Picked Up Bits & Pieces

Here are some bits & pieces I picked up from the Perform Better Learn-by-Doing Seminar seminar that was in Boston this past weekend. This years was a little bit different in that a couple of speakers went into the business side of things. But it was all great none the less. You might have to excuse me for not being 100% precise. Usually there is so much information thrown the attendees ways at these seminars. And being out late the late night before doesn't help either. Any ways, here's some of the stuff I took away:

• 18% of all U.S. gyms/studios went under in 2008. I wonder what the 2009 number will look like.
• We need to focus more on program design and not just workouts. Programs get results. Workouts get you tired.
• Years ago most people were getting most of their physical activity outside the gym. Now, the gym may be their only physical activity.
  
• If time constraints are one reason you're not getting in much physical activity, body part split training is not for you.
  
• "Don't put fitness on dysfunction." If a movement pattern is already screwed up, fix the pattern before adding load.
• Some poor movement patterns are just the result of improper breathing techniques. Take the time to learn how to breathe correctly.
• The Turkish Get Up exercise has been butchered by just about every trainer on YouTube. No, I do not have a Turkish Get Up video on YouTube. There's more to the exercise than it seems. It's really a high level exercise. If you want to want to learn the get up the right way, call (617)835-0564 or send an email to rich@richruffing.com....a shameless plug.
  
• If you want to know how not to train, watch the Biggest Loser.
  
• Nutrition is easy, it's the doing part that is hard.
• Grain is the root of all fat evil. On a side note, corn is a grain, not a vegetable. It is also the number one source of calories in America . And the only thing worse than corn is....high fructose corn syrup.
• Performing crunches is like bending a credit card. Just like the credit card will break, so to will your spine. Focus on stability, not flexion.
  
• If you really want to ruin your spine, take a yoga class.
  
• Forget all the rotational training that you learned 10 years ago. Think about training anti-rotation. If you do train rotation, rotation should be coming from your thoracic spine, not your lumbar spine.
• Push ups are a core exercise.