REST DAY: GET A LACROSSE BALL AND STRETCH BAND

i just returned from Trident CrossFit in Alexandria, VA for Kelly Starett's Mobility Seminar.  if you've been hiding under a rock and have never heard of the man or his blog, then you're missing out on what is probably the most important skill set - flexibility.

flexibility and mobility plays a HUGE aspect in our development.  how?  bottom line is that it increases your performance.  in other words, you are selling yourself short regardless of how strong you think you are, how fast you think you are on certain workouts or movements and/or how 'good' you are.  without paying attention to flexibility/mobility you will never grow as an athlete and will not come close to achieving your potential.  to think otherwise is foolish and naive.  i was guilty of this myself.  i used to think that my range of motion was satisfactory and that my mobility was sound enough to never spend additional time on them.  it is this thinking that exactly defines ignorance.

do you have recurring and unexplainable back pain that just doesn't go away?  are you seeing a chiropractor and using other methods of recovery that just won't work?  have you injured your shoulder in the past and find yourself 'nursing' it when working out?  waking up in the morning with a tweaked neck and can't figure out why?

having the tools necessary to increase your range of motion at any given joint, prevent injury, minimize pain, and heal ailing and recurring hot spots in our bodies has a profound benefit in achieving what our goals are not only in CrossFit, but in life as well.

i highly recommend attending one of Kelly's seminars and reading up on his MobilityWODs and applying the techniques, skills and drills.  Kelly is a great lecturer, conveys the information accurately and can easily be grasped by the most uneducated person out there - myself.  not only is Kelly a subject matter expert in what he does, but the man is probably one of the most funniest and hilarious people around.

so standby for more mobility exercises pre- and post- workout.  in the meantime, get a lacrosse ball and a stretch band and start watching/reading his blog.

GET ORGANIZED

Andy G. from TakeOver, Zach Even-Esh of The Underground Gym and Russ. it was great to see Zach again and good to know he hasn't changed one bit.

awesome catching up with Tom D. former owner of CrossFit West Jax/Field House Gym and his wife Mandy, who are now trainers at Trident CrossFit

Andy, Kelly and Russ