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).

For an overview of the workshop take a look at the Simple Strength website, our hosts in Edinburgh this Saturday. http://simplestrength.com/workshops-2/

This workshop wil be running in London and the East Midlands soon so if you are interestred in knowing more please contact either Jonathan or Keith.

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.

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

Just found a website called Urban Path looking at which London gyms and fitness centres had managed to get themselves in to their listing.

Some of the “top” gyms in Notting Hill, Fitzrovia, Knightsbridge, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Battersea, Fulham and Soho are listed with reviews invited. The comments  are insightful and should give us, the Strength and Conditioning team at Balance, things to think about as we expand further into the world of Personal Training! The negative comments reassure us that we are not making the common errors seen at membership gyms, and the positive comments are similar to the ones we have received consistently for over 8 years.

Some of the other comments tell us we should be sure to manage peoples expectations.

What we are and what we are not!

As we tempt new clients by highlighting the results of our clients and the extent of our  experience and expertise we should be just as clear about what we dont offer. So to avoid some of the comments and criticisms given to the gyms at Urban Path here are some facts to head them off:

• no joing fees to complain about
• no Molton Brown shower gel or body lotions
• we are open 7.30am -9pm Mon- Thurs (close 5pm Fri), 9am-4pm Saturday and shut on Sunday (at moment mostof our clients are happy with that – things may change of course).
• we have no jacuzzi or sauna
• we dont have any resistance machines – not even a lat pull down! Consequently you dont have to get annoyed waiting for someone to get off one. We teach our clients who lack confidence in their abilities to gain body awareness and practice movement control so the vast majority of our equipment is free and dynamic (kettlebells and bands) or we simply use our bodyweight. We do have 3 treadmills, a bike or two, a cross trainer, and a concept 2 rower however.
• we have no direct debit run or contracts. You like it you stay, you want to train outside in the fresh air or at your sports club no problem.
• there is no juice bar…or nail bar.
• we sold our bench pressing bench – there are enough in the world and we wanted a bit more space to be creative in.
• we do have classes:  Kettlebells (5 of them), pilates (3 run by the Pilates Sanctuary), athletic movement, full throttle conditioning – maybe some boxing in the near future, and always looking for a yoga class. We promote Eischens Yoga for home yoga training (especially for those recovering from injury) but have struggled to find a class that resonates with what our clients want.
• we dont have gym instructors “walking the floor”, although for about 75% of the week we have at least one of the strength and conditioning coaches around to assist physiotherapists with treatment and rehabilitation needs of  clients. The majority of the time those using the Balance facility independently are expected to be independent.

Gym use and personal training.

Its true that we have been doing one to one training with clients since 2001, we have guided individuals to success after success, achieving their unique personal goals. We have seen the widest range of men and women, old and adolescent, with varying goals and aspirations:

• elite and professional sporting and performance goals;
• peak conditioning for military operations;
• recovery from long term illnesses such as chronic fatigue;
• rehabilitation following major surgery such as heart and lung transplantation;
• a return to healthier lifestyles and a sense of well being following episodes of mental illness, addictions,  and periods of counselling.
• and of course a speedy return to work and recreational sports, athletics, dance and martial arts following minor and major inuries or orthopaedic reconstructive operations.

however most of the people who have trained with us have by and large come to us based on Balances reputation as being one of the uk and europes top centres for sports injury treatment and back pain rehabilitation. Now we are opening up a little and inviting those seeking more traditional “personal training” results to come to Balance and see why its more about the training and less about the Molton Brown, sauna or eyebrow technician.

RESULTS

By traditional results I mean:

• trimming of legs and bums
• abdominal toning
• fat and weight loss
• chiselling chests
• sculpting shoulders and buttocks

Our approach to health and fitness clients is no different than that taken with sports and performance, injury and illness – train like an athlete, use dynamic movement not machines, train frequently, with discipline and quality, enjoyment and satisfaction.

We also have the most important professional required for weight loss – a dietician, Rees Colling, who will guide you to the inevitable truth, that a sustainable bodyweight can only be achieved with a sustained approach to eating. To find out which way is going to suit you speak with Rees.

For more information on Personal Training at Balance, using the gym independently (pay as you go), strength and conditioning for sports, dance or martial arts, a consultation with Dietician Rees, or coming to us for treatment and rehabilitation go to our contact page – click here.

