It's Not What You Know, It's What You Can Coach

In this field putting someone through a difficult workout isn't hard. In fact, it requires little skill, just enough knowledge of anatomy and a good playlist. On the flip side putting someone through a non-destructive, safe and progressive session is a skill. Doing that with a room full of 12 to 16 people? That's an art.

Planning the movement patterns (exercises), the order, the complimenting stretches or cardiovascular intervals is a lot of work. Not to mention sets, rest, intensity and volume. So much goes into one singular program by the time an individual coach gets into the session  there is a sigh of relief like "Finally! Let's do this". But there is where the failure begins. No matter how well you planned, studied and organized this session with the most meticulous detail the real effort hasn't even begun. You now have to get an individual(s) to execute that program they way in which you intended them to. You need to cue! It's up to you homeboy you are the one who needs to Bob Ross the shit out of it. You need the person who is looking at that same blank canvas, that wide open space and see it like you do. Happy little tree in the corner just like you saw it in your minds eye ...

So what in the hell am I ranting about? A plank. A squat. A crunch - all of them. "Lock your plank", "Drop your ass", or "Bring your chest to your knees" are movement commands, not cues. Methodically breaking down that exercise joint by joint and describing the muscle activation necessary to create movement is the KEY to a great program and having your participant(s) feeling the appropriate changes you intended. That is what we do.

Is this statement narcissistic? No, not at all. It’s factual. I speak to this topic on a very personal and passionate level. I have given a lot to this field and to my career and being at the top is very important to me and in no way an accident. It’s a choice and it’s not a given. I work my ass off to make it so. The greatest advantage I have is that over the last four years I am surrounded by professionals every day that are dedicating themselves the same way. So when someone asks me why they should train here? Why should I go to CPC? What’s the difference? I could point to the fact that we are all nationally certified coaches. Or that each of us hold our bachelor's degree in the field or are pursuing continuing education programs constantly. But, that's not it. Each of us are students of our craft and never take what we do for granted. It’s not a hobby, it’s our profession and we crush it day in and day out. Arrogant or not - that's the CPC difference.

-Sully

Why EVERYONE should be using the RIP Trainer.

I don't know about you but I have cursed Mother Nature more than I care to admit these last few weeks. It seems like every time I go out to walk my dog I'm slipping on ice or stepping over mounds of snow that my lovely neighbors have left in the middle of the sidewalk. One day last week, Friday to be exact, I was out walking Pepper (my dog) after a rare attendance at Geoff's 9am Fusion. We had spent the hour bouncing back and forth between the RIP Trainer and Suspension Trainers working, well...everything. My core, glutes, and hamstrings were fired up and ready for the day. As Pepper and I were neared the end of our walk I slipped in a hidden patch of ice. My left leg slid forward, my right hand (leash hand) whipped back, my poor dog snapped to attention, but instinctively my body fought the urge to yard sale on the sidewalk and righted itself. Crisis averted. Why you may ask? The answer should be obvious, the RIP Trainer! 

If you are unfamiliar with the RIP Trainer it is a rather simple looking piece of equipment. Created by Peter Holman, former member of the US Taekwondo team as well as a Physical Therapist, he sought a way to train his clients and teammates to create and control rotational forces. The ingenuity of the product is recognized as soon as you place your hands on it. Core muscles are forced to engage to either allow for rotation or to prevent it. Just think "All Core. All The Time."  The RIP allows for 3 dimensional exercises to be completed in all the frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes, while providing an asymmetrical load. If that wasn't enough, balance and stability are challenged as you increase the difficulty of each exercise. With 85% of the body’s core musculature running on a bias, rotational movement is one of the best way to train and the RIP makes it happen.

To put a real life spin on this just think of what your body has to do when you….slip on a patch of ice, step out of the car, shovel, start a snow blower, throw a bag of salt over your shoulder, pick up uneven bags of groceries, or even your kids. You twist. You bend. You even prevent each of these from happening as well. Everyday life requires you to create and control rotational forces! The RIP Trainer prepares you for whatever lies outside the walls of CPC.

Don’t be fooled and think the RIP Trainer is just for athletes. It is a training tool for everyone, and with snow predicted for the end of the week and spring nowhere in sight it’s time you start thinking about training with it too. You’ll be glad you did.

SK

What's your favorite?

What's your favorite?

Ok, for this Blog Post I want it to be fun and conversational, I know you all have opinions (some more than others) and I want to hear them. Give us some feedback, please!  

What I want to know is what are your favorite TRX Exercises?  

We have added A TON of TRX specific classes that many of you have taken a liking to, not to mention the ST and RIP have been a staple in the CPC arsenal for a long time now. We are headed into warm weather and you know that we like to take things outside when we can. We like to make things fun and interesting.  Help us out and let us know what some of your favorite movements are. Who knows ... maybe you'll start to see more of them!  

Duran Duran was neither Duran nor Duran, discuss!!

Mike