Health/Fitness/Nutrition
When I first started in the fitness industry I was your typical trainer at the gym. I would basically hold my client's hands through a 'bunch of machines.'
Even though my clients got results, I knew there had to be a lot more involved with guiding them with strength training.
I soon discovered bodyweight calisthenics and how powerful they can be. After that it was bands/elastic tubing training. I then started to incorporate cardio conditioning into my routines. Before I knew it, I was getting really creative, and started to use my own strength against a client's. This is known as manual resistance and has proven to be an excellent way to help people become leaner and stronger! (Clients hate that one)
Eventually I started to feel like I was more of a complete trainer. I was no longer one-dimensional. I could teach my clients a variety of training techniques that they could implement with or without a gym and continue see awesome results.
Today I still use all the same fundamental techniques, but the one model I use is something I have ignored for years. I always thought it was irrelevant and didn't think it to be very effective.
Well, I was wrong because this type of training was not only effective but can also be integrated with any program!
What is this type of training you ask?
It's called Isometric training.
And folks this is by far the quickest and easiest way to change up your program regardless of what you're doing. Whether you�re currently using free weights, bands, machines or whatever-isometric training possibilities are endless.
So what is Isometric training?
Isometric training refers to strength training that involves no movement. So any exercise you do requires you holding the body in a static position without contracting the muscles up or down.
For example, I'm sure you are familiar with a squat.
With a squat you descend with your legs until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Instead of returning to a standing position, you simply hold for a continued period of time. The duration of time could be 5, 10, 15-or even 60 seconds!
And that's the beauty of isometrics-you don't have to do a typical workout of 8 exercises doing 3 sets of 12 to 20 repetitions while basically holding each rep for 1 second at a time. I'm not saying that�s not effective. Just don't be afraid to expand your horizons.
You could do 10 exercises and hold each movement for 30-60 seconds at a time and 'Voila' you have another different program that gives you kick butt results!
Give isometric training a try, I promise your body will notice the difference.
Jim Coughlin is a personal trainer and the owner of Coughlin Fitness & Results, a nationwide personal training company. He is also the author of Home Fitness Secrets to Success, a helpful guide to successful in-home fitness in addition to many other popular fitness articles. Jim is very passionate at motivating people to empower themselves to live a healthy lifestyle through consistent exercise and proper nutrition. He has free weekly success tips which you are welcome to subscribe to on his website http://www.fitnessandresults.com
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