CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work Uncategorized

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

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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

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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.

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 1/24/20

Copyright: olegdudko / 123RF Stock Photo

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

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

1. (De)-Constructing the Deadlift & Squat – Stoneham, MA: Sunday, January 26, 2020

** 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.

EARLY BIRD rate ends in two weeks.

2. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint – Athens, Greece: Saturday, Feb 29th & Sunday, March 1st, 2020

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.

3. Coaching Competency Workshop – London, UK: Sunday, March 8, 2020

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

This will be my first ever workshop in the region!

I’m expecting ticker tape parades.

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Lower Back Sparing Tip: STAGGERED STANCE. . Left pic: A common “end result” when I watch people perform an overhead press; excessively arching their lower back. . The culprit can be a few things. . 1️⃣ Tight/short lats. . 2️⃣ Weak anterior core. . 3️⃣ “Stuck” in an extension pattern (pigging back on #1). . 4️⃣ Eating gluten. . 5️⃣ Poor technique. . It can be many things, actually. But before I attempt to address anything nefarious and get lost in the weeds in corrective exercise purgatory I’ll try two things: . 1. Simply tell the person to brace their abdominals and squeeze their glutes (it’s miraculous how those two cues clean up a lot of eye wash). . 2. Encourage a staggered stance (right pic), which makes it a bit harder to crank through the lower back. . Nothing fancy or sexy. . However, it works quite well.

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STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORK

5 Reasons You’re Not Making Gains in the Gym (and How to Fix Them) – Sivan Fagan

I always appreciate Sivan’s “no BS” approach and, well, she;’s pretty diesel…

…so you should listen to what she has to say.

Causality, Correlation or Just Coincidence – Luke Worthington

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.

The Most Dangerous Gym Equipment of All Time – Nick Tumminello

Nick doesn’t cover what you think an article titled as such covers.

Great stuff as always.

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 6/14/19

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BUT FIRST…CHECK THIS STUFF OUT

1. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint Workshop – 2019 Locations & Dates

Sydney, Australia: July 13-14th at Clean Shred.

Melbourne, Australia: July 19-21st and Melbourne Strength & Conditioning. (<—  Includes bonus “Psych Skills for Fitness Pros” pre-workshop with Dr. Lisa Lewis).

This workshop will piggyback on the material Dean Somerset and I covered in the original Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint.

With this iteration, though, we’ll be going a bit deeper into the coaching and programming side of things:

  • How to program around common injuries.
  • How to “connect” the appropriate exercises to the client/athlete.
  • How to really add value with your assessment process.
  • How to squat and deadlift like a boss.

Find out more details HERE.

2. Strong Body-Strong Mind Workshop – Chicago, IL

This will be the only time Dr. Lisa Lewis and I will be presenting this workshop together in 2019. In previous years we’ve presented it in Boston, London, Toronto, Bonn (Germany),  and Austin, TX.

This 1-day workshop is targeted towards fitness professionals and digs a little deeper into what really “bogs” them down and stresses them out….

…their clients!

Click THIS link for more details on topics covered as well as date/cost/location.

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The original story of this quote below… Posted @withrepost • @testosteronenation T-Nation.com coach Tony Gentilcore (@tonygentilcore) dropped that T-shirt worthy line into one of his articles so we asked him how he came up with it. Here’s what he said: . “I try to be an understanding, empathetic coach with my clients and athletes. I write programs catered to THEIR goals and THEIR injury history, and I try my best to “match” the exercises I prescribe to THEIR ability level. That said, sometimes I need to play the cantankerous, tough love strength coach card. I started with a new client a few months ago and noticed a trend within the first couple of sessions: He had a knack for saying “this is hard” on every…single…exercise. . Deadlifts: “This is hard.” . Squats: “This is hard.” . Lateral Raises: “This is hard.” . At first I played it off as no big deal and something that comes with the territory. After subsequent sessions, however, I didn’t have enough eye rolls to give and I broke: . ‘Dude, lifting weights isn’t supposed to tickle.’ . It just flew out of my mouth. It wasn’t mean and it wasn’t disrespectful. It was just something that needed to be said. It was perfect.” — @tonygentilcore . #tnation #bodybuilding #strengthtraining #strengthandconditioning #lifting #workout #gym #fitfam #liftingweights #fitness #muscle

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STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORK

Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (Self Study) – Dr. Sarah Duvall

This is one of the best courses I have ever taken and has provided me an abyss of information (and confidence) when it comes to working with women.

