Showing posts with label functional movement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label functional movement. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The BEST Kettlebell Exercise!

Everything we do we must undo! This includes the ridiculous amount of sitting we do on a daily basis. As a personal trainer, thoracic and shoulder mobility are high on my list of issues to address within my clients' training sessions.

By simply addressing these issues posture is better, pain can be eliminated, and strength increases due to improved biomechanics.

Give the kettlebell arm bar a try this week within your warmup or as active rest during your strength session!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Can I benefit from hiring a personal trainer?


Truth is I think that anyone and EVERYONE can benefit from having some sort of exercise guidance in their life no matter how large or small. 
  
In case you have been living under a rock these past few years 
ONLINE and SMALL GROUP TRAINING have taken center stage for two major reasons. 
They are affordable and personalized.  
 Major win-wins!

Monday, September 30, 2013

Yoga and Strength Training: the ultimate complement!

Long time no see! Wanted to let you know that I have not been slacking off and that LIFE IS GOOD!

Business is great, love is in the air and I could not be happier than I am right now :D  I am turning 30 in just one week so look for some exciting stuff to be coming your way! Website and newsletter updates, Progress not perfection baseball tees and more! I have been A LOT more active on social media these days so come follow me here if you want to know what I have been up to!

Wanted to share with you a few articles I have written over the past few months for Girls Gone Strong and Juggernaut Training Systems if you have not yet hopped on to the YOGA and STRENGTH TRAINING band wagon!

Here's an excerpt from my 3 Types of Yoga for the GIRL GONE STRONG



One of my favorite things to say is, “everything you do, you must undo.”
I like to think of my strength training as doing and my yoga as undoing.  I seek balance when comes to strength and flexibility.  When our strength overpowers our flexibility, tension is the result, and when our flexibility surpasses our strength, instability remains. Both tension and instability are weak links, which limit your ultimate potential.
When I was first introduced to yoga almost 10 years ago, it was a Power Vinyasa flow, full of intensity.  I loved every second of it.  As a kettlebell girl, I instantly saw the way the two schools of thought could complement one another; moving through my full range of motion, developing flexibility, mobility and isometric strength.
I saw how my yoga practice could actually cut down on my warm up time at the gym. This newly found ankle and thoracic mobility, shoulder stability, as well as hip flexibility was definitely a win-win.  I dove into practicing this vigorous yoga 3 days a week and strength trained 3-4 days a week.  Unfortunately this combination wreaked havoc on my adrenals.  Not exactly what you want when your goal is to get stronger!
What I really needed was something to BALANCE me out, a practice that would complement my lifting and make me stronger than ever, something to further connect my breath and body and allow me to relax instead of always going, going, going!
Remember, yoga should complement, not compete with, your existing training.
Read the rest here!


Yoga for Athletes Part 1 was another  attempt to get more MEN and strong ladies to give yoga a try!  

Again here's a little piece of the article

Repeat after me:  “EVERYTHING YOU DO, YOU MUST UNDO.”

Yoga is a tool used by the self to identify deficiencies. The more you are aware of your asymmetries from left to right within your body, the more aware you will be underneath the bar. Next time you go to squat you’ll be spreading your feet beneath you, using your breath to back your lifts and hitting PR’s you never thought possible!
Oh and there are FEW things that feels better the day after an intense training session than active recovery with YOGA. It just feels so DAMN good.
 2.     MOBILITY + FLEXIBILITY + STABILITY
Mobility and flexibility are often lumped together but in reality are two very different things.  And then stability comes in and really complicates things.
Mobility pertains to the motion we are able to CONTROL around a joint.
Flexibility is the movement that is POSSIBLE around a joint.
Stability is established with both active and passive influences.
As an athlete you need something to balance out your strength and explosive power. Yoga does just that.
It boosts flexibility while challenging stability at the same time. Take your hamstrings for example.  They may feel tight, simply because your body is attempting to create stability where it’s missing. Doing just a static stretch will not engage the core and will actually cause more instability and possibly injure you.
Are you seeing a common trend here?
TRUST ME GIVE this combo a try!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Smarter Training for Longevity

When will this be the "IN" thing?

With Crossfit, Spartan Races and Tough Mudders all the rage;
what total body crushing, leave you breathless phenomenon will come next?

I have nothing against any of these I just need those of you partaking in them to understand the importance of RECOVERY.

