When it comes to conditioning, there’s been a concerning trend in the personal and group training world over the last few years: more is better, and harder is best. Conditioning has been approached with a mindset of,
“If you’re not dead after every workout, what was it for?”
And while that might be okay every once in a while (arguable), it’s absolutely not the best way to get to your goals.
We’ve been building a unique approach to conditioning for general population (i.e. adults) over the last 5+ years, and over the next three weeks we are going to explain a little more about our approach. Through this approach, we have seen sustainable fat loss, increased performance, and our members feeling GREAT…
Neural-Metabolic Continuum
We’re freshest to start the week. I know, I know, obvious statement. But if we’re freshest to start the week, we can take advantage, and train intensely.
We hit the ground running.
This is the neural end of the continuum.
We start the week with the “snappiest” of power, heaviest loads in the weight room, followed by the most intense of conditioning.
But, before you jump to conclusions, let’s have an understanding that the type of intensity we are referring to might be different than your current interpretation.
We’re not talking about the latest Tabata class.
We are talking about working with greater load and/or speed. And QUALITY work with greater load and/or speed.
We start the day with power
Med ball throws, jumps, and other options lie here.
How do we choose? We simply select exercises that allow you to express power with minimal time spent coaching skill, and more time expressing the intent of P-O-W-E-R!
Starting day one with the most powerful of power primes our nervous system for the strength work to follow.
We follow power with strength
Based on the results of your assessment we can figure out if you have the ability to express more strength with squatting or hinging, without even testing your strength.
If the answer is hinge, we train the deadlift for strength on your first training day of the week.
Squat? Vice-versa.
If you’re capable of expressing true strength well in either pattern, we look at goals.
Which one would we like to train to increase strength with more? Start there.
Don’t care? Maintain your squat, build your hinge.
We cap off the day with conditioning
Now, you don’t have to do time-based conditioning here. That’s just one option.
But, you do want to stay away from:
- a long duration of time under tension
- high complexity skills that promote low quality movement (this is individual specific)
Hit some recovery work, and get on with your day
Next week
we’ll be back to discuss conditioning towards the middle of the week.
In the mean-time, if you have any questions/comments/concerns, drop them in the comments!
Interested in learning more about Beyond Strength Performance NOVA, LLC?


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