Thanks again to everyone who watched and joined in the discussion Gymchat 250 - Serious Training for Ignored Populations [with Personal Trainer & Massage Therapist Bill Kociaba and Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett] - much appreciated. If you haven't seen it yet (or simply want to go over a particular point again), here's the entire video.

Bill Kociaba training a wheelchair-bound client.

On this week's show we'll be talking to Personal Trainer & Massage Therapist Bill Kociaba - who himself is completely blind. Bill teaches exercise classes via the Blind Cafe online community, runs his own gym and promotes a number of bodybuilding shows.


Joining him is Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Bill and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Personal Trainer & Massage Therapist Bill Kociaba, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : Serious Training for Ignored Populations
When : Wednesday Jun 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, or join the hangout (get your questions ready), directly on the Event page. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• How They Got Started : James Dotson
  James Dotson
  Love hearing how people began their own training journey.

  
  

• Looking At : Jun 22, 2014
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do more writing in 2014 and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : Adam Glass' Flag Progress, May - Jun 2014

This video says a lot about Adam Glass - incredible tenacity and experimentation. Good stuff.

Gymchat 249 - Serious Training for Ignored Populations (Bill Kociaba)

Bill Kociaba training a wheelchair-bound client.

On this week's show we'll be talking to Personal Trainer & Massage Therapist Bill Kociaba - who himself is completely blind. Bill teaches exercise classes via the Blind Cafe online community, runs his own gym and promotes a number of bodybuilding shows.


Joining him is Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Bill and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Personal Trainer & Massage Therapist Bill Kociaba, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : Serious Training for Ignored Populations
When : Wednesday Jun 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, or join the hangout (get your questions ready), directly on the Event page. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Brian Tabor.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.

Tip of the Week: Training When Travelling

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

We've had a number of questions over the years along the lines of 'how do I train when travelling?'. Mark Konen's approach (from the article Pack Light, Train Hard) :

Well traveled suitcase.

I am visiting my sedentary family soon and I will not be near a gym so here is my plan:

First, there is a wide variety of bodyweight exercises I can do including push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers, burpees, squats, pull-ups and jumping rope. I can fashion these as a circuit or even as a Tabata workout. So, the first thing I will pack is the Gymboss interval timer. Since I will already have my laptop with me, I could also use an online Tabata timer.

To make the bodyweight exercises even more challenging, I will bring along my jumpstretch bands; specifically the mini-bands. I can add resistance to any exercise I do and can also use it for assistance in pull-ups and range of motion (ROM) work. I also have a couple minor, nagging injuries that would benefit from some band work.

I will bring some running gear and would run in areas where I could also find some things like rocks to lift and throw. I may add in some hills and speed training. (I do use the word "speed" with a sense of humor)!

I'll toss in a Captains of Crush Gripper. I can use that while watching sports on the tube.

OK, so far so good. But I really would like to do some heavy lifting so what can I do that is the same as what I would do at my home gym? Sandbag training! All I have to do is to take my sandbag liners of 50, 25 and 10#, empty them at home and then go buy a couple of 50# bags at a hardware store close to where I'll be staying. Sand is cheap.

That about covers all I could possibly need to get in great workouts while out of town. Since I am going to a colder clime, it may be unlikely there will be a heavy snowfall this early in the season, but if I happen to be in a big snowstorm, you can't beat snow shovelling! Snow shovel intervals could be interesting, challenging and fun. Come to think of it, I'll have to look in my dad's garage. I wonder if he has a sledgehammer? I may be able to talk my mom into steering the car while I push it down the street for time or reps!

Good stuff.

Re-Visiting : How to Make Atlas Stones

How to Make Atlas Stones.

A conversation during the week (on Strongman competitions in Australia) led to a discussion on the best way to make & train with Atlas Stones. For the answer, well, let's just say that this DVD should be on your shopping list. Jedd Johnson / Steve Slater's 'How to Make Atlas Stones'.

Good stuff.

NB : regarding the Australian Strongman competitions, there are actually quite a few on the calendar. I'll post up a full list shortly; if you're running one there and would like me to spread the word, let me know. Cheers.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : DIY - How to Build Your Own Tire Sled
  Matt Hunt
  Love building your own equipment?