For some time we have sold Trigger Point Performance’s (TPT) “Quadballer” as it is a highly effective tool for removing the tension so many of our clients display in their quads, hip flexors, ITB (iliotibial band), hamstrings and low back. The quadballer allows you to roll through all of these areas whilst keeping your hands free and is used in positions that allow you to breathe, relax and focus on your intention (to become supple, pliable and extensible).

It is a great adjunct to sports massage and as part of your injury prevention regime or rehabilitation following sports injuries or surgery. More than a few of the professional tennis players we worked with at the Wimbledon Grand Slam this year took quadballers off our hands after they experienced it – also because of its size and portability.

For an independent review of the quadballer click here http://tinyurl.com/quadballer-review

Despite it’s superiority many of our clients have wanted cheaper alternatives so would go for foam rollers (we stock 15cm x 90cm foam rollers especially for upper back mobility and core work) but now TPT have saved us by producing the Grid.

It offers the effectiveness, size and portability of the Quadroller and we are offering it at a lower cost than our foam roller.

This is a summary of the Grids properties:

“Green” technology – Constructed with less foam than traditional foam rollers – Designed to withstand constant, heavy, and repeated use without breaking down – Built from EVA foam

Variable zones of density (they call them “the Matrix & Distrodensity™ Zones”!!) to allow for targeted massage with 3 areas described as “flat and wide; narrow firm and rigid; and targeted and precise” and allow for a more realistic massage experience.

As with foam roller producers TPT describe “Core body workout versatility” to “achieve a comprehensive core body workout”. I believe there are better approaches to producing trunk strength and control but it obviously gives some options.

Anyway we are pleased because the Grid now gives an extra option for our clients whether long distance runners, endurance athletes, yoga or kettlebell practitioners or anyone else who needs to work on their suppleness and recover from high training loads.

- Quadballer for a more intense and prolonged effect.
- Foam roller softer on lower limb but useful for upper back mobility and self-massage
- The Grid – economical version of quadballer but highly effective and also with 1 year warranty.

The windmill - excellent for the core, abs and hips

Starting on Tuesday May 12th at Balance – 9.30am. And every week thereafter.

CLICK HERE for more details on the class

If you would like to forward this info on to someone you know would be interested you can cut and paste the shortened link below.

http://tinyurl.com/c6qsgn

Jonathan Lewis wishes Oli Dudley well prior to his departure to the Antarctic

You may recall the blog post about Oli Dudley who Balance has supported in his training and physiotherapy for the 7 in 7 on 7 Challenge. 7 ultramarathons (31 miles) in 7 days on each of the 7 continents. His mission was to go from novice runner to extreme ultramarathon distance runner and adventurer in a crazily short space of time.

Oli was using the g-trainer for alot of his training following back injury he suffered following a rapid increase in volume of training in his enthusiasm for the event which is raising money for childrens charities in the UK and Uganda.

Graham Anderson and Paula Coates have been providing physiotherapy, Jonathan Lewis (me) has been trying to persuade Oli to focus on improving his movement qualities, efficiency and fluidity. Oh yes, and a little bit of kettlebells!

So things were going well until 2 weeks ago Oli decided to player fotball in the snow and ice!!!! One exceptionally painful slip and an injured hip/groin/pelvis later and for most people the adventure would have been cancelled. Oli took stock and then decided he would get to the start line at all costs, even he made it for just 10 metres. Thats spirit and determination for you.

We met today for the last time before his departure, Oli has not run for 2 weeks now due to pain (even in the G-trainer). After some hip mobility work showed Oli his hip was finally improving we did a couple of timed kettlebell pieces – a 10 minute then 5 minute continuos set – the aim was to give a bit of confidence and get the heart racing and lungs open. Mission accomplished!

Oli has managed to bring all his sponsors together under the pressure of time and injury that we often see bring men and women to a grinding halt whether they are training for the London Marathon or to join the Royal Marines. He has shown amazing logistical organisational skills we wish him well and will be waiting for him for the final leg in London on March 20th!

This week saw the return of an Ashtanga Yoga class to Balance in our Clapham SW4 studio.

We’ve started off the first month with a casual drop in class. Depending on what the London lunchtime yoga crowd want we will either stick with the casual drop in or move to a 4 week or 8 week cycle.

Lunchtime yoga must be a far better way to spend your hour than sitting at your desk eating a prawn sandwich and Muller light yoghurt, or stayin at home watching neighbours. So come along and see if I am right!

