HOW PLYOMETRICS & TEMPO TRAINING IMPROVE TENDON HEALTH
We’ve been talking about strength training and joint health recently. Another important aspect of that process involves our tendons. Tendons are tough structures made of cartilage that connect muscles to bones and help your body move. Tendon health is important because it literally helps us move properly and prevents other injuries or falls. So, how can we improve the health of our tendons? Two methods involve plyometrics and tempo training. Let’s look at how each strengthens our tendons.
UNDERSTANDING BAR PATH IN THE CLEAN & SNATCH
The path of the bar in weightlifting is all about moving yourself in accordance with the weight as smoothly and efficiently as possible. When you’re first learning weightlifting, the movements can feel unstable and clunky. The way it is usually taught is in segments to make it easier to understand and process. This process is known to some as the “ top-down” method. Essentially, we are starting from our hip position, where the bar would be just before we extend and move the bar to our overhead position. Every subsequent position down towards the ground, our “start” position for a full lift, adds more complexity and requires us to be more aware of where we and the bar are moving simultaneously. In order to make it easier to understand, we will talk about the path from the floor to overhead to make the sequence one seamless progression to picture the overall lift.
JOINT-FRIENDLY STRENGTH TRAINING: 50+
Most of us will develop some joint aches and pains as we age. While it might seem contradictory, strength training helps preserve joint function and range of motion as you get older. As a follow-up to last week’s blog about strength and longevity, let’s look more specifically at joint-friendly strength training when you are over 50.
SNATCH FOUNDATIONS: BEGINNER MISTAKES & FIXES
Weightlifting is a sport of grace and explosiveness. While those two descriptions may seem odd to master together, they are essential for the two main lifts in weightlifting. The snatch and clean and jerk are the epitome of those two terms, although we are just going to focus on the snatch for today. Let's discuss some common issues and how to fix them.
STRENGTH FOR LONGEVITY
As we age, everyone loses muscle mass at about 5% per decade, starting at age 30. That rate of loss accelerates after age 60. With that loss of muscle mass comes a decrease in strength and function. For older people, this can lead to disability and inactivity. So, how do you promote strength for longevity? Let’s look at how you can maintain muscle mass and functioning as you age.
EXERCISE EQUIPMENT TIPS FOR TRAVELING ABROAD
With the temperatures starting to drop, many have made preparations for traveling as the holidays draw closer. However, one of the common concerns about traveling around, whether by car or airplane, affects our usual exercise routine. Therefore, why not bring some of that exercise equipment on your travels?
SETTING YOU UP FOR Q1 2026
As the holidays roll in, it’s easy to slip into the “I’ll start fresh in January” mindset. Between parties, travel, and colder weather, consistency can feel harder to maintain — and before you know it, the new year arrives, and you’re trying to rebuild momentum from scratch. December doesn’t have to be a setback. Instead, it can be a strategic setup to feeling ready to tackle the pressure of the new year. Here’s what you can focus on this holiday season to set yourself up for a strong start to 2026.
WINTER-PROOF YOUR STRENGTH & MOBILITY
As we move into the winter months, the colder weather and darker days often bring more time indoors and a lot more sitting. When the days get shorter, our activity levels tend to drop. More sitting (and scrolling) means tight hips, rounded shoulders, and sluggish posture. Between colder temps, holiday travel, and seasonal routines shifting, it’s easy for stiffness, fatigue, and aches to sneak in.
We know that moving well is the foundation of feeling strong, whether you’re snatching a barbell, chasing your kids or dogs, or just getting through a long workday without tight hips or sore shoulders. So how do we combat this? Add in some more mobility throughout your day.
FLEXIBILITY VS. MOBILITY: THEY AREN’T THE SAME
Why the heck should I care about flexibility and mobility with my workouts, and aren’t they the same thing anyway?
Well, not quite.
BUILDING STRENGTH WITH OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
Building strength is one of the top reasons anyone goes to the gym. Building strength makes your mind and body feel better, builds your confidence, and makes actions in our daily life easier. One of the ways this is commonly done is through forms of resistance training, or as many understand it, lifting weights. Today we are going to talk about how one style, Olympic Weightlifting, can help you build up your strength and some tips for how to train for it.
THE GREATEST GIFT
The greatest gift I’ve ever received that didn’t come wrapped in a check would definitely be my coaches! When I first walked into PFP, I was a stay-at-home mom in desperate need of an escape from my own four walls. Enter Gina and Caleb—two wonderful humans who convinced me to get back into fitness after I’d let it all go (you know, thanks to the magic of having babies).
TRAP BAR & BARBELL DEADLIFTS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Deadlifts are a foundational movement that many people will encounter in a gym setting. Whether it is in a class setting or doing it on your own, deadlifts can be a very helpful total body movement that everyone should become familiar with. The movement transfers to our daily lives as often as squatting or walking. When you bend over to pick up a heavy box or object you are using the same movement pattern as a deadlift. There’s many variations of the exercise but today we will be talking about two: the trap bar deadlift and the barbell deadlift. How are they fundamentally different and what crossover do they share?
WHAT IS WEIGHTLIFTING?
You, or someone you know, have either gone to a gym or still go to a gym to work out a few times a week. They might do some cardio on the treadmill and in addition they might “lift weights” to build strength, but this is not what the rest of the world knows as “Weightlifting”. Lifting weights is what most people do at a gym when they have some sets of bicep curls and lunges. Weightlifting is an international sport done by people worldwide, and it is featured at the Summer Olympic Games.
STRENGTH TRAINING 101
One of the main reasons people seek out gyms or training facilities is to increase their overall strength. It is widely understood that individuals of all ages who increase their strength through exercise experience less chronic pain, improve their mobility, and just generally feel better.
FIVE REASONS TO STRENGTH TRAIN THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW YOU LOOK
Did you know that after age 30, inactive adults lose 3% to 8% muscle mass per decade? Inactivity decreases our metabolism and increases fat accumulation. Over time, sedentary adults are more prone to developing diseases and injuries. The solution? Train with weights.