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.

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.

Balance Performance #Running Clinic info: http://bit.ly/cp1Oe5 our expertise goes beyond high quality rehab and the Alter-G, we do PBs too!

We have long catered for runners – from novice marathoners to elite and professional runners – but we have refocussed some of our existing services and changed the structure some to better cater for a runners requirements. Early feedback is very positive.

We hope London’s runners, triathletes and recreational marathoners will see that Balance is a place to get expert advice on getting personal bests not just high quality rehabilitation.

Click here for the Running Clinic page

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

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

The G-trainer challenges everyone in different ways, whether:

• elite Olympic runner (3 of the Worlds Best Runners have run on our treadmill),
• professional sports men (2 of the UKs best Rugby Clubs use Balance’s G-trainer week in week out)
• top or recreational IronMan and Woman triathletes (including Pro-VO2 tri club athletes and Pro Tristan Shipsides)
• or the 100’s of multisports enthusiasts with injuries who have rehabilitated from sports injuries using the G-trainer at our SW4 facility.

In the World Record Club the idea is to run a mile as fast as possible at either 75% or 85% of your bodyweight – members also get 50% off and a half hour run only costs £12.50.

For many the thing preventing faster running speed is aerobic/anearobic ability (lungs exploding, nausea rising) but not everyone…this is how Cj described his attempt to run faster and beat his personal best over the mile on the G-trainer treadmill running at 85% of his bodyweight:

“I didn’t find this attempt cardio-vascularly challenging as you will see from the video clip. It felt more neurological. Being able to turn over my legs at that speed, sustaining that cadence for that length of time was not easy. I could feel the impulses dampening, at times it felt as if I was tripping over my feet.

One thing is for certain, 4 minute miles is a serious pace, I have a new found respect for Roger Bannister who did it at 100% of his body weight. It highlighted to me that up to a certain point, running is more about skill then fitness. Economy and efficiency of movement. But more about this in part 2 of this post, as I, Cj, turn Chi / pose runner.”

To read the full blog click the link…

http://cjs-fitness.blogspot.com/2009/12/4-minute-mile-g-trainer-challenge-part.html

See the video footage (excuse the camerman he’s an amateur!!):

Saturday 21st November – 10am and 2pm

The World Record Club is looking for members to run their fastest miles on the G-trainer treadmill.

There are several categories to challenge yourself within:

• Mens 85% bodyweight
• Womens 85% bodyweight
• Mens 75% bodyweight
• Womens 85%
• plus Mens and Womens Masters Categories

If you havent run on this revolutionary piece of technology you can have a try out for free with us on Saturday and then if you are up for it take the challenge.

Its very simple…zip in, we’ll start it up, you run…fast…you say faster (you can say slower too of course!!)

• Discounts for G-trainer running sessions of 50% which means £12.50 for 30 minutes or £17.50 for 60 minutes

Apart from being healthy competition the benefits to running speed and overall performance are significant.

Thats why Manchester United bought one in the same week that Balance did.