Yoga and Weight Training ? Never the Twain Shall Meet?
December 31, 2006
Yoga has become part of Western fitness training techniques. However, there are some who have never tried it, relegating it as a hippie trend from the 60’s. Those individuals would rather look at their flexed bicep in the mirror at their gym. They look for the feedback loop from that experience which gives them the feeling of "working out". This is definitely the group they want to be in. They consider themselves the hard core fitness enthusiasts and label yoga as something for women in white leotards. Is there any truth to this?
The answer lies in a more general definition of fitness. We need to step back and look at the big picture. Those who participate in any kind of exercise, do so to improve their physical fitness level. There is also the benefit of feeling good, mentally and emotionally. Fitness satisfies the needs of the body, mind and spirit. It is a great feedback loop to make the human being better able to handle the world around them.
Exercise The Right Way - The Crunch
December 31, 2006
Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuilders’ training regimes.
It is useful, therefore, to describe in detail the processes involved in actually doing these exercises. This will help beginners to start out using the correct techniques before moving on to potentially more dangerous heavy weights. If it also helps more experienced lifters to redress some of the little faults that have almost imperceptibly crept in over the years, all the better.
In this article we’ll take a close look at the crunch.
MUSCLES TARGETED: rectus abdominis
STARTING POSITION
Assume a supine position on the floor.
Place the calves and ankles on a bench with the hips and knees flexed to roughly 90 degrees.
Fold the arms across the chest.
UPWARD MOVEMENT
Flex the neck to move the chin to the chest.
Curl the torso toward the thighs until ONLY the upper back is off the mat.
DOWNWARD MOVEMENT
Allow the torso to uncurl, then the neck to extend back to the starting position.
Repeat or finish set.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Exercises to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
Get a Health Screening Before You Start Training
December 30, 2006
So, you have decided to hire a personal trainer to help you with your workouts. If your trainer is reputable and following proper certified techniques he/she will probably ask that you go through a Health Screening exam before begging your program. Many people resist this essential part of their training program because they feel it is unnecessary or that it will be embarrassing for them, however, these worries are untrue and skipping your health screening can result in a lower quality program design or even an increased likelihood for injury on your part.
The Size and Weight Of A Golf Ball
December 30, 2006
Golf ball manufacturers pay attention to how most weekend golfers play and address those issues in accordance with the minimum and maximum tolernaces for golf balls.
Most golf ball manufacturers are looking for the same thing, sales. They achieve this by customer staisfaction for their product. Keeping these in mind, along with adhering to the rules set out by the United States Golf Association, manufacturers for the most part will produce golf balls with the minimum and maximum requirements.
The size of the golf ball, according to the rules of golf is as follows. The diameter of the golf ball must be at least 1.680 inches or 42.67 millimeters. A smaller ball has a tendency to fly further than a larger ball due to less air resistance on a smaller object in flight, or in other words the smaller ball does not need to displace as much air as a larger ball. Keeping this in mind, most manufacturers will produce golf balls to the minimum size.
On the other hand, the weight of a golf ball, according to the rules of golf, must not exceed 1.620 ounces or 45.93 grams. The heavier the ball the less it is slowed by air resistance, and thus the furhter it will fly. For this reason most manufacturers produce balls to the maximum weight allowance.
Treadmills ? Keep On Running
December 29, 2006
There are benefits to the use of treadmills as part of your exercise program. A treadmill provides a wonderful cardiovascular workout for your heart, your lungs, and your circulation. There is low impact on your joints, which makes it easier and less painful to workout. This is an excellent workout for pregnant women. Because it is low impact and cardio-vascular in nature it builds endurance which no doubt helps during labor.
Treadmills are easy to use and they are not that expensive especially the lower end models. The use of a treadmill will help you lose weight and body fat. A non-physical benefit of a treadmill can be that they don’t take up a lot of space. Oh there are some that could use a whole room but if space is the issue then you can find manual treadmills that are powered by your movement only that fold. Really do some research and talk to professionals about which one might be appropriate.
It is best to compare different models. What kind of features are you looking for on your treadmill? Here are some things to look at when you are comparing various models. It can be overwhelming because all you really want is to work out. The type of motor is important as it can affect the size of your machine. The belt trackers are the most important things to look at.
Judo Nagewaza (Throwing Technique) In The Street
December 29, 2006
How practical are throwing techniques (nagewaza) for self-defense or street-fighting? NOT VERY!
