Since I won’t be traveling anytime soon to present, I decided why not bring one of my workshops to YOU? I will be putting on my popular Coaching Competency Workshop this March over the span of three weekends.
I figured chances would be high many attendees would be fighting off the urge to commit seppuku staring at their computer screen for seven straight hours so made the executive decision to spread things out
3 Hours on 3/7
2 Hours on 3/14
2 Hours on 3/21
All attendees will receive a recording (and CEUs)[footnote]And a virtual Predator handshake.[/footnote].
You can register at the EARLY BIRD rate now through 2/15. For more info go HERE.
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be one of 55+ industry leaders taking part in Kabuki Education Week that’ll be taking place February 1-7, 2021.
Kabuki Education Week – Hosted by Kabuki Strength – is a unique opportunity to attend 40+ live hour-long lectures (with Q&A) presented by the most respected and well established educators, coaches, clinicians, and athletes in the strength & fitness industry. This event brings together a wealth of knowledge across multiple domains; all condensed into week-long virtual format that allows you to attend as many courses as you choose with the added opportunity to purchase recordings.
You can register for my presentation (and save 50% through the end of the year) – The Hip: From Assessment to Badass –HERE.
Alternatively you can register for the ENTIRE event at the Early Bird rate – HERE.
This will undoubtedly be an event you won’t want to miss as the line-up, speaking as a fan boy myself, is one of the most impressive I have ever seen.
You can now purchase CORE @ Home for whatever you want to pay.
During the first quarantine I started a platform where I’d deliver 20-40 minute workouts that could be performed in everyone’s living room using minimal equipment.
In all I filmed 36 workouts using nothing but bodyweight, bands, and kettlebells and/or dumbbells. With many people still reticent to head back to their regular gyms (not to mention the scarcity of gym equipment out there to purchase) I figured this would be a nice opportunity to help.
Now that many parts of the US (and world) have started to implement a second wave of shut-downs, this resource is timely.
Whether you want to spend $1 or $99 (FYI: the latter enters you to win a 5×7 shirtless pic of me), the workouts are ready and available to start.
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be one of 40+ industry leaders taking part in Kabuki Education Week that’ll be taking place February 1-7, 2021.
Kabuki Education Week – Hosted by Kabuki Strength – is a unique opportunity to attend 40+ live hour-long lectures (with Q&A) presented by the most respected and well established educators, coaches, clinicians, and athletes in the strength & fitness industry. This event brings together a wealth of knowledge across multiple domains; all condensed into week-long virtual format that allows you to attend as many courses as you choose with the added opportunity to purchase recordings.
You can register for my presentation (and save 50% through the end of the year) – The Hip: From Assessment to Badass – HERE.
Alternatively you can register for the ENTIRE event at the Early Bird rate – HERE.
This will undoubtedly be an event you won’t want to miss as the line-up, speaking as a fan boy myself, is one of the most impressive I have ever seen.
You can now purchase CORE @ Home for whatever you want to pay.
During the first quarantine I started a platform where I’d deliver 20-40 minute workouts that could be performed in everyone’s living room using minimal equipment.
In all I filmed 36 workouts using nothing but bodyweight, bands, and kettlebells and/or dumbbells. With many people still reticent to head back to their regular gyms (not to mention the scarcity of gym equipment out there to purchase) I figured this would be a nice opportunity to help.
Now that many parts of the US (and world) have started to implement a second wave of shut-downs, this resource is timely.
Whether you want to spend $1 or $99 (FYI: the latter enters you to win a 5×7 shirtless pic of me), the workouts are ready and available to start.
One of my favorite exercises is the 1-Arm DB Row. One way I’ll make it more challenging is to add an RNT effect with a band. This helps reinforce the forward-back arc (rather than straight up & down)…placing more emphasis on the lats.
I figured we could all use a reprieve from the barrage of “at home” exercises and workouts everyone is posting of late.
#COVID19sucksdonkeyballs
My good friend and London based personal trainer, Luke Worthington, released his Core Training Guidebook recently and in light of that wrote up this guest post that takes a bit of a different “take” on the topic.
