My Blog

Got CORE?

06/03/2011 12:59:00

Got Abs? How about Got Core?

VS.

Core training is not just about the abs—abs are less than a third of the equation. Countless books and magazine articles promise great abs, and though many of them have terrific exercises that we believe in, they’re of little use unless done in conjunction with exercises aimed at integrating your shoulders and hips. Instead of just focusing on the abs, you need to build a framework for all movement. The aim isn’t just a well sculpted midsection; it’s a high performance core.

Trigger What?

11/24/2010 23:15:00

For almost a year now I had been waiting for a certification and training program to become available for the Trigger Point therapy system. I had heard the buzz and seen it represented at major sporting events, in top gyms and training facilities(Twist and AP), and just recently on health shows. I wanted to get a chance to be in on it and see if it really could live up to the hype. Well I finally got my chance at the last CAN-FIT-PRO here in Vancouver, BC. Did it deserve the hype? After the long training I can say YES! First off let me explain the basics and uses for this unique system. Alot of trainers out there have tryed the foam roller approach towards SMR(Self Myofacial Release) to some limited success. Let me say one thing, and if you have ever had an actual therapeutic massage you will understand, I was shocked by the amount of pain endured but also the difference it made in record time. The idea behind the TriggerPoint U6 set is that we now have access to our own personal Massage Therapist 24hr a day 365 days per year for free after purchasing the set. The benefits are comprised of two distinct phases which in itself created quite the difference from other SMR programs. There actually were some performance increasing attributes that occurred pre-exercise as I learned early on. Post-treatment exercise efficiency and muscle reactivity went through the roof, thats just the Pre-Gen phase. The Post-exercise or Re-Gen benefits were just as shocking but not so much what they did but to what extent. Primary benefits include decreased recovery time, Increased plyability, and to increase circulation of oxygenated blood and purging of waste from muscle sites. So anyways back on track, basically what we went through(being a group of 20+ PTs and GFTs) was a full TriggerPoint treatment to one side of our body. Now it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that training one side isn’t the best idea but it was done with a purpose, to illustrate the advantageous properties of the treatment as we would soon learn. Depending on our levels of dehydration and Muscle fascia Tightness we fought through the full treatment with varying degrees of moaning and tears. The thing that really illustrated change was the repeated testing of different physical ROMs and Movement patterns throughout both to treated and untreated sides of the body. Right off the bat we started to see change both in ourselves and the parters we were treating. Movement efficiency and muscle soreness both improved. So come out and see for yourself. Athlete or muscular pain sufferer Triggerpoint might just be the solution to you performance and efficiency issues as well as ongoing pain.Special Thanks To Twist Conditioning and Trigger Point for making this wicked training possible!

Get your fight on

11/24/2010 23:04:00

With the insatiable appetite in fitness and in general created by the UFC(Ultimate Fighting Championship) there has been an explosion in the popularity of MMA training for the masses. Making it very clear right off the bat that there are two definite wings to MMA “Training.”The original, getting ready to enter the ring, full contact, blood and glory sort of thing. Followed by the fitness version, generally a dialled down version as far as contact goes; instead focusing on the phenomenal conditioning created by brutal interval total body training. The latter is our main focus for the purposes of this article. Fighters in general and considered among the elite of trained athletes which makes the training style very appealing to people not satisified with the “norm” gym experience. The combination of striking, cardio intervals, and various sport specific training tools creates amazing change and participants walk out feeling empowered to push themselves harder ever single training session.

Back to Basics

11/23/2010 18:59:00

Body weight was were it started and where it is headed back to. Simply put using ones body weight as the resistance implement allows for maximum muscular activation and also the most flexible training options. Creative programming with body weight resistance can create phenomenal challenges throughout the entire ROM of an exercise and allows for training shifts between all disciplines building strength, power, endurance, balance, stability, speed, and agility. Compared to conventional weight lifting exercises the transfer to daily activities is night and day and takes the movements from limited planes of motion to truely dynamic and reproducible planes of motion that occur on a regular basis. Best of all with proper programming body weight exercises will demonstrate effective challenge for everyone from the completely deconditioned to the truely high-performance athlete.

Go Function Yourself

10/02/2010 11:59:00

Functional Trainer. Commonly used. Commonly Misused. Functional by definition from a training point of view means the training directly mimics and therefore strengthens movements occurring in day to day life or sport. Some people have it confused that functional training has to look like a circus act or that simply because you do an isolated movement on a BOSU that it magically becomes “Functional.” FALSE. Training properly can create massive change in both power output and muscular stability. Lets take a look at a comparison. About as basic as it gets and every guys favourite exercise in the gym. THE BENCH PRESS: So you can bench 425? What does that actually mean? If you’re ever put into a situation where you need to push a fridge with your back flat against a wall you’ll do great. Other than that there really isn’t any use to the strength created due to the fundamental holes in core strength. A functional alternative? Back to basics: The push-up, same targeted muscle group with the added benefit of total body activation, strong core stabilization and smooth muscular activation throughout entire range of motion.

Crazy Train or Training?

09/29/2010 17:48:00

The science behind Non-Traditional Lifts. What are non-traditional lifts? The easiest description is anything that you wouldn't normally see in the weight room. Things like, Sandbags, Sandbells, Kettlebells, water filled implements. The advanges: Explosive hip drive, improved dynamic flexibility, increased grip strength, increased ability to generate explosive toe-to-fingertip power.

BETA AGRO... The Beginning

09/07/2010 19:40:00

Beta testing for the groundbreaking AGRO training camps is nearing completion. Amazing results have been had so far. This is the next step in the bootcamp wave. With this 21 day program your body will undergo amazing… no shocking… changes that you never thought possible. I guarantee it. We finish up on the 17. Then its off to the YMCA fitness retreat for Gareth. 2 weeks to get everyone locked into the program when I get back. Approx start date is looking like the first or second week of October. Reserve your spot now. Spaces are limited in the indoor bootcamp with the technology to change every fiber of your being. This is it. Excuses end. Looks like your have to come up with something creative for a new years resolution this year… Stay tuned…

Newsletter Update

09/03/2010 07:21:00

Get the insiders edge... Check out my newsletter.

http://www.ptonthenet.com/clientcontent.aspx?m=140002

Whats the best recovery drink?

08/30/2010 10:56:00

This has been a question dominating the supplement and nutrition industy lately, so what is the best post workout drink? Waxy Maize? Gatorade? Isolate or Whey Protein? Actually its way more simple than that. Chocolate Milk. Yeah regular old chocolate milk. The commercial varieties contain around 85% water and an almost perfect 3:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein. Ideal for replenishing glycogen levels and initiate muscle repair with readily absorbed proteins. The only catch is that you have to intake the good stuff within the optimal 15 minute window following strenuous exercise in order to recieve maximum benefits. Cheers! And yes it still comes from brown cows. The Chocolate syrup industry is a consiracy I swear...

CONGRATS!

08/27/2010 14:21:00

Congrats to Jane! Way to go on an awesome POPAT time. 9:06 mile and 3:31 on the POPAT! Smoking the nearest competition! You committed to training and it paid off!