1.30.2012

Cookie Cutter Fitness: One Size Fits All



All fitness centers and coaches have their own unique brand or style of training.  Call it their training philosophy.  Within that philosophy you have your own tricks and techniques, beliefs and principles that you follow and implement into your programming.  


Over the last few years the hottest fitness trends have been group training classes.  At home fitness programs like P90x and Insanity, the phenom known as crossfit and everyone's favourite the bootcamp.  


During a kettlebell workshop I attended last year the instructor reinforced this trend by stating "group fitness was the future."  I undoubtedly agreed with him.  It's more affordable than private training, it's social, it has a built-in support system, it's motivating and best of all you've got an instructor telling you exactly what to do.  Of course there are cons as well.  If it's large group training [more than 12 participants] you're not going to get a lot if any attention during the class.  What is the point of doing the exercises if you're not learning to do them properly?  Scalability is a huge issue, everyone ends up doing the exact same workout with the exact same weights- which can lead to a feeling of failure, poor results and ultimately quitting.



1.24.2012

Go To The Gym, Make Money

I realize that it often takes the proverbial dangling of the carrot approach to entice people to get fit.  In fact, I encourage it.  

For most people the carrot represents the fit toned bodies they see in the magazines and on television.  When the new year rolls around, new year resolutions are made and gym memberships are purchased.  Typically two months into the new workout regime trips to the gym feel like trips to the dentist.  

If only that carrot was dipped in gold.

Kairos Fascial Stretch Therapy


I am a lot of things; grumpy if I do not eat first thing in the morning, extremely dedicated to helping people achieve their fitness related goals, the greatest uncle in the world, undefeated air hockey champion, the list goes on and on. But flexible I am not.  My hips, hamstrings and calves have always been tight and the mobility in my shoulders is limited from doing so many pushing exercises.  There is no one to blame, I take full responsibility for all my mobility issues, but now I'm forced to attempt to undo years of improper warm-ups and no stretching.  

Luckily being in the fitness industry I have met and worked with some great experts in the field of stretch therapy and joint mobility.  One of those is a good friend of mine and member of the Brash Network Katarzyna [Kash] Brygida owner of Kairos Athletics & Wellness.  Kash is a Fascial Stretch Therapy Certified Therapist with the Stretch To Win Institute.  


I've tried many ways to improve my flexibility but nothing- nothing has worked for me the way FST has.  

What is Fascial Stretch Therapy?

1.19.2012

'Controversial' Yoga Ads


There always seems to be some group of uptight holier-than-thou assholes that have to rain on someones parade.  


This time those assholes are Yogi's that where offended by a new Equinox ad promoting their new yoga classes.  The video stars Briohny Smyth a yoga teacher and former child star from Asia.  The ad features Briohny in her underwear performing yoga in her bedroom while a man [possibly her fiance] sleeps in the bed.  The commercial has come under fire for being too sexual and even offensive to some for objectifying women.  


A couple things that need to be cleared up.  One, Briohny says she was given complete artistic freedom during the shoot.  And they agreed that doing the yoga in her skivvies would show off the moves and ultimately the lines of her body best.  Agreed.  


Secondly, during an interview with The Huntington Post she describes her unfortunate battle with a poor self image and the lengths that the people around her wanted her to go for fame.  She credits yoga for helping her through the toughest points of her life.


And lastly, yoga seems pretty damn sexual to me!  Tight little booty shorts, the slow movements, the sweat, the intimacy.  Am I right?  Hot yoga anyone? Nude yoga.  There are even countless galleries dedicated to women in tight yoga pants.  Like this one or this one and even this one

1.17.2012

Rob Ford to Stop The Gravy, Meatballs, Ice Cream and Pizza Train!


"300 pounds of fun!"  That's how Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford described himself while hosting a press conference for his 'Cut the Waist Challenge'.  Ford tipped the scale at 330lbs while his brother City Councillor Doug Ford weighted in at a slim by comparison 275lbs.  

This is all part of the Mayors aim to encourage the public to embrace a healthier lifestyle.  His goal is to lose 50lbs in 5 months, while ultimately getting himself down to 225lbs.

