Iron Monastery Fitness & Training

Photoshoot Sunday with @madore_daniel @ Iron Monastery Fitness & Training

Found the video of my very first time squatting with my sensei @joeyfarewell. This was almost exactly three years ago and I can't thank Joey enough for helping me change my life. Lifting gave me the self-efficacy to get through a lot of depression and poor habits that I didn't want to be stuck with. I weigh the same as I did 3 years ago, but my body composition is completely different. I'm in far better shape at 30 than I was at 20 and with these new habits I'm forming I hope to be able to say the same thing again a decade from now. Love you @joeyfarewell

In the United States, only 26% of men and 19% of women are meeting the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for health. Basically, 2.5 hours total of cardio and 2 sessions of full-body strength training per week is what we should be aiming for as a minimum. Even if you're not able to train at The Iron Monastery, I can send you programming to get you on your way to meeting these minimums. Let's improve these statistics together!

There is no such thing as inherently dangerous movement, only movement that you are inadequately prepared for. I deadlifted 350lbs for a single rep, without perfect form, and I'm not injured. A lot of people have warning signs go off in their brain when they see a heavy deadlift. They might think "Oh, I could never deadlift 300lbs - my back would explode." But what they really mean is that they couldn't deadlift 300lbs NOW, untrained. They forget that everyone starts small - with manageable weight. They pick up their groceries, don't they? That's a deadlift. It takes a lot of practice and adaptation to be able to put 300lbs on the bar, but it's not as far off as one might think.

Sound on for *crepitus* Crepitus is the popping or cracking noise in joints (my right knee, in this case). If I had seen this video before I started resistance training, I would have told this person to stop what they were doing immediately. Now I know that it's just something that happens - it's not a harbinger of doom. Plus, rest or inactivity is far more dangerous for you health-wise than a few crackles and pops. My squat session:... 255lbs x 6reps 275lbs x 6reps x 2sets 295lbs x 6reps x 2sets See more

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByR1K6XJ2gi/?igshid=dxksdih480yr Iron Monastery: After Dark Video 1: High Bar Squat single rep at 315lbs... Video 2: Overhead Press single rep at 125lbs Both of these are personal bests since my shoulder surgery 6 months ago. I usually try to take the day's first opportunity to exercise, but sometimes it has to get pushed until late. I'm lucky enough to have a home gym, so I almost never end up missing a session. My schedule can be flexible to fit around yours and I can come to you if you need to train early or later in the day! See more