Unhappy Meals
This article by Michael Pollan was printed in the New York Times magazine in 2007 but came up on my radar thanks to Rannoch Donald of Simple Strength this week. It is well worth printing off and reading before passing it on to friends and family (or forward the link of course – http://bit.ly/bBgFm5. His explanation of how things have gone wrong with eating habits and simple rules on how to regain healthier and sustainable eating habits (diet) is much the same as our feelings on movement and exercise: keep things simple, instinctive and enjoy it. Pay less attention to the latest fads or “scientific” advice and more to eating wholesome, unprocessed or manufactured food, eat less meat and dairy.
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
For more support and guidance on changing food habits contact Rees, Balance’s dieitician who is available here in Clapham – call 02076272308. But first read the article and see if you can work weight loss and improved health out for yourself:
This coming Saturday on Battersea Park by the Millenium Track Balance has been invited to join the London Borough of Wandsworth “Get Active Day” which aims to “get the whole borough moving regardless of age or ability in a wide range of different activities”.
We thought we’d use the opportunity to promote the “100 Rep Challenge” . Balance has worked since 2001 to help its clients find long term solutions to their problems rather than taking the easy option of quick fixes. We believe that the 100 Rep Challenge can be instrumental in getting people to focus attention on the areas of their physical and mental health and wellbeing that require attention.
The 100 Rep Challenge is:
• A simple practice designed to establish an re-enforce positive, enduring habits.
• Suitable for everyone, young & old, active & sedentary, everyone can benefit by using 100 reps to work on the areas of their mental & physical wellbeing that require attention. We approach everything as scalable” – rather than one size fits all, the 100 Rep Challenge helps participants find the best route for themselves
• The Challenge is a personal one, about the value of consistent effort. It can work as an individual or group effort but the focus remains a personal one.
• The Challenge can be used by teachers, coaches, trainers, athletes, families and groups of any kind who require a starting point for a simple daily practice.
Come and see Trevor and Jason at Battersea Park next Saturday between 10am-4pm for some guidance on how 100 Reps can make a difference:
100 Reps for Joint Health
100 Reps for Total Fitness
100 Reps Strength Endurance
100 Reps Conditioning
100 Reps Breathing Cycle
100 Reps Strength
100 Reps Power
100 Reps – The Original
100 Reps Flow
For the full story of the 100 rep challenge and FREE resources to get you going start here: 100 Rep Challenge
Get Active Day – Saturday July 24, 10am-4pm
The Get Active Day is taking place at Battersea Park Millennium Arena, Battersea Park, Albert Bridge Road, SW11 4NJ.
The Grid and Trigger Point Technologies TPT tools featured in a short video clip of what Team Radioshacks sport science team ask Cross Fit Roots to take their cyclists through when they are off their bikes.
Click the image below to link to the video on Versus’ website. Versus are covering the Tour De France on a stage by stage basis.
Great to see that Pro Cyclists of this calibre recognise the benefit of including the Grid and Trigger Point Therapy in the off bike physical training. Having said that the use of the grid is far more versatile as a trunk strengthening tool than depicted and to be honest the drills looked like they could do with an injection of dynamism. Maybe they are just keeping their training drills “secret”. Good to see suspension training system hanging – prefer my Jungle Gym split to the TRX but now I’m really getting fussy, never-the-less it would be a perfect way to get things more dynamic and challenge the body more appropriately.
In the UK an increasing number of cyclists and triathletes are using the Grid and TPT tools. Including physiotherapist turned Pro triathlete Tristan Shipsides who we sponsor with cycle fitting advice, strength and conditioning, sports injury treatment (happily no call for that so far!) and maintaining soft tissue health using TPT, the Grid, and high quality mobility/movement drills.
Date: Friday, 18 June 2010
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Location: Balance Performance Studio, 113 Gauden Road, London SW4 6LE
“A workshop of two halves.”
A 90 minute class with Jonathan Lewis teaching correct and effective use of Trigger Point Performance Therapy tools to improve muscle function and biomechanics to heighten performance and optimise recovery.
Plus a 90 minute class taught by Cj Swaby on effective use of Indian Clubs for wrist, elbow and shoulder joint mobility. Another significant tool in upper limb and spinal rehabilitation, recovery from physical training and to improve co-ordination and control.
3 hours teaching, £60, call Balance Performance Reception to book on 02076272308 or leave a message for Cj or Jonathan to call you back and answer any questions.
Professional Triathlete Dion Harrison who Balance supports with use of our Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill for quality sessions and recovery runs. In this video Dion is part way through a session of 1km repeats.