Luke’s one of the smartest coaches I know and I think you should check it out (not an affiliate link).
Actually, now that I think about it: the timing of this pans out.
You’re all stuck at home and can’t go to the gym.
Everyone wants a core you can cut diamonds with.
Training the core doesn’t require a lot of equipment.
We have known for some time that core training and core control was about so much more than a six pack. But did you know it also plays a role in your mood, how you sleep, and even how you laugh or cry?
It’s generally accepted that movement is good for us on both a mental and a physical level. However, do we know just how closely the two are linked?
Our nervous system has two parts – parasympathetic (rest & digest) that takes care of all our subconscious actions. And sympathetic (fight or flight) that is our reaction to situations around us.
Generally in life we want to spend as much time as we can in a parasympathetic state – because quite simply, its easier!
However, moving from one to the other has just as much to do with how we move, as how we think.
Our neural anatomy isn’t just enclosed in our skull – the sympathetic ganglion (the part of or neurological system that activates sympathetic activity), are actually situated in the thoracic spine. So extending that part of your skeleton (arching your back) actively stimulates them, and therefore creates a sympathetic state. (one of the reasons why we stretch in the morning to wake ourselves up).
Note from TG: Also another “advantage” to powerlifters accentuating the low back arch during their bench press setup?
Moving ourselves into an extension position (also known as ‘scissor’ position) stimulates us, which makes us more alert, more able to exert force, run faster, jump higher, and generally be more ‘alpha’.[footnote]Ah-HA. I was right!.[/footnote] Excellent for when we’re playing sports or fighting for our lives.
However, it also means that recovery, sleep, decision making and empathy are significantly reduced…
Not so good for maintaining relationships and resting – which we also need to do at times!
How Position Feeds This
One of the primary activities we must do in order to stay alive is breathe.
In order to perform this apparently simple activity we have quite a complex array of musculature supporting it. Our primary respiratory muscles are the diaphragm and the intercostal, which drive air in and out of the lungs with the purpose of exchanging gas and essentially stopping us from dying.
Whereas we may assume that inhaling oxygen is the primary cue for breathing – its actually blowing off carbon dioxide.
“A failure to do this results in our system becoming more acidic leading to a state of anxiety, increased sympathetic activity (fight of flight), impaired nerve conduction, restricted blood flow in cerebral cortex (poor decision making), increased phobic dysfunction panic attacks, and fatigue.”
LaghiF, Tobin F. Disorders of respiratory muscles. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Vol 168: 10-48 2003
The majority of the ‘good stuff’ in respiration happens in the lower 1/3 of the lungs.
Where the majority of blood vessels are situated.
However, in order for gas exchange to happen adequately here the ribcage and the pelvis have to be in the correct positions.
In simple terms they have to oppose each other – the pelvis in neutral, and the ribcage oriented over the top of it – almost like a cereal bowl with another one upside down on top of it! In coaching parlance we often call this the ‘cannister’ position.
If this doesn’t happen – then gas exchange cannot happen at this part of the chest cavity. But as a pre cursor to life it has to happen somewhere! If its not happening at the bottom, then it will happen at the top, however, in order for this to occur we have to engage additional musculature to help out (think upper back, trapezius, neck) as we need to elevate the upper chest to create space for airflow.
As well as the more direct consequences of creating unwelcome hypertonicity (over activity) in those areas (trapezius trigger points anyone).
This drive to create space in the upper chest requires thoracic extension, which as we know stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, creating a heightened state of anxiety, which in turn causes an increased desire to breathe…. but… we’re in the wrong position to!
This means we drive further into thoracic extension (scissor position), so we further stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and so we go around in a constant feedback loop…
To propagate the situation even further, the chest /neck breather is far less efficient at blowing off excess CO2 than the diaphragmatic breather (simply due to the fewer blood vessels available for gas exchange in the upper parts of the chest).
Not blowing off enough CO2 makes us more acidic, therefore more anxious, therefore having a greater desire to breathe, therefore driving further into thoracic extension
Poor position = poor breathing mechanics = greater level of anxiety.
