You know those foamy, tube things you see at the gym?…yeah those are called foam rollers. Although gaining traction in popularity, foam rollers are still a very underutilized piece of equipment.
Foam rolling is an important part of a well rounded fitness program. Leaving it out is a mistake that can lead to injury, and decreased performance. Today we are going to go over those benefits, and I will show you my go-to-foam roll routine.
16 per minute, 960 per hour, 23,040 per day….That’s how much we breathe. You could say breathing is life. It’s the first thing we do in life, and the last thing we do.They why then do we ignore it? Why do we never train it?…Poor breathing patterns can lead to numerous problems such as chronic pain, and hormonal issues.
Eric Christenson is here to help change all that. Eric is a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) and the owner of Chandler Physical Therapy in Chandler, AZ. Eric estimates that 85%-90% of his patients have breathing issues that effect their function. If you’ve ever had persistent neck pain, chances are poor breathing patterns is one of the causes. Eric’s passion to change the way we breath runs deep. So much so, that he wrote a book. His book, “Breathe Better”, addresses our society;s pervasive issues with breathing. “Breathe Better” is scheduled for release.
In today’s post, I interview Eric and we take a deeper look at his new book, Breathe Better, and give you some exercises to help improve your breathing. Enjoy!
Starting up a new routine at the gym can be like traveling through a jungle. If you don’t know where your going, it can be easy to get lost. Thats why you need a map. In this case, your map is a program. Follow it, and you should reach your destination.
The problem is, some maps, have mistakes. Just as some programs have mistakes. They can lead you down the wrong path and in some cases injury and diminished results. To be clear, there is no perfect program. But there are also some common programming pitfalls that people fall into. Here are some common programming error that you can avoid on your way to achieving your fitness goals.
Welcome back for another Ignite Interview! Today I interview another up and coming performer in the world of fitness and performance training.
I share my conversation with Preston Hale, III. Preston is a performance coach based out of Chandler, AZ. Preston trains primarily athletes, with a special emphasis on developing defensive backs in American football. Preston uses his experience as a college athlete, and knowledge as a coach to provide very unique and high level training. He breaks down football movement like few can.
Preston has taken a unique road to get where he’s at, and is an example of perseverance. He is also one of the most avid learners I know. In our conversation we cover Preston’s keys to success, his training philosophy, and how to handle the fear of making a career switch. Enjoy!
How many of you have had a stretch where you hit the gym HARD everyday for , and seen minimal results? …Chances are, you were probably were overtraining.
Overtraining is a problem….It has gotten worse with the proliferation of high impact, group fitness classes. The idea that “more is better” and “no days off” is not true when it comes it fitness. Overtraining can lead to injury and decreased results. The good news is overtraining is highly preventable. All you have to do is listen to your body, and take these preventative measures.
One of my goals with Ignite is to become a network and resource for like minded professional. A resource for coaches and fitness professionals who are doing great work, and pushing the industry forward. ….Today, I share my conversation with Sam Ostarello. I met Sam earlier this year at the Complete Speed and Power Summit in California, an event put on by Athletes Acceleration.
Sam is a performance coach based Based out of San Diego. Sam services primarily athletes and also is a basketball skills trainer. Sam and her company, Elite Performance have quickly become one of the go-to names for sports performance training in the area.
In our conversation we explore Sam’s experience traveling the world playing professional basketball, her philosophy on training female athletes, and some of the habits that make her successful…Without further adieu ladies and gentlemen, my conversation with Sam Ostarello!
You can tell a lot about someone by whats in their gym bag…how prepared they are. What type of exercise program they’re on. How funky their gym shoes are…
Your gym bag is a sign of preparation. Being prepared for a workout is kid of like being prepared for a test, or a game. The better the prep, the better the result. This is especially true for people who travel a lot, and live life on the go. Whether you’re at home, or on the road, having these items will prepare you for anything that comes your way.
Is it me, or is posture getting worse these days?…I might be a little biased, but it seems like a good portion of people I see have what I call “Mr. Burns posture”. If you grew up in the 90’s, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, then please scroll down the page. Oh that sexy rounded back look!
Tight thoracic spines (upper back) are everywhere these days. I see them all over the street, and all over the gym. From little old ladies, to bros that spend too much time on the bench press, its a problem….Well today, that all changes! We are going to dive in and look at why we have this problem, and some exercises to fix it!
Ever started your car on a cold morning, then immediately backed out the driveway, slam on the breaks, and floored it out onto the street?…No? I didn’t think so. So why do that to your body??
Crazy thing is, I see at the gym all the time. People walk in off the street, and immediately lift a heavy weight. Not properly prepping your body for your workout is a recipe for disaster. I realize most people live extremely busy lives, and that gym time is at a premium. As a trainer, I get it, sometimes you only have 30 minutes for a workout. So who wants to spend 10 of them warming up? My hope is, that by reading this, it will become apparent that a dynamic warmup is a MUST HAVE in your fitness program
Health is the key to happiness and success, at least that what I believe. Our health is the most valuable asset we have, and should be our #1 priority. It should be valued above all else….It may seem daunting, but being healthier isn’t all that complicated. You don’t need some guru on TV to tell you how. All its takes is small daily action steps, and consistancy over time. Try these 4 small steps today, and be healthier than you were yesterday!