Mobility Complex

Back extension for mobilityEveryone knows that before you exercise, you need to warm up. I know it’s quite boring, and it’s easy to skip this step, but I have a simple mobility complex that will do the job for you.

I do this, or a variation of it, before each workout. I also get my clients to do similar things. This is also a useful series of moves if you are sitting at a desk all day – you can do it on your tea breaks. This is also a good mobility complex for your days off exercise. Or while you’re watching TV. Actually this is good for any one, any time, any place :)

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Simple Stretches For Office Workers

poorpostureMost of my clients work in offices and spend hours at a time hunched over the computer. This usually results in their neck being too far forward, their shoulders rounded and back slouched. When all of these joints are in a poor position for most of the day, is not surprising that most of them have back, neck or shoulder pain.

Everyone has to work, so taking away the hours spent at the computer is not a viable solution, so I wanted to put together a video of some simple stretches and movements that I get my clients to do. The last one looks a bit funny, and people may comment at your weirdo movements. But I guarantee if you teach it to your workmates, soon enough your whole office will be doing it and everyone will look silly, but feel better, together :)

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Injuries

I noticed a recent search term for my training blog was “powerlifting injuries” so I thought I better clear it up online so people don’t think that powerlifting is a dangerous sport. I actually think it is one of the safest sports around, and is very good for your body generally speaking.

Now I thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you my lessons learnt and demonstrate why it’s good to treat your body well if you have the mindset of an athlete… whether you think you’re an athlete or not… [Read more...]

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The “New Things” Challenge

When you embark on your health and fitness journey, you will have to take yourself outside your comfort zone. You will have to do things differently to how you’re currently doing them, and try new things. After all, if you keep doing what you’ve always done, then you’ll get the same results as you’ve always got.

Regular Wild Fitness readers will know I’m a big fan of setting challenges to take you out of your comfort zone and kick start a healthy habit and get to know your body better.

This week I challenge you to try one new whole food (single ingredient item) you’ve never had before, and one new exercise you’ve never done before.

New foods you could try: [Read more...]

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What Is The Best Exercise?

Should I buy this new ab product?

How long do I need to run to get rid of my flab?

Which brand of cross trainer should I get?

How many calories do I need to burn?

 

OK LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT! [Read more...]

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The 7 Day Workout Challenge

Have you ever made up excuses to skip your workout? Have you ever called your trainer to cancel a session because you didn’t feel like it? Have you been sitting on your bum just a bit too much?

Well this is the challenge for you!

It’s simple: 7 days of exercise in a row no excuses.

Your workouts can be as long or as short as you like. They can be as intense or as easy as you like. The only condition is YOU MUST MOVE FOR 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

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Fitness Industry Scams: Personal Trainers That Don’t Train Themselves

What is this guy even doing?

Part of my service to you, especially if you don’t train with me, is to help you train better – to get better – to get the results you want. The best way to do that is with a personal trainer. The problem is MOST PERSONAL TRAINERS ARE CRAP.

I don’t like to be negative about anything, as I prefer to present a positive outlook, however it is becoming increasingly apparent to me that most personal trainers in gyms, or who operate on a mobile basis, don’t know their coccyx from their olecranon.

So if you’re looking for a trainer, how can you tell if they know what they’re talking about? How do you know if they know how to train? And how do you know if they’re a SCAM?

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Are You Qualified To Do Every Exercise? – Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should!

With YouTube, Facebook and Twitter being the source fitness education for many people, I’m not surprised at the amount of injured people I come across! We see all these cool exercises like pistol squats, kettlebell swings, super heavy weights being lifted and – what I saw yesterday which has triggered this post – pistol squats with a barbell overhead. Many of us want to give them all a go so we can be cool too!

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.The only problem is not everyone is qualified to do all these exercises. Firstly, you need instruction from a knowledgeable trainer to be able to perform the exercise correctly. But that is not even what I’m talking about here. Just because you can do an exercise, doesn’t mean you should. Your bones, muscles and ligaments all need time to strengthen and adapt before you can perform advanced exercises.

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Calf Stretches For Runners

When you run – or do any high impact activity such as hopping, jumping, skipping etc – your calf muscles act like a spring to absorb the impact. If you are new to this activity, if you are modifying your running technique, or even if you are simply adding more of this to your exercise routine, you’ll probably get tight calf muscles.

To avoid strain and injury you need to stretch your calves religiously!

Most runners are familiar with the gastrocnemius and soleus stretches. If you are lazy and don’t get around to the rest then these are the ones you must do.

Gastroc Stretch
Soleus stretch - rear leg bent

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How To Warm Up

I am lucky enough to have my own equipment and train at home, but on the odd occasion I go to a gym, I am always surprised that people are still warming up by sitting on a bike for 5 or 10 minutes before doing their weight training. It just doesn’t make sense to me. If you are going to perform squats, shoulder presses, sprints, or whatever… your warm up needs to prepare you for that activity.

That means your joints have to have the mobility to do the exercises, your muscles have to feel warm and ready to go, and you have to get rid of any stiffness that may cause your workout to suffer. It really is amazing what a difference a good warm up makes to your workout. [Read more...]

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