Welcome to the first issue of our E-magazine. Each issue will contain an assortment of articles and information we find to be valuable for our readers on the path, just like us, towards reaching their fitness, sport, and lifestyle goals. Expect to find innovative and unorthodox ideas as wells as tons of free information for both the beginner and advanced student seeking a wide range of goals that have the common thread of striving for a powerful and fierce, yet balanced lifestyle.
In this Issue:
• Balanced Power Training by Danny Clark
• The Synergistic Power of Yoga and Kettlebells by Abby Corriveau
Balanced Power Training By Danny Clark
Interested in functional strength, increased energy levels, injury resistance, and increased athletic potential? Good, then you need to learn about the simple rule that changed my life. If you are interested in training to become a bodybuilder or contortionist, then this article is not for you. But if you are like most people that have goals such as the aforementioned, then it’s time to start doing something nobody else does…work on improving both strength and flexibility.
Does that mean you need to add hour and a half yoga workouts to your busy schedule? Absolutely not. I can’t say enough about the benefits of yoga, but by merely incorporating a simple rule to your existing routine, you can start achieving goals that are more in line with your lifestyle. This rule is to spend equal amounts of time working on flexibility/mobility as you do working on your strength and vice versa.
This one rule can change your life (it did for me), but at the very least, it will help you earn the ability to sustain the strength you gain and make that strength more applicable to your life, no matter what you are training for. If you spend 1hour + training for strength and fail to take the time to properly stretch afterward, you are only getting a fraction of the potential benefits. Trust me. Now here are some examples of ways you can follow my rule and start getting more out of your time.
• Train for strength for half an hour (intensely) and spend a solid half an hour stretching out your entire body (more on this next time) 3-4x per week
• Train for strength for an hour 1-2x per week and train for flexibility (proper stretching or yoga) for an hour 1-2x per week
• Utilize training methods that have profound strength and flexibility components built in 3-4x per week such as kettlebell training, rigorous forms of yoga/martial arts, and others.
The key to this simple but important concept is balance. What is strength without mobility? The more you bind up your hip and shoulder girdle, the more you waste energy and strength “fighting” your own body. Likewise, what is flexibility without power? Being able to turn yourself into a pretzel will not help your ability to do basic movements such as lifting, running, and jumping. Yes, these are basic movements that every human being should be able to do with ease. So many people gravitate towards training for one attribute or the other, thereby uncoupling such a basic but profound form of power. Balanced power. Strength is a great asset, but adding range of motion to the same measure of strength is something much more powerful and functional for the real world. Ignore people that say strength and flexibility are trade-offs that inhibits you from being able to improve both simultaneously. That concept is simply not true and is made up by people that didn’t have the discipline to give it more than a month’s time. It’s time to step outside your comfort zone and start making some real progress by training for balanced power.
The Synergistic Power of Yoga and Kettlebells By Abby Corriveau, RYT, RKC
Pushing the boundary between the line of flexibility and strength is an area of exploration and constant challenge.
Yoga alone, as you may know, is very beneficial to the mind, body, and soul. Every time you step onto your mat you open yourself to a new experience; a new opportunity to grow. Many perceive yoga as a way to stretch the body and gain flexibility while relieving stress, yet they do not realize that strength is also a major component of yoga. Attempting arm balances and inversions can sometimes become quite a challenge due to lack of upper body strength and, therefore, limits us from being able to embrace these poses. Women especially tend to be weaker in the upper body and therefore percieve poses such as chaturanga or headstands to be simply impossible and incredible frustrating. Over time, with patience and mindfulness, these poses can be achieved. However, with the aid of proper kettlebell training, these poses can be strengthened and achieved more efficiently. Kettlebell training and yoga are both wonderful ways to help align, balance, strengthen, and power the body and together they will help create a physique that is healthy, strong, and very capable.
Kettlebell training is a primitive system that originates from Russia. Thanks to Pavel Tsatsouline, a former trainer of Russian Spetsnaz, Americans are learning about this intelligent and unorthodox method of weight training. Kettlebells have been engineered to help build lean muscle without sacrificing full range of motion, flexibility and mobility. As a matter of fact, kettlebells enhance all of these capabilities. Like a yoga pose, a kettlebell exercise requires rooting from your feet up and linkage throughout the entire body.
Kettlebell training is very therapeutic to the joints and an ideal method to help with arthritis and other joint conditions, especially because there is no impact associated with the core kettlebell drills. With proper technique one can easily harness a very lean, athletic, capable, and functional body as well as enhance any yoga practice.
Kettlebell training is similar to yoga because every time you pick up your bell, you welcome a new experience and challenge to your body, mind, and soul. To train with kettlebells a person must be very present and focused on their training; you cannot zone out like you could on a treadmill or pressing weight on a machine. Your entire body is engaged and challenged. Both yoga and kettlebells encourage core strength, proper spinal alignment, and awareness of breath.
Coupling yoga with kettlebell training can and will significantly improve your arm balances, inversions, and more without limiting your range of motion or feeling bulky and tight. Having fun with exploring different ways to challenge and move the body will open you to new experiences and learn about yourself and your capabilities. Playing between the “hard and soft” of flexibility and strength is an area that will help you feel balanced from the inside out.
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Personalized Online Program Design Service Information
Our Online Program Design service is for driven individuals that are interested in getting the most out of their time and effort. Everyone has been in the position, at least at some point, where some workout guidance has gotten them on track and inspired them to achieve the goals they desire most efficiently. Make this year your best by recruiting us to aid you in fulfilling your specific goals. Learn more >
Thank you for joining us in our quest towards a life of strength, power, vitality, and balance.
Until Next Time,
Danny and Abby
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