I GUARANTEE that RECOVERY is the MOST UNDERUSED TOOL in YOUR fitness toolbox.
We all have ONE body in this life and we don't want to damage it to the point of no return!
Here are TWO easy ways to train smarter starting NOW.

1. Whether it be yoga, foam rolling and self myofascial release, regular massage, or meditation.



These tools all enable your body restore. 
This is not being lazy. It’s called being SMART.
If you don't already have one get yourself a FOAM ROLLER, and get started with this
Position yourself with front of thighs on the roller. Make sure you keep your  core and glutes tight, as to protect the lower back. You may be on hands or forearms. Roll down and up the entirety of the thigh, stopping along points that seem especially tight.
Roll from pelvic bone to knee, emphasizing the lateral aspect of the thigh. When you find a point that is especially tight ( could be the whole thing) hang out there and breathe.





2. In order to stay progressive with your strength be sure to program a de-load week into your routine. 

Again this is not being lazy it's called being SMART. 
Use this to get stronger each block, not plateau or get injured!
Take PLANNED time off and get stronger OR train hard all the time, get sick and be FORCED to take time off and steps backwards. 
Hmm sounds like a no brainer to me.

Whether or not you choose to think of it this way 
EXERCISE IS INTENTIONAL STRESS ON THE BODY. 
When you have work stress, financial stress, kid stress…. 
Ever think you might need some restoration to balance out your body?!?!

This goes for both males and females but I want to strongly emphasize this for my LADIES.
FORGET GETTING LEAN in a constant state of stress.
Those daily killer workouts with no end in sight will eventually cause adrenal fatigue. 
YOUR BODY WILL ACTUALLY HOLD ON TO EXCESS BODY FAT.
Which means no matter how "clean you eat" or how"hard you train"  you will not see the results you are working so hard/suffering for.
YOU NEED MORE RECOVERY!



For almost a decade I have deemed kettlebells and yoga the ultimate compliment to each other.  Any sort of intense strength training needs to be balanced out.
Something as simple as 2-4 days of strength and 1-2 days of yoga. 
Throughout the years my style of training has evolved but ONE thing has remained the same.
The body needs BALANCE in order to THRIVE on this LONG HAUL called life.



Not sure how to get started with yoga? Still not thoroughly convinced?
MORE ON THAT NEXT!











Wednesday, April 17, 2013

HOW TO TGU LIKE A BOSS


-guest post written for Chad Smith and Juggernaut Training Systems!


The Turkish Get Up is by far the most intricate of all the kettlebell lifts. Many will argue that it is the most complex lift around, seeing as it requires the entire body to work together in order to complete. It also happens to be my favorite. 
Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned athlete the get up is comprised of many steps and the mastery of the TGU does not happen overnight.  I have been “get uping” for years and I am still a work in progress.

Benefits of learning and practicing the Turkish Get Up:

-improved shoulder and hip mobility
-improved shoulder and hip stability
- development of true core strength and stability
- increased shoulder range of motion (shoulder rehab)
- increased grip strength
- strong and solid shoulders
- improved ability to overhead press
- increased coordination
-improved posture

Whether you are a power lifter, yogi, fighter, bodybuilder, strongman, or runner, the TGU can help YOU!
*How you incorporate this lift to your program will depend on your goals and current training regimen.

There are a few different ways to perform the Turkish Get Up out there.  My preference is the “hardstyle” get up with 3 point bridge and it is what I will be demoing.

As a beginner I suggest that you perfect the “naked get up” first before moving on to using a weight. This ensures proper shoulder packing as well as postioning for when the kettlebell is introduced.

Maintaining proper shoulder position throughout the 7 steps of the get up can prove difficult for clients with limited shoulder MOBILITY as well as those with shoulder STABILITY issues. For these folks the kettlebell arm bar is an awesome set up exercise for the Turkish Get Up. 


The top 5 mistakes I see with beginners and the TGU are…

1) Broken Wrist

Remember to grip the handle HARD.




2) Lack of shoulder packing

Try to feel your shoulder blade lie flat on the floor keeping shoulder away from ear.



3) Splaying of ribcage in the half kneeling position and driving off back leg to stand.

Instead, utilize the core to maintain a tall spine and drive through the front heel.

4) Arching into the low back on the way back down.
Your hand placement should allow the leg to move freely underneath your hips.

5) Loss of shoulder pack/straining the neck to look up at the bell in the standing position.

