Work hard, play hard, relax even harder……
by Matt Hodges
08 April 2013
Father’s day is nearing and this is the day that you’ve all been waiting for. The kids treat you well, your partner waits on you hand and foot and its now time to be horizontal for a day….. Alas, if only this was true eh?
Put the spring back into your chicken
by Matt Hodges
08 April 2013
So the January fitness buzz is coming to an end, the dark mornings and early evenings have crept up on the soul and you are feeling deflated, less driven and you’ve probably slipped back into hitting the gym less than three times a week. As spring approaches I am giving you 5 of the best tips to get back some of that energy you’ve been missing.
The Unnatural ‘Natural’
by Matt Hodges
17 December 2012
For those of you that follow our articles you’ll have probably already noticed that I like a bit of a rant from time to time. There is one major issue that I’ve been toying with for a long time now and it’s well overdue. It’ll no doubt rattle some BIG feathers in the industry but it’s about time someone addresses this issue. First and foremost I want to lay the cards on the table. This article is in NO way directed at any specific individual, company or publication. It is purely an article of observation, experience and opinion.
The Importance Of Calisthenics
by Matt Hodges
16 July 2012
Calisthenics are exercises that use your bodyweight for resistance and are designed to strengthen and tone your muscles and increase muscular endurance. Derived from the Greek kalos, meaning beauty, and sthenos, meaning strength, calisthenics don’t necessarily require any exercise equipment.
While many trainers dismiss calisthenics as only being suitable for beginners or the less fit, I always believe that this type of no-frills exercise can be a valuable addition to just about any training program for absolutely EVERYONE!
Female Weight Lifting: Why Women NEED To Lift Compound Heavy
by Matt Hodges
06 July 2012
Ive recently had a heated debate with a female client of mine about this hot topic in the fitness industry. It became clear to me the unbelievable misconception of female weight lifting and actually how much people listen to whats written in the media. I thought it only appropriate, considering a high population of our clients that are female, that we should write an article to give our views on the subject.
Injury Prevention During Exercise
by Tim Allardyce
01 February 2012
While exercise is one of the key ingredients for health, it also comes with a risk of injury if proper precautions are not followed. Differences in anatomical and physiological factors make women more prone to certain types of injuries compared to men. For example, female athletes have been reported to be 2-8 times more likely to be affected from injury to the knee or the ankle compared to males. Nevertheless, follow all of the advice in this article and you will certainly reduce your risk of getting injured.
Health Tips for Extreme Race Conditions
by Tim Allardyce
01 November 2011
Endurance sports, such as marathon running or bicycle racing, are physically, mentally and physiologically demanding on the body and psyche. Individuals participating in endurance sports must be certain to maintain temperature homeostasis, as well as, minimise strain and psychological stressors during prolonged exercise.
The hypothalamus in the brain controls the body’s temperature regulators. The body’s natural thermoregulatory system will work constantly to maintain a normal body temperature, 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, during exercise. It’s important to equip yourself for extreme race conditions – especially when tackling a physical challenge in an environment that you’re not used to.
