Which is the Best Exercise Tool, High-tech Machines or Free Weights?
September 25, 2007
Which is the best exercise tool, high tech machines or free weights?
You may find this information laborious; however, it is necessary to outline the differences between high-tech and non-high tech equipment for the purpose of producing maximum fitness in minimum time.
Much of the equipment on the market is virtually useless. Only by knowing the basic principal of design and function - of not only the human body, but also equipment, can one decide the most time efficient means to exercise. With that goal in mind, we offer the following:
Once upon a time, the horse was the fastest form of transportation. If one’s goal was to get from point A to point B, the horse was faster than walking.
Those without much time to waste took a horse, arriving quickly at the destination. Others has walked and eventually reached the destination.
Presently, the fastest form of transportation is a jet airplane. If one’s goal is to get from the East Coast to the West Coast, as quickly and safely as possible, the airplane is the best choice.
So it is in the choosing between non high-tech exercise equipment and high-tech equipment.
Charity Golf Tournaments
September 25, 2007
If you are involved with a non-profit organization, chances are you have been approached by people who specialize in hosting charity golf tournaments. Charity golf tournaments are extremely popular ways for people to raise money. Usually, the way these events are set up, people pay a fee to be involved in a two or three-day event, sometimes a one-day event only. The players get to play alongside local celebrities and there are prizes that can be won to sweeten the deal.
An example of a charity golf prize is a hole-in-one prize. The tournament organizer will choose a hole with a par-3 and offer, say, a new car to the person who hits a hole in one. There is no risk involved to the charity if they purchase what is known as "hole-in-one insurance," a comparatively small premium that ensures the winner will get the prize and the charity will not have to purchase the prize. This eliminates the need to get sponsorships for everything from the community.
Integrated Training for Improved Cycling Performance - Part 2
September 24, 2007
The previous article looked at postural issues and possible muscles imbalances involved with cycling. Now that we have an understanding of the imbalances that arise from a prolonged cycling position, we can develop an effective program for correcting those postural distortions.
The first part of the program is stretching the muscles that were identified as tight in the previous article (calves, quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, pectorals, trapezius, and neck flexors). Stretching returns muscles to their proper length-tension relationship. As stated in the previous article, tight muscles alter joint positions which in turn affect the opposing muscles ability to function properly. Each stretch should be held at least 20-30 seconds.
The next component is five minutes of light cardiovascular activity to increase blood flow to the active muscles and increase the efficiency of the kinetic chain. Treadmill or elliptical are great choices.
Core stabilization training is next. Stabilization training involves improving the ability of the transverse abdominis, internal obliques and the pelvic floor muscles too effectively stabilize the spine and pelvis during cycling. Stabilization exercises involve little to no movement through the lower back, hips, and pelvis. Exercises include a progression of teaching the lower abdominals and pelvic floor muscles to stabilize the spine correctly. Exercises include abdominal bracing (aka "drawing-in" maneuver), bridges, the DOG (quadruped) series of exercises, and planks. These exercises should be performed with 12-20 reps with a slow controlled movement.
Most Amazing (and Ridiculously Simple) Trick For Stiff-Legged Deadlifts You Will Ever Read In Your L
September 24, 2007
The stiff-legged deadlift is one of the best exercises you can do for your hamstrings. The only problem is, it can also be one the hardest exercises to perform properly.
For years, I tried to feel my hamstrings working when I did the stiff-legged deadlift. I knew it was the best exercise to work the hip extension function of the hamstrings but I never succeeded in feeling my hams work until I came up with this simple technique.
Let me tell you, the very rep of the very first set I used this technique on, I could feel my hamstrings like never before! It was like a revelation. It was also extraordinarily simple. I guarantee if you’ve never had success with stiff-legged deadlifts, you will definitely have it after applying this technique.
The trick? Elevate your toes on weight plates while you do the exercise. That’s it! It’s very simple but very elegant in the way it addresses the kinesiology and anatomy of the hamstrings. I will explain exactly how to set it up and the mechanisms of why it works so incredibly well.
How To Do It:
Will Your Personal Trainer Help You Achieve Your Goals?
September 23, 2007
Hiring a personal trainer can be a significant investment ? even with hourly rates differing vastly across regions and countries ? you are still paying a fair amount of money for the expert knowledge that will help you achieve your health and fitness goals and look after one of, if not, THE most important assets you have ? your body.
So how should you choose a personal trainer and what are the things you need to look out for, ask them and receive from them?
First and foremost, you MUST ensure your personal trainer is fully and properly qualified. This means they should hold, at the very least, the following:
A CPR certification ? if you do have any accidents or problems your personal trainer must know how to deal with them and ensure your safety to the best of their ability.
A recognised personal training qualification ? this obviously differs from country to country and there are only a few internationally-recognised qualifications. Most countries have a self-regulating body ? in the UK this is REPS (the Register of Exercise Professionals) and you should ensure your personal trainer is registered here before you even consider hiring them. If in doubt, ask your trainer which qualifications they have ? most won’t be offended but will be keen to show them off.