Remember to keep tight through the core and keep your eyes on the bell at all times EXCEPT from ½ kneeling to standing position.


Almost every one of my clients will utilize SOME part of the TGU within their program. If they aren’t performing the entire Turkish Get Up because of some limitation you bet they are:

-overhead pressing in the half kneeling position
-performing the first three steps of the get up to the high bridge for reps
-completing overhead waiters walks for time

After all, gaining shoulder, hip and core stability as well as t-spine and hip extension are all highly coveted advantages of learning this lift. It’s also fun to show off your strength with some heavy get ups every now and then!

Enough of me, here’s one of my clients performing the Turkish Get Up

Friday, July 20, 2012

Easy Ways to Increase Shoulder Mobility

Recently did a video for an old friend who is having some issues with limited shoulder mobility.  He is an avid CrossFitter and he has finally realized that his shoulders are holding him back.

For anyone who knows me you KNOW my worst fear is speaking in front of the camera.  I coach and cue and speak all day long but not in front of a camera :0
So here's to my first attempt :P


Friday, January 27, 2012

AHHH the pelvis...to TILT or not to TILT

I want to spin off of an article I recently read.  The following topic is something I encounter weekly if not daily, now that I run my business out of a yoga studio.

The issue of a neutral pelvic tilt…what is it?

A natural neutral pelvis supports a small arch in the low back so that your body is able to support and connect your upper body and lower body, as well as move you.
Therefore to state that a neutral pelvis is actually in an anterior pelvic tilt is in fact correct.

Men and women differ in degrees of what is considered a neutral pelvis in each gender. Women can get away with slightly more of an anterior tilt since a women’s pelvis is designed to support pregnancy, while a man’s pelvis does not.

Now I am going to go ahead and make two generalizations here. 

*If a client or student works at a desk or sits all day the likelihood that their pelvis will be posterior is greater.

*On the other hand if you are teaching a group of high-level athletes, then chances are higher that you will see more anterior tilts.

In reality every pelvis is a little different. One exercise could work wonders for one individual while causing pain for another.

Your best bet as a health professional is to get comfortable palpating the bony prominences that together create the “pelvic tilt”.  Eyeballing is simply not enough. The PSIS is at one end point of the iliac crest on the back side, they appear as two small bumps. The ASIS is the end point on the front side of your pelvis, these are larger and easy to find with you follow the iliac crest all the way forward.

Chances are if your ass is as flat as a pancake you have a posterior tilt going on and your hamstrings do all the work leaving you with a sad excuse for an ass. HOWEVER I have had female clients with nice C shaped bums that would appear to most to have anterior tilts …that were actually posterior!  Ahhh you see I am full of contradictions  :P
Get comfortable, touch yourself so that you can in turn palpate others or instruct clients and or students to get a little “hands on” with themselves.

That being said I see a ton of former dancers, gymnasts, as well as yoga enthusiasts at the yoga studio.  I work to create pelvic stability both bilaterally and unilaterally so that the core is able to fire properly and clients are far less likely to complain of SI Joint discomfort.  In addition I strengthen their posterior chain so that the hamstrings and glutes are firing properly as well as to protect them from a hamstring strain.
Here’s where I confuse some yoga practitioners.
I instruct yogi’s to arch hard when they dead -lift. This throws them for a loop seeing as “tucking your tail” is so common in the yoga world.

As you can see NO ONE RULE applies to every situation…such is life :P

As long as we can create strength and stability through a sound range of motion we will be activating the core musculature that is necessary for supporting a healthy pelvis.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Repetition is the mother of all learning

The same can be said for how many times you can tell someone something until they finally believe it themselves.  You could flash the same message in someones face numerous times until that light in their head finally goes off!

For me it is very rewarding when clients and friends reach this point, because it is then I know WITHOUT A DOUBT that they will succeed :) 

A great friend and client shared this Gray Cook article with me on not one but TWO of my favorite topics!

Nutrition 
and 
Exercise

This girl knows a great read when she sees one, check it out for yourself!

WHY WE MOVE POORLY and WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT 
GRAY COOK
Recently while reading the book Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It, I could not help but draw a parallel with my work with movement dysfunction. Why We Get Fat is well researched by the author, Gary Taubes, who presents the basic case that we can become leaner by avoiding certain foods— and not just consuming the latest advertised “low-fat over-processed prepackaged, take-our-word-for-it solution.” This simple logic is almost too basic for today’s health-obsessed consumer. We want fast, sexy and cheap, but we can’t give up anything. That’s just crazy!

