desire

To desire something is to long or hope for it.  What do you desire?  What do you wake up every day thinking about?  What do you lie down every night contemplating?  Could you?  Should you? 

The answer is up to you and you alone.  I will tell you it’s much simpler than you’re making it.  With a few simple questions you can choose your path.  Those questions are also for you and you alone to ask.  

Here are some examples of questions I will suggest: 

Am I passionate enough? 

Would you do anything for it?  If you believe in something so much that it keeps you awake at night, go for it.  If you have an idea, a goal, or just something you want to say and you think that others will benefit, then please!  Go for it.

Will I be ok if I fail?  

Surely you have heard the quote “Failure is not an option”.  True as it may be, when things don’t go according to plan...Will you be ok?  Because it will feel like failure.  I am a firm believer that “what is to be is”.  You may not have failed along your path, but it may feel like you have.  You may be stuck, you may be down...will you get up? 

Can I stay strong?  

Even if no one else can or will, will you be there?  Will you fight?  With everything you have to fight with?  There will be days that you may feel like surrendering.  Don’t.  Never give up.  When you feel like the only option is to give up, don't, fight.  Stay Strong.

I suggest you come up with a few well thought out questions of your own.  Think about them.  Come up with answers, write those answers down.  You may find that in time you will have your plan, on paper, ready to execute.  How strong is your desire?

are you working on your mobility?...no?!...why?!

Hey Everyone!  I have a couple of thoughts I'd like to share with you.  Those of you who know me know that I love to start things off with a question.  I believe it gets our minds fired up and warm, ready to think.  Which is the perfect transition into the article...

How much time are you spending on your mobility and stretching?  Do you know what a foam roller is and how to use one?  Do you have muscle pain?  Tightness in joints that restricts your range of motion? 

Let's talk about this a bit.  Do you know what mobility and stretching are and do?  The main difference between the two is as simple.  Stretching focuses on lengthening short tight muscles.  Mobility is a movement-based full body approach where we can address movement and performance issues.

What about a foam roller?  Foam rollers are used to help deal with tightness and break up all those tight bad little bits and pieces in our muscles.  They can help with muscles pain, tightness and other problems that we ALL have going on in our bodies.  Try it!  Don't know how?  We can help.

The utilization of these tools will help you become better!  Isn't that the goal?  You will find at the very least some reduced pain, some improved joint mobility, increased range of motion and overall general happiness throughtout your day.

If you do or don't workout...You should still be doing these things.  This is for everybody.  If you are working out alone or with a trainer and you are not utilizing these tools...START!!  Demand that your trainer work with you and educate you about how to warm up properly. Trainers should also be teaching you what to do at home as well.  Let's get serious, why would you walk into a gym from outside in the New England cold and not warm up and mobilize?  I like to begin discussions with questions because it gets you ready to think, I also like to start workouts with warming up.  You will move better, you will be less sore, you will get more out of your body.  If you don't workout with a trainer then check us out for some free info or checkout "MobilityWOD.com".  (Thanks K-Star! "the man!")  You can do it yourself with a couple of lacrosse or tennis balls, a band or two and a foam roller.  I promise.

If you're not doing this stuff then I can tell you for a fact that you are NOT getting the most out of not only your workouts but, your everyday quality of life.  

If you don't want these things go ahead and skip this.  I would suggest if you want joints wearing down improperly, imbalances continuing to worsen, or if you just want to eventually get hurt...well...continue to skip this stuff.  If you do want to change, if you do want to get better, give us a shout.  We can help.

"All human beings should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves."

-Kelly Starrett

Slow Your Roll - by Todd

Often times when I’m showing a client a new move we work with a wooden dowel or a piece of PVC. The idea is to provide as little resistance as possible but still be able to train the hands, arms, and legs what to do. Most times people think that it would be easier with weight than without. I appreciate the enthusiasm but let’s hold off on the weight for a bit. First we need to get a sound foundation of the mechanics of an exercise before we start loading that bar up! For example what happens if you’re slightly forward on your toes during the catch part of a clean. I’ll tell you, you’re going to fall forward and not get the rep. Same goes for catching a bar over head. Say your shoulders aren’t actively pushing up into that bar. To put it simple you will drop it. What we are looking for as trainers and coaches is simple. We are looking for your body to work in the most efficient way possible to complete a task. Keeping weight in close to your midline, landing or staying flat on your feet, active shoulders, midline stabilization and others. If any of these components are missing you will never get as far as you would with them. In short we need sound mechanics. Once we have achieved mechanics we need to demonstrate consistency. There’s no reason to nail an exercise perfectly and think you’ve mastered it. Would you shoot a gun, hit the target on your first shot and then head into competition? Most of us wouldn’t. We as coaches understand that you want to hit that big lift and get results as fast. We also understand that if you progress before you’re ready and an injury occurs then kiss it good bye until you recover. Patience. Practice. Determination. Understanding. Commitment. Trust. Those are the things that will progress you the fastest...Trust me.