CategoriesUncategorized

Support Your Sweat: A Call to Action for Trainers, Coaches, and Fitness Professionals

The whole world is hurting.

The fitness industry, though, in an admittedly personal and biased take, is really hurting.

The bulk of businesses across the health & fitness community have been forced to shut down for a seemingly indeterminate amount of time as the COVID-19 pandemic runs its course and disrupts everything.1

I felt it prudent to share this splendid initiative courtesy of LiveMomentous.com designed to help small businesses in the fitness industry generate much needed revenue/income to help offset expenses and overhead during this difficult time. 

#SupportYourSweat

#SupportYourSweat

How It Works

Whether you’re a trainer, a small gym owner, run a yoga/pilates studio, operate a bike shop, or train Kumite fighters (hey, I’m sure they still exists) there’s no question you’ve been grossly affected by this public health crisis; or know someone who has.

The #SupportYourSweat initiative was created to get funds into the hands of these businesses now, even while they are closed and struggling.

The website will promote and facilitate the buying and selling of “Sweat Bonds” for small businesses in the health and fitness industry. Sweat Bonds are discounted services to be redeemed in the future, once your business is allowed to operate again.

Apply to the program HERE by simply filling out a five minute form.

Many of you reading are small business owners yourself and/or have friends and colleagues in the industry. This initiative will only succeed if the message is spread and businesses apply.

Moreover, many of you reading are members and patrons of small businesses/gyms in your area and would love to support them in some way.

This is how you can do it.

If you know of people within the fitness industry who can benefit from this, please share this program with them!

Learn more at SupportYourSweat.org.

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work Uncategorized

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 3/6/20

Copyright: olegdudko / 123RF Stock Photo

I’m currently in Paris.

It’s a detour I’ve made in between two weekends of teaching workshops (last weekend in Athens, Greece and this coming weekend in London).

I love it here. I only had one full day at my disposal so I made the most of it. I adore walking around European cities so I coordinated my iPhone with Google Maps and hit up Musee d’Orsay, Louvre (just to see it), Arc du Triomphe, Eiffel Tower (whoa), and Notre Dame.

Not too bad, right? Most of the “big hits.”

Sadly, it’s been a swift 36 hours and it’s time to pack, head to the train station, and take the Chunnel to London.

BUT FIRST…I’M LIKE, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT

(Things I’ve appeared in, places I’m going, you know, important stuff)

1. Strategic Strength Workshop – Detroit, MI: April 5, 2020

This will be my first ever workshop in the region!

I’m expecting ticker tape parades.

2. Strategic Strength Workshop – Washington, DC: May 17, 2020

SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS

Twitter

Instagram

STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORK

Psych Skills for Fitness Pros – Dr. Lisa Lewis

This is the ONLY resource out there designed specifically for personal trainers, strength & nutrition coaches, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and, I don’t know, bomb sniffing dolphin trainers to accelerate their communication and motivational skills to help their clients’ get results.

What bogs us down as fitness professionals isn’t the nuances of improving scapular upward rotation, bench press technique, or figuring out the optimal sets/reps for someone.

Nope, it’s other people’s shit.

Those clients who are inconsistent, unmotivated, relapse, or altogether quit.

Like it or not, if you’re a coach you ARE utilizing psychology everyday and it’s these “soft skills” of coaching that will help offset burnout.

  • Study at home at your own pace.
  • CEUs available.
  • Learn from an actual doctor (and not some Instagram mindset coach asshat).

Psych Skills for Fitness Pros is on sale NOW through March 18th at $100 off the regular price.

Interactive Bullshit Detector for Health Products & Services – Dr. Bill Sukula

This has a few LOLs (and I always love a good rant/takedown piece).

5 Simple Steps to Better Squats and Deadlifts – Sivan Fagan

She had me at deadlifts.

CategoriesExercises You Should Be Doing Uncategorized

Exercises You Should Be Doing: This Is One That Will Make Your Shoulders Feel Better

When it comes to overall shoulder health there are a bevy of factors to consider:

  • Rotator cuff strength
  • Tissue quality
  • Overuse
  • Programming balance
  • Even exercise technique (and how joints are loaded)

All are important and things I consider myself when working with a new client who’s shoulder isn’t feeling great. However, there’s one “thing” that’s often overlooked in lieu of all the above:

  • Can the shoulder blade move freely on the ribcage?
Copyright: christinkls / 123RF Stock Photo

The Key to Shoulder Health = Scapular (and Ribcage) Movement

The shoulder blades are meant to move, plain and simple. Nothing extraordinary there.