...for the remainder of the article click here.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Assessing vs Assuming

from my years of training experience I can say with 100% certainty that the old adage is true and that the later does indeed make an ASS out of YOU and YOUR CLIENT.

This isn't what you want as a trainer or a client.
Am I correct?

The Functional Movement Screen is the greatest tool you can have in your arsenal as a fitness professional.
When I screen a client, I am able to have a concrete plan of attack for my programming.  Thus allowing for the greatest client success, which makes both of us happy.

Sure pushing, pulling, squatting and lunging are movements that are highly encouraged.. but without proper mobility and stability these exercises cannot give us the core involvement that we need to be efficient and progressive with our workouts.
When our core is firing to its potential and our movement patterns are symmetrical, anything and everything is possible.
And AMAZING RESULTS ensue without OVERTRAINING :)

A carefully created program is good, but a specifically sequenced warmup can make that same workout GREAT!

This is where I think many trainers as well as those of you who workout, mess up.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Recommendations

There are always products I am recommending to clients, family and friends.  Whether it be the latest sneaks, the yummiest snacks, or the best yoga classes.

When it come to high quality, affordable, equipment I always recommend Perform Better!

Are you correcting patterns with Gray Cook Bands, giving yourself an at- home- self- myo-fascial - release on a foam roller, are you strength training with Kettlebells, or are you  getting serious work done with ROPES and SLEDS?!?!?!



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year....Resolve to move BETTER in 2011


Taken straight from the MYOFORCE team :)

This weeks blog is not going to be on your typical New Year's Resolution.

AHH sure everyone resolves to eat better and nearly everyone resolves to exercise more in 2011 than they did in 2010.

I am here to tell you that your first resolution should be to move well first before moving often.

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Best Damn Cardio Article - Period

LADIES LADIES LADIES!!!!
You are the ones I see filling the countless elliptical machines each time I am at the gym!
GUYS you are getting to be a close second!

WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?!

;)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Can we make sure we throw in some ABS today?!?!

On a daily basis I hear this question. OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
Clients that I have trained for years know better, but newbies are still hanging on to this idea.

After having had this request for years I started to pay attention to when the clients were asking for ABS. 

Low and behold it was frequently after a vacation or a long weekend.
...The vacation and long weekend where they didn't eat as clean as usual and maybe indulged a lot more than they should have.

Please tell me how feeling fat coincides with wanting to do this.


Clean up your diet first. This is the hard part. It takes time and effort and planning ahead but I assure you you can do it.

I got tons of questions on how I got "ripped abs" for my show.
Well I'll tell you one thing.
I didn't do a single crunch.
I did a whole lot of big lifts and used my core in all planes of motion.
Here is a MUST READ article courtesy of Mike Robertson.
Do me a favor and try some of these INSTEAD of those crunches I see you all doing ;)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Working out versus Training

Courtesy of Coach Nick:


There's working out and there's training. 
Training is when you have a progressive plan with measurable goals and continual challenges. 
Working out is anything that makes you sweaty and tired but not necessarily bigger or stronger because it lacks consistency, direction and specificity.

Long time no see guys :)
I have been struggling a little lately with time and feelings and have not blogged as much as I would like to.  I will have a new computer soon so you will see more of me :)


YES, I have prepared for a Figure Competition before.
NO, each time a girl prepares it is NOT THE SAME.  


Each time you go through the process, you have new experiences and encounter different obstacles. 
For instance I have been through the diet before so now I know the challenges that lie ahead, but that doesn't mean it will be easier ;)


Seeing as I ended up accepting my PRO CARD with the WNBF I will now be competing at the PRO level.  This is a completely different ballgame than Novice or Open Division. I will find myself amongst the elite, women who have worked for years to develop their physiques.


I have no expectations for my first PRO show I am just going to take it all in.


What I do have are goals.  
GOALS to go in HARDER and BIGGER overall, with specific focus on my legs and shoulders.


I have to admit its been tough to put on weight for this process. Even when you are doing it on purpose, its hard to stay positive when you see your body changing.
THERE I SAID IT.


I am definitely getting BIGGER and STRONGER. 
Therefore my TRAINING is working.


