Adjustments: If you don’t have a barbell, hold a kettlebell or dumbbells in the front rack position. If spiderman pull-ups are too challenging, scale back to regular pull-ups, or jumping/eccentric pull-ups as necessary. If ring dips are out of your grasp, try jumping/eccentric dips, or bench dips for a beginner option. How I did it: 185 …
Return of the Mob
After a 5-year hiatus, Strength Mob is back! New workouts will drop weekly, so round up your crew and get ready to become fit-nasty. Some background notes: One goal of any fitness program is to help you be as active as you can, for as long as possible. As a result, you’ll see that much …
Tactics for the Well-Rounded Athlete
Being labeled a “well-rounded” athlete doesn’t sound like a massive compliment. It implies that you’re soft around the edges — okay at some activities, but not a super-star in any one. Yet for those of us who aren’t professional athletes, being well-rounded is one of the best accolades out there. A well-rounded athlete can hold …
The Principle of 3 Fun Things
What makes a good day? Is it when you play hooky from work, and escape to the beach? Is it when the sun is out after a week of solid rain? Is it defined by going out to eat at your favorite restaurant? Perhaps it’s when you hang out with friend that you haven’t seen …
How to play the Push-up Game
Back in high school gymnastics, one of my favorite ways to end a day in the gym was to play something we called the Push-up Game. You might know it by another name, or perhaps you play it slightly differently than how we did. Whether you coach your own clients or you simply enjoy exercising …
Why movement variety matters
Think back through your last month of fitness activity. Try to tally every exercise that you performed during that time. Can you count the different movements on one hand? Do you need two hands? Do you need both hands and both feet? You probably have a few of exercises that you use in heavy rotation. That’s …
5 Parkour Concepts for Healthy Aging
Overcoming obstacles is part of the human predicament. And unfortunately, the older you get the more your body seems to conspire against you. Age-related conditions like loss of muscle mass, decreased vision, and joint stiffness, can make it ever harder for some older adults to be safe in the world. With that in mind, take …
What is a physical activity desert?
Free time and motivation are two factors that influence your fitness. But what about where you live? How does your environment contribute to how often you exercise or engage in physical activity outside of your home? The public health community uses the term “food desert” to describe neighborhoods that lacks easy access to fresh fruit, …
Recommended Reading for People Who Love Movement
Do you get lost watching videos of people using their bodies in remarkable ways? Is your Instagram feed filled with acrobats, yogis, dancers, skaters, and other athletes? Me too, and guess what? It’s time to put down the screen, and pick up a book. Here are eight titles for people who love human movement: The Story …
Strong like your great-great-great-grandparents
Ten years ago Michael Pollen wrote an article for Time magazine, titled “Six Rules for Eating Wisely.” One recommendation that always stuck with me was that you shouldn’t eat anything that your great-great-great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food. His point was that in our age of packaged food products, much of what is on the …