Improving our physical self.
I will never forget one elementary school field trip in particular. We went to Playland, where before me loomed the iconic wooden roller coaster, its rickety rails trembling beneath a flying capsule of screaming fanatics. Upon initial observation, the terror appeared to outweigh the fun. My friend Jacob saw things differently. I got into the lineup, … Continue reading When “System Overload” is a Good Thing
Nobody wants to get injured, inside or outside of training. It hurts. It dampens progress. And it prevents us from participating in the activities we enjoy. To avoid this costly accident, some supposed experts swear against performing certain movements—you know, the dangerous ones. Which are those? Turns out, none, really. Avoiding injury shares no parallel … Continue reading Knowing Thy Body: Avoiding Injury ≠ Avoiding Exercises
There are many reasons people get involved with sports: improving physical health, relieving stress, building and strengthening social bonds. And there are just as many reasons to get better at sports, too. The brain generally does not appreciate stagnancy; anyone will grow bored of sitting on their thumbs too long. Failing to improve at a … Continue reading You Are What You Train: On the Principle of Specificity
Running a marathon and sprinting the hundred metre dash use the same muscles—but not in the same way. There are big differences beneath the surface. One difference is in fibre types: slow twitch and fast twitch. These fibres are both muscle, but that's all they have in common. Indeed, they both look and act different. … Continue reading Understanding the Difference Between Fast and Slow Twitch Muscle Fibres
I started my fitness journey the way many do: utterly clueless. High school was the next chapter of my life and I knew that I wanted to look and feel good about myself. My first foray into a gym was as a young teenager with no athletic prowess to speak of. Weightlifting seemed cool and … Continue reading What a Personal Trainer Can Do For You
No workout routine is complete without the infamous Leg Day, and no Leg Day is complete without the almighty Squat: a compound movement that engages muscles throughout your lower body. What the Squat Works Your quadriceps and gluteus maximus will put in the bulk of the work. However, several other muscles play important roles in … Continue reading SIX EXCELLENT VARIATIONS OF THE SQUAT (AND HOW TO PERFORM THEM)
For cyclists, whether mountain goats or tarmac rockets, one major appeal to the sport is being outside. As a result, few try spin classes—sweating in a dark room with blaring music is certainly jarring for those used to the solace of tranquil roads. When winter approaches, however, most of North America transforms into a less-than-ideal … Continue reading Six Reasons Cyclists Should Incorporate Spin Class into Training
