Well I would officially like to announce our men’s winner, George Wang.

Congrats George!

George was kind of enough to provide his initial review on the VIVOBAREFOOT Evo.

“I’ve been wearing the shoes everywhere! I really love the style, portability, and health benefits that come with these shoes.

On the downside, when I first started wearing them, they caused abrasions to the upper side of my toes where the shoe bends while running, to the point when it was too painful to walk in them.

Ever since I started wearing socks, I’ve had no problems and been enjoying them very much.” – George Wang

Stay tuned for our next contest…

Well I would officially like to announce our women’s winner, Debbie Sniderman.

Congrats Debbie!

Debbie was kind enough to share a few thoughts on the shoes and also a couple of pictures.

Debbie’s Thoughts

These shoes are light and comfortable! I was pleasantly surprised how nice the flat bottoms with no “bloatware” felt under my flat feet.

One of my feet has a bone spur at the base of my big toe, so I typically can only wear shoes with a “tall toe box” that have enough room near the top of the shoe lace area. These shoes have enough room and the uppers are soft and pliable, so they feel great!

I wore these shoes without socks and definitely recommend wearing them with socks for any long walk or workout instead of actually going barefoot.

Socks helped to absorb moisture since they don’t breathe well and to protect the back of my ankle from rubbing on the heel support.

With socks these shoes are great for long distance walks, and people with flat feet who may need a tall toe box should definitely try them!

Check these shoes out!

If you’re looking for a solution to strengthen your feet and ankles, the AFX Ankle Foot Maximizer is an innovative tool that you should take a look at.

With the recent surge in popularity of barefoot / minimalistic running, strengthening the intrinsic muscles of the foot plays a key role in avoiding running injuries – whether you’re running in minimalistic or more traditional running shoes. The AFX can help strengthen these muscles while also helping rehabilitate and prevent common injuries such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis and more.

We were fortunate enough to have Matt Ferguson, President & CEO of Progressive Health Innovations and the maker of the AFX, answer a few questions about the AFX. Healthynomics would like to thank Matt for his time.

How did the idea for the AFX Ankle Foot maXimizer come about?

The AFX was borne out of one practitioner’s frustration with the traditional methods and products available for foot and ankle strengthening. One of my co-founders, Dr. Jordan Myers (Chiropractor), had a number of patients who needed adjustments to their feet and ankles. Jordan realized that while he could adjust a patient’s foot and relieve the pain, they also needed to strengthen their feet so that the adjustment was more effective and that over time, they would return to health.

Jordan went looking for a strengthening solution, and all he found were rubber bands/tubing that constantly slipped-off the foot, and a few devices that claimed to strengthen the ankle, yet didn’t allow the user to arch the foot and engage the intrinsic muscles of the foot which is critical for strengthening the entire foot and ankle complex. Seeing a need for a device, Jordan called long-time friend Rick Hall (MSc in Kinesiology) and they called me. At the time, I was working as the Medical Device Technology Manager in the technology transfer office at Simon Fraser University, where I was working with professors helping them bring their technologies to market.

Our goal was lofty, but simple: to build the best foot & ankle strengthening product in the world. The key design principals were that it had to be a complete strengthening solution through a full range of motion, it had to allow for stretching, and it had to be easy to use that anyone could use it and benefit from stronger feet.

What types of common injuries can the AFX help prevent and rehabilitate?

Numerous clinical studies have shown that strengthening the foot and ankle is critical in dealing with the most common foot and ankle injuries. AFX is used in the prevention and rehabilitation of:

• Ankle sprains
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shin splints
• Achilles tendinitis
• Toe and forefoot fractures
• Ankle fractures
• Lisfranc fracture
• Turf Toe
• Metatarsalgia (pain in ball of foot)
• Peroneal tendinitis
• Posterior tibial tendinitis
• Sesamoiditis
• Stress fractures

…basically any foot and ankle injury where strengthening and stretching is part of the return to health.

Explain how the AFX can help athletes. Are there any sports in particular where the AFX has been particularly beneficial?

For most athletes, strong feet and ankles are absolutely vital to their performance and yet, shockingly, it is often the weakest area of the body! We spend the vast majority of our time walking / running / playing on flat surfaces wearing flat, well-supported shoes that don’t allow us to adequately strengthen our feet and ankles. Most people are reasonably strong in plantarflexion (pushing the toes away from you with a rigid foot, like pressing the gas pedal in a car), but are disproportionally weak in inversion (rotating the foot inwards), eversion (rotating the foot outwards), dorsiflexion / toe extension (pulling the foot and toes toward the shin), and toe flexion (curling the toes toward the underside of the foot).

AFX enables athletes to strengthen the entire foot and ankle in a balanced fashion through a full range of motion, against resistance that can be easily increased or decreased, and allows you to focus your strengthening on two key areas. First, it enables you to mimic the functional movements you use on the field of play, so you can become stronger and more proficient at those movements. Second, and equally important, it enables you to strengthen those muscle groups that you don’t use to any great extent on the field of play, thereby avoiding problems that can arise from muscle imbalances and weaknesses. For example, a tennis player can perform toe flexion, inversion and eversion using high-speed movements and eccentric loading to improve their agility, quickness and explosiveness on the court. They then can easily strengthen their dorsiflexors and stretch their calf muscle through a full range of motion to reduce the risk of developing shin splints and Achilles issues.

In 2008, an independent athletic performance study was completed using AFX that involved the Men’s Varsity Basketball Teams at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. Over a 12-week period during their regular season, when athletic performance typically decreases, those players who used AFX had a significant increase in their dynamic balance and lateral stability, their agility improved, and their one-step vertical jump increased by an average of over 3 inches, compared to those players who didn’t use the AFX.

