Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: Squat Like a Baby?, Letter to Women, and CP Seminar Review
I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but this week’s list of stuff to read is arguably the best one ever! I don’t know if it’s because of pure coincidence, the planets aligned just right, the Red Sox signed Mike Napoli, or if it’s simply because people churned out some awesome content this week.
Whatever the case may be, it’s awesome.
First on the list is an EPIC post by my buddy, Nick Tumminello, on what it really means when someone says “everyone should be able to squat like a baby.”
Saying something like that just sounds asinine, and doesn’t make any sense, right? Sorta like saying, “everyone should be able to fart cinnamon.”
Comparing the anatomy of an adult to that of an infant is just dumb. But in typical Nick fashion he’s a bit more articulate than myself, and explains why this is a faulty belief to carry in your back pocket whether you’re a coach or general fitness enthusiast.
Squat Like a Baby: 7 Reasons This is a Ridiculous Myth – Nick Tumminello
I couldn’t agree more, and while I’ve used the whole “squat like a baby” analogy in the past (more so as a counterpoint to the whole “squatting deep is dangerous” argument), Nick does a bang-up job in debunking this common myth.
As an aside: I’m currently working on my next T-Nation article which digs into this topic as well, titled Does Everyone Need to Squat (Deep)?
SPOILER ALERT: No.
Letter to a Client or Why I Don’t Believe in Barre Classes – Emily Giza Socolinsky
If nothing else this post serves as an AMAZING message to women on why they should ditch the pink dumbbells and incorporate more strength training into their repertoire.
From Emily herself:
I believe, as many other women who strength train believe and who are in my field, that women need more than what a barre class offers. Women do not need special classes like barre because they are women and they should “train this way because this is how a woman should train.
Doing tiny little pulses until your thighs burn does nothing but make your thighs burn. So what? As my husband said, “My butt would burn too if you made me squeeze it 100 times. But it won’t help me develop a strong butt.” You will not build a strong body unless you stress the body ie. lift weights that are more than 5 pounds. No one is telling you that you need to lift 200 lbs (although this is damn impressive and shows true strength and domination.) But 5lbs? Come on.”
And really, that’s just a taste. Emily pours her heart out in this post, and it behooves all of you to take five minutes to read it. Especially YOU, ladies!!!!!
1st Annual Cressey Performance Fall Seminar Review, Part 1 – Guys From Show-Me-Strength
Given I’m an epic ball of fail for never writing up my own summary on the seminar from a few weeks ago (It was awesome – how’s that????), I breathed a sigh of relief when both Matt Kramer and Chad Rodgers (both of whom train at CP) posted this up on their site yesterday detailing some of the highlights.
Comments for This Entry
Emily
Thanks for the shout out Tony!!!!! ;-) Much, much appreciated!!! Have an awesome weekend! EmilyDecember 7, 2012 at 11:05 am |
TonyGentilcore
My pleasure Emily - it was a freaking FANTASTIC piece of writing, and I'm more than happy to help spread it to the masses.December 9, 2012 at 3:25 pm |
Monika Volkmar
YES! Great to see Emily's name on this list :) Barre class won't make you look like a dancer, and isn't really a great way to get to your fitness goals with any kind of efficiency. Unless your goal is to complete a barre class... In which case, you killed it.December 7, 2012 at 6:23 pm |
TonyGentilcore
hahahahahaha. Loved that last line Monika.....;o)December 9, 2012 at 3:26 pm |
Claire
Two magnificent links ..Emily's was such a great antidote to the usual trite nonsense pushed at women by the likes of Tracy Anderson and also to the usual one-line ' You won't get bulky' patronising pap pushed by reputiable trainers..nice to see a trainer speak to their female clients as if they could process something more. And the Tumminello article is one of the best written and best articles I've seen in a looonnnng time- a real eye opener (speaking as a 42 yr old deep squatter with many aches). Fantastic, Tony..thanks!December 8, 2012 at 4:31 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Glad you liked them Claire! Must be I have good taste....;o)December 9, 2012 at 3:27 pm |
Stephanie
Great links, Tony! Especially the piece from Emily. Her response was excellent, and was everything I want to say (only she said it far better than I have ever been able to). Thanks for highlighting such an inspirational, strong woman!December 9, 2012 at 10:21 am |
TonyGentilcore
You betcha Stephanie. Thanks for reading!December 9, 2012 at 3:28 pm |
Lisa V.
Posted Emily's piece to my Facebook page. Well said. Too many women, unfortunately, believe the nonsense of Barre, Zumba, etc. This was my favorite part: "In my opinion, women need less of these classes and more good all fashioned basic strength work. They need to build muscle, not “elongate” it. They need to learn how to use their bodies efficiently by carrying weight, dragging weight, picking up weight, not worrying about developing “long, lean muscles.” Great piece.December 11, 2012 at 6:58 pm |