  
  

• Looking At : Jun 15, 2014
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do more writing in 2014 and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : The Fitness Skeptic - What You Must Be Able to Do in Any Debate

Nick Tumminello shares some fantastic information on a range of fitness-related topics, and this is certainly no exception. Good stuff.

Gymchat 249 - TBA

Mystery Guest.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - there's a full list here. And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Brian Tabor.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.

Tip of the Week: It's Never Too Late to Start

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

Ida Wasserman, hitting the gym at 100.

Age is not a contraindication to exercise, which can usually be initiated safely in older persons.

Re-Reading : Becoming a Supple Leopard

Becoming a Supple Leopard.

Suffice to say it's well-and-truly Kelly Starrett. If you've seen any of his videos, you'll understand what I mean.

For now, a quick overview on what the book's all about :

In short, it's Kelly's approach to mobility. A detailed understanding of how the body works, in order to improve athletic performance, reduce injury time and a whole lot more.


From the Amazon page -

If you are like me you won't put this thing down. I am going through it a second time as I write this. I have already recommended it to all my patients, and this will be a staple in my office and it is a must read for anyone that has a BODY - I guess that covers all of you reading this. In closing I have spent thousands of dollars on seminar after seminar. I can say unequivocally that this book has more information in it, which by the way is very simplistic for you to implement, than all of the education I have received on the dynamics of the human body.

Becoming a Supple Leopard. Fantastic.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

James Dotson.

How's it going Scott? As far as my background goes, I started out as a gymnast when I was 12 or 13 until about age 15. I was inactive in sports from that time until I joined the U.S. Army in 2005 at age 17. Of course being a soldier meant I began daily physical training which usually consisted of long bouts of calisthenics and slow steady state running for about 3 - 5 miles.

Around that time I had a huge interest in MMA, so I began boxing at a gym close to base. I boxed off and on for the next couple of years, but It wasn't until my 3rd deployment to Afghanistan that I was introduced to Crossfit-football by a friend. I fell in love with breaking PRs on a weekly basis, and when my progress slowed I began studying everything I could on strength training from Jim Wendler's 531 to Joe Defranco's WS4SB. I slowly put together an awesome home gym where I currently train today in addition to regular physical conditioning in the Army.

Cheers James, greatly appreciated.

Switch.

This is the one that Brian mentioned in the Gymchat last week (and if you're wondering how it relates to strength-training, he explains it here) - Chip & Dan Heath's Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard. Although it's been out for a while now, I missed it the first time around and am definitely looking forward to diving in (I read their previous work a few years ago, and they're great writers).

Full review shortly. Chip & Dan Heath's Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Odd Object Training
  Kevin 'Sgt Sweaty' Miller
  Ready for something a little different?

  
  

• Looking At : Jun 8, 2014
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do more writing in 2014 and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : Coach B and the Dip

Good stuff Mike.

Gymchat 249 - TBA

Mystery Guest.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - there's a full list here. And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Brian Tabor.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.

Tip of the Week: Try a Caffeine Nap

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

Caffeine Napping.

For a start, they take place at different times of the day.

I'm curious though - has anyone here sampled a Caffeine Nap? I'd love to hear your thoughts; particularly if it's a regular thing.


From the article 'Caffeine Napping' :

Sleep researchers at Loughborough University were looking at various ways to keep motorists awake on long journeys. The winner - perhaps somewhat surprisingly - was the 'caffeine nap'.

The idea is simple : drink a cup of coffee and immediately take a brief (15-20min) nap. This helps clear the body of adenosine, a chemical commonly believed to make you drowsy.

Very interesting indeed.

Reading : Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Switch.

This is the one that Brian mentioned in the Gymchat last week (and if you're wondering how it relates to strength-training, he explains it here) - Chip & Dan Heath's Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard. Although it's been out for a while now, I missed it the first time around and am definitely looking forward to diving in (I read their previous work a few years ago, and they're great writers).

Full review shortly. Chip & Dan Heath's Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.