Written By: Aaron Guyett, M.A., B.S., CSCS, FRAs, FRCms

Living.Fit Education Director and Master Coach

Action.

There is no substitute. One cannot wish or hope their way to doing.

In consulting and coaching, I hear a lot of people express the action they are going to take in poor ways.

It will have a lot of “try,” “should,” and “hope.”

I also read and hear a lot of ambiguous and general language.

It is almost as if the person is giving themselves an escape.

Unfortunately, this ambiguity does not inspire, ensure, or create any actions.

In order for action to be taken, there must be concrete terms and clarity.

“I will run every morning for ten minutes for the next week, in order to develop strength, endurance, and improve my health.”

That is concrete, clear, and calls out the action step.

How can you adjust your language to bring forth action?

By: Aaron Guyett, M.A., B.S., CSCS, FRCms, FRAs

Education Director and Master Coach

What is Circuit Training?

Circuit training is the high intensity interval training of yesteryear.

Whereas the average group training and exercise class is filled with high intensity interval training, we used to call this circuit training.

Most people think of machines or tiny dumbbells when they conjure pictures of circuit training, but that does have to be the case.

Is circuit training high intensity?

It can be, depending upon the results you are working for, or the way in which you design the program.

Is circuit training, interval training?

It is, dependent upon the goals, and the way you design the program.

Is circuit training effective in building strength and endurance?

As stated in research by Alcaraz, Sánchez-Lorente, and Blazevich, "Heavy Resistance Circuits may be an effective training strategy for the promotion of both strength and cardiovascular adaptations."¹  It has...

1. Too much ballistic work with not enough weight
2. Too many circuits that burn too many calories
3. That’s not the goal for most

By: Aaron Guyett, M.A., B.S., CSCS, FRCms, FRAs

Education Director and Master Coach 

So many people are talking about flow, and there is an equal amount of people that have zero clue what these flow-people are doing.

Turns out, many of the flow-people are just using yet another term that has been watered down and turned into whatever feels good at the time.

Person 1 - "Check out this flow that I am doing with the kettlebell." (performs cool sequence of fluid and dynamic movements with a kettlebell)

Person 2 - "I am so flowing right now." (Really into a video game)

Person 3 - "I am flowing." (Gives dog a treat...)

Let's break down what flow state is, and then we can begin to see how flow workouts began to exist in the fitness industry and the Gram (as in Instagram).

Flow State is a heightened state of arousal and focus, also know as being in the "zone."

If you have played sports or even been really into a creative craft or competition...you may have experienced flow state.

Let's...

Abs versus core gets broken down by our Education Director and Master Coach Aaron Guyett. He then gives you a workout with ab and core exercises, and goes on to explain how to set-up this effective workout within a program.

In the first part of the video, Aaron Guyett demonstrates a few exercises to include in your next AB & CORE WORKOUT with some super sweet music.

The next portion,  break down the difference between "ab" workouts and "core" workouts.

I also break down a very thorough and effective way to train both abs and core at the same time with battle ropes.

After breaking down the workout, I then talk through how I would put this workout into a program, and how I would set it up for progress (or improved adaptation).

If you are looking for some incredible follow-along workouts click here: Battle Ropes Level 2

If you want to learn more about programming and workout development click here: Battle Ropes Advanced Course

1. Always look at the Risk/Reward of...

Battle Ropes are ropes used to improve fitness capacity in a myriad of different movement patterns and power outputs and methods of use.

Where did Ropes Come From?

And When Were Ropes Invented?

It is estimated that ropes have been used in human history for longer than clay, iron, bronze, and steel. Most likely humans have been braiding or twisting animal hair or plant fibers together to transfer human force to objects, animals, and constructed items since the dawn of man and woman.

There is evidence of rope twisting tools that date back 28,000 years ago, according to Meredith F. Small (April 2002), "String theory: the tradition of spinning raw fibers dates back 28,000 years. (At The Museum).", Natural History, 111.3: 14(2).

There is recorded history of Egyptians using ropes to pull heavy objects (build pyramids), bind heavy and loose objects/people, tie off animals, and help sail boats from approximately 4000 to 3500 BC. http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Rope.html...

Are you a good coach?

Do you want to be a better coach?

Most good coaches would agree that they can get better.

Yet I would put all of the money in all of my bank accounts that EVERY great coach spends weekly time becoming a better coach.

“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.” 
― Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

I have had plenty of good coaches, but I couldn't tell you all of their names. 

Now, my great coaches? I have only had a few, and I could tell you their names, as well as the specific effects they had on my life.

I compiled an incomplete, yet sufficient, list of 17 ways you and...