A Foolproof Way To Strengthen Your Arms

How To Perform A Bicep Curl While You're Leaning Against A Wall - Jennifer Ledford - Strengthen Your Arms

One of the top reasons that a person will hire a personal trainer is to make sure they are performing their exercises correctly and using proper form.  Proper form while strength training is incredibly important because it helps prevent injuries and ensure that you are getting the most out of the exercise.

​​​​​​​When I first started working in the fitness industry, you would have had to schedule a private session with me to learn proper form.  Not so anymore, thanks to technology!

In today’s video I share one of the safest, simplest, and most effective exercises I know of that strengthens and tones the biceps.  It’s simple to do on your own and great for all levels of fitness.

Here’s to keeping fitness safe and simple.

​​​​​​​Enjoy the video and have a great week!

Shared with Love,
Jennifer Ledford

STRENGTHEN YOUR ARMS

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Add Variety To Your Leg Routine With This Squat Exercise

Add Variety To Your Leg Routine With This Squat Exercise by Jennifer Ledford

If you exercise regularly, it’s easy to get into the routine of doing the same set of exercises every time.  I’ll be the first one to tell you that doing the same exercises every time you workout will always be better than doing nothing at all. However, there is something to be said for adding a bit of variety to your workout routine.

Adding new activities to your routine can challenge your muscles, your nervous system, and your brain.  One of the easiest ways to challenge yourself physically and mentally is to move the body in multiple directions during a workout.

Adding Variety To Your Squats

In today’s video I demonstrate how to move “side to side” while performing squats.  I’ve added some upper body work as well.  It’s a simple exercise that helps tone and strengthen the legs, glutes, back, and abs.  That’s a lot of return for a small investment of your time!

Enjoy the video and have a great week!

Shared with Love,
Jennifer Ledford

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Simple Self Massage That Helps Release Tight Lower Body Muscles

Simple Self Massage That Helps Release Tight Lower Body Muscles

When it comes to being physically fit, massage may not be the first thing on your list of to do’s. Oftentimes, when one hears the word massage, a luxurious experience in a fancy spa comes to mind. You probably know it’s good for relieving stress levels but may be wondering how it contributes to helping you fit into your jeans.

There are three main components to physical fitness. They are strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. All three are equally important and work together to help your body move more efficiently, prevent injury, and burn calories optimally. Tight muscles can pull on joints which can lead to pain and/or injury. Once a body is suffering from pain or an injury, it can be difficult to follow through with an exercise routine, normal lifestyle activities, and in some cases even work responsibilities.

Over the years, the fitness industry has come to realize that one of the best ways to maintain flexibility and release tight muscles is to learn the practice of self-massage using tools like foam rollers and tennis balls. Massage, also know as release work or trigger point therapy, has proven to be more effective than stretching when it comes to releasing tight muscles and improving the body’s range of motion for the long term.

SELF-MASSAGE

Since massage is really more of a necessity  than a luxury, I recommend learning self-massage. When you know how to release tight muscles on your own, it allows you to have unlimited access to massage without taxing your schedule or budget. Even a few minutes a day can make a BIG difference when it comes to improving range of motion and relieving stress (which also helps with weight loss).

In today’s video, I demonstrate how to use a foam roller to massage and release some of the most common areas that can get tight in the lower body.  I also demonstrate some stretches for hamstrings and hip flexors at the end so make sure to watch the whole video.  I’ve also included some links below to help you purchase a roller of your own if you don’t already own one and a book that I recommend to all of my private coaching clients. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook is inexpensive and walks you through step-by-step self-massage in a way that’s easy to understand. Foam rollers are a low cost investment that are worth every penny.

Enjoy the video and here’s to being fit and feeling good!

Shared with Love,
Jennifer

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