exercise

Way back in 2006, physical therapist John Pallof came up with what is known as the Pallof press. This move dynamically trains anti-rotation, anti-low back extension, and posterior pelvic tilt. Not everyone is onboard with the benefits of the Pallof, but sometimes people miss the subtleties of...

If we all follow the same fitness routines, then we’ll see the same results, right? Well, not necessarily. Depending on your body type, you may need to eat and train a bit differently than others. Of course, there are no hard rules for building muscle and losing weight; trial and error is...

Did you know that back pain is one of the most common chronic conditions in Canada? Every four out of five adults between the ages of 30-50 will experience at least one episode of back pain at some point in their life [1]. Whether you’re looking to build muscle for the aesthetic, increase...

You won't find a better exercise for building the lower body than the squat. However, that doesn't mean squats should be the only tool in your toolbox! Recently, single-leg training has been championed as a suitable alternative to bilateral squatting, with split squat and lunge variations being...

The angled deadlift is for intermediate to advanced lifters who have enough experience with the basic pulling and pressing exercises that they're ready for a new challenge. This exercise hits the posterior-chain muscles you'd use in a traditional deadlift, along with the shoulder and arm...

IMPROVE CREATIVITY, MOTIVATION, AND FITNESS Cocoa makes your coffee work better. Adding a little bit of it to your morning, afternoon, or pre-workout cup increases coffee's creativity and motivation-enhancing effects while handicapping some of its effects on anxiety. Cocoa itself, though, has...

FROM WHEELCHAIR TO CROSSFIT Posture is the key to achieving maximum results in hypertrophy, leanness, and aesthetics. After suffering from severe hip pain that left me in a wheelchair at the age of 27 for nearly a year, I healed myself using a simple exercise therapy technique (Posture Alignment...

The bench press and its variations still remain the go-to exercises to build size and strength in the chest. But don’t discount the dumbbell chest flye and all its pec-pumping versions. The beauty of this exercise is that it takes much the triceps out of the move so you can focus on the chest...

There are some exercises, no matter how many times you do them, never get easier. One prime example is the single leg deadlift. The reduced stability and tension on one leg make this challenging for all lifters. It is easier to be strong on two legs but harder to be stronger on one leg. The...

TYLENOL IS A PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUG Unlike other over-the-counter pain relievers, paracetamol, aka acetaminophen or Tylenol, is actually a performance-enhancing drug. Not so with the other common pain relievers, most of which are NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). They, of...

All you need are the big compound lifts to build muscle, right? Not so fast. Science tells us that this is a myth. Muscle size requires more than just the compound lifts. You need to isolate certain muscles to get them to grow. For instance, different parts of the hamstring complex can be...

Personal training is a challenging and rewarding career. The growth of the fitness industry across the world and the widespread rise in preventable diseases due to sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition means job security is all but guaranteed. The first step in becoming a personal trainer is...

USE ALL NEW EXERCISES FOR ONE WEEK Next Saturday night, take a few minutes to sit down, grab a pen and paper or your preferred Notes app, and literally write down every exercise you did over the last seven days. Most likely, you'll come up with flat bench, back squat, and conventional deadlift...

We all want great results from our training efforts. But far too often, we fail to consider the costs of these results – all the time, effort, orthopedic wear and tear, time away from family and professional pursuits, and so forth. I understand that most of us are willing to "pay the price."...

Good exercises can still be overrated when you have an exaggerated perception of their importance. Why does it even matter? Because you'll overuse them at the expense of other valuable exercises. Here are some examples of good exercises that are commonly overused and alternative exercises that...

A FAT BURNING WORKOUT, NOT MUSCLE BURNING Fat loss is simple, but improving body composition – losing fat while retaining or adding some muscle – is a lot trickier. It requires the use of smart nutrition and the best training methods. A lot of people who focus on "fat loss" think of their...

It is well documented that consumption of carbohydrates during exercise can improve performance (1), and there is also a wealth of research that supports the notion that including electrolytes such as sodium into a sports drink has been shown to increase and support hydration levels (ingestion...

How much cardio is best for dieters? While some will advocate not performing cardio when dieting, lest it causes a loss of muscle and strength, it is undoubtedly true that for most people trying to get as lean as possible, some form of cardio will be necessary to reach their goals. The question...

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... Don't discount the leg press just because it doesn't involve a barbell. Every variation can help grow massive legs. The escalating leg press is one giant set with micro-stops. The banded leg press makes the eccentric or negative phase more challenging. The drop...

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT C3G SO FAR We know a lot about cyanadin-3-glucoside (C3G). It's a polyphenol compound found in blueberries, grapes, black beans, and pretty much any fruit or vegetable that has a reddish blue or indigo cast to it. Studies have shown it to have anti-diabetic effects, which...