Why power training is no longer just for athletes, but for everyone.
Now I don't have any kids, but me and my girlfriend Haley have a puppy.
Our puppy's name is Darcy, and for as cute as she is, she sure knows how to cause trouble.
For example, when either one of us tries to leave the house, she tries to sneak out the door with us.
This can make leaving the house feel like a game of Stratego trying to come up with the best strategy to exit the house.
Even though she has gotten better over the months, she has come close to escaping or has even made it out of the house between our legs.
When that moment happens, we quickly drop what we our holding, quickly scoop her up, or reflexively grab her harness so she doesn't wonder into the street.
Now, if you are someone with kids, especially young kids I am sure you have had many times where you have had to quickly and forcefully reach for them to hold them back.
Our ability to reflexively move our bodies fast to keep our pets or little humans safe depends on our ability to move our limbs and bodies quickly. Which is one element of the power equation.
In technical terms, power is defined as force time velocity. Which can also get interpreted as moving an object fast.
If you try to google power training you may get a bunch of articles and videos geared towards athletes who want to improve their vertical jump and explosiveness.
You may than think to yourself, "I'm 40 now and don't are about my vertical jump, I don't need to worry about this"
However, I will argue that that is far from reality.
Yes you may not be training to be the first pick for the NFL draft anymore, but training to have a resilient body means exposing it to the demands of life. And power is just one of those demands.
There are many ways you can train for power, and the last seminar I attend was given by 15+ year veteran trainer and Men's Health writer and editor David Otey. He discussed how you can incorporate power training into anyone's training program.
Now, I want to share some of that information with you.
Here are 3 ways I would begin to incorporate power training into your program. Or how you can begin to incorporate it into your own.
Bodyweight exercises
Body weight exercises are great because they are easily scalable to any level.
There are probably hundreds of ways you can do them.
They are important to keep our bones, joints, and tendons healthy and functioning.
The first one that I suggest people start with is a the box jump.
The box helps reduce the landing impact so you can focus on the jump and soft and quiet landing.
Medicine ball training
Out of all the pieces of equipment that exist in the gym, medicine balls might be my favorite.
They are so versatile that they can be done by anyone.
And throwing them is just plain fun for me.
My favorite part about them is that you can put a ton of effort into each throw or slam, and there is a pretty low risk of injury.
You can slam them, throw them, toss them in the air, and so much more.
Landmine training
I have been using the landmine for as long as I can remember.
I can't remember where I first saw it or learned about it.
If I had to guess, I would like to think that it would have been from an Eric Cressy presentation online (he's one of the best strength and conditioning coaches for baseball players).
Anyway, the landmine is great because it moves the shoulder through a different movement pattern than traditional shoulder pressing.
I wrote a blog article months back diving deeper into the landmine and shoulder, click this if you want to check that out.
The landmine does not have to just be used for shoulder rehab or upper body accessory work.
It can also be used for power training.
The landmine power exercises shown below are full body exercises that can incorporate explosive and fast movements, as well as some rotation as well.
Out of the three options above, pick the one that you would enjoy the most and the one that feels the best for you.
When it comes to power training, intent matters. Go hard and fast.
But don't go so hard that you lose control of yourself or get hurt.
To start, try doing 3 sets of one of these exercises for 3-5 reps, and rest until you are recovered.
Let's put this all together in 3 final bullet points.
Power training is for everyone so that you can become ready for the surprises of life
There are many different ways to train for power
Doing power exercises with intent is crucial, but not to the point where you get sloppy or hurt
I hope this paints a good picture for you on why power training is important and how you can start implementing it in your own routine.
If you would like get serious not just about training for power, but with your training and fitness goals as whole, now is your chance to do so at a fraction of the cost.
There are about 2 weeks left for my 30 day end of summer sale where you will the full training and nutrition guidance you need plus bonuses that will help you stay on track, help you recover, and feel your best!
Reply to this email with questions, or click this link to book a call for this week and we can determine if this program will help you reach your goals!
All the best,
Tim
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