  • Upward/downward rotation
  • Protraction/retraction
  • Anterior/posterior tilt

The ability to perform all of those actions is indicative of a “healthy” shoulder, and the platform for all that movement to take place come courtesy of the ribcage.

The ribcage is shaped in a convex manner.

The scapulae (shoulder blade) is concave, or rounded, in nature. The ability for the two to play nicely together is an often overlooked mechanism of what I like to call “my shoulder fucking hurts syndrome.”

Here’s a common example of what I mean.

The cue “pull the shoulder blades together and down” is a common one we use in the industry. And, you know what? It works splendidly when 1) you’re working with someone who’s stuck in a more flexed/rounded/computer guy posture and/or 2) the goal is to lift as much weight as humanly possible.

I.e., good luck bench pressing (or even squatting/deadlifting) appreciate weight with shoulder blades that aren’t “set” in a more stable position

That being said, too much of anything can have its inherent drawbacks.2.

The “together and down” cue can lead to overactive lats and a more extension-based pattern where the shoulder blades get stuck or cemented together – making it all the more more challenging for them to move about the rib cage.

My shoulder blades basically making out

To that end one of my favorite ways to address this is to include more reaching drills into people’s training repertoire. That and BACK EXPANSION.

More to the point, what I’m really after is targeting the Serratus Anterior, or those finger-like looking thingamajiggies on the side of your ribs.

I’m starting to fall into the camp that addressing Serratus weakness is the answer to everything:

  • Shoulder pain?
  • Neck pain?
  • Back pain?
  • Snowblower won’t start?

More Serratus work my friend!

The power of reaching cannot be understated. That in concert with learning to expand the upper back (getting the ribcage to move, via breathing) can be a game changer for a lot of people.

Here’s an effective drill that addresses both.

Seated 1-Arm Reach-Row

 

Who Did I Steal It From? – Strength coach Conor Harris.

What Does It Do? – Via Conor himself:

“A stiff ribcage is one that lacks trunk rotation and the ability to expand with air. We can free up the ribcage through alternation + reaching of the arms (serratus/obliques) with an intention to pause and expand it posteriorly with air”

The reach engages the serratus/obliques (watch out for that side cramp) and closes off the front side of the body. Air has no where else to go but BACK; it feels wonderful.

Key Coaching Cues: Don’t be a hero. You DO NOT need a lot of weight to perform this exercise, it’s not the point. You’ll pull with one side (elbow to hip, no further) as you simultaneously reach with the other, free hand. From there, inhale through the nose, focus on “breathing into your back,” and then perform a full exhale.

Don’t rush the breaths.

Hold the position for a 2-3 breath count and that’s one repetition.

Perform 3-5 “reps” per side.

No diggidy, no doubt.

CategoriesUncategorized

Best Resources of the Year 2019

If you missed the other 2019 year in review posts you can check them out below:

Best Articles of 2019 – Readers’ Picks

Best Articles of 2019 – My Picks

Best Articles of 2019 – Guest Posts

Best Exercises You Should Be Doing 2019

And, lastly, I wanted to take today to mention the best resources of 2019 as highlighted by yours truly. As the saying goes, “those who invest in themselves invest wisely.”

I don’t know, I just made that up.

But it kinda sounds like something someone smart would say.

Thanks again for your continued support and readership, and here’s to a splendid start to 2020 and a new decade!

Copyright: serpiandco / 123RF Stock Photo

Best Resources of the Year 2019

FULL DISCLOSURE: I released two products this past calendar (<–I still can never spell this word right the first time) year that I’m very proud of and am going to highlight first.

Because, you know, it’s all about me, me, me, ME!

(Even) More Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint

 

This was the second iteration of mine and Dean Somerset’s flagship resource.

(Even More) CSHB builds upon the material covered in version 1.0, but delves a little deeper into program design and exercise execution.

If you’re at all interested in both shoulder & hip health and performance, we’ve got all your bases covered here.