I have learned OH SO MANY VALUABLE lessons throughout this process.  When I first made the decision to compete I gave several reasons and one of them was to relate to my clients when they were on a strict nutrition plan. 
Now I can add to my resume the ability to empathize with them when their weight fluctuates and the emotions that go along with that.  This ability is VERY POWERFUL and something new to me.  And I believe it gives me another advantage when communicating with clientele.


I will continue to be positive and grateful and have faith in the process, REMINDERS are always welcome in case I forget ;)





Tuesday, April 20, 2010

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...courtesy of Aaron Brooks

is Your Mirror Trying to Tell You Something?

How many of you have looked at yourself in the mirror and thought my goodness is this what I have become. Many of our clients will say something along the lines that they do not want to end up looking like their 80-year-old mother. Or have to worry about all the health concerns that their parents are going through. My coworker read this article and thought I was being too harsh. Maybe but it is the truth and it is what we hear on a weekly basis so I thought why not tell it the way it is.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

AHHHH Nutrition

I studied Exercise Science in college, I have completed personal training certifications, kettlebell certifications, yoga certifications...yet notta one nutrition seminar :0

I have a lot of experience when it comes to food,
                                                                          such as eating it.
                                                                          and suddenly
                                                                          being allergic to it.

Going through my food allergy ISSUE was a life changing experience.  I was the type of person who loved to workout like CRAZY and then eat whatever I wanted.  I never looked horrible (well maybe senior year of college) but I never looked great either.

I recently read and stole an interview on Precision Nutrition (which I love by the way)
 I'd love to meet this girl!

7 Questions For… Georgie Fear

georgie-with-dogGeorgie Fear is a trainer and dietitian, and currently studying nutritional science as a graduate student at Rutgers. She’s the Sports Dietitian for Rutgers University Athletics, and teaches a wide variety of fitness and nutrition classes for Rutgers Fitness and other facilities in central NJ.
She just came out with a recipe book called Dig In, available through her website AskGeorgie, which also offers a huge free recipe archive.
I’m impressed.
I caught up with Georgie and asked her 7 questions.

1. What are the top 3 things you see people do to mess up their nutrition?

#1: People consume too much processed food, in particular processed carbohydrates like granola bars, bagels, frozen diet meals, and 100-calorie fake foods.
In some ways I can’t blame people for not knowing better; with all the advertising making Special K bars and “fruit drinks” look healthy, we’re up against a lot. Most PN eaters understand that fresh, whole foods are the way to build your diet.
A protein bar here and there, a canned something once in a while won’t “hurt” you, but the core foods you eat daily should be unprocessed.
#2: Consuming too little protein and vegetables.
I spend a lot of time educating people about how a higher protein, lower glycemic diet can help them lose weight, decrease cardiovascular disease risk factors, and is unlikely to cause any kidney damage.
For veggies, I do my best to point out the wide variety and dishes you can make with them. Most people just need practice to become a little more “veggie-centric.” With a few new recipes they like and a bit more time spent preparing them, people find out that eating more produce feels good, tastes good, and gets them results.
#3: Inconsistency.
People think in terms of black and white, going head-over-heels committed to their nutrition plan for a week, then throwing all caution to the wind.
This goes along with impatience. Often people don’t give a strategy enough time to see if it’s really working for them, so if they don’t have a six pack in a week, they give up and jump on another bandwagon.
Changing habits takes time, changing your body takes time. I believe strongly in the power of nutrition, but it’s not a quick and easy fix.

2. How has your perspective on nutrition and exercise changed over the years?

When I started nutrition and fitness counseling, I thought I would be educating people. I figured people must be eating the wrong things, or too much, because they don’t know better.
But it’s a very rudimentary dietitian who thinks telling someone which foods they should or shouldn’t eat will help their client change. It takes much more than that and I’ve learned my job is just as much psychology, motivation, and self-efficacy building as knowing nutrition and biochemistry.
I’ve learned that it’s not just okay to ask the hard questions, but that I have to probe people for their motivation, their fears, and their obstacles to really help them.
I’ve learned to not just give information, but to teach people why.
I try to be a cheerleader while they’re in my office, and also to teach them how to cheer themselves on, because I’m not always there! And the real motivation must come from within.
I’ve also realized that there is no one true path: different exercise regimes and nutrition plans work for different people.
Some people find optimal health through a vegetarian lifestyle, some people find it eating meat. Some people avoid soy, some people avoid milk, some people avoid artificial sweeteners or wheat or fish or beans… but you can build a healthy diet in many ways.
And with exercise you can build a fit body by lifting, swimming, running, rowing, or any mix of activities. I don’t feel the need any more to do exactly what someone else is doing, just because it’s working for them. I’m okay doing what’s working for me.
georgie in action

3. What is your favorite quote?

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle
I love this quote because it encourages consistency and doesn’t let me rest on my laurels from what I once did.
It also forces me to put failures and mistakes in perspective. My habits are good and I am consistently working to do my best, therefore one slip-up matters very little in the scheme of things.

