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When to Invest in a Personal Trainer

July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Sports require dedication and a certain level of fitness in order to achieve your goals. Through training and drills, you learn the skills needed for your particular sport. However, training alone does not condition your body for the necessary endurance and strength needed to play sports.

As per conducted surveys (through online survey software), there are three primary areas of fitness: muscle strengthening, core training, and aerobics. No matter what type of sport you play, whether it be gymnastics, track, or football, all three areas are essential to keeping your body in shape. Aerobics help build your overall activity endurance and help strengthen the heart and lungs. Muscle strengthening exercises help build muscle mass and stretch the body to increase flexibility. Core exercises encompass the strengthening of your back, hips, and stomach. A strong core is imperative for proper posture in sports and helps prevent sports-related injuries.

Taking these factors into consideration, it may seem daunting at first to know exactly what to do and how far you can reasonably push yourself while reaching your fitness goals. The key to increasing your fitness level is to gradually push your limits without over doing it. If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, or desire ways to maximize your fitness sessions in little time, you might consider hiring a personal trainer. You can find a local personal trainer by visiting http://www.411.ca.

Personal trainers can also help you customize your exercises based on the type of sports you play. For example, if you are a runner, you will need strong legs to help push you through to the next level. A trainer also keeps you accountable for all workouts. When you exercise alone, it is easy to skip out on a few minutes of exercise or reps. More importantly, a trainer will teach you proper techniques to avoid injuries. If you feel that a trainer can help assist you in meeting your sports and overall fitness goals, it is worth the investment.

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Preparing for a Triathlon

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Triathlon photographs from the Chinook-Half-Ir...

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If you want to push your physical fitness and endurance to its limit, consider participating in a triathlon. A triathlon consists of a swim, bike ride, and marathon run, all completed back-to-back, with no rest in between. Lengths of each race in a triathlon vary, but a traditional triathlon includes a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run.

Triathlon Training

Training for a triathlon can span six months up to two years, depending on your physical fitness level. The best way to train for a triathlon is to follow a specific training and diet schedule. There are many training schedules available online, so find one that fits your level and get started. In addition, a triathlon training group is a very helpful and motivating way to train for an upcoming competition.

Triathlon Equipment

You don’t want to show up to a triathlon in an old pair of running shoes, swim trunks, and the bicycle you’ve had sitting in the garage for the past 10 years. To truly succeed in a triathlon, you’ll need the proper equipment. A triathlon store can point you in the right direction. As a general rule, you will need:

  • Swimming Gear – A wetsuit made from neoprene is ideal for a number of reasons. The material is slicker and smoother than your skin, so you will glide through the water easier. It is also buoyant, and the more buoyant you are, the faster you can swim.
  • Triathlon Bike – These are pricey, but if you want to compete regularly they are a good investment. Triathlon bikes are designed to be lightweight and to use less energy in the leg muscles, so you can save leg strength for the marathon.
  • Running Shoes – Lightweight, comfortable running shoes that allow for quick turnaround are also crucial for success in a triathlon.

You can succeed in your triathlon with the right training schedule and equipment.

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Individual vs. Team Sports: Benefits and Downsides

December 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Sport in childhood. Association football, show...

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There is debate as to which types of sports are better, particularly for children who are just getting started to be set up for a lifetime of good exercise habits. If you encourage your child into the wrong type of sport, he may be turned off from them entirely. Some parents worry that a child that prefers individual activities may lack the social skills that learning a team sport can provide. The fact is that any sport is beneficial to your child and both have their ups and downs.

Individual sports, such as swimming, distance running, dancing, and golfing provide the same physical challenges as other team sports. Athletes that play individual sports are often less competitive with other people, but still relish in the challenge that their particular sport offers. Instead, they are competitive with themselves. Competition starts when they square off against other individuals, such as in a marathon. Individual sports might even take more discipline, because you do not have other teammates to help encourage you along the way.

Sportsmanship and team-building skills are two life skills that may not be acquired through individual sports. Due to these facts, you will need to have your child find some other method of learning these skills, whether it be at home or through a group activity.

Togetherness is a common theme associated with team sports. Every member of a team plays a role, which is something that a child can relate to in other areas of life as he grows older. Without every member, a team is no longer a team.

Team sports can also be more costly as they require more equipment. This is especially true as your child grows rapidly during the adolescent years. For instance, a football uniform and gear is much more expensive than shoes and clothing needed for track and field. However, cost itself should not keep you from enrolling your child into a particular sport. There are accredited online colleges which provides courses on sports management and skills.

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Skechers Shape Ups: Can Walking Shoes Improve Your Strength?

December 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Skechers

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“Shape-Ups” are a type of walking shoes made by Sketchers. Although there are other similar products available on the market, Shape-Ups are the most predominant type of walking shoe on the market as of 2010, due to the widely known brand Sketchers. Sketchers, like a popular piece of designer jewelry worn by Hollywood starlets,  is also a trendy brand, with its target market focused on teens and young adults.

The benefit of Shape-Ups lies in the sole. The rest of the shoe looks like a normal shoe, but the sole is thick and contoured to fit multiple walking areas, from a sidewalk to a dirt road. The sole is a type of wedge that contains shock absorbers that are designed for long-term walking without joint straining.

At first the shoe can make walkers feel off balance, due to the thickness of the wedge. Your walks will be more challenging than a regular shoe, but maybe not quite as dangerous as walking in six-inch heels. The more you walk in them you will increase your overall balance. This also helps you build core muscles to a certain degree. The shoes are also designed to tone your calves, glutes, and quadriceps.

Walkers should get used to these shoes before wearing them over long periods of time. Failure to do so can cause knee pain and muscle strains. Also make sure that you stretch before and after use. Avoid heavy use if you are new to the shoe.

Although this walking shoe may have its benefits, it is not designed for trained athletes, but more for individuals who are newer to exercise and want to get a kick-start. If you do decide to try out the shoes, do not wear them for long distances to start. You may need to break them in, just like any other shoes. Discontinue wearing if you feel strain in the knees or experience extreme muscle aches.

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