It’s made me a better coach.

If you’re a fitness professional I can almost guarantee you you’ll agree with my sentiment.

Sarah has placed the course on SALE this weekend (Friday, 6-14 – Monday 6/17) at $150 OFF the regular price.

1. Go HERE.

2. At checkout use the code PARTY150 to claim your discount.

3. No diggidy, no doubt.

4 Lat Building Exercises You’ve Never Tried – Sivan Fagan

Trust me, I doubt you’ve tried any of these before.

Sorta Deep Thoughts on Training, Diet and Character – Bryan Krahn

Are you like me and don’t have enough eye rolls to give whenever someone waxes poetic on something like the Paleo diet and how the reason why they do it is because cavemen were ripped?

Really?

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 5/17/19

Copyright: wamsler / 123RF Stock Photo

BUT FIRST…CHECK THIS STUFF OUT

1. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint Workshop – 2019 Locations & Dates

Sydney, Australia: July 13-14th at Clean Shred.

Melbourne, Australia: July 19-21st and Melbourne Strength & Conditioning. (<—  Includes bonus “Psych Skills for Fitness Pros” pre-workshop with Dr. Lisa Lewis).

This workshop will piggyback on the material Dean Somerset and I covered in the original Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint.

With this iteration, though, we’ll be going a bit deeper into the coaching and programming side of things:

  • How to program around common injuries.
  • How to “connect” the appropriate exercises to the client/athlete.
  • How to really add value with your assessment process.
  • How to squat and deadlift like a boss.

Find out more details HERE.

2. Strategic Strength Workshop – Boston, MA

Luke (Worthington) 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.

  • Upper/Lower Extremity Assessment
  • Technique Audits (how to coach common  strength training exercises)
  • Ways to integrate PRI (Postural Restoration Institute) strategies that don’t make your brain hurt.

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.

3. Strong Body-Strong Mind Workshop – Chicago, IL

This will be the only time Dr. Lisa Lewis and I will be presenting this workshop together in 2019. In previous years we’ve presented it in Boston, London, Toronto, Bonn (Germany),  and Austin, TX.

This 1-day workshop is targeted towards fitness professionals and digs a little deeper into what really “bogs” them down and stresses them out….

…their clients!

Click THIS link for more details on topics covered as well as date/cost/location.

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Return of the Cobra Row. . After a brutal phase the past 8 weeks it was nice to open up my program today from @gnrobins to see some lighter loads (and higher rep shenanigans). . I remember performing this row variation over a year ago and enjoying it (and I know @coachleeboyce has singed its praises in recent weeks). . ✅It’s a great way to accentuate the eccentric (lengthening) portion of the lift which helps increase range of motion and torches the lats. . ✅This variations lends itself well to high(er) reps or performing “rounds.” . Do This: perform 8 reps on one side, then perform 8 reps on the other. Because you’re alternating between sides there’s a built in rest period. . I performed 5 “rounds” today. . Lats were feeling it afterward. . ALSO: You can use either a band or cable system here; it’s all personal preferences (and whatever you have access to). . Sick beats aren’t optional…😉

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STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORK

Using Prileprin’s Chart Post Rehab – Eric Bowman

^^ That’s Prilepin’s Chart

We don’t need to make programming harder than it has to be. We’re not curing cancer; it isn’t rocket science. Hell, it’s not even long division.

Prileprin’s Chart is a tidy starting point for most programs. And the work (and most of the guessing) has already been  done for you.

Use it.

Train Your Posterior Chain for Better, Safer Gains – Sivan Fagan

Did you know you have muscles on the backside of your body you can’t see in the mirror?

No, really…you do!

It’s an often neglected area, but an argument can be made that training those muscles is the key to a stronger, faster, more resilient body.

This is the program that will help get you started.

Speed Training For Hockey –  Kevin Neeld & Travis Pollen

Fun Tony Fact: I can count on one hand the total number of times I’ve ever attempted to skate on ice. I say “attempted” because I believe the longest I’ve ever stayed upright before crashing to the ground (and taking someone with me) is nine seconds.

