Stretching, foam rolling and mobility drills may be a pain in the butt as you prepare for a workout, but not a massage gun. A minute or two with this thing and you’ll do heavy deficit deadlifts without any deficit in performance! You can make your own homemade percussive massage tool if you like, but…
Many personal trainers recommend foam rolling the entire body prior to a workout. That’s unnecessary and can be counterproductive. Always adjust muscle tone accordingly – find the tight tissue and release it, and vice versa (see Foam Rolling and Pain for more details). Generally, rolling two areas for most people will suffice. The upper back…
Today was the last day of a triple split routine that I’ve been on for the past month. It was a taper workout that targeted the chest, back, and shoulders. I’ll show you what I did, but I want you to pay particular attention to the warm-up. The workout was divided into three pairs of…
Here’s a sample clip from my Warm-Up To Strength Training DVD featuring a dynamic stretching warm-up circuit. Dynamic stretching is one of the best ways to prepare your body for weight training. Unlike static stretching (which is best saved for after your workout), dynamic movements increase blood flow, improve mobility, and activate key muscle groups…
Here’s a quick sample clip from my Warm-Up To Strength Training DVD. Plyometric drills aren’t just for athletes — they can be a valuable addition to your warm-up routine when used correctly. Explosive movements like these help activate the nervous system, prime the muscles, and prepare the body for heavier lifting. Check it out: Remember:…
Foam rolling, a popular form of self-myofascial release, is often touted for its potential benefits—one of which is reducing pain during workouts. The irony, of course, is that foam rolling itself can be quite painful, especially when you’re just starting out. Pain Tolerance and Foam Rolling Pain tolerance plays a role in how you approach…
As I discussed in my Warm-Up to Strength Training DVD, incorporating plyometrics before weight training can significantly enhance performance—if done correctly. Many top strength coaches swear by this method, and the science backs it up. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance found that performing explosive-force movements immediately before a…
In life we take many things for granted. People are told to go on a low fat diet and do some aerobic training, and yet they still gain body fat. Your blood work shows slightly altered cholesterol and thyroid levels and right away you’re told to go on medication. The trainer at your local gym…