The Complete Trainers’ Toolbox

 

This resource is targeted towards fitness professionals to help grow their businesses and brands and covers a gamut of topics from the likes of myself, Dean Somerset, Meghan Callaway, Dr. Lisa Lewis,  Dr. Sarah Duvall, Sam Spinelli, Alex Kraszewski, Luke Worthington, and Kellie Davis.

Ultimate Landmine Program – Meghan Callaway

I thought I thought of every exercise possible to execute with the Landmine (also referred to as the Angled Bar) apparatus, but then I read Meghan’s book and thought less of myself.

Meghan’s brain works differently than mine and she really went out of her way to create a lovely resource for fitness professionals (and non-fitness professionals) to use and refer to for some added Landmine motivation.

The program is pretty legit too!

Complete Coaching Certification – Mike Robertson

 

Mike is a long-time friend of mine who’s affinity for 90’s hop-hip is equal if not surpasses mine.

That’s saying a lot.

He’s also one of the coaches in the industry I respect the most, and I am always in awe of how he can simplify the most complex topics and make them more palatable for the masses.

There’s no other way to put this…

this certification…is…the…shit.

MASS Research Review

I’d rather listen to Baby Shark on repeat for a week straight than read research articles.

I looooooove this resource so much because it keeps me up-to-date on the latest research on how to get strong and jacked, but I don’t have to interpret Klingon in order to understand it

CategoriesUncategorized

Turning Caterpillars Into Butterflies

There’s generally two topics I go out of my way to not discuss on my blog or social media channels: religion and politics.

It’s not because I don’t have strong leanings or beliefs regarding the two.

I do.

Rather, I just feel, given the divisiveness that’s inevitably tethered to both, it’s important not to alienate or turn-off current or potential clients and customers.

I’m making a slight detour today, however.

Copyright: lightfieldstudios / 123RF Stock Photo

 

As some of you may be aware, in the coming months I am expanding CORE from a 500 sq. foot closet studio to a 3300 sq. foot techno and deadlifting palace located here in Boston, MA.

The name will be changed to CORE Collective, because that’s exactly what it is going to be…

…a collective of other complimentary health/fitness professionals working under one roof to grow their brands and businesses.

One such person is my friend Justice Williams.

In recent months he’s slowly been marinating a movement which has started to gain traction not only locally here in Boston, but nationally as well.

He’s been using CORE as one of his “Queer Gym”  pop-ups; a place where individuals in the LGBTQ community can come in, be around other like-minded people with similar backgrounds, and use the weight room to help become more comfortable with themselves.

Justice is an amazing coach and an even more amazing human being.

Please, if you would, watch this quick 5-6 minute documentary-style video that he was highlighted in recently. It’s pretty cool.

More great things to come…

CategoriesUncategorized youth sports training youth training youth/sports training

What Makes an Athlete Fast?

Today’s guest post comes courtesy of Syracuse, NY based strength and conditioning coach Ricky Kompf. Ricky’s a good friend, works with a ton of youth athletes, and he knows his stuff.

What I like about his message is that he always stresses the basics first.

No fluff, no smoke and mirrors, no speed camps, and no agility ladders…;o)

Enjoy!

Copyright: serrnovik / 123RF Stock Photo

What Makes an Athlete Fast?

Speed is one of the most misunderstood aspects of training.

We get sold on fancy ladder drills, flashy sprint exercises and products that don’t work or are used incorrectly. After working with hundreds of athletes of all levels and skills I’m here to show you exactly what will make an athlete fast and what will actually allow you to hit those impressive numbers the elite level athletes hit.

It also goes without saying that, it takes work.

This will not happen overnight, you achieve this level of physical prowess from years of developing your body and consistently putting work in towards this every day.

Whenever an athlete comes to me, chances are they want to become faster and jump higher.

Speed is king, and rightfully so.

Speed is what sets you apart from the competition.

Speed is what gets you looked at for high level college programs.

There’s not much difference in skill between D3, D2 and D1 programs as there is a difference is speed and strength.

So, what makes an athlete fast?

1. Relative Strength

Relative strength is how strong you are relative to how much you weigh.

Without relative strength there is no speed.

Relative strength is what every quality of speed is built off of.

I hate to speak in absolutes but If you are not strong relative to how much you weigh you will not be fast. Strength is your horse power.

