Just had an interview with writer and book reviewer Norm Goldman, he was very complimentary toward my book.

To read the full review and interview click Zone Mind, Zone Body Review

Just had an email from a chap called Thomas Manfredi who runs a website called Fitness After 50

Just reading his profile is motivation for anyone to continue or start a physical activity. He has over 40 years of experience in fitness and has an impressive cv - he also looks great (he politely states he is a little over 55) and is living proof of what can be achieved with intelligent training.

Check out his site and see what you think.

The sales of my book Zone Mind, Zone Body have started to pick up thanks to some articles in the press and good reviews. I have now added a free download preview of the book with the complete introduction plus extracts from each chapter - it can be downloaded from the link above.

I had some interesting conversations with trainers and sports people lately who like me are starting to question the wisdom behind all this 'core' stuff. The problem is that once something is repeated often enough with enough 'pseudo science' behind it to sound plausible everyone starts to believe it. Yes I know people say the feel stronger by developing their core but do we really need these muscles to be 'overworked'. Is it strength or tension they are feeling?

The arguement goes that we need a strong core for a stable body - but it doesnt make structural sense! For instance runners are led to believe they need a strong core to move their legs - yet where does the power come from? Answer - the ground. If you suspend a runner in mid air and ask them to move their legs as fast as possible it will be no where near the speed they can do 'on the ground'. This is because the speed comes from the recoil off the floor and it doesnt require great strength in the core to lift your leg. In fact, I think this could impede the recoil and return to the floor.

It just doesn't make sense to develop one part of the body in isolation when nature did a pretty good job at developing coordination reflexes for the whole body. If something isn't working right it's a coordination thing and not the preceived 'weak' muscle at the end of the chain. Remember muscles only do what you tell them to do and if there's a problem the answer is higher up the command chain.

Any comments/ views?

regards

Roy

I had a fascinating meeting yesterday discussing methods in performance enhancement. Jessica Robbins is a performance coach using techniques such as NLP and hypnosis. We realised during our discussion how, with our different approaches, we were working towards the same goal. It's not about getting fitter, stronger or pushing yourself, it's about knowing yourself, your motivation, your needs and your body.

The two hours just flew by and we are planning to set up a course for sports coaches. I look forward to working with Jess in the future and hope to learn more about what motivates me and how I can better focus my skills in achieving my own goals.

Doing pretty well, only missed a few days.

For anyone interested in starting a running program I have just put up my Complete Beginners Guide To Running on my website for FREE! I decided to put my money where my mouth was because Im always encouraging people to get out of the gym and enjoy a sport.

I see too many people who have stopped running only after 4 or 5 weeks because they are either injured or bored. So I designed this program to prevent both! So why not give it go.

over and out

Roy

My News Years Resolution was to start blogging everyday so here we are in February so in my usual procrasting manner I will make a start. Since I last made an entry my new book Zone Mind, Zone Body has been published and is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble and quite a few bookshops although I'm not sure which.

The book is a result of spending the last ten years teaching The Alexander Technique to all sorts of sports people. One thing I found in that time is that too many have what I call a 'poor body picture' that is they don't know how to use it well. I had the same problem which effectively put an end to any idea of a career in sport due to injuries (and I just wasnt good enough!)

I did quite a bit of research and was surprised that so many of today's popular fitness stuff has very little or no scientific basis or evidence to back it up. I have a big problem with all the fuss over 'core' workouts. Do we really have to work the core to bits in order to perform? I just dont think our bodies were designed that way (and neither do quite a few sports and medical scientists a la Mel Siff and Stuart McGill!)

How many fitness books have you got? I had loads and realised that they all say the same thing and have tons of pictures of exercises that really have little in common with any natural movements or your sports. When did we start to think that we had to spend more time doing these odd movements than playing a sport to stay in shape? I know the arguement goes that you need to work all these muscles using situps, crunches and all that but do we? When you play football, run in the park or go for a swim dont you work all of them together and in a coordinated way? Plus how much more fun is a good kick around the park?

What do you think? Of course you're welcome to read my book and get the full story, plus try all the activities I have in it to back up my point.

See you again soon

Roy