Welcome to your quick-fire, end of week update with a few bite-sized bullet points covering what we’re learning about and loving in three areas: fitness, nutrition and mindset. One bullet from each trainer, a little nugget of health and fitness gold.
FITNESS: Nic loves his mace
No, not the capsicum spray, we’re talking about steel maces here! If you’ve been in the AGOGA studio recently then you’ve probably started to acquaint yourself with the wondrous steel maces. The mace is an exceptional training tool as its disproportionate weight displacement turns common exercises into truly challenging tasks where your core’s anti-rotation capacity and body stabilisers (especially in the shoulders) are put to the test. When it comes to developing rotational strength and athletic movement in three dimensions, the mace (just like the ViPR!) has got your covered.
But don’t be fooled into thinking this is some new fitness fad; the steel mace is one of the OLDEST strength training implements! Steel mace training can be traced all the way back to the 13th century when Persian and Hindu warriors and wrestlers would train with the heavy maces called ‘gada’ to condition their muscles for battle or competition. As maces were the weapon of choice for many soldiers (as well as the Hindu deity Hanuman), training involved swinging very heavy maces (compared to the lighter battlefield maces) to develop backs, shoulders, chests, and forearm grips of iron! To this day mace training continues to be a dedicated practice by Pehlwani wrestlers in India and with the ever-increasing interest in effective functional training, it’s no surprise this ancient device has slowly increased in popularity around the world.
So – who’s excited for some more AGOGA steel mace training?
NUTRITION: Lib is breaking her fast in style
Libby is a big believer in ditching cereals, fruity yoghurts, and toast with spreads and instead eating protein, healthy fats and vegetables for breakfast. Not only do foods like eggs, avocado, greens/mushies, fish, nuts, and plain/full-fat yoghurts:
- fire up the right neurotransmitters to help you have a productive day, and
- provide lasting energy and stimulate fat burning/your metabolism from your very first meal,
they also help you to easily increase the number of micronutrients you’re consuming and cut out one potentially whopping serve of carbs/sugar per day.
When a very small serve of a ‘healthy’ cereal can pack the same amount of sugar as a whole block of chocolate, that can make a very big difference to your bottom line – and to your bottom! Check out our infographic for a quick visual…
MINDSET: Vee has pins and needles
Vee is a huge fan of acupuncture – this practice has been an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and its popularity in the West continues to slowly rise. Although it’s claimed to have several health benefits such as pain relief (including musculoskeletal pain), migraine relief, helping insomnia as well as reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, many still perceive acupuncture as some old-school witchcraft! So what does the science say? While there’s no definitive conclusion on the effectiveness of acupuncture, research indicates that acupuncture may produce targeted, local relief by stimulating the neuroendocrine system and by modulating the body’s electromagnetic energy. Cool huh!? The effectiveness of any treatment will depend on point selection, the type of stimulation, likely the treatment time of day, the specific condition treated as well as the skill and knowledge of the acupuncturist.
Keen to try it out? Vee has two recommendations:
- Swing by Power Living in Bondi for their “Acupuncture Thursdays” between 10am and 7pm. No appointment needed and it will only cost you $25!
- The Intuitive Well in Bondi Junction also provides a similar $25 service on Wednesdays 10am-7pm and Saturdays 9am-5pm. Too easy ☺
Thanks for reading Agogians! Have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll see you in the studio.