I promise I’m (mostly) not a Sith

Trying to sprint as fast as possible with low relative strength is like trying to go from 0-60mph in a Prius: You just won’t be able to get to top end speed quickly and your top end speed will be much slower than a sports car.

When you’re sprinting the only resistance you have on you is your body weight.

You have to propel your body forward in a fast-explosive manner and if you don’t have the relative strength to do so, all the sprints and speed & agility drills in the world won’t make you much faster.

FANCY SPEED EXERCISES AND AGILITY DRILLS WON’T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WITHOUT RELATIVE STRENGTH.  

To put this into perspective, If you have two athletes who can deadlift 300lbs and one athlete is 150lbs while the other one is 250lbs, 10 times out of 10 the athlete who is 150lbs is faster.

Here are some indicators that I use to determine if the athlete is relatively strong.

Male Athletes:

  1. 15 or more chin ups
  2. 30 or more push ups
  3. Can trap bar deadlift over 2x their body weight for 3 or more reps
  4. Can back squat to box or safety bar squat to box 1.5x their body weight for 3 or more reps
  5. Can sled push 4x their body weight or more for 10 yards

Female Athletes:

  1. Can perform 5 chin ups or more
  2. Can perform 15 or more full range of motion push ups
  3. Can trap bar deadlift 1.5X their body weight for 3 reps or more
  4. Can back squat or safety bar squat to a box with 1.25x their body weight or more for 3 reps or more
  5. Can sled push 3.5x their body weight or more for 10 yards

This is all a general rule of thumb I use for my athlete to determine if they will respond well to an increase in speed work volume.

2. Mobility

Have you ever seen the athlete on the field who moves their legs super-fast but is one of the slower athletes or middle of the road?

It’s like they’re going nowhere fast.

Here’s why this is happening.

The athlete who takes the least number of strides to cover a certain amount of distance will always get to Point B first.

If your athlete is tight in the hips they won’t be able to cover max distance with every stride. This usually becomes an issue when an athlete’s hips are tight, restricted and weak.

Mobility also doesn’t mean just stretching, this is where flexibility and mobility get confused. Flexibility is the range of motion you can put your joins passively like reaching down to touch your toes. Mobility is the range of motion you can go actively, like driving your knee up as high as you can without moving your spine or going into a deep squat while keeping a neutral spine.

Flexibility is a component of mobility that you need in order to be mobile. Optimal stride length requires more mobility than flexibility.

Perform these mobility drills regularly to keep your hips in check while you become stronger and faster. These are all great examples where together they work on flexibility as well as mobility. This will help you become overall more mobile in the hips and moving better.

Speedy 7 Mobility Drills

Hip Series: Active Recovery

90/90 PAILs & RAILs

Standing Hip CARs

3. Core Strength

The role of the core while sprinting is to keep the midline stable while the arms and legs are in motion.

If your athlete does not possess the appropriate core strength it will result in energy leaks throughout their sprints and change of direction.

The core is used as a foundation in which force can be translated from the lower body to the upper body while sprinting. If the core and spine are not ridged while sprinting there won’t be as much force being put into the ground.

Even worse you’re at a much higher risk of injury.

If you ever watch an elite level track athlete sprint with their shirt off, their arms and legs are moving violently while the torso is perfectly still.

Without good core stability relative strength is low and mobility/movement quality is poor, which, if you’re paying attention are the first two qualities I spoke of.

Addressing all three should be a priority is every athletes program.

Check out these exercises that are great for core development:

Core Engaged Deadbugs

Plank on Knees While Breathing

Level I Plank March

4. A Faster Amortization Phase

The Amortization phase is the transition from an eccentric muscle contraction to a concentric muscle contraction.

This phase is a very fast isometric contraction that helps to transition the muscle to shorten while contracting.

This is commonly known as the stretch shortening cycle.

This is when a muscle rapidly lengthens then shortens. When the amortization phase is optimized and there is a very fast transition, the amortization phase is very short. When this happens there are more motor units recruited and more force is produced.

The shorter the transition from eccentric to concentric the more force is produced.

This happens on every stride once you’ve gotten into your cycle sprint (while you’re upright sprinting at your max speed).

Another common way to see this is when an athlete performs a vertical jump, as the athlete descends quickly and transitions from down to the upward phase of the vertical jump this is where the amortization phase comes in. The less time it takes to make that transition the more potential force is produced.

