Sports Specific Exercise
February 23, 2010
The Greek physician Galen (AD 129 ? 210) is generally accepted to be the originator of formalized exercise, he even pointed the way forward by stating,
"?movements which do not alter respiration are not called exercise".
Whilst he was chief physician to the Gladiators, Galen devised training drills to replicate movements from the arena, as seen in the 1960 film Spartacus. Galen’s gladiator drills are now referred to as ’sports specific’ training or sometimes the misleading term ‘functional’ training, that is, exercises consisting of movements that are specific to a particular sport. With practice we may get better at performing these exercises but to date there is no proof that this makes any difference to sporting performance or normal everyday function of the muscles specifically targeted.
‘State-dependent learning’ is a phenomenon in which the retrieval of newly acquired information is possible only if the subject is in the same environment and physical state as during the learning phase. That is, a skill learnt in one situation does not necessarily translate to another, for example, results gained from exercises designed to strengthen the ‘core’ muscles may not change their performance under competitive or even everyday circumstances that differ from those of the specific exercise. Therefore, if training routines are to be beneficial they must replicate the playing conditions as closely as possible.
Exercising With Kids — Tips For Parents
February 3, 2010
Making exercise a priority is a challenge for everyone. And for parents it can be especially difficult to find time to workout because of the full plates that they often juggle. When summer arrives the juggling act becomes even more tricky with kids home from school and involved in extracurricular activities.
But, finding time for regular physical activity is so important that it should be a priority placed on your calendar, just like your kids’ softball game. A parent needs to exercise not only for themselves, but also for their kids benefit. It’s important to set a good example. If your children never see you engage in fitness or if they hear you complain about working out, then they are going to have a negative image of exercise. Let them know that you workout to stay healthy, to be strong and to have more energy and stamina (so you can keep up with them)!
The big question is how to make it a priority that fits in your schedule. Well, it’s actually easier than you may think. With a little planning you can find ways to incorporate workouts into the time you spend with your children. Regardless of what age your children are, there’s a way to find time to workout (often even with your kids)! Here are some tips based on the age of your children.
The Many Benefits of Exercise
January 13, 2010
Health experts encourage us to include exercise as a necessary part of our daily routine to promote our general well- being. Together with healthy and balanced diet, adequate rest and relaxation, exercise is recommended to promote optimal health. People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.
Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve significant health benefits.
Greater health benefits can be achieved by increasing the amount (duration, frequency, or intensity) of physical activity.
There are many benefits of exercise, not only as an aid in effective fat/ weight loss, but also in reducing our risks of developing or dying from some of the leading causes of illness and death. Here is a general overview of what exercise can do for us.
1. Exercise reduces our risks of dying prematurely.
2. Exercise reduces our risks of dying from heart diseases, cancers (including uterine, colon, and breast), stroke, diabetes and arthritis.
3. Help us lose weight, especially fat weight by decreasing our Body Mass Index (BMI), reducing our total cholesterol and reducing the circulating levels of triglycerides in our blood and increasing our metabolic rate. Perhaps this is why active people can “Eat anything and not gain weight.” and why other folks “Gain weight just by looking at food.”!
Exercises You Probably Dont Do But Should!
December 22, 2009
This is going to be kinda short and sweet. . . . Maybe not too sweet.
Here’s 3 exercises to throw into your routine that will shake it up a little. A little unorthodox but these will give you a workout in itself.
Knee Lift Crunch
Lie on your back, cross your hands across your body, and lift up into a crunch position. Stay in this position throughout this exercise. You will probably start shaking some when you near the end of this exercise.
Now lift your feet off the ground. Again, they stay here throughout.
Bring the right knee to the chest in a slow, steady movement. Return and do the same with the left knee.
Important . . . this is not a bicycle type legs in motion movement. Your knee is brought to your chest, the leg returns to the starting position, and then the other knee is brought to the chest.
Try to work your way up to 3 sets of 10.
Bear Crawl
Get down on your hands and feet; butt up in the air. Walk on all fours like a bear.
Workout Without a Gym
December 3, 2009
You may also have no access to a commercial gym, home gym or are on business trip, but there can be a solution, a strength-training workout without the need of expensive machines.
As with any exercise, whether you are using your own body weight, machines or free weights, if the resistance doesn’t increase, your muscles won’t be worked to their maximum capacity and the stimulus these fibres need to grow will be missing.
Exercises done correctly will build the lean muscle and increase your metabolism in the same way as performing exercises at a gymnasium, but without the time constraints and associated costs.
These exercises can be easily done in a bedroom, hotel room, a park, school yard, ceiling rafters in a garage or in a doorway and all you have to do is use your imagination. There will always be a way to add more resistance to your workouts.
