This is a variation of Downward Dog that I had never seen before that stretches the side of the torso, the hips and the hamstrings all at once. I picked it up at a yoga class I went to with my wife. And I always love to learn new things. …
Downward Dog Dynamic Stretching
Downward dog is a great stretch of the hamstrings along with the upper back and shoulder region. And with dynamic positions we can bring in a wide variety of other areas too. This list is comprehensive but does not cover every single possibility. • Dip the head down between the …
Combating Inflammation to Move Well
“How do I get rid of constant inflammation and body ache? I’ve had it for years from improper lifting and sports in my youth. I can barely move these days!” – Jack Unfortunately, this is quite common. I remember talking to a friend of mine who had gotten into competitive …
5 Minute Breathing Study
Could working out five minutes a day, without lifting a single weight or jogging a single step, reduce your heart attack risk, help you think more clearly and boost your sports performance? Preliminary results from a clinical trial of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST), presented this week at the Experimental …
Parenting and Fitness
If you’re a parent or plan to be someday, then this message is for you. Jason, a Strength Health Mind Power Inner Circle member, asks: “I was also curious about how you have managed your overall dedication to health and fitness as a new father? I ask because my son …
All About Muscle Control
Muscles can do one of two things, either contract or relax, with varying degrees of both. Muscle control is the art of controlling your muscles. More specifically it involves controlling muscles in isolation, in combinations and sequences. As a specific practice it was largely “created” by Maxick (born Max Sick, …
Steve Atlas Seminar Review
This past week I had the opportunity to attend a workshop held by Steve Atlas. The day was basically split up into three segments. The first was the body practice. In this was a series of a bunch of bodyweight flowing exercises. Most were simple. A few were complex. It …
Hand Balancing for Different People
Different groups of people practice hand balancing for different reasons. Yoga– Within the multitude of yoga asanas there are quite a few hand balancing poses. In yoga these are mostly known as inversions, as that is exactly what they are doing, inverting the body. Many of the poses are the …
A Rededication
This morning I woke up and did some Yoga. After about fifteen minutes I started my hand balancing practice as I’ve done every morning this week. But I have to be honest with you, besides this week I haven’t done all that much hand balancing recently. Life craziness plus an …
Yoga Headstands
Yoga headstands, known as Sirshasana, are different than the standard gymnastic headstand. Instead of resting your palms flat on the ground you interlock your fingers and place them behind your head. The headstand is a great stunt. Very much underrated. Here is a more difficult variation of the headstand. In …
Fellow Hand Balancers
I spent this past weekend as an Assistant Instructor at the Russian Kettlebell Certification. Kettlebells are a great tool and they could help your hand balancing, as described in part by Rif in the interview found in the Hand Balancing Mastery Course, but that is not the main point of …
Underwater Handstand
Is doing an underwater handstand a good idea? Read below for that and other questions from readers like you. Remember that if you want your questions answered just email them to me. I can’t personally reply to all of them but I will post them for all to see. Here’s …