Good Advice for all ages

This article was just on my facebook feed and since I have been guilty on more than one occasion of abusing some of these rules, I thought it would be good to share. this is from a Personal Trainer web site and I think personal trainers would be a good investment for a lot of us either wanting to get back into the work-out routine or get off the plateau.

Personal Trainer Development Center

[Top 5 Rules for Gym Etiquette]
1. Respect the no-lift zone – Don’t ever lift a weight within 5 feet of the dumbbell rack. Ever. I don’t care if it’s shoulder press, split squat, biceps curls, or goblet squats. Pick up your weights and take 5 giant steps back.
2. Avoid the “Ab zone” – Most gyms have a designated area for mats, balls, bosu balls etc. Don’t bring heavy weights into that area. It’s designated for stretching and ab work (if you still do ab work). By taking up their space you force them to take up your space (see the next point)
3. Keep your mats out of the way! – Why does anybody set up a mat in between two benches in the free weight zone and do crunches? Do they want to get a weight on the head? Even if the gym is empty set up your mat out of the way. Either stick to the “ab zone” or place your mat in a corner out of the way. Think proactively. Where might somebody want to work out over the course of your set? Don’t set up there.
4. Walking in front of somebody – If somebody is in the middle of their set NEVER cross their field of vision. Take the long way around if you have to.
5. Put your weights away – ‘Nuff said.
Make sure you teach these rules with your clients. What would you add to the list?

Exercise is good at any age

There is a new study that is being publicized by the National Institute of Aging that has determined that exercise is good at any age.

Working out is something I do - a lot. Yet, there are a great many people as old or older than I am whose workouts make me look like a shirker.  The study referred to in this post keeps exercise at a reasonable level.  Exercise is not easy but many do believe it is the 'fountain of youth.' Here is some good advice from the National Institute for Aging that discusses particular exercises. Go For it!

You can do so much more than you know when it comes to exercise

Was having a discussion about cross-fit with a younger friends as I expressed my trepidation about trying a new cross-fit program.  Most days I wonder if I am too old to be doing this stuff. She said, as those of us in the exercise mindset often say, "Come out and do what you can do."  She was being both supportive and encouraging.

As I went through the Tuesday version of our Hartsville YMCA Bootfit with Robbie McLendon, I got to wondering about that advice. Thinking about doing what you can do is going to keep a lot of people out of the Y, off the roads, out of the pool, away from the weight room, off the Spin bike, away from the Yoga class and certainly miles from any bootfit or crossfit.

For months some of my Spin friends had been doing Robbie's Beginner Bootfit class and it just looked way more than I could ever do. I kept talking myself out of it until a couple of people along with Robbie somehow hit the right encouragement chord.  I went. I have been going ever since.

It is not something I thought I could do. Many nights I wonder if I will make it through. But it was true -- I could do it and do do it. I am not going to tell you it is pretty but as Robbie likes to say about his mega-exercise days -- "got 'er done."

My point -- don't do what you can do. Go do something and be amazed at what your body will help you accomplish when you provide the direction.  Tonight for example: four Hindu pushups; eight situps, 12 squats; 20 yards of bear crawl and 100 meters of running as many times as you could make it in 14 minutes. I had 10 meters left to run as the buzzer sounded for my seventh full rep this evening. Honestly, six or seven months ago I could not run a meter. That was a 16 minute AMRAP this evening and a challenge after last night's 400 meters and lots of burpees; then 800 meters and lots of burpees and then 1200 meters and only ten more burpees. It was a killer over 19 minutes but it was an intense physical workout that tested both body and mind and - I passed.

Do and you will be amazed at what you can do and what you will do. Join Us #YMCAUPPERPEEDEE.