Strong to the Core Training Solutions LLC is opened and seeing clients!! We are located at 1001 Central Park Ave. Suite A in Scarsdale, NY. Call us at 914.472.1813.
I have partnered with Darren Riccio MSPT COMT and brought my training business into his pristine physical therapy clinic. Darren specializes in manual therapy and functional training. He is so good that he has a 6 month waiting list.
We specialize in functional training, kettlebell training, sports conditioning and various unconventional training methods. We offer the best of modern training principles and old school training methods. Our rates are highly competitive and our services are unparalleled. We have 5 trainers ready to serve you, in addition to me of course.
Our Mission Statement
Strong to the Core Training Solutions LLC 's main goal is to serve as a catalyst and guide to help each and every client achieve their training and fitness goals. We do this through an integrated approach to functional training that will empower our clients both physically and mentally. We desire, through this approach, to positively contribute to our community and those that live in it.
If you are located in Westchester county, NY give us a call and see what we are all about!
Let Strong to the Core Training Solutions LLC be the solution to your fitness needs because "you only think you're done!"
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Zone
The Zone, also referred to as the "flow state" is considered the ideal mindset for optimal performance,whether on the playing field or in the gym. These concepts have received attention from sport psychology in the past. Getting in the "Zone" is the “ultimate state” of consciousness for many, and for those that have experienced it, it is a feeling that cannot be forgotten. I clearly remember feeling this state during grueling karate sessions and heavy lifting days in the gym. After sessions like those I had a smile on my face for days.
Being in the “zone” is often characterized as follows:
1. Having no fear
2. Not thinking about the performance
3. Being very focused on the activity
4. Not feeling the need to try to hard, i.e. being part of the activity itself
5. Feeling increased personal control
6. Seeing the event in slow motion.
Ancient warriors, regardless of country or ethnicity, have known about this state for centuries. Combat, or sports like boxing, football, mixed martial arts etc., replicate the need to stay in this state. When you are out of sync and not remotely close to being in the “zone’ you often get hurt. When you are in the “zone” everything just flows.
The Japanese often call it “Mushin No Shin”, or “mind of no mind”. It’s funny; I was watching “The Last Samurai” and noticed many a reference to this state. In the movie Tom Cruise’s character is getting his butt kicked by a seasoned samurai during sword training. The head Samurai’s son tells him “too many minds”. In other words he was letting too many distractions into his mind when he should have only been focused on the main task. That means no “ego”, no “if I do this, he’ll do that”, “my arms are sore” etc. This is a very valuable lesson for sports and life in general, think about it.
Many of us have experienced these feelings during an athletic activity, but aspects of this are possible during a focused, serious training session. This state can be fostered by connecting the body and mind during each session. While this may sound very esoteric or mystical to some I am referring to a focused state of mind. It is the difference between smoothly moving from exercise to exercise while bracing the trunk and squeezing the muscles through each repetition of a heavy lift or talking on a cell phone while sitting on the hip adduction machine.
Fitness professionals can help facilitate this "Zone" state by preparing their clients both mentally and physically. Teach them proper breathing, proper form and guide them towards taking responsibility for their own health. Once you lay the proper groundwork it is possible to keep your verbal cues simple, positive and few in number. Let the client “get inside their own head” while you guide them to an empowering training experience. It does not help to talk about everything under the sun during training if you want to get in the Zone.
In the past I have trained athletes and soldiers with the intent of facilitating the Flow State. I can not say that my methods were based on pure Western Science but they were effective. My goal was to “break” the athletes physically and emotionally, to some extent (all safe stuff-I know you must be thinking that I am a bit cruel). I would have them push past their comfort zones physically and also try to confuse them a bit mentally. The only thing they had to do was to shut out what I was saying in my attempt to “off-balance” them mentally, and focus on the exercises and movement patterns. The results were often dramatic. Facial expressions became calm and focused. There were no complaints. Movements became smooth and flowing, and the sweat was flowing like a river.
While you will not have to get as extreme as I did you can still help your clients achieve great things with focused intent and a clear mind. Encourage them to focus on each rep for as long as they can. Often giving them a set tempo is very helpful. Instead of performing a squat quickly, use a tempo based approach, for example 313. That refers to three seconds down, one second hold and three seconds up. This will force them to focus. Choose a tempo that will suit your client and see what happens.
Experiencing the “Flow” or “Zone” can come with repeated practice or it will come like a lightening bolt landing on your head. Either way, the result is positive and worth replicating. It could mean the difference between someone exercising infrequently or making health and fitness a lifestyle.
Being in the “zone” is often characterized as follows:
1. Having no fear
2. Not thinking about the performance
3. Being very focused on the activity
4. Not feeling the need to try to hard, i.e. being part of the activity itself
5. Feeling increased personal control
6. Seeing the event in slow motion.
Ancient warriors, regardless of country or ethnicity, have known about this state for centuries. Combat, or sports like boxing, football, mixed martial arts etc., replicate the need to stay in this state. When you are out of sync and not remotely close to being in the “zone’ you often get hurt. When you are in the “zone” everything just flows.
The Japanese often call it “Mushin No Shin”, or “mind of no mind”. It’s funny; I was watching “The Last Samurai” and noticed many a reference to this state. In the movie Tom Cruise’s character is getting his butt kicked by a seasoned samurai during sword training. The head Samurai’s son tells him “too many minds”. In other words he was letting too many distractions into his mind when he should have only been focused on the main task. That means no “ego”, no “if I do this, he’ll do that”, “my arms are sore” etc. This is a very valuable lesson for sports and life in general, think about it.