However it also places us at a greater risk of further mechanical issues.
“In situations where respiratory drive is increased such as stress, disease or physical exercise, the ability of the respiratory muscles to perform their postural tasks is reduced. The presence of respiratory disease is a stronger predictor for lower back pain than other established risk factors”
International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 12 (2009)
This constant feedback loop is what is occurring on a physiological level when a person suffers from a panic attack or hyperventilation. What they actually need to do is exhale fully, allow their torso to flex, and reducing the mechanical stress on the sympathetic ganglion, blowing off some CO2, restoring PH, and eventually settling back to homeostasis (balance).
When we’re over stimulated, hyperinflated, and unable to moderate our nervous systems – we push the emergency button.
When we cry, we exhale fully, and flex out of scissor position and into cannister.
Not sure if you’ve noticed but you don’t see people cry in an upright, extended position – they restore canister – get themselves neutral, and exhale. This is why we feel better after we do it, and why we often feel tired afterwards, and also why it makes our abs hurt!
Note from TG: All you have to do is watch me watching the ending of Notting Hill and you’ll see what Luke is referring to.
Training our core to resist movement through all three movement planes, whilst in incrementally more challenging positions will help us lift more and do more cool stuff – but it can also just make us better at life.
** THIS WEEKEND. Some seats still available if you’re bored…;o)
I’m teaming up with Brad Cox of ACUMobility for this 6-hour workshop where we’ll discuss hip assessment and, you guessed it…
…keto recipes deadlifts and squats.
What will be unique about this workshop is the two perspectives we’ll bring to the table; myself as a strength coach in addition to Brad’s background in sports medicine and orthopedics.
It’s official: This marks the sixth year in a row Dean Somerset and I are presenting together. We’re so excited to be coming to Athens to kickstart 2020.
Before you say something asinine like “performing bicep curls blindfolded will increase your Tinder compatibility by 117%” you should read this post by my good friend Luke first.
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.[footnote] I may have spent the bulk of my morning catching up on The Bachelorette. HAHAHAHA LUKE P. Sorry not sorry you walking douchehole. Which is to say: I totally caught up on The Bachelorette.[/footnote]
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.
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.[footnote]I’ll include a free tickle fight if you do. If that’s too weird maybe a 30+ second hug? Okay, a handshake.[/footnote]
CEUs will be available.
For more information – including full itinerary and to register – you can go 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)
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.
Luke and I did this workshop last summer in London and figured it’s only fair to bring it State side.
Combined we have 30+ years of coaching experience (I.e., one Mike Boyle or Dan John) and this workshop will be two days where we uncover every nook and cranny as it relates to how we assess our clients/athletes and how we best prepare them for the rigors of every day life/sport.
This will be a unique opportunity for people to learn from myself, but especially Luke, who is one of the best and brightest coaches I know. This will be his first time teaching in the States.
For more information and to register you can go HERE.
SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS
Twitter
WALL PRESS 1-LEGGED RDL. I like this as an intermediary single leg variation.
A traditional 1-legged RDL is a very advanced movement and one not many can pull off. This takes balance out of the equation, but also allows ample loading of working leg. pic.twitter.com/RxOcTQ8cFd
We’ll be spending two days covering everything from upper/lower extremity assessment, program design, corrective exercise, how to coach up things like deadlifts, squats, and not kipping pull-ups, in addition to trying not to swoon too much over Luke’s British accent.
Who This Workshop is For: Personal trainers, strength coaches, physical therapists, athletic trainers, people who like to lift heavy things, people who would like to lift heavy things someday, people who would like to lift heavy things the right way, and Jason Bourne.
Who This Workshop is Not For: Dementors, ghosts, Balrogs, and Virgos.
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1
8.30 – Registration – Tea / Coffee / Tickle Fights with Tony
Cost:$299 Early Bird (until April 30th), $399 Regular (after April 30th).
Other Pertinent Tidbits
This event will be approved for 1.4 CEUs via the NSCA.
