Feeling hippy...

I confess that I’m a little obsessed with squats.  What is not to like about an exercise that uses lots of joints, promotes stability and mobility, increases strength, and helps keep us out of nursing homes?

Over the weekend, I learned more about squats.  I have new tools to evaluate squat performance and then to help improve that performance.  I even learned a couple of exercises that my clients will actually like that enable better squatting!

I realize that not everyone shares my enthusiasm, so I will limit myself to one example of improved squatting:  the hips need to move first.  When that happens, the knees bend only when the center of gravity falls too far backward, taking less pressure and allowing for deeper movement and even encouraging the feet to stay down longer for those of us whose heels rise when we go particularly deep into a squat.  Small changes can improve performance so much!!!

Let’s do it!

Monday Workout: There's a Twist!

Despite evidence to the contrary, we act as if life happens in straight lines.  In fitness, this sometimes means that we do lots of things that go forward and back or side to side, but ignore the twists.  This week, we have two exercises that work in the transverse (or twisting) plane:  the kettlebell twist and the overhead curtsy.  What we will get out of it is improved stability, balance practice, and maybe even some range of motion gains.  Three rounds.

kb swings	30
kb twists	20
kb 8s	10
Xiser	30
squats	20
curls	10
overhead curtsy	30
lunges	20
pretty princesses	10

Learning!

I write most of my blog posts on the weekend, scheduling them to appear during the week.  This allows me to do things like get a post out and drive to Los Angeles on the same day.  Which is what I will be doing when this post goes out.  It’s part of being a fitness professional for me.

So is the trip I’m taking.  One reason that it is useful to find a certified personal trainer or Pilates instructor is that we have to get continuing education in order to stay certified.  While I learn new things all the time, I have the responsibility of getting a certain amount of approved credits over various time periods for each of my roles.  My certifying bodies want to know that I’m engaging in formal education as well as experiential learning with my clients and colleagues.

What I get from this process, I pass on to my clients.  Sometimes I learn new exercises.  Sometimes I learn more about how things work in our anatomy.  Sometimes I refine my understanding of form.  Often, I talk about the why of what we are doing; if I don’t, ask me!  Learning is best when it is shared.

(Next week I am sure I will have a lot to say about what I learned in Los Angeles!)