Personal training blog
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June 24th, 2009
Personal Trainer Health Tip of the Week
Eating fish may be good for the brain but it’s also good for the eyesight, reported the Telegraph last week. A recent survey of 3000 volunteers found those that favoured a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids found in fish were 25% less likely to have developed macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in old people. Previous research has shown that fatty acids may protect the eyes by reducing inflammation, thus preventing the formation of new blood vessels … More
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June 22nd, 2009
Latest News-No one wants a Killer's Heart
The scientists are saying that no one wants a killers heart. A third of transplant patients believe that they inherit personality traits from a transplanted organ, and they they have taken on their donors’ memories and experiences. The findings form professor Bruce Hood indicate that the tendency to confer emotional value to objects is hardwired into the human psyche, and that even the most rational of us can be superstitious. This is supported by the findings that most people would … More
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June 18th, 2009
The Power of the Sunshine Drug
Vitamin D, the so called sunshine drug, has a powerful effect on human health. It has been shown to cut the incidence of breast and bowel cancer, it strengthens the bones, protects against heart diseasr and there is new evidence that it can significantly improve the relapse rate in patients suffering from multiple scleroses. But since this essential nutrient is made from the action of sunlight on the skin, the residents of gloomier northern climes become deficient in the winter. … More
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June 17th, 2009
Kettlebell Training-A Personal Trainer View
For the past few blogs I have looked at the benefits and history of kettlebell training, but what’s it really like? Having initially seen people doing it in gyms and thinking “that does not look that difficult” I was surprised in our training session at Premier Global how quickly the heart rate goes up. The dynamism and effort that goes into just a standard kettlebell throw is quite something and after a few goes even supposedly super fit personal trainer … More
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May 28th, 2009
Kettlebell Training-Some other Benefits
Training with kettlebells (especially with a Diets Don’t Work personal trainer) has lots of other benefits too. The dynamic control needed to initiate, accelerate and decelerate a kettlebell swing at speed relates to many sports and helps to develop shoulder/hip strength, stability and flexibility. Their value in improving co-ordination is also good for sports performance. Flexibility is also an area in which the bells are helpful. Having a good static range of motion may be an indicator of flexibility but does … More
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May 27th, 2009
Kettlebell Training as a Functional Tool
As well as all the other benefits that we have looked at so far, kettlebell training also has the big plus of being a functional training tool. The “guru” of modern fitness training Paul Chek says the following:
” To begin with kettlebell training systems in general are highly functional. Functional exercises are those which improve a person’s ability to cope with the demands of their work or sports environment. The functionality of any exercise can be rated on it’s biomotor … More
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May 18th, 2009
The Benefits of Kettlebell training-Hip Snap
Many of the lifts in kettlebell training that we will get personal training clients to use involve the production of strength at speed, which is power. In moves like the kettlebell swing this power is generated by the muscles surrounding the hip, using the so called “hip snap”. This movement emphasises stability in the muscles of the core (your natural weight belt that is made up not just of the abdominal wall but also the obliques, the transverse abdominus, … More
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May 13th, 2009
The Benefits of Kettlebell training; Posterior Kinetic Chain
This title may sound a bit scientific but the posterior kinetic chain is simply a group of muscles on our back (posterior) side that we use in everyday activities like walking, jogging and lifting things up, but that are also very important in sports performance particularly in generating forward movement. This posterior chain is fundamental in jumping, throwing, kicking and punching. The main muscles in the chain are the erector spinae (the two muscles that sit either side of the … More
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May 12th, 2009
The Benefits of Kettlebell Training-Grip Strength
Last blog we looked at the kettlebell and it’s usefulness in developing strength and power, today we will see how it can improve grip strength. Often overlooked, grip strength is hugely important for functional and sports performance training. It can be counter productive to train for strong arms (for a javelin thrower, for example or a rower) but not train grip strength properly. All the power from those bulging biceps will not be transferred properly unless you have proper grip strength. … More
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May 11th, 2009
Kettlebell Training; The Benefits
Not only are kettlebells a fabulous tool for the home personal training environment, they can be used to improve and develop all the components of fitness, in particular they are good for a combination of strength and flexibility. They can be used to improve
Strength and power
hypertrophy (muscle size)
muscle endurance
functional abilties
core stability
sports performance
body composition (the all important fat loss!)
cardiovascular fitnessConsidered by some as “old school” in terms of developing strength and power they are nonetheless a very effective tool. Russian scientists … More