Ways to train this would be plyometrics, max effort sprints, longer distance sprints (20-40yd) and jumps where there is a focus on the transition from eccentric to concentric.

A few of my favorite ways to train this is by performing some of these following exercises:

1. 10-yd Push Up to Sprint/Mountain Climber Sprints

 

2. Hurdle Hop Variations to Push

 

3. Max Effort Vertical Jumps

 

4. 20 yd Sprints Flat Ground or Up Hill

 

5. Partner Sprint Chases

 

6. 30 yd Sprints

 

7. Double Broad Jumps

 

5. Strength in Specific Joint Angles and Technical Form

To develop strength in specific angles that the athlete will be in during a game I will often use contrast training, game speed exercises drills, and lifting exercises that are similar to positions an athlete will be in.

When it comes to speed, there’s nothing better than a heavy sled push or a sled drag.

Other good ones I like to use with a contrast are trap bar deadlifts and safety bar squats. All of these are great with mimicking the sprint and jump movements. Below is a video example of some contrast sets and specific joint angle exercises for speed.

Example #1

A1. Trap Bar Deadlift – 5×2

Rest 10-20 seconds

A2. Vertical Jump – 5×1

Rest 2-3 minutes before the next set.

 

Example #2

A1. Heavy Sled Push – 5×10 yards

Rest 10-20 seconds

A2. Push Up to Sprint – 5×10 yards

Rest 2-3 minutes before the next set

 

Example #3

A1. Safety Bar Squat to Box – 5×2

Rest 10-20 seconds

A2. Box Jump – 5×2

Rest 2-3 minutes before the next set

Example #4

A1. Chain Loaded or Banded Trap Bar Deadlift – 5×2

Rest 10-20 seconds

A2. Double Broad Jump – 5x(max distance)

Rest 2-3 minutes before next set

Strength Training Exercises in Specific Joint Angles

Heavy Sled Pushes

 

Heavy Sled Drags

 

Resisted Sprints

 

Trap Bar Deadlifts

 

These type of exercises and contrast sets should be performed during preseason after a full foundation has been developed during the offseason.

Note that these types of circuits are reserved for athlete who are older and more advanced with a good foundation of general strength and all the other qualities we went over already. Contrast training is not as effective without 3-6 months of general strength training. The sled pushes, sled drags, and deadlifts are exercises that should be staples every month in your athletes program.

Another way to work on this is to perform sprints and jumps to refine technique, having a coach’s eye to teach you how to sprint the correct way and jump the right way is the final piece to put all these qualities together. Sprinting, change of direction and jumping is a skill that will always require fine tuning and technique work.

About the Author

Ricky Kompf is the head coach/owner of Kompf Training Systems where we work primarily with team sport athletes like baseball, football, lacrosse and basketball.

He’s also a Head Trainer for a corporation for Bankers Heath Care.

You can give him a follow on Instagram HERE.

You can check him out on Twitter HERE.

CategoriesUncategorized

Get Your Hips Nice-n-Juicy Prior to Your Lower Body Workout

I know, I know…

…most of you reading don’t have enough eye-rolls to give.

I mean, I get it: a blog post on warming-up is about as exciting as me writing about breathing drills, how to make kale chips, or, I don’t know, NASCAR.

But two things:

1. This post will be short and sweet.

2. The video shown below will help you not only feel better, but also help you crush your next (and subsequent) lower body lifts.

I figured that would grab your attention…;o)

Copyright: spotpoint74 / 123RF Stock Photo

Juicy

There’s no need for me to belabor the point: a proper warm-up prior to lifting heavy things is imperative. It helps increase core temperature, potentiate the central nervous system, “lubricate” the joints, and as a whole is just a smart habit to follow to better prepare the body for the workout to follow.

Thing is…

…the warm-up is also the one thing most trainees skip, treat as the evil step-child, or otherwise ignore altogether.

I can’t fault some people for doing so.

Some warm-ups are just absurd. I’ve had some people show me warm-ups that take 20-30 minutes to complete. Now, this isn’t to say that, sometimes, this isn’t warranted. Depending on one’s injury history (or even other factors, such as age) we can sometimes justify a warm-up of that length.

But too – and more to the point – if I were given a warm-up that takes that long to complete I’d be tossing it some shade too.

That’s a whole lotta nope!