That said, despite my lack of skating skills I know a great program when I see it. Kevin and Travis have produced an outstanding resource here, and if you work with hockey players this is an absolute NO-BRAINER.

Speed Training for Hockey is currently on sale at a very fair price, but it only last for one more week.

Check it out HERE.

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 10/26/18

Copyright: wamsler / 123RF Stock Photo

BUT FIRST…CHECK THIS STUFF OUT

1. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint – Los Angeles, CA

 

This workshop will piggyback on the material Dean Somerset and I covered in the original Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint.

We just returned from Slovenia where we taught the course to 40+ fitness professionals from across nine different countries. We received amazing feedback

With this iteration, though, we’ll be going a bit deeper into the coaching and programming side of things:

  • How to program around common injuries.
  • How to “connect” the appropriate exercises to the client/athlete.
  • How to squat and deadlift like a boss.

All who register will:

1. Receive free access to the digital version of the first series.

2. Receive 1.4 continuing education credits via the NSCA.

3. You also get a super secret bonus we won’t reveal until the weekend of. HINT: Attendees are blown away by how cool is is.1

To register and for moe details go HERE.

 2. Coaching Competency Workshop – NYC

I’ll be back in the city that never sleeps this Fall to put on my popular Coaching Competency workshop. Albeit this will be condensed version (five hours instead of seven); a fitness amuse bouche if you will.

Honestly a better title for this workshop would be: From Assessment to Profits.

I’ll go into detail on how to create better “buy in” with potential clients, in addition to creating a better (current) client experience.

Full details (itinerary, location, and cost) can be found HERE.

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Here’s a great example of how to “fix” someone swaying to any one side during their squat (and more importantly how accepting our individual asymmetries can be a game changer in terms of how our squats look and feel). . This is my good friend and colleague @drak_25. He’s a strong dude and competes in powerlifting. . I received a text from him asking about his squat and how he’s been having a hard time preventing his weight from shifting to the right. . He referred to a tactic both @dsomerset1 and I are fans of and something we discussed in depth in our Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint…experimenting with an asymmetrical stance and how we “textbook technique” should not be the standard to go by. . We know that everyone’s anatomy and leverages are different. Some people have acetabulums pointing one way (anteverted/retroverted) and some people may require more hip abduction or external rotation to hit a certain depth. It may even behoove some to adopt more of a staggered stance to better “fit” their unique anatomy. . Dave is no different. . I encouraged him to maybe play around with moving his foot out a bit more and to open up that same side more. . And wouldn’t you know it. Wammo bammo, we Dumbledored the shit out of his squat. . Look at the second video: no more shifting to the right. . Stop pigeon holding people to what a text book says a squat stance should be. Real life is not a textbook. . There’s NO one right way to squat. Experiment with different stances, widths, and foot positions. Find what FEELS better and more powerful and stable. Fuck traditionalists. . Also, side note: Since I made a Harry Potter reference, I rewatched The Half Blood Prince on my flight back to Boston last night, and it was the first time I watched it in several years. I just noticed that the actor who plays Cormac McLaggen is the same actor who plays the bachelor from the first season of Un-Real. . Yeah, that’s right, I watch Un-Real. . Whatever, don’t judge me. . And don’t think adopting an asymmetrical stance is creating dysfunction. It’s not. Forcing people into a symmetrical stance that doesn’t match their anatomy can be (not always) worse.

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STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORK

The Ultimate Pull-Up Program – Meghan Callaway

If you’re someone who’s been struggling to get over the first pull-up conundrum, or someone who’s looking to take their pull-up prowess to the next level, to be blunt…

….the program is…the….shit.

Meghan has gone into superb detail with this resource and has added 40+ pages of additional content to the original version. I’ve used it with my own clients and I can vouch that it works.

It’s currently on SALE at 50% off the original price and it ends tomorrow (Saturday, 10/27).

You’ve got a little over 24 hours to take advantage.

What I Learned During 13 Years of Strength Training – Sivan Fagan

YES!

This article rocks.

Anything that encourages women to STRENGTH TRAIN is cool in my book. Plus, I know Sivan, and she’s an excellent coach.

More people need to hear her message.

Nagging Injury? Rest, Ice, and Stretching May Not Be Enough – Tim DiFrancesco

I respect the message Tim conveys in this article. Rest is rarely going to be the sole answer with regards to addressing nagging injuries.