CategoriesChin ups Core Strengthening

Why Chin Ups Are The Most Powerful Exercise To Build Muscle & Core Strength

Core Strength Training requires a great integration with lower body and upper body and possibly the best exercise for achieving this would be the CHIN UP! Many of the people we see when they first start training lack a considerable amount of upper body strength. And women find chin ups significantly more difficult than men. Funnily enough, this exercise is their most hated when they start, but becomes their favourite when they become good at it! Unfortunately, many people don’t persist to learn good technique and build the strength to be able to lift your body which often leads to injuries and lack of ability, as many common movements such as lifting a box require strong upper body muscles. Just because pull-ups and chin-ups are hard, it doesn’t mean women can’t do them! In fact, you should be able to lift your own body with your arms. In nature, this sort of movement is very basic and in fact a matter of survival. A good example of this is it mimics the movement, strength and skill used with climbing!

CategoriesCore Brace Core Strengthening

How to Correctly Brace Your Core To Protect Your Spine From Injury

One of the most difficult things for many people to understand when they first come to see me for help is how to brace the core. We have all heard the saying, “set your core”, or “keep your tummy tight” but what does that really mean? To make it even more confusing, there is a multitude of different instructions and cues that are regularly used leaving people unsure of what they are meant to do. It is vital that you know how to correctly set your core muscles, for they can be the difference between good performance and injury. In this article, I will explain exactly how to do this correctly so you can implement this in your training immediately.

CategoriesCore Strengthening

How To Strengthen The Core Using The Slings

I want to “Develop Core Strength” is one of the most popular terms used in gyms these days but actually understanding what that really means, and how best to train your “Core Muscles” is what we will cover with this article. Almost every week I am told ” I need to work more on my core, I know these functional movements are great but I think I need to spend more time working on my core”. Or even better than that, “my physio says I need to work more on my core”. I then ask them “what do you mean by core exercises?” And the response is some type of plank, crunch, leg raise etc. These are all forms of isolated abdominal training, not core training in its purest form. Isolated abdominal exercises can be a great way to initially to activate the inner unit core muscles, but if they are not integrated into functional movements with multiple joints and muscles it is pointless. To achieve great core strength you must educate the body how to use the inner unit muscles of the abdominals to work in perfect harmony with the outer unit muscles that provide movement. And the best way to do this is using exercises that target the four myofascial slings.