Many of us have experienced these feelings during an athletic activity, but aspects of this are possible during a focused, serious training session. This state can be fostered by connecting the body and mind during each session. While this may sound very esoteric or mystical to some I am referring to a focused state of mind. It is the difference between smoothly moving from exercise to exercise while bracing the trunk and squeezing the muscles through each repetition of a heavy lift or talking on a cell phone while sitting on the hip adduction machine.
Fitness professionals can help facilitate this "Zone" state by preparing their clients both mentally and physically. Teach them proper breathing, proper form and guide them towards taking responsibility for their own health. Once you lay the proper groundwork it is possible to keep your verbal cues simple, positive and few in number. Let the client “get inside their own head” while you guide them to an empowering training experience. It does not help to talk about everything under the sun during training if you want to get in the Zone.
In the past I have trained athletes and soldiers with the intent of facilitating the Flow State. I can not say that my methods were based on pure Western Science but they were effective. My goal was to “break” the athletes physically and emotionally, to some extent (all safe stuff-I know you must be thinking that I am a bit cruel). I would have them push past their comfort zones physically and also try to confuse them a bit mentally. The only thing they had to do was to shut out what I was saying in my attempt to “off-balance” them mentally, and focus on the exercises and movement patterns. The results were often dramatic. Facial expressions became calm and focused. There were no complaints. Movements became smooth and flowing, and the sweat was flowing like a river.
While you will not have to get as extreme as I did you can still help your clients achieve great things with focused intent and a clear mind. Encourage them to focus on each rep for as long as they can. Often giving them a set tempo is very helpful. Instead of performing a squat quickly, use a tempo based approach, for example 313. That refers to three seconds down, one second hold and three seconds up. This will force them to focus. Choose a tempo that will suit your client and see what happens.
Experiencing the “Flow” or “Zone” can come with repeated practice or it will come like a lightening bolt landing on your head. Either way, the result is positive and worth replicating. It could mean the difference between someone exercising infrequently or making health and fitness a lifestyle.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Another War Perspective
This article was written by my friend and colleague, Marty Mitchell. In a time when so many people are questioning what is going on in the middle east, with little thought about the sacrifices made by our armed forces, their professionalism, their commitment or even the opinions of our fighting men and women, I thought this was a nice article.
Recently I had the privilege of visiting Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, and the Army Ranger compound in Fort Benning, GA. In the process I met many service personnel and combatives instructors.
Having seen and heard negative media comments and views on the Iraqi and Afghanistan situations for so long, I was quite surprised at the morale of our troops. But what was really extraordinary was hearing an entirely different perspective on the progress of their mission, by those that have been there in action on many occasions.
I'm talking about the men and women on the front lines. The ones that are pulling the trigger while getting shot at. The ones that are in the face of the enemy.
My trip was strictly related to combative fitness and training. I could never have anticipated the eagerness and desire of these soldiers, men and women, to train to become a better fighting machine, and to get deployed again to finish the job.
I saw total conviction in that they are getting the job done. I heard specifics on kills, and destroy missions at terrorist breeding camps in Afghanistan and yes, in Iraq as well. I listened to their accounts of stomping out potential threats of existing and future attacks on American soil. These were totally unselfish, intelligent American soldiers talking, high on the fight for our freedom and safety.
I heard them question the role of the media that has portrayed their war as a failure. In a media circus that so obviously functions on a plane of political stance, it makes me wonder, what is truth?
I'm sure there are those serving with a completely different view than the one I am offering here. I am not speaking for the military community by any means. I'm simply saying there is another, entirely different opinion of our involvement than what we see on the six o'clock news. And I'd like to thank each and every one of our fighters, for my freedom to write about it.
Marty Mitchell
--
Recently I had the privilege of visiting Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, and the Army Ranger compound in Fort Benning, GA. In the process I met many service personnel and combatives instructors.
Having seen and heard negative media comments and views on the Iraqi and Afghanistan situations for so long, I was quite surprised at the morale of our troops. But what was really extraordinary was hearing an entirely different perspective on the progress of their mission, by those that have been there in action on many occasions.
I'm talking about the men and women on the front lines. The ones that are pulling the trigger while getting shot at. The ones that are in the face of the enemy.
My trip was strictly related to combative fitness and training. I could never have anticipated the eagerness and desire of these soldiers, men and women, to train to become a better fighting machine, and to get deployed again to finish the job.
I saw total conviction in that they are getting the job done. I heard specifics on kills, and destroy missions at terrorist breeding camps in Afghanistan and yes, in Iraq as well. I listened to their accounts of stomping out potential threats of existing and future attacks on American soil. These were totally unselfish, intelligent American soldiers talking, high on the fight for our freedom and safety.
I heard them question the role of the media that has portrayed their war as a failure. In a media circus that so obviously functions on a plane of political stance, it makes me wonder, what is truth?
I'm sure there are those serving with a completely different view than the one I am offering here. I am not speaking for the military community by any means. I'm simply saying there is another, entirely different opinion of our involvement than what we see on the six o'clock news. And I'd like to thank each and every one of our fighters, for my freedom to write about it.
Marty Mitchell
--
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