In the weight room, we recommend wearing a minimalist-type shoe, often called “Cross-Trainers,” versus regular running or tennis shoes. The reason is that running shoes are not meant for lateral (side to side) movement since they are structured to only help you move forward. Additionally, and perhaps the most noticeable in the gym, when you wear […]
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Orange Fluff is not a salad…and other deep thoughts.
Hello Readers; Mike here! Not two weeks ago, one of our beloved members, having a big group of family in town, messaged me to tell me how concerned he was to be off the nutritional bandwagon. Dinners out, cookouts and trips for ice cream were all on the agenda. We get it! And it got […]
PACKED shoulders = strong lifts.
A few weeks ago we introduced to the fitness world the concept of ‘lativation’ – that is, our made-up word to describe the activation of the lat muscles during exercise. 🙂 Contracting your lats (the sides of your back that form a V) creates a pull of your shoulder blades down toward your back pants pockets. This […]
Controlling Cortisol: how to lower this belly fat hormone
How to Naturally Lower the Stress Hormone: Cortisol STRESS!!! The causes are absolutely everywhere. Would you agree? Our natural “fight or flight” stress response can sometimes go a little overboard. It’s supposed to help us escape injury or death in an emergency and thenreturn to normal after we’ve fought or flew. But, since that doesn’t happen […]
MIKE-ISMS [ changing the fitness industry one made-up word at a time ]
![MIKE-ISMS [ changing the fitness industry one made-up word at a time ]](https://valeotraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Mike-isms-300x114.png)
Hey all – Mike here! If you’ve been around Valeo for any time at all, you know that rarely am I ever at a loss for words. Sometimes, I even find some extra ones! If you know anything else about me, you might know my passion for strength and the importance of posture. Some of the biggest offenders of this posture problem […]
Berry Hack: how to keep fresh berries from spoiling!
We’re entering berry season in Michigan – one of the best times of the year. We love doing “you-pick” at local farms like Pleasant Hill Farm in Fennville – offering organic strawberry and blueberry picking (some years, even peaches!). So summery and delicious. However, if you’re like us, you may wonder how to make those gorgeous berries last longer in […]
Are you mowing the lawn while your house is on fire? 3 ways nutrition often goes wrong.
Our friends over at Precision Nutrition recently did an interview with Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, nutrition guru and coach, and we really resonated with what she had to say. Maybe you do, too? When asked “What are the 3 areas where people often go wrong with their nutrition?” she responded: “1. Over-thinking things and creating overly complex ‘rules.’ […]
When is “tension” a good thing?
Walk around our gym and you’ll hear coaches remind members about“tension.” It may seem repetitive, but verbal cues to keep muscles engaged during specific parts of an exercise can mean the difference between a successful lift or a set-up for injury. What is “tension” during exercise? Tension = strength and power. It’s the way muscles generate force and the […]
Trusting yourself: the power of re-framing.
I first wrote this Tip a year ago and it seems fitting to share it again this week. Seasons are shifting and with that brings new schedules, new foods, the return of festivals (hello, Tulip Time!) 🙂 and often, the return of an anxious mindset when it come to eating well. In fact, I was […]
Do this drill to make sure you are hinging correctly!
WHAT IS THE HINGE? The hinge is a movement pattern that shows up in a gazillion different exercises we do here at Valeo. It’s so very important to moving well, feeling good, and executing exercises correctly (read: safely). To “hinge” is to simply fold at the hips, projecting them backwards with minimal knee bend and a neutral spine (not rounding the back). This differs […]