A whole lotta nope

On the flip side, I also think one reason many people skip their warm-up is because there’s no rhyme or reason to what they’re doing:

“I’ll do some arm circles here, some hip thingamajiggies there, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.”

An ideal warm-up will not only prepare you for the stuff you’ll be doing on the weight-room floor, but also address any mobility/range of motion/activation deficits that may exist.

And, lately, my train of thought is that an ideal warm-up is short and to the point and kinda-sorta makes you hate life.

A perfect example is this hip series3. I’ve been using myself of late and is something covered in the (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint a brand new product with entirely new content Dean Somerset and I just released this week.

 

This series hits all the heavy hitters to keep your hips nice-n-juicy for some squats or deadlifts:

✅Hip IR
✅Hip ER
✅Hip Flexion
✅Dissociating hip movement from Lower Back movement.

Start with your hands on the floor for support and try to stay as upright as possible (contingent on your ability to do so).

It’s not a deal breaker if you have to lean to the side a bit.

You also have the option to “ramp” up the intensity while performing this series too. You can go through the motions and make it relatively easy or you can come close to shitting a kettlebell by increasing the amount of tension you put into it.

I encourage clients to dabble in both (because both scenarios have their advantages and disadvantages).

Have fun (<– said with a hint of sarcasm).

(Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint is currently on sale this week till this Sunday for $70 off the regular price, and digs into preparation concepts like this, plus so much more to help you get the best possible plan of action for your clients in order to get them results in the fastest, easiest and safest manner possible.

—> Click here for more info and to grab your copy today <—

CategoriesUncategorized

Now Available: Even More Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprint

After over a year of development, fine tuning, and presenting multiple times to get the fine points just right, Dean Somerset and I have finally released “(Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint” – a brand spankin new product with new content – and it’s on sale now.

Copyright: pixelrobot / 123RF Stock Photo

Get the Hotness

In 2016 Dean Somerset and I released the first Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint.

It received rave reviews.

Parades were held in our honor, babies were named after us, Pulitzer’s were given.4

In all seriousness, we were (are) very proud of the original product, and it didn’t take long for Dean and I to be like…

…”huh, I think we have a lot more to say on this topic…let’s do it again!”

To that end, I’m elated to announce that the sequel, The (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint is now available to purchase.

 

Save $50 off the regular price of Version 2.0 and $80 off the COMBO pack (Versions 1.0 & 2.0) HERE.

It’s not lost on me that most sequels fall somewhere between “sucks donkey balls” and “a complete dumpster fire.”

I mean, do I have to go any further than Major League 2 or Speed 2: Cruise Control?Assuredly, the (Even More) CSHB falls more along the lines of Return of the King or, fuck it, I’ll go there…The Godfather II.

I.e., it’s the polar opposite of a dumpster fire.5

Dean and I go deeper into our assessment protocols, offer more insight into programming considerations, and also provide more in-depth coaching on squats, deadlifts, thoracic mobility, and much more.

In all there’s 11+ hours of content – both lecture/theory as well as plenty of hand-on practicals – and the miraculous thing is that I don’t swear even once over the course of the two days we spent filming. Anyone who’s ever seen me present in person know that this is a feat in of itself.

Okay, maybe I say “shit”…once.

But that’s peanuts compared to what normally emerges from my sailor mouth.

In addition to being able to safely watch this at work or with a bunch of five-year olds in the room, you’ll also have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits, and I even think my cat makes a cameo.

It basically sells itself at this point…;o)

Still, we’re no idiots. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint is on sale through this week only at a very generous discount.

Thanks for your consideration and I hope you enjoy it!

—> Click to Save on Both Version 2.0 as Well as the COMBO Pack <—

CategoriesUncategorized

Upcoming Speaking Engagements: The Jet Lag Edition

I feel like a bag of dicks today.

Well, not that bad considering the 2o hour total flight time (in addition to a four hour layover in LAX) Lisa and I endured yesterday making our way back to Boston from Australia.

I don’t know, maybe I feel more like a bag of soggy potatoes? Either way, it’s not good, and I have zero room to complain given I’m not coaching today and Lisa had to go in because she has full day of clients lined up at her private practice.6

To that end, given my brain feels like mush at the moment and I’m still trying to get my bearings back from being across the other side of the world for the past two weeks, I wanted to take today as an opportunity to remind people of where I’ll be presenting next.

