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.

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

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.

Its been a busy day here at Balance taking pictures to upload onto our soon to launch (at long last)online shop. We will be making available to the wider world many of the things that clients have had the opportunity of benefiting from here for many years – kettlebells, rehabilitation and fitness bands (from LifeLine and JC Santana), foam rollers, the full range of TPT trigger point self massage tools (including the grid), back care products, joint supplements, wobble cushions, gym balls and many other items.

We only offer products that the Balance Team members are 100% confident to recommend to our clients. As many of you will know Balance clients have been benefitting from kettlebells since 2003 as part of their sports injury treatments, rehab and ongoing health and sports programmes. We also have a long association with the Worlds top coaches. Since 2006 we have been working with Steve Cotter (Full Kontact and International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation) and now we are proud to finally have a book of the highest quality to go along with the high quality personal training on offer from the 5 RKC and IKFF coaches we have.

Kettlebell Guide Book and DVD

Steve Cotters “The Complete Guide to Kettlebell Lifting” can be bought here at Balance or ordered over the phone and shipped. The retail price is £59.99 but in conjunction with Steve in the US we are offering it an introductory price of £39.99 – can’t get it cheaper on Amazon! It comes as a combo set to include a DVD  so you can see the drills in motion.

There will be more details and comments about the guide on Jonathan’s Industrial Strength website soon.

attention to detail in this comprehensive guide - good and bad form is highlighted

Recycling this blog direct from Cj…

With 19 days left until registration closes, the Uk Open Kettlebell Competition 2009 is truly underway. Men, women and teams from throughout the UK and beyond will be stepping up to the platform and pitting themselves in a gruelling contest against the steel, plus raising money for two worth while charities.

The stage is set at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre 18th July, for what promises to be a phenomenal event. The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is rich in sporting history, hosting everything from Olympic standard international athletics and Judo. The UK Kettlebell Open Championships will continue that rich sporting tradition by making history as the fist Kettlebell Championships to be hosted at this prestigious venue.

Steve Cotter and Kenblackburn will be competing

The event is not just for elite Kettlebell Athletes, Amateur and Professional divisions are available for the men and women categories, and for those of you who want to enter a team to spread the work load, there are special team events – so there is something for eveyone. You can register online at www.kettlebellcompetition.co.uk and find out the full details of each event in the Rules and Regulation download. Every entrant gets a medal and there will be trophies for the overall winners.

The event will also feature various exciting displays of dynamic human movement. We are proud to announce that Urban Free Flow ( Free running and Parkour specialist) will be unleashing their skills. Cutting edge Health and Fitness related stalls will be available on the day for you to enjoy.

Check it out and enter at www.kettlebellcompetition.co.uk

Cj and Jon

“Girevoy Sport – Keeping the UK Open”

There will be at least one Balance Team for you to join or if you are part of the Industrial Strength London crowd

]]> http://balancephysio.com/blog/2009/06/uk-open-kettlebell-championships-july-18th-2009/feed/ 1 http://balancephysio.com/blog/2009/05/post-natal-kettlebell-conditioning-class/ http://balancephysio.com/blog/2009/05/post-natal-kettlebell-conditioning-class/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 15:21:10 +0000 JonathanLewis http://balancephysio.com/blog/?p=125




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

]]> http://balancephysio.com/blog/2009/05/post-natal-kettlebell-conditioning-class/feed/ 0 http://balancephysio.com/blog/2009/01/kettlebell-technique-clinic-london/ http://balancephysio.com/blog/2009/01/kettlebell-technique-clinic-london/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:54:35 +0000 JonathanLewis http://balancephysio.com/blog/?p=43



90 minutes of quality kettlebell technique instruction, practice and correction, for all levels, plus a Q&A to better understand how you can achieve your goals and make the transformations you hoped for when you started.

For the kettlebell beginner:

• You will have a chance to go through the fundamental drills at a pace that suits you.
• Understand the intention of the drills and be taught where the emphasis should be – this makes a massive differene!
• you will have time to practice the drills – the idea is to learn skill.
• get to grips with the difference in styles that are taught, understand the similarities.

(We are talking about the RKC and the emphasis placed by that system on various kettlebell drills, and also the more widely adopted style that is seen in Russian Kettlebell competition and emphasises movement efficiency and athleticism. I have been taught in both styles and worked closely with proponents of both “ways”.)

For the kettlebell lifters who are non-beginners (that’s everyone else) – progressers, intermediates, advanced, other coaches.

• self taught or learnt from a DVD or book? Good for you! But check that you are maximising on your labours so far – its all down to good form and correct emphasis. Have someone observe you from all angles.
• learn from a coach? – check that what you were taught has sunk in and you have continued to perform good technique and understood what the point of the drills were.
• make the most out of your home training regime – whether your working on strength, sports conditioning, general health and fitness or weight loss. Avoid under training, hitting plateaus, and missing out key elements in a physical training programme.
• want to learn some of the other drills or variations you may have heard about or seen on You Tube? come and learn how to enjoy the variations that abound but make sure you have the fundamentals first.

Cost £20 – class taught by Jonathan Lewis. Booking required – class limited to 12. For more details call me (Jonathan Lewis) on 07960 861 267

FIRST CLASS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4th 7.15-8.45PM



Seated press at London CKT 2008

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