How do I Preface This? It's tough, because, Stir The Pot is most definitely in the running and may, in fact be, the greatest core exercise known to mankind. The problem(s) are two-fold: It's too advanced for most people (lots of digging elbows, overarched backs, drooping hips). The focus is too often on speed of movement (just get through the reps). The focus should be on: Creating TENSION, holding the plank position, the whole time. Being SMOOTH and controlled, never rushing or relaxing. What Makes Stir The Pot So Special? It works ALL aspects and functions of the core, anti- extension, flexion, rotation, with one movement. "True … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Quadruped Thoracic Rotations
August 9, 2018 by
How's Your Posture? Well, you're reading this, so I'm guessing it's not too hot. Actually, it probably sucks. Flexion Much? Just so we're on the same page, this, while common, is shitty posture. Got it from pexels Of course you do. Almost all of us do.. It's almost inevitable due to the way society is structured today. Sit to eat breakfast Sit in your car to drive to work Sit at work all day Sit in your car on the way home Sit to eat dinner Sit in front of the TV *there's a theme here.... I Pity Your Thoracic Spine Wikimedia commons Sitting, after only a few minutes tends to result in flexed forward posture. Sitting tall with … [Read more...]
Half Kneeling: It’ll Fix What Ails Ya.
May 9, 2018 by
Q: What Makes Everything Harder? A: Half Kneeling... Do it in half kneeling and it's harder. Shoulder Press Corner Press Cable Row Pallof Press Do them in half kneeling, go ahead, use less weight... Its harder. Why? In the words of Gray Cook: "Tall and Half Kneeling Positions force you to OWN your position" In My Words, "You Can't Half-Ass, Half-Kneeling" When in Half-Kneeling it's really tough to hide your weaknesses with NO LOAD. Add even minimal loads and there's no denying it. Half-Kneeling is an Inherently Unstable Position. Yes, it tries to put you on your ass. Unless you align, activate, brace and move with solid, effective … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: “The Worlds Greatest Stretch” AKA Groiners W/ Rotation
April 25, 2018 by
"The Worlds Greatest Stretch" Pretty sure I first heard that term applied to this exercise in this book. Circa 2005 (and the book was 2-3 years old then). Fun Fact: Core Performance was the 2nd real "training" book I ever bought. The first was Functional Training for Sports. Core Performance is a book that, unfortunately, I didn't recommend for a long time. It has a really heavy focus on movement, mobility, and "integration". At the time I read it I was 22-23ish and bulletproof. So I was like, "WTF is all this "movement" about, you gotta smash some weight". Well, what I didn't have was experience, perspective and humility. 1) I should have known, at … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Body Saw
March 28, 2018 by
"Ribs Down" I say that a LOT. Like all day. See I also say, "Chest Up" A Lot. And most folks think chin up is chest up <---if this is you, you're thoracic spine needs some love. And by "love" I mean, EXTENSION. But these are different things. And too much "chest up" usually leads to compensation and the dreaded Lumbar Hyperextension... The Duck Butt An aggressive over-arching of the lower back. Which is another compensation pattern that's associated with a tight thoracic spine.. Wait But Why? How can excessive cervical AND lumbar motion be the result of a stiff thoracic spine? Easy, if the segments in the middle of the spine don't move (do … [Read more...]
Your Cell is Killing Your Posture: Text Neck
March 7, 2018 by
If sitting is the new smoking, text neck is the new tetanus. Or not, I know that doesn't even make sense. But sitting too much is bad. And so is hanging your head off of your cervical vertebrae. "The human head weighs about a dozen pounds. But as the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase. At a 15-degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it’s 40 pounds, at 45 degrees it’s 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds."- Lindsey Bever And it's painful and if you do it enough. “As you stretch the tissue for a long period of time, it gets sore, it gets inflamed,” he said. It can also cause muscle strain, … [Read more...]
“I Overpronate”: No, You COLLAPSE
December 21, 2017 by
Some people hate feet. Some people like feet. Some people REALLY love feet. And (for the most part) we all have feet. That's really cool, cause they're REALLY important. Whats So Great About Feet? In the way-way back time, before shoes, feet are how we interacted with the world around us. Feet were the INSTANT feedback mechanism. Changes in terrain, slope, pitch, textures etc. ALL that information was taken in via the feet. But alas, we f-cked up. As we became desk bound and lazy we looked for comfort over function and stuck these pillows on our feet and subsequently F-ed one of our PRIMARY sensory input mechanisms. Thanks Nike Athletic … [Read more...]
Yeah, I Still Foam Roll.
September 22, 2017 by
The Fitness Pendulum Always Swings to the Extremes: Short Term, Everyone Overreacts. Long Term, Everyone Underreacts..... Rarely does the industry look at anything critically, simply on its merits and faults, weigh them and apply that tool as necessary. Case in point: Foam Rolling Lets take our way back machine to circa 2005. The foam roller took the fitness world by storm <----I know I'm being dramatic here, but it kinda is true. Everyone was using it, for everything.. Core Stretching To "break up scar tissue" <----I used to say that too. No, its not true. Hell, places were doing complete "classes" on foam rolling. Then the last 5 … [Read more...]
