My alma mater, Cal State Chico , has a lot of great things -warm weather, clean campus, nice people – but it had a horrible gym. It was small, with old equipment, crowded and smelled like a sewage plant (they now have a state-of-the-art gym facility). One day a couple of amateur MMA friends asked [...]

“No pain, no gain”. Although this phase is common in almost every gym, is it true?  Shoulder pain caused by weight-training is well documented in the literature and a given amongst experienced weight lifters. However why is that and is there a way to avoid shoulder pain and still workout? A recent study says that [...]

Suspension training is a different take on strength training that uses a system of ropes and webbing, called a suspension trainer, to allow the trainee to work against their own body weight. The most popular trainer, the TRX was born out of necessity in the Navy SEALs. Randy Hetrick, founder of TRX, spent 14 years [...]

Supersets A superset is two different exercises performed back to back with little or no rest in between alternating opposing muscle groups. Examples could include bicep curls followed by triceps extensions, bench presses followed by barbell rows, or leg extensions followed by hamstring curls. This saves on time and allows you to pick up the [...]

Put simply, the FMS ( Functional Movement Screen) is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS readily identifies functional limitations and asymmetries. These are issues that can reduce the effects of functional training and physical conditioning and distort body awareness.   [...]

Two tried and tested exercises to work the lower body are the seated leg press machine and squats.  Although both are different in execution, the equipment needed and where they can be performed, they both target the muscles of the lower body and that is great for burning calories. While they are both lower body [...]

Lack of time is the number one reason people give for not exercising. Not getting results once they do start exercising is reason number two. Interval training is a great solution for both of these common problems. Interval training mimics sports' start-and-stop motions. A standard interval training protocol involves alternating rounds of high- and low-intensity. [...]

5 Best Ski Exercises on page 30 TAHOE MAGAZINE 2012-13

Is there a way to make the workplace more pleasant? According to a survey done by Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc., your chair may make a difference. The study found that 86 percent of office workers report some discomfort from their office furniture and equipment, and that more than 1 in 3 [...]

A kettlebell is a cast-iron weight that resembles a cannonball with a handle. The unique way the weight is distributed allows for momentum and many total-body dynamic exercises. Total-body dynamic exercises have been shown to burn the most calories during and after a workout session. Kettlebells are nothing new. In the 1700s, kettlebells were used [...]