4. What are the top 3 things you see people do to mess up their exercise?

#1: Lack of consistency.
People have trouble keeping up with things year after year.
#2: Over-thinking a program.
This can become a source of stress and kill the enjoyment. I know people who have spreadsheets of periodized training, reps and set schemes that look like calculus to me… and if it works for them, great.
But for me, I keep my options open and don’t set out a concrete plan that, to me, feels restrictive. I make sure I do some strength work, some speed work, some endurance work, but I don’t micromanage my workout routine.
I think keeping it fun and low-stress is why I have grown to love it.
#3: Paying bad trainers!
I see so much bad training going on. If you wonder how good your trainer is… they probably aren’t very good.

Now Georgie, finish the following sentences.

5. Fast food is…

…child abuse.

6. The key to my fitness and health success is…

…absolute passion and a love for what I do. This erases the border between work and play.
I shop the produce section like some women browse jewelry. I don’t eat my dinner like a prisoner eats a cold bowl of gruel, wishing I had a bacon cheeseburger.
I dine, I relish, and I revel. That’s why I called my cookbook Dig In, because I think nutritious eating is juicy and flavourful and shouldn’t be thought of as second-class living.
Same with being active., I love the feeling of running, of swinging a kettlebell, of pushing myself. And when you love it, it’s not work, and it’s not something you’d ever stop doing.
Once you know you’re in this for the long haul, you worry less about little setbacks and enjoy the ride.
IMG_2865

Bonus: Georgie, what is your favorite supplement?

I don’t take any supplements other than whey protein (Optimum Whey) and vitamin D. Never have.
I’d have to say the whey protein is my favorite, because you can’t make chocolate cookies out of vitamin D softgels.

Check out her website!
http://askgeorgie.com/

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The deadlift

Make that the single leg dead lift.



Single leg exercises increase balance as well as coordination. The single leg dead lift is used to promote functional hip strength AND stability.

I use the single leg dead lift throughout the year AND in my Figure Competition Prep to get BIG TIME glute and hamstring recruitment. Incorporating this exercise into your routine is critical!

We all know how much I stress on form and proper alignment :) If you don't have these 2 things NO EXERCISE will suffice, but if you possess both THE BASICS WILL DO WONDERS!

If you don't believe me, take it from..

my man Gray Cook! He published this AWESOME ARTICLE entitled Deadlifting (Balanced Body Series) 3 years ago and its ALL about THE SINGLE LEG DEAD LIFT.

Monday, August 24, 2009

WHY ROW?

A body row is essentially a push up turned upside down.
It can be done by virtually ANYONE, as it achieves a strong rowing action without any stress to the lower back.
You can set the handles high, and position the feet so you are more upright, so the row is easy. Or you could set up so your arms hang straight down from the handles, and elevate your feet on a plyo box, and the row is much more difficult.
Some crazy folks can even keep their feet in the air, so that their entire body weight is in their hands....I consider that to be one of the hardest pulling exercises!

Whether you have access to a Smith Machine, a Squat Rack, some Bandit Loops, a TRX or a VERSUS, you can easily incorporate this into your routine.

Don't worry about "out growing" this exercise, as you can imagine are PLENTY of ways to make it more difficult ;)

Seeing as your strength training workouts HOPEFULLY consist of a push, a pull, a squat or a lunge and a core exercise.... the body row can add variety to your pull choices!

Another important reason to incorporate the row is the fact that you probably sit at a desk or in a car for SEVERAL hours a day, 5 days a week, so strengthening the awareness in your upper back
while improving your posture might just be what you need :)

There are also different ways to grip the bar or the handles while you are performing your body row. Whether its underhand, overhand, mixed grip, internal or external rotational as you pull in...I promise new muscles will be worked.



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