Check out this cool video of frogs jumping. What are some similarities you see? A similarity I see is in the starting position of the frog jump and the receiving position of the Clean & Snatch...take a look at the leg positions. Hmmmm kinda makes you think doesn't it? So all you super tight dudes and dudetts out there, time to start thinking about taking some yoga and adopting some AIS "Active Isolated Stretching" in your programming to get in that upright receiving position.
Monday, June 07, 2010
TAKE IT OFF AND GO BARE FOOT!
I get a lots of questions from my clients about what kind of shoes to wear for the different types of workouts that I prescribe them. Questions like: Do I wear flat shoes like "Chuck Tailors" for workouts? Yes! Oly Shoes for Olympic lifting? Yes! Court Shoes for basic barbell training and agility work? Yes! Vibrams for training & running? Yes! (these are the glove finger shoes) Running shoes.....for running?.....wait a second......maybe not! Can I run bare foot YES!
I am a huge believer in that the feet we were born with were created to fit and balance our own specific bodies :-)
Today we always have some type of shoe, thong, slipper whatever on are feet...or are prescribed orthotics because "flat feet" are considered bad.......I can even dive into that shoes are made with plastics and Estrogen is leaking out of these plastics into our bodies,,,,but these are two topics we can chat about another time.
What ever happened to BARE FEET! As kids we were always in bare feet laughing and playing. Are ancestors were in always in bare feet. Some of the best runners in the word run in bare feet! Hell I am in bare feet right now after my training session and it feels great!
I have some of my clients do their warm-ups and workouts in bare feet. Some also wear orthotics so I invite them to slowly challenge their feet by going bare foot a little at a time in warm-up.....they love it!
When was the last time you ran in the yard, dirt or sand in bare feet? I bet when you think back of those moments they bring back good feelings right! So go out and play in your bare feet and give those feet a proper workout.
We all have done this: We get home, take are shoes off...and then we say? "ahhhhh holy sh$% that feels good!". I am not saying shoes are the Devil; I am inviting back bare feet bliss from time to time! PLUS when you go bare foot outside you get that super positive energy from Mother Earth running up those feet into your body!
So come on and come home covered in dirt! Love it!
Check out this video on Bare Foot Running. If you run, walk, have knee or back pain, I invite you to try this out a little at a time; I did and love it!
Down with the Heel Strike people!
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Mmmmm Nut Butter :-)
Hey all you Nut Butter maniacs! Check out this very cool website called : Justin's Nut butter It's made with the highest quality, healthiest ingredients possible! Justin's nut butter contains 6-7 grams of protein, is gluten and dairy free, and certified kosher (when I say kosher it reminds me of Seinfeld) Have a great day!
What a great weekend at the 2010 Canadian CF Regional! Congratulations to all those athletes who participated and gave your all! Congratulations to our top 6 men and women , our Fittest Canadians!
Katrina laid everything out on the line and I am extremely proud of her. She had every emotion flow through her from pure joy in the Snatch complex to being humbled in the Wall Ball Pullup workout. Kat's growth as an athlete and person verified that she has the heart of a Lioness by coming back the following day with a great attitude, giving everything she had in the final two workouts.
A huge thank you to all the kind support from the OPT / CFC crew, thank you! And to all the great people we met from all over Canada, Kat and I are very grateful for all the kind words and support, you all are more than welcome at AC anytime :-)
Here is a wrap up of Katrina's weekend.
Kat's Final Placing = 23rd (119 points) (1st = 1point and so on)
WOD #1 = 5.5km Outdoor "Fun trail Run" = 40th
WOD #2 = Snatch Complex = 7th (110 lbs) A. [Snatch Grip DL x 1/Power Snatch x 1/OHS x 1/Squat Snatch x 1] in 25 sec; rest 2:35 x 3
WOD #3 =Wall Balls & Pull-ups = 32nd (15:19) 4 Rounds (14min time cap) 35 Wall Ball Shots to 10ft (14# Ball) 20 COVP Pull-ups (only 13 girls out of 49 finished this workout in under 15min)
WOD #5 = Tire Flip / Clean & Jerk / Run = 30th (14:25) For time; 12 tire flips (men - big fucker, women - sort of big fucker) 6 clean and jerk – (135/95lbs) Run 300 m 9 tire flips 9 clean and jerk – (135/95lbs) run 450 m 6 tire flips 12 clean and jerk – (135/95lbs) run 600 m (athlete must jump in and out of tire to other side after each flip)
Here is an update after the first event: 1st Event 5.5km Trail Run (which was 7km, it was shorted due to safety)
The weather turned out as best it could have for the athletes. It was cold, wet and muddy but some great times were layed out.
Katrina came in 38th. Although her running has improved immensely, Kat did the best she could in this strong Field.
The 1st event tomorrow morning is: Saturday - AM: A. [Snatch Grip DL x 1/Power Snatch x 1/OHS x 1/Squat Snatch x 1] in 25 sec; rest 2:35 x 3 (if you get programmed by me you will understand how to read this, if you have just started...hey you get practice)
In a nut shell it is a Snatch complex with four exercises done back to back in under 25sec. You have 3 sets with 2min 25sec rest. Goal is best load in any of the 3 sets.
Katrina is in the final Heat 10. We both laughed at this because our last few competitions together we were in the first Heats due to an alphabetical order of last name. I like that we can see what the other girls do ahead of us for once.
I first watched this video on my coaches blog OPT . Now I watch it all the time. Listen and feel the energy this video and Chris's fantastic efforts give you....I mean really FEEL the emotions and get goose bumps.
YOU ALL CAN HAVE THIS! Put your mind to a goal and go for it! Chris Did! The only thing that can hold you back is YOU! Make the choice and go on your journey! Do it NOW!
Benjamin Franklin once said, "Never confuse motion with action.". If your days are full of go go go all day long and you feel stuck and frustrated, your probably not getting any closer to your goals, it might be time to start up some new innovative ways to get you feeling in balance again. We tend to get into a routine where the automatic mind takes over; you know what this feels like when you drive to work and cannot for the life of you remember how you got to work. This is your automatic mind coming into play and it has great qualities for us and some bad ones. So if your feeling stuck in your daily routine change it, it can help change your life.
I am inviting you to try these 5 Inspired Actions to change your routine:
1.) Think of a time you were most Optimal in your life (what I mean is, everything felt easy, you were happy, and your energy was in balance). Now journal your thoughts and look for patters that got you to your most optimal time. Behind these patters are emotions; now use these positive emotions to create more inspired action in your life.
2.) Book some time in your day for yourself with no distractions. Listen to your body, it will tell you what to do with this booked time: - meditate - go for a walk and listen to music - have a quick energizing workout to wake up your body to be creative - visualize what you want and feel those emotions of attaining those wants
3.) Go to bed an hour early and get up and hour early. Use this time to get out of that Automatic Mind and start a new routine; you will love how your feel. Wake up your beautiful significant other and go for a walk or make them breakfast or leave them a note to start their day positive.
4.) Be more aware of your actions. If you hear yourself being negative, pause, be aware of the situation, now come out of it positively. Say thanks to your body for listening and being aware, giving you that heads up.
5.) Smile at someone and give them a complement. You will make that person's day and feel great about it!
"Get some Action back into your life, what are you waiting for, start Now"