Please remember: It doesn’t matter where you are working out - at home, a hotel, or a park - always warm up properly before beginning your session, and cool down and stretch when you are finished.
Leg Exercises
Squats -
When to Exercise
November 10, 2009
Do you hit the gym in the morning, before your crazy working day, or you check it out late at night. It is hard to figure out what is best for you and what best fit in your busy life style, but with few tips you can make your lifting life much easier.
First rule is to listen to your body. Not everybody has the same daily power cycles, and it is a good idea to start noticing if your body crying during that morning routine or it is really enjoying it. Usually, energy is at its peak in the early hours of morning with the follow ups of lows and downs. The lowest level of the energy usually comes to midnight hours of 3am to 4am.
The best time to exercise is 8 to 10 hours after your awaking from your normal sleep cycle. That means that the early morning work out might be not for you, unless you absolutely "feel it". Exercising 8-10 hours after you wake up, will give you easier work out, will be better for your joints, and will be more pleasant due to your more appropriate mood phase.
About The Author
Exercise Tips: Move Your Body - Boost Your Productivity
October 21, 2009
Do you find yourself setting a New Year’s Resolution (every year) to get fit/go to the gym/lose weight/drink more water? If you could answer yes to any of those. I totally understand. I did that too for many years. But I also discovered two weeks into January I had blown my resolution and then would feel guilty for "not achieving my goals". What I discovered was it was more about making movement part of my everyday routine (notice I used the word movement not exercise)! Making little changes in your life can help you make exercise part of your life, rather than something you "have to do"!
Make an appointment. Begin by starting with three thirty-minute exercise sessions per week. Book your exercise times in your diary well in advance. One of the main reasons many people don’t exercise is because they think they don’t have time ? so book it in and make time. Choose whatever time of day suits you and your daily schedule; for some people it will be the early morning (and it’s a wonderful feeling knowing that you’ve exercised before breakfast and don’t have to think about it for the rest of the day!), for others it will be during the day, at lunchtime or after work. No matter what time suits you, make the appointment with yourself.
Salsa Dancing for Fitness is Hot
October 1, 2009
Salsa dancing is emerging as a refreshing replacement for conventional aerobic exercises. Classes based on the fiery music and movements of Salsa, Mambo, Cumbia, Merengue and more are starting to get people interested in Salsa dancing, while at the same time giving them a pounding workout.
Salsa music first appeared in the 1960s as a rhythmic fusion, birthed in the cultural melting pot of New York City. Combining Cuban Son with Guaracha, Montuno and Guaguanco, it also has a strong Puerto Rican Plena, Bomba and American jazz influence that mellows the smoking urban sound.
Salsa’s popularity began to percolate beyond the borders of the Latin neighborhoods in the early Seventies, spreading into New York’s ballrooms and dance halls. Although somewhat formulized when practiced by those who favor profession competitions, salsa dancing in its most traditional form is typically spontaneous and extremely energetic. Dance movements alternate between the very slow and the furious, an embodiment of its lively musical style.
How To Overcome Workout Plateaus
September 9, 2009
Humans are habitual. They strive on routine and rituals. While it’s true that routine can provide a sense of ease and security, I think we’d all agree that the same old, same old can also turn to boredom. And when it comes to working out, routine can be downright toxic.
New exercisers often see quick fitness results such as weight loss and increased muscle strength while engaging in the same workout day after day. However, after several weeks following their fitness routines and they often become frustrated as the gains begin to dwindle. Eventually dieters scales become frozen on the same number or weight lifters are stuck at the same weight size. They hit a plateau.
A plateau typically is the direct consequence of a fitness rut ? when an exerciser performs the same workout over and over. The human body is very efficient and quickly adapts to work. Once the body practices the same activity repeatedly, it grows more proficient at performing those moves. So that means it requires less energy and therefore also burns less calories.
Great Summer Workouts: Just Add Water
August 21, 2009
With warm weather season now in full gear, exercisers want to take their workouts outside and breakout of their indoor fitness ruts. But, when temperatures reach record highs and humidity levels soar, traditional outdoor workouts become less appealing. So how can you stay cool while still enjoying outdoor physical activity? One word ? water. Water exercises are the perfect way to workout under the sun without overheating. You can get a total body workout without even breaking a sweat!
And don’t worry if you aren’t a veteran swimmer. Aquatic workouts aren’t limited to just swimming. There are many other forms of pool exercises. You don’t even have to be a regular exerciser to try aquatic fitness. One of the great things about working out in the water is that even fitness novices can easily perform many of the moves.
It’s also an excellent fitness choice for all ages, from the very young to seniors. Water exercise is a very good way to burn calories, improve your strength and flexibility, tone-up, improve your cardiovascular system, and just get more fit overall. And, the types of workouts are practically endless. Most land exercises can be modified and re-created in water. Other benefits include:
