clevermanka | Trainer report

Last night's intro/eval session with Trainer Chris D was good. He was pleased that I passed all but two of the baseline flexibility/strength tests. I failed only the basic squat and overhead squat (both unloaded). This was no surprise to me. I know I can't do a real squat without falling backwards on my ass. I showed him how this wasn't a flexibility issue, since I can sit in an Asian squat if I'm holding a ten-pound weight. Without front-loading, though, boom. On my ass. He's going to work with the gym's soft tissue manipulation expert to figure out the best way to get my hips and calves stretched and strengthened so I can do a good and honest squat. Everything else I passed with flying colors. He was especially impressed with my hamstring flexibility. *preen* I expect to receive a program from him by Monday.

I need to purchase this book now rather than wait for someone to gift it to me. Trainer Chris D uses medical names for muscles (which I like) and it would be nice if he didn't have to dumb things down for me.

This book arrived for me yesterday, via inter-library loan. It looks fantastic. I can't wait to try out her suggestions for improving one's posture.

Still with the bees.

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Yay! for good trainers!

Have you looked for online free home-study resources like this (http://www.angelfire.com/or/mtdewbydo/anatomy.html)?

Not that in particular. But I know there are tons of free online places for anatomy info. And my acupuncturist is going to loan me her anatomy flash cards. I just like the idea of a coloring book. =D

Edit: A well-illustrated coloring book. The online ones I've found, the illustrations are just ass-ugly.

Edited 2010-07-14 16:31 (UTC)

Oh yes. I have one in particular *somewhere* in a box that my massage therapist buddy recommended, but alas, it has not surfaced yet.

I did see a secular home school site that had links to coloring pages.. at one time. I know that's not that helpful right this minute. :)

If you find the coloring book website and it doesn't look like bad clip art done in MS Draw, send me the URL. All the ones I've seen are just laughably bad.

If it is the book I am thinking of (see my comment below), the illustrations were done by someone really good at drafting, and it's awesome.

My trainer used to stick little lifts under my toes to help me ith squats.

Wouldn't that send me even further backwards?

I think I'm misunderstanding your problem maybe.
I was having trouble doing squats with flat feet - I kep coming up onto the ball, and the lift forced me to do ti right, even though I was horrible at it......

My ankle flexibility allows me to get into the right position, but unless I have something keeping me from falling backwards (holding onto heavy furniture, or holding a ten pound weight in front of me) I fall back on my ass. The only way I can hold the position is if my ankles are elevated.

In other words, I can do a squat wearing heels, but otherwise, no. =D

That is very cool and I really want to know what you think of the posture book wonce you have given it a read.

Just from glancing through, I already love it. Right now it's merely a decision of do I love it enough to purchase it.

It looks like it's a later edition of the Anatomy Colouring Book. My mother owns a copy of that one from the late 90s edition; we actually found it in an abandoned car up in the Yukon (long story) and she used it for her massage therapy courses and her nursing school courses. It's great.

Cool! Thank you for the first-hand recommendation!

Um, checking both on Amazon, no, they're by different authors. This one (http://www.amazon.ca/Anatomy-Coloring-Book-Wynn-Kapit/dp/0805350861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279128180&sr=8-1) was the one I was talking about. Sorry, false alarm --- but the Anatomy Colouring Book is cheaper, at least on Amazon.ca!

I nixed that one because I hate the front cover drawing. And if I don't like the featured drawing...well. Doesn't bode well for me liking the drawing style of the rest of it. =D

Edit: Oh, also, the other one is spiral bound for sure and I don't know that this one specifies.

Edited 2010-07-14 17:27 (UTC)

My mother's was a trade paperback. Being a leftie, I find spiral bound very user-unfriendly, so it would actually be a negative point rather than a positive one for me.

Okay, then. No good contribution from me. Should do more research before posting.

A for effort!!!!! =D

Overhead squats... yeah. These are my nemesis. I started squatting with my heels on two plates, then one, then some mats, then nothing. It took about 4 weeks. or about 16 workouts. I got Rachel to squat 135 the other day. She worked on it by getting into the low position while holding on to the rack and kinda shifting back and forth. I hypothesize that it's an ankle thing. Balance is effected by the strength of the mobile joint, since in this case it's the ankle, that's the culprit. If your gastrocenemius is strong and tight you tibialis anterior will be weak and loose. see Davis's law. weak tibials equals falling backward in the squat. It could be weak iliopsoas... but you can do the sumo (Asian) style, so that's probably not it. 500 toe lifts for you!!!

Interesting! I'll pass this info to Chris D to see if he concurs.

Yeah, my sumo squat is much, much better than my standard squat. Which means I just fall over more slowly. =b

Were I to take those tests, I would fail pretty much everything!!!

My husband can do full splits. Both ways.

I can't even touch my toes.

Wow. You need some flexibility classes, darlin'. I've been taking yoga for nearly a decade now. Perhaps I'm biased, but I think mobility trumps strength. Especially in the long term.

Also, expanding your range of motion just feels good.

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