Eliza Johnson is the teacher who we were lucky to have join the team, she currently does classes at Tri Yoga in Primrose Hill http://www.triyoga.co.uk and Surya Yoga in Clapham. When i first met Eliza I immediately felt she shared our approach to movement – no matter what your discipline there is a need for quality and precision before volume and intensity.

The class is on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime from 12.30 until 1.30pm. Call Balance on 020 7627 2308 for further details or book a place.

Follow the link to read a little of what Ashtanga Yoga is about:

http://www.balancephysio.com/whatwedo.php?article_id=112

Oli Dudley came to Balance after his 10 mile run left him with back pain just after the New Year that left him unable to run without sharp pain.

This is the classic time of the year for the sports injury team and podiatrist at Balance to see those training for the London Marathon start coming through the door. But Oli is not one for doing things in half measures and had accepted an invitation to join a small group of adventurers doing 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents! An event called 7in7on7. So from his last minute entry into a team tackling an extreme ultradistance challenge his training programme hit rock bottom after a massive jump in volume from zero to 10 miles in one jump!

Exit stage left “winging it!”, enter stage right “Team Balance Physio”. Our challenge is to get Oli to the start line in Antartica in the first week of March and welcome him back to London for the last leg 8 days later (international date lines make 7 calendar days into 8). A short time to go from unable to run to do 350km in 7 days. (I forgot to mention the guys decided to change it from 7 marathons to 7 x 50km efforts!!)

We have supported Oli with strength, conditioning and his complete running programme, physio for the back pain and access to the G-trainer. More on this in a future entry.

We are 4 weeks into our challenge and Oli is doing great – the g-trainer has been an essential component on Oli’s road to recovery and now in controlling the amount of impact he experiences whilst still getting enough running in to condition him to the challenges to come in a few weeks. Its an ongoing programme and we will keep you posted on how Oli progresses.

The event is raising money for two charities – the building of an orphanage in Uganda and Oli’s chosen charity http://www.kidsco.org.uk/

Tomorrow Oli will contribute some of his thoughts.

Happy New Year from the team at Balance.

We are very excited about the year ahead even if a lot of people are talking about 2009 being a gloomy year for business.

For the past 8 years we have actively encouraged clients to take a long term perspective when it comes to dealing with their injuries, episodes of back pain, their health and fitness training.

We are in a constant state of development here to improve our effectiveness in conveying the message that “quick fix” is neither effective or economical: why keep paying to have a recurrent problem treated when you can learn to deal with it yourself for free!!).

We are seeing more clients than ever before who take their health, fitness and physical lifestyle seriously and place a greater priority on maintaining it. When an injury set back comes their way they realise a quick fix is not the right approach. Better to go for the long term solution.

People expect a lot more from the professionals looking after their sports injuries or back pain and rightly so. They want pain relieved, full function to return, to be provided with a strategy to keep improving beyond the initial stages and to be guided back to their highest possible level of performance, and they want it all from one team at one facility.

To achieve this a team must not only have an understanding of injury, healing and recovery processes but also have the space, appropriately trained professionals and inclination to develop their clients movement skills. This development follows a path from the low point that follows injury, pain or surgery all the way to the full range, maximally loaded, full speed, smooth and fluid movement by someone working at their full potential.

With the raised consciousness and awareness that people now have it is easier to identify which facilities  can genuinely provide what they need.

The range of one to one services and the health and fitness programme that Balance offers to support them is now at the most comprehensive level in our 8 year history: we have designed it to suit the schedules, aspirations and financial situation of as many different people as possible.

Balance is able to support all of our clients all of the way to full health. We have classes and workshops suitable for those who prefer to be more independent with monthly sessions to progress their fitness, movement abilities, prevent further injury and heighten performance. Our leading professionals are able to see more people at a lower cost and provide better results.

If you have any quesions about finding the right facility for the particular problem you are facing, no matter where in the world you are let us know and we will try and guide you to find the right team for the job. Even if you have to assemble them yourself we can tell you what you should be looking for in the physiotherapist, osteopath, sports injury or back pain specialist, and the movement, strength and conditioning coach that has to be involved for you to make a full recovery and show you how to build on the misfortune of injury and make it an opportunity to become better than you ever were before the injury.

All the best for 2009 from the Balance team.