These days you can train like a Spartan, or a caveman, or a superhero. There are tons of articles describing the training regimens of this or that actor or actress or star player, but do they work? Continue reading If you’re not a Pro, don’t try training like one
Tag Archives: Activity
These posts describe or talk about an exercise or activity you can try out.
Breaking it down
People have mixed opinions about partial movements. Many think they’re utterly useless, while some others believe they’re harmful. That can be true if they’re done mindlessly, but there are many ways in which consciously doing partials can help you. Continue reading Breaking it down
Warm up
Some people shrug warm ups off or do them half heartedly as undesirable foreplay to “real” exercise, but the truth is that warming up before effort is a great idea if you want to stay whole. Not only does it help with long term injury prevention, but it also prepares the body for movement, which gives you better performance during – and more benefit from – the actual exercise. Continue reading Warm up
Isometrics
When you think “exercise”, you probably imagine some sort of movement. And, in most cases, you’d be spot on. Isometric exercises however are a special case, where you exercise without actually moving.
Do not for a second imagine that this makes them any easier to perform. Continue reading Isometrics
The Plank
Yarr! Happy international talk like a pirate day! Today we’ll be looking at a staple of piratey life, the plank!
Well, almost; the plank we’ll be talking about is not the one you’re made to walk off into shark filled waters, but an awesome abdominal exercise.
Exercise, Training, and Play
In one of his articles, Mark Rippetoe discusses the difference between exercise and training, and why the two should not be confused. Understanding the distinction is crucial if you want to improve yourself over the long term. Continue reading Exercise, Training, and Play
Bring on the weights!
Before you ask: no, barbells are not strange alien devices which will turn you into The Hulk just by being in the same building. But more on that later.
Weights are a fundamental component of fitness training. Whether you want to get stronger or just shape up, exercising with weights regularly will get you there. While the barbells and dumbbells are relatively recent developments, the idea of getting stronger by lifting heavy stuff has been with us for time immemorial. There are artefacts from ancient Greece describing progressive weight training, and it likely that they weren’t the first people to figure it out. Continue reading Bring on the weights!
Body weight exercises
Body weight exercises, or Calisthenics if you’re feeling fancy, are an essential part of our training toolbox. They are effective, can be scaled easily to your level, and in most cases require no equipment, which is great if you’re just starting out or are travelling. Continue reading Body weight exercises
Towel Power!
Towel Day is coming up on Monday 25th, so today we’re going to look at a few ways in which a towel can be employed in your travels towards fitness. Continue reading Towel Power!
Get a grip
Next Monday is Star Wars Day! While we haven’t yet figured out a way to use the force, today we’re going to look at how we can develop a Vader-like grip without having to resort to bionics!
Now, most of us don’t normally need to hang on to the underside of a cloud city with only one hand, but a good grip is useful in daily life. Apart from helping you make a good first impression by giving you a strong, firm handshake, your grip strength is also an important component of your overall fitness. Continue reading Get a grip