Invest in the Right Equipment and Take Your Game to the Next Level
September 23, 2007
Golf is a $60 billion per year industry. Much of that staggering figure comes from money spent on new "technologically advanced" equipment. Equipment the manufacturers claim will let us hit the ball farther and straighter than ever before. Another large area of spending is golf instruction. Today’s golfer has access to a vast number of highly qualified PGA teaching professionals to correct swing faults and give cues on how to make better ball contact. With all this high tech equipment and expert instruction, the average golfer must be playing better and shooting lower scores than ever?right? Wrong! The average handicap has not dropped in over 18 years. Why is this? The reason is great new equipment and great teachers but the same old body.
Let’s take a look at what factors control the flight of a golf ball. This may help us better understand why most golfers get less than spectacular results from investments in new equipment and expert instruction.
The golf club directs the golf ball due to the following factors:
? Club Face Alignment
? Swing Path
? Angle of Impact
? Club Head Speed
Used Treadmills ? Save Pennies and Shed the Pounds!
September 22, 2007
If you’re looking to get fit but don’t want to spend a fortune on hefty gym fees, then check out used treadmills for sale. Not only can you save money, by having your own home treadmill, you can workout any time you like. Just imagine - no more waiting in line at the gym or worrying about the bad weather outside! It’s often possible to pick up a barely used treadmill at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. You’d be surprised how many people invest in expensive fitness equipment and then quickly forget about their good intentions to get fit once the novelty of regular exercise has worn off. With a bit of research and careful planning you can find a top quality secondhand treadmill at a bargain price.
When looking at used running machines there are several commonsense tips to bear in mind. Firstly, you should check that the machine is mechanically sound. There’s little point in buying a cheap treadmill if it then breaks down after a few weeks, as you’ll then have the extra expense and inconvenience of repairing it. Remember that a disadvantage of buying used fitness equipment is that it’s unlikely to come with a warranty. One way round this is to look for factory refurbished treadmills. These machines are typically only a couple of years old and will have been inspected by the manufacturer to make sure they’re up to standard. You may pay slightly more, but it can be worth it to get the peace of mind of a manufacturer’s warranty.
Can a Stability Ball Help You Strengthen Your Core For Golf?
September 22, 2007
Some call it a Swiss Ball, some call it a fitness ball, others use the more modern term ’stability ball.’ Whatever you call it, the stability ball has been used in exercise and rehabilitation for years and has recently been adopted by personal trainers and fitness instructors for use in strength training and muscle development, especially when it comes to exercises designed to strengthen the core muscles.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) says that core strength is important because the muscles of the lower back and abdomen serve as a solid foundation for nearly all bodily activities, movement, and posture. Incorporation of the stability ball into an exercise routine helps to further strengthen core muscles due to the continuous adjustments that the body’s muscles must make to remain stable on the ball.
Use of the stability ball has become fairly common is core-based exercises like crunches, but many trainers have discovered benefits of using the ball in other exercises as well. It can even be used in non exercise settings to help strengthen core muscles. Reebok University Education manager Lisa Wheeler recently told CNN correspondent Kat Carney that stability balls can even be used by office workers. Replacing the desk chair with a stability ball can lead to strengthening the core muscles while simply sitting at one’s desk.
How Stretching Can Explode Your Muscle Growth
September 21, 2007
When you think about gaining muscle, stretching is probably not the first thing that pops into your head. But did you know that stretching plays a critical role in building muscle?
Every muscle in your body is enclosed in a bag of tough connective tissue known as fascia. Fascia is important for holding your muscles in their proper place in your body.
But your fascia may also be holding back your muscle growth. Think for a moment about your muscles. You train them and feed them properly. They want to grow and will grow but something is holding them back. They have no room to grow!
Because fascia is so tough, it doesn’t allow the muscle room to expand. It is like stuffing a large pillow into a small pillowcase. The size of the muscle won’t change regardless of how hard you train or how well you eat because the connective tissue around your muscles is constricting the muscles within.
The best example of this is the calf muscle. The lower leg is riddled with fascia because of its tremendous weight-bearing duties in the body. It is because of this fascia that many trainers have great difficulty developing their calves.
Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, and Exercise Tips ? Keeping Your Body-fat Low: Part 2 of 10
September 21, 2007
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a fitness expert, professional bodybuilder, personal, trainer to movie stars, former employee of Kathy Smith and over 50, 000 hours of paid personal training sessions under my belt. For the last twenty years I have been able to continually make progress, stay consistent and have some fun in my quest to be in better shape. One very important technique you need to learn is how to monitor your heart rate. I have been able to keep my body fat low for years because I am efficient, not because I know it all.
Here is what I mean:
Low Body Fat Technique #2: Work your heart smarter not harder!
One of the most neglected parts of any workout program is not making the most out of your cardiovascular training time. Cardiovascular training is when you exercise your heart at a certain level of effort. Something is better than nothing, but just going through the motions just to say you’ve done it, is not working smart.
One of the most important and effective things you can do to lower your body fat is to monitor your heart rate as you exercise. How do you do that and what is the right rate for you?
