicine Ball Training: History, Power Exercises, and Considerations for Singles and Partners
The Medicine ball is now a standard accessory in our gyms and in our workouts. We can easily find a variety of wall balls and slam balls, some filled with sand, some stitched kevlar, and some solid rubber meant to bounce like a super-ball. Some medicine ball exercises are fairly straight forward like an overhead […]