The short and sweet answer is no. There is a ton of published research stretching over the last twenty years, and not one study of note concludes that static stretching is helpful to producing maximum force or torque in a workout. Most studies actually support the idea that static stretching, since it stimulates the parasympathetic […]
The best foam roller to get in my opinion is the AXIS foam roller. It is a black spine roller made of high-density foam that lasts a great deal of time in comparison to other rollers. Since so many people tend to ask me: the Foam Roller Plus works, but the sleeve on it tends to […]
Awhile back, a personal trainer from a small town in upstate New York sent me an email asking me about what Preacher curl (Scott curl) bench I liked best and why. His question came in two parts: what brand to buy; whether to purchase a seated Preacher curl, or a standing one. For my money, […]
A few years ago, a client of mine wanted to know what shoes I thought were best for strength training. My answer then was a sturdy leather sneaker for cross training or an Olympic lifting shoe. As technology and design has improved for barefoot shoes, so has my opinion of them. I am now of […]
A while ago, a client of mine asked about the reason for leg curls in his program. He’d been doing some of his own research, and come up with an article about deadlifting as a superior methodology for strengthening the hamstrings. From the article, authored by Eric Cressey: Strengthening the posterior chain with closed chain […]
The understanding of when – and by how much – to increase a weight in a given personal training session is one of the most basic concepts in weight training. It is an important skill to master early on, and one that is very misunderstood, even by most personal trainers. This skill is one of […]
Maximizing Personal Training Results with Minimal Equipment As a NYC Personal trainer with over fifteen years of experience in the fitness industry, I recognize the importance of a well-equipped home gym. Here are my top five picks of equipment for an efficient in home workout. The top five training tools for in-home personal training are […]
The essence of all personal training is grounded in improvements in strength. What form that strength ultimately takes is a function of the goal of the client. There are several technical terms to define different types of strength. While it is not the job of the client to know these terms, some basic vocabulary is […]
Cardiovascular training is a single type of energy system training whose mode requires the body to produce energy using the cardiovascular, or aerobic, system. Referring to energy system work as “cardio” or “cardiovascular training” is like calling facial tissues Kleenex. It is far too general a term to describe the three distinct biochemical processes of […]