Strengthening your back for lifting and living is pretty obvious to many. It’s a pretty simple line of reasoning: The more you lift weights, the stronger your [back] muscles get, and the stronger your muscles are, the easier/better life becomes. The flip side to this coin is that lifting can also lead to back discomfort and pain. Or more specifically, …
Using Pilates for Stronger Squats and Deadlifts
If you had told me five years ago that Pilates would make me a stronger lifter I would have laughed in your face. Lifting weights is hard enough. How could an exercise method popularized by housewives and celebrities benefit my inner meathead? As it turns out, Pilates is one of the toughest exercise methods I’ve ever put my body through because …
Can a Mind-Body Connection Improve Strength Training?
Riddle me this: How long until a strong lifter starts to break a sweat in a single Pilates session? Answer: Five minutes. Usually it starts around the introduction of the c-curl (a deep scoop of the abdominals that lifts the thoracic spine into flexion while stretching the back) and the Pilates hundred. Recently, I’ve taken a few [very accomplished] athletes …
Pilates and Lifting: Creating An Edge For A Resilient Body
Until recently I had neglected going to the dentist for five years. Yes, you read that right. Five years. Finally, I dragged myself in for a cleaning and as expected, the experience was miserable. No cavities or root canals needed, but it felt like the longest teeth cleaning of my life. I guess our mouths need regular maintenance just like …