The Mayor says his weight loss plan will be based on "common sense" - more exercise and less eating, particularly late night snacking.  It's funny how common sense kicks in when you reach 330lbs.   

1.16.2012

Fear VS Greed


There's an old saying in stock trading that the market is driven by two emotions: fear and greed.  Although there are many more factors and indicators that are important to analyze investment potential and growth, succumbing to these emotions can have a profound and detrimental effect on your portfolio.  

This is not a financial blog and I am not the guy to come to when looking for investment advice [but I know a guy if you're looking for that] but I will connect the two...before I get to how this applies to fitness let me further explain the influence of greed and fear as it pertains to the markets.

Greed
noun
excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

In the late 90's we had the internet boom.  If a stock had a .com at the end of it investors leaped at the opportunity to invest.  Buying activity in internet-related stocks, many just start-ups, reached a fever pitch.  Investors got greedy, fueling further greed and leading to securities being grossly overpriced, which created a bubble- which of course burst in mid-2000.  This get-rich-quick mentality makes it hard to maintain gains and keep to a strict investment plan over the long term. 

Fear
noun
something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension.

Just as greed dominated the market during the dotcom boom, the same can be said of the prevalence of fear following its bust.  In a bid to stem their losses, investors quickly moved out of the equity (stock) markets in search of less risky buys.  When stocks suffer large losses for a sustained period, the overall market can become more fearful of sustaining further losses.  

All of this talk of fear and greed relates to the volatility inherent in the stock market.  When investors lose their comfort level due to losses or market instability, they become vulnerable to these emotions, often resulting in very costly mistakes. 

But it also relates to the volatility in someones ability to begins or maintain a fitness program.

Fear and greed whether we are aware of it or not are the emotions that prevent us from reaching  our fitness related goals or drive us to accomplish our fitness goals.  

1.12.2012

Brash Life: Words to Believe- 'The Greatest'



“I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.” -Muhammad Ali



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1.10.2012

10 Healthy Eating/ Nutrition Tips


1. Stay hydrated.  If you are dehydrated you may be burning up to 2 percent fewer calories.  Start your morning with a cold glass of water to get your metabolism going.  Best part - water is calorie free! 

2. Eat less more often.  Eat a small meal or snack every 2-3 hours to keep your blood sugar level, energy and mood stable.  Don’t skip meals.  Not eating can trigger metabolism slowdown and a ravenous appetite. 

3. Include a lean source of protein at each meal and snack.  Examples are chicken and turkey breast, egg whites, natural peanut butter and nuts.  Protein is the key for fat loss because it has a high thermogenic effect.  This means that your body produces more heat when digesting protein; therefore, you burn more calories.  Protein also provides a sense of fullness that can help prevent overeating.  A protein shake is a great way of adding extra protein to your diet.

4. Fight fat with fiber.  Research shows that some fiber can rev your fat burn by 30 percent.  And numerous studies suggest that people who eat the most fiber gain the least weight.  Aim for 25 grams a day.

1.02.2012

New Year- New Body


You've made your resolutions- no doubt at least one revolves around getting in shape.  Well, I've got two ways for you to get started.

First, if you're on the Facebook head over to our Fan Page and Like Us.  You automatically receive a one [1] week pass for any group training program.

If you're not on Facebook, not to worry, just copy the flyer below and send us an email to receive your one [1] week pass.

Sitting is Killing You!


Every now and then I come across information that makes me take a step back and re-evaluate how I live my life.  My job is very active and I consider myself to be quite active but I have been spending a lot of time sitting in front of the computer [writing, programming, researching, surfing!] and to be honest without even noticing, hours will pass.

I found this info-graphic that I needed to share.  Most people are spending way too much time sitting down, be it at their job, school, in the car, on the train or at home.  The problem is it's KILLING US!  Doesn't even matter how active we are the longer we sit per day the sooner we're expected to expire...

1.01.2012

Brash Life: Words to Believe



"If I tell you I'm good, probably you will say I am boasting. But if I tell you I'm not good, you know I'm lying!" -Bruce Lee


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