The Japanese themselves have a saying, “One year for newaza (ground technique), TEN YEARS for nagewaza (Throwing technique)”. It takes ten times as long to become proficient at throwing than it does at ground fighting.
Trying to throw a fully resisting, fighting adversary and pulling off a “clean” throw is VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
People will INSTINCTIVELY grab, seize, claw and otherwise do all sorts of “spoiling” maneuvers when one attempts to execute a “throw”.
In all of the fights I have seen, I can recall ONLY three instances where one guy was able to pull off a clean solid throw. And this person was practicing Judo on an almost DAILY basis.
I’ve seen throws used in other situations but quite honestly they got the person into MORE TROUBLE than it was worth.
I will cite three classic examples of what it takes to become “skilled” enough to even attempt Nagewaza in a real street fight.
How to Unleash Your True Golf Potential - Part 2
December 28, 2006
In (Part 1) of this article I discussed how muscle imbalance can often keep a golfer from achieving his or her true playing potential. Even though these imbalances are quite common they often go untreated due to the fact that the golfer is focusing on the symptom and not the cause. The symptom in this case is the inaccuracy and loss of power in their swing. The cause is the muscle imbalance.
Postural deficiencies (imbalances) consist of tight (shortened) muscles and weak (lengthened) muscles. Common golf posture consists of a forward head and rounded shoulders. Proper program design will call for the tight muscles to be stretched and the weak muscles to be strengthened.
In addition, the average person also has a weak core and lack of neuromuscular joint stabilization making it even more difficult to control their body during a functional movement such as golf.
Common muscle imbalances of a golfer:
Forward Head Position
Anterior (front) neck muscles (tight/shortened) - Stretch
Posterior (rear) neck muscles (weak/lengthened) - Strengthen
Rounded Forward Shoulders
Pectoral (chest) muscles (tight/shortened) - Stretch
Rhomboid (upper middle back) muscles (weak/lengthened) - Strengthen
How To Get Started With Exercise: The Magic Pill Of Your Weight Loss Program
December 28, 2006
In a previous article, I mentioned the weight loss mantra of “Eat Less… Move More” and I wrote about how to choose the diet plan that could help you eat less. In this article I will discuss the “move more” part of the equation.
Starting and maintaining an adequate exercise program really is the “magic pill’ which will jump start your weight loss program and make it easy to maintain your new weight after you reach your goal.
If you are not exercising on a regular basis, check with your Doctor first, he or she can give you guidance on what types of exercise would be safe for you to start with. Start small, doing just a little is far better that doing nothing.
Almost without fail, those who lose weight without including exercise, take a lot longer to reach their goal, they are also the ones most likely to regain all of the weight they lost and possibly even more.
What are the excuses for not exercising?
Can’t afford expensive equipment… there are many exercises that require no equipment.
Can’t afford to join health club… there are many exercises that do not require belonging to a health club.
Running Tips
December 27, 2006
It’s a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning any physical activity. The information in this article is not meant to be technical, it’s just a guideline. Use the information as you like.
With that said, let’s talk about running and its benefits.
The wonderful thing about running/jogging is that I can be done just about anywhere in the world. All you really need is a good pair of shoes and some determination.
Running is a great stress outlet and it promotes weight loss and fitness all at the same time. You are probably wondering why it’s not a part of everyone’s everyday life. That is the purpose of this article, to encourage running as a means of physical and mental health.
The challenge of getting out there and pushing yourself is the kicker for most people. When you decide to give it a try you’ll quickly see how enjoyable it really is. Every time you finish a run you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment, this is because you’ve pushed yourself to your limits and you know what you’ve done is good for you.
Exercise The Right Way - The Bent-Knee Sit-Up
December 27, 2006
Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuiiders’ training regimes.
It is useful, therefore, to describe in detail the processes involved in actually doing these exercises. This will help beginners to start out using the correct techniques before moving on to potentially more dangerous heavy weights. If it also helps more experienced lifters to redress some of the little faults that have almost imperceptibly crept in over the years, all the better.
In this article we’ll take a close look at the bent-knee sit-up.
MUSCLES TARGETED: rectus abdominis
STARTING POSITION
Assume a supine position on the floor.
Flex the knees to bring the heels close to the buttocks.
Fold the arms across the chest.
UPWARD MOVEMENT
Flex the neck to move the chin to the chest.
Curl the torso toward the thighs until ONLY the upper back is off the mat.
DOWNWARD MOVEMENT
Allow the torso to uncurl, then the neck to extend back to the starting position.
Repeat or finish set.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Exercises to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
