Are You Fit For Golf?

Spring is here, at least according to the calendar. And thoughts turn to doing things outside. Golfers of every type are now itching to hit the course.

Every golfer wants to play better golf, and golf is a highly athletic event! The most common method used to achieve this goal is a combination of professional lessons and more practice. Although this approach seems logical, it is the very reason many golfers end up injured and rarely reach their potential. Why? Simply, because few golfers associate the need for improved physical conditioning with their quest for improved performance.

Fitness Together approaches golf conditioning in a truly sport specific manner. Our program is built entirely upon the principles of functional exercise. Unlike exercise programs developed upon a bodybuilding format, or upon muscle isolation exercises, functional exercises are designed to restore balance, lengthen, strengthen, and coordinate movement patterns specific to the golf swing. The human brain does not think in terms of isolated muscles. Instead, it recruits groups of muscles in uniquely programmed sequences. A golfer’s conditioning program must therefore be designed to integrate the whole body.

Flexibility, Stability, Strength & Power

There are 4 physical factors that must be addressed in order to help the golfing athlete. The first is 1) Flexibility, the second is 2) Stability, the third is 3) Strength, and the fourth is 4) Power. It is important to address these factors in the correct order.

The first step in the Fitness Together Golf-Conditioning Program is to improve flexibility, as this is the catalyst for all subsequent aspects of golf conditioning. Stretching allows the development and maintenance of optimal joint range of motion in the golfer’s body. When the golfer is not flexible, the body’s biomechanics are altered, progressively disrupting swing mechanics. In other words, optimal joint range of motion is a biomechanical prerequisite of the golf swing. Once flexibility is restored to appropriate areas and the musculoskeletal system is balanced, then stability can be handled.

Stability is important since a stable body creates a solid framework or all movements and activities. Additionally, a stable, well-balanced body is less likely to be injured. What exactly does stability really mean, and how does it apply to the game of golf? There are two key types of stability. The first is the ability to remain in one position (static) for a period of time without losing good structural alignment. The second type of stability is the ability to keep all working joints in optimal alignment during any given movement. When you have inadequate postural stability, you have a very poor chance of ever reproducing a good shot consistently.

When stability is achieved, strength can be built using functional movement patterns that will readily transfer to the game of golf. The need for strength can’t be overstated.

Finally, the last progression is to develop power. The more power a golfer can transfer from his or her body through the club to the ball, the father he or she will be able to drive the ball. Any attempts to improve golf strength or power without first restoring flexibility and stability will always prove to be less fruitful and more likely to lead to injury!

So....are you really Fit For Golf?

Quality Of Life

Spring is coming soon. We are getting more daylight and down in Florida Spring Training has begun. Sure signs that Spring is around the corner.

In this article I’d like to address our Quality of Life.

Recently I was out at the Dog Park with my two dogs when I overheard three people talking. During their conversation they realized that they had all experienced knee surgery – and that the reason they had problems with their knees was because of their weight. I would guess their ages were between the mid-30’s to mid 50’s. As they were telling their “war stories” of rehab and medication, they seemed to try to outdo one other on their medications ranging from hypertension, diabetes and medications for post-rehab, as if they were proud of the number of medications they were taking.

Sadly, not one addressed the issue of their excess weight – weight that is only putting additional stress on their hips, knees and internal organs.

On the other side of the spectrum, a week later at the same park I met a gentleman who was by himself with his dog and he noticed my car with the FT logo. I explained to him what we do to help people live a healthier lifestyle. He told me that he and his wife work out 5 times per week, and love walking the trails inside the park. Based on the year he graduated College he must be about 61 or 62 years old, but he looked a lot younger.

Now, looking back to those three individuals who had knee surgery, they might be younger than the ages I think they are, but due to inactivity and the lack of a healthy lifestyle they look older.

Bottom line – Regular Exercise and Better Nutrition will slow down the aging process – not those creams you see on television.

So you are the Captain of your Body; what direction will you steer your body – towards an active or sedentary lifestyle?

It’s your call.

"I Can Do It On My Own...."

Here in Virginia we’ve been having unusually bad Winter weather. First the snows and now it’s extremely cold and windy. I’m sure that in a couple of months we’ll be complaining how hot it is…

I usually talk about what it takes for someone to start an exercise or fitness program. Today I’d like to talk about what keeps someone on that program.

I’m very lucky that, in my Williamsburg Studio, I have my very first client. Peggy is 74 years young and has been coming in for her workouts three times a week for almost three years. In addition, on her off days she often comes in to do cardio. She has just reached one of her goals: to benchpress 100 lbs. – something many much younger men cannot do.

By this point Peggy can probably go off on her own to work out and do it intelligently. I believe that she doesn’t because our Studio provides her with more variety in her exercising and she knows that, because she works with a trainer, she is pushed beyond her own comfort level.

Thankfully we have many clients like Peggy that just keep coming back month after month and year after year. But then we also have those that sign up for one package of 3 or 6 months and then don’t return.

Why don’t they return? Most of these clients see the results that they expect from us. Do they lose their passion for exercising? Do they no longer feel that they need a trainer? Is it the expense?

I’ve found that, most of the time, if a client cites expense as a reason, this is rarely the case. It might be that they just don’t want to spend the money, not that they can’t afford it. They would rather spend that money on things other than their health and well-being.

If they have lost their passion it is even more frustrating. Most of them see the pounds and inches come off, feel better, look better – and yet they begin to lose interest in exercising. All of our trainers are extremely supportive and motivating, so it’s certainly not because of any lack on their part.

Some clients will tell me “I won’t be coming back but I have a treadmill at home so I’ll keep up with my exercising….” Of course, not only will they not continue with their exercising but they are fooling themselves if they think that just walking on a treadmill will result in significant weight loss or fitness. Just losing weight or inches does not translate into fitness.

True fitness is realized by the right balance of weight training, cardio and healthy eating.

Most, if not all, of these clients first came to us because they couldn’t do it on their own – what makes them think they can do it now?

I imagine I will just have to continue doing what I do best – work with the dedicated clients that stream through my doors on a daily basis and keep them motivated and inspired.