You know, because it’s all about me, me, me, ME!

Copyright: yarruta / 123RF Stock Photo

Strong Body-Strong Mind: Chicago (August 2019)

Full Disclosure: This will be the only date in 2019 that Dr. Lisa Lewis and I will be presenting this workshop.

Go HERE to register.

This workshop is designed for fitness professionals – personal trainers, strength & conditioning coaches, physical therapists, etc – to provide both physical & psychological tools to help build your brand, business, and rapport with clients.

Dr. Lewis and I cover a lot of material:

  • How to increase competency and motivation with your clients.
  • An overview of both upper and lower extremity assessment to create increased “buy in.”
  • How to set professional & personal boundaries with clients.
  • Troubleshooting common lifts such as squats & deadlifts to best fit the needs, ability level, and anatomy of clients.
  • And more…

The Early Bird rate for this workshop is set to expire this weekend (7/29) so if you want to save yourself $50 I’d encourage you to sign up ASAP.7

CEUs will be available.

For more information – including full itinerary and to register – you can go HERE.

Coaching Competency – Dublin, Ireland (September 2019)

Register HERE

So what happens when a room full of Irish(w0)men find out I’m not much of a drinker?…;o)

Whether you get paid to tell people to lift heavy things or you just like to lift heavy things yourself, in this 1-day workshop you’ll get the opportunity to listen to me talk about my how I approach assessment and gain a better understanding of how I “match” the exercises I prescribe to better fit the needs, ability level, and more importantly, the anatomy of each individual I work work.

In short, this workshop looks at the “umbrella theme” of my coaching philosophy.

For more information – including itinerary and how to register – go HERE.

Strategic Strength Workshop: London, UK (September 2019)

Register HERE

Luke Worthington and I have presented this workshop twice. Once in London last year and again this past June in Boston.

We’re bringing it back to London this Fall, my most favorite place in the world.

This two-day workshop is designed to arm fitness professionals with all the tools they’ll need to hone their assessment skills and to make their clients/athletes a bunch of bonafide, resilient, strength training Terminators.

Combined Luke and I have ~40 years of coaching experience (or one Dan John) and bring different perspectives and skill-sets to the table; Luke peels back the onion on PRI (Postural Restoration Institute) concepts and assessment, while I go into detail breaking down movement and how to better “match” the exercises we prescribe to our clients.

For more information – including itinerary and how to register – you can go HERE.

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Strong Body-Strong Mind Workshop: Chicago

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be heading to Chicago next month along with my wife, Dr. Lisa Lewis, to present our popular Strong Body-Strong Mind Workshop.

—> Register Here (Early Bird Rate) <—

In this 1-day workshop we’ll unpack both physical and psychological techniques that will not only make you a better trainer/coach, but also provide you with some unique skills that will undoubtedly help you grow your business and separate you from the masses.

Rest assured our objective is not to promise you an additional $10K in your bank account in a week or tell you that the key to industry success is to post more pictures of yourself with barely any clothes while you stand next to a rainbow, a Tesla, or, I don’t know, a kale shake.

Moreover, you will also not hear the two of us make any reference to email funnels, SEO, or #hustleandgrind.

Nope, the only objective of this workshop is to provide actionable, real-word content that fitness professionals can use to build better relationships (and results) with their clients and athletes.

All coming from a strength coach with 17+ years of experience and an ACTUAL doctor (and not some self-proclaimed “mindset guru” on Instagram who read a chapter of a book once).

Too, even if you’re not a fitness professional this workshop will still be of benefit.

Some of the things we’ll cover:

– Upper & Lower Extremity Assessment
– Motivation
– Client Centered Coaching
– Troubleshooting Tricky Clients
– Troubleshooting Common Strength Training Exercises
– Can Tony’s Pecs Cut Diamonds?

The DEETS

Date: Sunday, August 18, 2019

Time: 10 am – 6 pm

Location: South Loop Strength & Conditioning.

Cost: 

$149.00 (Early Bird) until 7/18/19 ($199.00 thereafter). FREE <– If you happen to be Jason Bourne

EARLY BIRD RATE ENDS IN TWO WEEKS

**0.7 CEUs will be available via the NSCA.

—> Register Here (Early Bird Rate) <—