For many the obvious use of an anti-gravity treadmill is for reducing bodyweight to assist in rehabilitation of lower limb and spinal injuries and for weight loss, but less obvious is the performance opportunites the alter-G offers.
Ask Frances, Raph, Paula, Regan, Jon or Graham about the benefits to athletes.
Balance’s friend and IKFF Director in Norway Allan Fallro was recently on Norwegian breakfast TV demonstrating the Maxpuls Bootcamp training methods on the high street.
Great to see the tyres, ropes, kettlebells and god quality movement getting a showing to the general public and a wider audience. Hope at some point the UK public will get more exposure to the physical training done at Balance and other forward thinking facilities in the UK.
This video is in Norwegian but it translates easily.
Fresh from Cj Swaby and coming VERY soon in association with The Strength Company read below to hear about a workshop from world renowned coach and teacher JC Santana, I can personally vouch for JC Santanas knowledge and his ability to pass it on:
If you are a Personal Trainer, Combat Coach or Strength Coach, then…
CONDITIONING FOR THE MODERN GLADIATOR is what you have been waiting for!
JC Santana is back in the UK and ready help you raise the bar once more. Hosted by The Strength Company, JC will give you a non-stop training workshop, showing you what he uses to get his athletes to the top, clients in shape and IHP the reputation it has!
JC Santana brings his unique and renowned training methods to this 4 hour practical workshop. His no nonsense approach to training has made him one of the world’s most sought after coaches and presenters. If you value learning from the best, then this is NOT TO BE MISSED! Presented in association with CJS FITNESS
Date: 1st June 2010 Venue: Optimal Life Fitness Training Centre: 174 – 176 Hither Green Lane, London, SE13 1QB. Click here for map
Time: 12pm – 4.30pm.
Registration to start at 11.45am Cost: £80.00
PLEASE NOTE – ONLY 30 PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE WORKSHOP. SECURE YOURS NOW!
This Saturday in Edinburgh – Jonathan Lewis, Physiotherapist, Movement Strength and Conditioning coach is teaching alongside Keith Openshaw of Mad Dog Functional Training Sytems the first of a series of workshops they have written for fitness professionals, physiotherapist, sports therapists, osteopaths and chiropractors. Flow Restoration – Kettlebells for Injury Rehabilitation is a 1 day introduction to the subject (though its a subject that you could fill an MSc with).
On May 29th Jonathan Lewis and Keith Openshaw (Mad Dog Functional Training Systems) are teaching the a workshop in Edinburgh which will be the first of a series “Flow Restoration”. The Edinburgh workshop is “Flow Restoration – Kettlebells for Injury Rehabilitation”. If you are a physiotherapist/personal trainer/strength and conditioning coach or any other professional wanting to know more than contact Jonathan at Balance or Rannoch Donald begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting in Edinburgh http://simplestrength.com/
But was it is flow?
Flow can equally be a mental state as it is a physical expression. It is seamless transitions from one posture to the next, one sequence of movement to next, a change in direction, a shift in energy systems. Flow ultimately becomes completely smooth and unconscious. Keith Openshaw writes in the workshop manual about the mental state of flow “several terms can give its meaning such as ‘super clarity’ being ‘in the zone’ or ‘totally psyched’ but flow is a way of ‘lifting you from ordinary to optimal’ “.
Our workshop will not go anywhere close to teaching what is demonstrated below but its a great piece of footage showing how humans can flow. However whatever level you are at when flow is interrupted through injury a system is required to restore what has been lost.
Not only does the team at Balance deliver trigger point therapy but we also educate our clients about TrP therapy and how they can do it themselves using Trigger Point Performance kits and individual products.
The more we do it the better the results our clients can achieve for themselves and gain independence with the tools we recommend.
Here is just one comment directed at the TPT page on Facebook:
“Your Ultimate 6 kit helped get me through Boston [Marathon]. Sciatic pains for 2 weeks before. Ran pain free. Thank you!”
Having been at the TPT HQ in Austin Texas a couple of weeks back I have been able to pass on some additional teaching points to Kellie and Trevor (the Balance sports massage team) and Jason Progl (movement, strength and conditioning coach) so they can educate even more effectively the benefits to be had by their clients inducing trigger point release on themselves.
Trigger Point Performance HQ, Austin, Texas
To see the Trigger Point Performance Products online CLICK this underlined link TPT Kits.
for more info contact Jonathan Lewis via our contact page, Twitter, or feel free to look me up on facebook.
