the blog of balance performance physiotherapy

Jonathan Lewis and Balance have had a long working relationship with Steve Cotter, one of the worlds best teachers of strength and conditioning, health and fitness concepts, an incredible athlete and an internationally recognised authority on kettlebells. We are therefore very proud to have made our ties even stronger and will now be the UKs exclusive distributor of Steve Cotter products.

Watch this space and the Balance shop as we will soon carry more DVD titles and other information products from Steve and the IKFF.

To celebrate the Marathon and Racing Season Balance has a Buy One Get One FREE offer for sessions on the Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill.

The benefits of the Alter-G a.k.a the “G-Trainer Pro” are many and Balance is going to make a concerted effort to see that more people get to see the potential in using the treadmill. Its not just for accelerated rehabilitation and weight loss. Running and multisport athletes can improve running speed, conditioning, prevent overtraining and assist recovery.

Despite all these benefits many baulk at the idea of running inside even its just once per week! So high praise from world class athlete Shannon Rowbury who last week “Tweeted”:

“Alter-G at M2. Very few products could make me run inside on a gorgeous day like today. Love AG. Great for recovery.”

Shannon Rowbury: Olympic athlete, 2009 World Championships 1500m Bronze Medalist and Alter-G user

To book a session on the Alter-G and find out what a difference it can make contact us via the main website by clicking this underlined link CONTACT PAGE.

To get the details on the offer GO HERE

Saturdays 1.30-2.30pm – cost £10

Location: Strength and Conditioning Studio @ Balance, 113 Gauden Road, Clapham North, Lambeth, London, SW4 6LE.

This Saturday Balance is very excited to have boxing back on our timetable of quality physical training sessions. This is not boxercise, cardiokick or any other fitness industry invention – this is boxing.

Boxing training, apart from being a useful way of improving boxing skills is excellent for overall health and fitness,  conditioning for other sports or disciplines, develops agility, co-ordination and confidence.

The coach is Dennis Ricketts who has been involved in boxing for 25 years and is enthusiastic as ever about the sport and what it offers its participants (whether they have a desire to compete or not). As an amateur he was Royal Navy Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

Dennis holds credentials as an ABA Coach, Professional Boxing trainer/second and has additional knowledge and experience in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Dennis will also be available for personal boxing training before and after the class.

We have known Dennis here at Balance for many years as he has been a regular user of our gym and studio, giving our heavy bag a serious pounding and putting significant mileage on our speed rope.

Any questions give us a call – 02076272308.

BBC Science Reporter Victoria Gill’s article is linked to below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8483401.stm

It describes research that came to the obvious conclusion that if you give a human the chance to take the path of least resistance they will take it, even if the consequences are a down turn in long term efficiency. Well thats my interpretation, but to be true to the article here is the opening paragraph:

Wearing cushioned running shoes may have changed the way in which many of us run, new research suggests.

Using slow-motion footage, scientists have discovered that experienced barefoot runners land very differently from runners who wear shoes.

The researchers showed that runners who have trained barefoot tend to strike the ground with their forefoot or mid-foot, rather than their heel.

At Balance we often talk about taking a long term perspective and discourage our clients from looking for the short term quick fix  (whether to be pain free without concern for recurrence, getting fit, getting strong, losing weight, making money etc) but as with all aspects of life its a lot more complicated when you think it through. So once you have read this article dont throw your trainers in the bin and hit Battersea Park for a barefoot 10k using the pose running technique – at least not straight away. There are several more possibilities avaialable to you.

Have a read and if you’d like to share your opinion or ask ours  get in contact with one of the team Paula (author of Running Repairs ), Mick Habgood (podiatrist and running orthotic specialist), Raph (an experienced physio in international athletics and many a “minimal shoe” runner), Frances (triathlon specialist and G-trainer expert) or Sian (currently researching MBT footwear at clinics across London). You can also contact Jonathan (the blog writer) who will happily discuss evolution, sociology, the weakening of human kind and how to prevent it! Send an email by clicking this highlighted link: Contact Page

Mick and Paula will be adding their comments here soon.

Updated news piece on main site:  http://bit.ly/cxTTQj

Mick and Graham "working" and forging links in Chamonix

If you are serious about strength and conditioning you really should attend a high quality kettlebell workshop. If you are a “kettlebell coach” you really MUST train on a workshop of international standing with a solid curriculum: the IKFFs CKT- Certified Kettlebell Teacher – is one such workshop.

Details are below but if you have questions on the workshop feel free to contact IKFF UK Directors:

Jonathan Lewis on 07960861267 or 02076272308,

or Rannoch Donald of Kettlebells Scotland at: rannoch@simplestrength.com

London, England – March 13 – 14, 2010

click here the highlighted link for news and a thought on Steve Cotters guide to Kettlebell Lifting and also details of the UKs upcoming CKT workshops, one of the worlds most highly regarded and recognisable certifications for kettlebell coaches: http://bit.ly/9cyg82

The Complete Guide to Kettlebell Lifting

Cj (Cj’s Fitness) and Sabina Skala (Gym Jones protege) are back in action at Balance every Saturday for this conditioning circuit style class (Londons Best!).

Saturday, 12.15-13.15pm

“Kettlebells, sandbags, medicine balls, free weights, the works! Get fit (or die trying!)

Its here at Balance, London SW4 6LE (60 seconds from Clapham North Tube Station, 60 seconds from Clapham High Street Overground Station).

TEXT CJ to get the class concession price of £10 or turn up on day at £15.

+447903210510

Bring a friend, share the burden!

PS. Next week Dennis Ricketts will be starting a new Boxing Class at Balance, 1.30pm every Saturday. This isnt Boxercise! this is an experienced coach teaching technique and working you out.

All welcome you dont have to be experienced just enthusiastic!

Just read a well balanced article from the New York Times on self-massage products. The journalist has consulted a number of sources including sports massage consumers, foam roller users, a triathlon coach, an Ironman triathlete and chiropractor, author of “Self-Massage for Athletes” Rich Poley, and the founder and creator of Trigger Point Performance Therapy products Cassidy Phillips.

The article is based around the following: “Devices for self-massage have become more common as more people compete in endurance sports and, more recently, as the recession has made professional rubdowns look prohibitively expensive. Trainers usually recommend a massage every week or every other week for people who are training for a marathon or triathlon, but the costs do add up: according to the American Massage Therapy Association, the average price of a massage is $63 an hour.”

The article’s quote from TPT founder Cassidy Phillips puts self massage and going to see a professional masseur in the context of oral hygiene. “You brush away some plaque yourself,” he said, “but you still go to the dentist for a thorough cleaning.”

Here’s the article:  http://bit.ly/8lUYu2
click for the Self-massage and Trigger Point range from Balance.

Ultimate 6 package - part of Balance's range of self-massage products

So the Balance blog has been pretty silent over the last 6 weeks. That’s a reflection of how busy its been for us all despite the seasons festivities. Much of January 2010 has been consumed, for me at least, with adjustments to the Balance Shop (LOGO and Link) and in making plans to increase the personal training we do from Balance and offsite. More on both the sports injury / fitness shop and the one to one sessions in central and south london to follow – very shortly.

I’m hoping to get other members of the team to contribute to this blog but for those who prefer the brief entries of Twitter follow us on http://www.twitter.com/BalancePhysio or for the Industrial Strength perspective follow  http://www.twitter.com/jlewisISLondon

Final thing: if anyone can help us differentiate between what should go on our News pages rather than Blog as opposed to Twitter or Facebook feel free to share your thoughts!