Luke’s the shit and this will be the first time he’s presenting in North America. This is a great opportunity to learn from one of the smartest coaches I know.
Okay, whatever, I’ll say it: I have a man-crush on Luke.[footnote]Luke, I hope that’s not weird.[/footnote]
Last year Lisa and I had the privilege of presenting together in Austin, TX and London, UK, and we’re elated to be heading to Toronto next month to pick up where we left off.
It’s an event Lisa and I feel is needed and pinpoints a drastically underserved component in the fitness industry.
In a nutshell I spend part of the day breaking down assessment, program design, and technique on a few common lifts such as the squat, deadlift, get-up, and BOSU ball lunges (<— kidding).
Lisa speaks to more of the mindset and psychological side of the equation. She discusses strategies on how to better build rapport and “buy in,” in addition to encouraging more competency and autonomy with our clients/athletes.
All of which is a wonderful way to organically build your business and brand. And, you know, make more money….;o)
This, I feel, is what separates this workshop from others.
Lisa’s not some warm & fuzzy personal trainer who likes to talk about feelings and pretends to know what (s)he’s talking about.
She’s a real-live doctor and went to school for this shit. Plus, she lifts heavy things.
For more information and to sign up, please go HERE.
UPDATE: I believe CEUs have been added to the event. Woo-hoo!
2) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint – Orlando
Our Vancouver shindig in April sold out, but Dean and I have recently announced a stop in Orlando, FL later this year, October 21-22nd at Spark Fitness.
I’ve never been to Orlando. There’s no way in hell I’m visiting Disney World.
The Huffington Post (UK) interviewed my good friend, Luke Worthington, who’s not only the best looking man I know (I hate him), but also Head of Trainer Education for Third Space and a coach I respect a ton.
First things first: I received a shipment of freshly minted TG “Because Heavy Things Won’t Lift Themselves” t-shirts this week.
My cat looooves them.
Don’t worry, I’ll knock $5 off any shirts with cat hair on them….;o)
The first round resulted in some high-praise, and I’m pretty sure will be featured in NYC Fashion Week later this year. Or, I don’t know, maybe not,
Either way, they’re badass and you should totally get one.
How to Order
**Note: t-shirts are Next Level brand made with tri-blend material.[footnote]For optimal pec and bicep showiness.[/footnote] Women’s sizes are available (M, L)
Here you get more options of the material you’d prefer (cotton, tri-blend, t-shirts made from the belly-button lint of Ryan Gosling), sizes, as well as varying apparel options (sweatpants, sweatshirts, tank tops, etc).
And international orders are TOTALLY acceptable here.
I applaud any fitness professional who goes out of his or her’s way to broaden their expertise repertoire. However, there’s a dangerous precedent that many teeter on where now we have personal trainers providing “shitty physical therapy” (<– to quote Nick Tumminello) and not staying in their lane.
This article by London-based trainer, Luke Worthington, hits the nail on the head.
I can’t tell you how many times I receive messages from trainers and fitness enthusiasts alike whenever they come across pictures like the one above, and inevitably write me a message along the lines of “WTF I can’t believe a trainer would have a professional athlete do something like this!”
Lets hold off on the pitch-forks and understand that CONTEXT is everything. Nice post by Michael on this one.
Sure, they have a time and place…but truthfully I’ve always hated the kneeling push-up (or “girl” push-up).
I feel they set a poor precedent out of the gate and their connotation speaks to”oh, you’re a girl, you’re fragile, we’re going to do “girl” push-ups.”
Screw that.
PS:
I’ll be in Philadelphia this weekend (Sunday, April 24th) at War Horse Barbell presenting The Shoulder: From Assessmentto Badass workshop.
If you have nothing better to do – or are sick of eating cheesesteaks – spots are still available, and you can go HERE to sign-up.
Also, Dean Somerset just put his stellar resource – Post Rehab Essentials 2.0 – on sale ($50 OFF regular price) from now through this Sunday. Easily one of the best resources on assessment and “corrective” exercise programming out there today. Check it out HERE.
