We think of rites of passage as monumental milestones in life. Events that as we endure carry us to our next stage. Whether it is graduation, marriage, or our first child, rites of passage are evolutions in who we are. Knowing this, your daily workout is a rite of passage. It’s an evolution from who you were before into who you are becoming. At first you may be thinking, “Chris, a single workout can’t be a rite of passage.” Why not? A rite of passage is an earned libera

When you hear the word “tension,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Tight hamstrings, tendon sprains, and fascia tears? Too much stress? Whatever you think, chances are it is related to, too much of something. We all know more tension means more strain on your mind and body, which can put it out of commission for weeks on end if not properly handled. But what about a little planned tension incorporated into your training? Muscles store and release energy like an e

If you're an athlete, chances are you want to become bigger, faster, and stronger. You know resistance training or lifting weights makes us better athletes, but do you know how? Muscles adapt to stress in two ways. The first way is the muscle grows more stuff to pull. In nerd wording, the cross-sectional fibers (myofibrils or contractile proteins) of your muscles receive micro-tears from the stress of moving heavy loads, adapting and thickening the myofibrils (stuff that p

After five years of researching, analyzing, and filtering through all the garbage out there so you don’t have to, I am proud to launch my new book How to Improve at Fitness and Beat the Competition: Sport and Exercise Science for Athletes in Search of Excellence on my birthday! The book is a compilation of essays I have written over the years explaining different aspects of fitness. How to Improve at Fitness and Beat the Competition is powered by PROformance Training System

Continuing from my previous post, the rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor) and shoulder girdle (clavicle and scapula bones) should not be examined without understanding the hip and ankle complex (Please Read "Sometimes our Problems Reside Beyond our Pain: Ankle Mobility & Hip Dysfunction"). It is a common belief in my field that many shoulder injuries excluding blunt trauma (a sudden hit) begin at the ankle or hip, which in turn

Squatting is one of the primary exercises athletes perform to improve performance, yet when working with new athletes I tend to see one common dysfunction, an excessive forward lean with heels elevated. Although an excessive forward lean can be caused by lower-crossed syndrome (tight hip flexors and hamstrings and inhibited abdominals and glutes), I began to notice a recurring trend where their heels were also leaving the ground. After doing some research, I stumbled across