WE ARE OPEN! It’s been great to see so many of you over the last few weeks. We are all, now more than ever, aware of how important it is to sustain and improve our health and fitness, and we are all excited to be out of our homes more often and able to use a variety of equipment in an awesome environment like our gym.
We have had a lot of new members, and I believe that for people to make the most of their experience at the gym, it is important for them to define some goals they would like to pursue, and/or have a plan they are excited to follow. With there being such an endless array of fitness disciplines to explore, I feel it is necessary to introduce and define several of them, so that you can choose which methods best fit your goals.
- Powerlifting: training to lift the most weight possible for three lifts: Squat, Bench, and Deadlift. These lifts require strength, stability, and control throughout their respective ranges of motion.
- Weightlifting: training to lift the most weight possible for two different lifts: The Snatch and Clean & Jerk. These lifts require a lot of technique, timing, and coordination, and are designed to be performed quickly and at low reps.
- Bodybuilding: training for the balanced development of all muscle groups, recruiting maximum muscle fibers for the goal of improved strength and physique. Bodybuilders typically use less weight and do higher repetition sets.
- Strongman: training to move heavy odd objects quickly for a specific time or distance, in a variety of events unique to a competition. Stones, logs, yokes, and kegs are some implements used which are not found in most gyms.
- CrossFit: training defined as constantly varied, functional movements performed at high intensity. Work capacity is improved across broad time and modal domains. 10 General Physical Skills are practiced through the methods of Metabolic Conditioning, Gymnastics, and Weightlifting.
- Endurance: training the ability to exercise at a particular intensity level for extended periods of time without tiring. It includes both cardiovascular and muscular endurance required for the particular sport. These sports include Running, Biking, Swimming, Triathlons, Off Road Running, Ultramarathons, and Obstacle Course Racing.
- Yoga/Breathing: practicing moving your body into various positions in order to become more flexible, to improve your breathing, and to relax your mind. There are many disciplines to explore, all of which provide various benefits to the mind and body.
Regardless of the style(s) of training you pursue, realize that there are many similarities between disciplines, and that we can all learn something from each other. It is important to keep up a balance of movement patterns and a variety of ways to strengthen and condition our bodies. Focusing intently during your training session, learning about how your body moves and feels with different types of training, and upgrading your knowledge of health and fitness principles are great ways to keep your training fun and to prevent injury.
Don’t just stay in one box unless your sport or activity requires a more specific approach. Explore different ways to increase your strength and stability, build a stronger foundation, and enjoy the process while improving your fitness capacity. Let us know if we can help you in any way.
In Health,
Brandon Reilly