AFX is used by all types of athletes from all areas of sport and performance. It is used by gold medal winning Olympians, professional athletes, marathoners, dancers, weekend warriors, and the list goes on. If you use your feet to play a sport, strengthening using AFX can help.

Do you need to be a health care practitioner to use the AFX?

You definitely do not need to be a practitioner to use AFX (although if you have an injury we recommend you consult with a qualified healthcare professional!). In addition to the AFX being easy to use, we have made sure that all of our free instructional videos and programs are easy for everyone to follow. Each AFX comes fully assembled with a DVD that takes you through a strengthening program rep by rep, and even counts down how long you should hold each stretch. You can strap-in, and be strengthening in a matter of minutes. Also, it doesn’t take long to feel the results, just 8-10 minutes a foot, 3 times a week and you are well on your way.

What unique benefits does the AFX provide over more traditional foot and ankle strengthening exercises?

Prior to AFX, traditional foot and ankle strengthening was completed using rubber

bands/tubing, towels and modified exercises.  It involved having to move into a myriad of awkward positions, and the bands constantly slipped off or rolled down to the arch of your foot, so the end result was that it was it was complex, confusing and ultimately ineffective.

AFX has several features that make it technically superior and easier to use than traditional equipment:

Flexible Foot Support: Strong yet comfortable, the flexible foot support provides excellent grip, allows the user to arch or extend the foot and toes, strengthen intrinsic muscles, and ensures proper anatomical alignment regardless of foot length so that you can target specific muscle groups.

Innovative Resistance System: A variety of resistance bands allow for complete, balanced strengthening from early stage rehabilitation to high-performance athletic training.

Multi-Directional Strengthening: The AFX design allows you to strengthen through a complete range of motion, safely and effectively – something other weight-bearing devices and exercises can’t offer.

Functional Strengthening: AFX’s resistance system, foot support and multi-directional strengthening enable you to mirror movements that are specific to your sport or activity. It also allows for cutting-edge training techniques, including eccentric loading.

Versatile Stretching: As much as the foot and ankle need to be strong through the full range of motion, they also need to be flexible through the entire range to reduce the risk of injury and allow for optimal performance.The components of AFX combine to make it a superior stretching device.

Easy-To-Use: AFX has been designed with the user in mind – just strap in and go!

What’s next for the AFX?

Our immediate goal is to continue to raise awareness about the importance of foot and ankle strengthening not only for athletes, but for everyone from kids to seniors, and I think that the timing is perfect. The barefoot / minimalist running debate has started getting people to think about their feet, and we are seeing the medical community starting to focus on muscle imbalances and biomechanical issues as a major contributing factor to the most common foot and ankle injuries.

Longer-term, we will continue to support independent research on foot and ankle strengthening, specifically focusing on some of the most common injuries and ailments. We also have other versions of AFX for which we have developed prototypes, but we have no definitive dates for their launch.

Where can I buy the AFX?

Foot Forward Training Systems

]]> http://www.healthynomics.com/2011/08/afx-ankle-foot-maximizer-a-tool-to-strengthen-weak-feet-and-ankles/feed/ 0 http://www.healthynomics.com/2011/07/the-t-rack-delivers-perfect-posture-for-athletes-and-desk-jockeys/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.healthynomics.com/2011/07/the-t-rack-delivers-perfect-posture-for-athletes-and-desk-jockeys/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:03:53 +0000 Mark Kennedy http://www.healthynomics.com/?p=2843 versus

What does your posture look like?

The t-rack was designed to reverse the poor postures we find ourselves in everyday.

The t-rack has been see to help with:

• Postural headaches
• shoulder immobility (stiffness)
• neck pain and stiffness,
• nerve related arm pain
• and many more conditions

From elite level athletes to people who sit in front of a computer all day, the t-rack can help stretch and mobilize key areas of the spine, shoulders, chest and pelvis.

Healthynomics would like to thank Joanne Baker, massage therapist from Solann Therapeutics, for offering her expertise with regards to the t-rack.

Healthynomics: How did you first hear about or become involved with the t-rack?

Joanne Baker: I was looking for something that was a great device to use that is beneficial to the direction I go as a therapist.  I am a firm believer that posture is key to daily routine for athletes and anyone else.  I was looking for a product that was not just a gimmick but actually worked.   I had done research and checked other devices out there before investing my time.  The t-rack worked and was key to the work I do.

HN: Why is it important to have good mobility about the thoracic spine?

Joanne Baker: Thoracic mobility is so important for not only the true definition of mobility, i.e. movement, but also for breathing.  If the thoracic cage is restricted the ability to fill the lungs is hindered.

The second reason is simple, proper mobility equals better function.  If mobility is restricted we use other parts of the body and other muscles to compensate, usually causing injuries that aren’t necessary to occur.

Indirectly thoracic mobility decreases headaches and low back pain as well.

HN: What can you expect the feel after the first few times using the t-rack?

Joanne Baker: The first few times may be hard for the user.   If they have mobility issues and therefore the muscular is working over time then it may be uncomfortable to lay on.  Some users last less than a minute the first time but find if they use it daily, within a week then can lie the recommended daily 10 minutes.

As time progresses posture will improve, mobility will improve, and breathing will follow.

HN: Explain how the t-rack can help athletes. Are there any sports in particular where the t-rack has been particularly beneficial?

Joanne Baker: The t-rack will help by allowing the athlete to perform the mechanics of their event better.  Proper mechanics provides less chance of an injury. The t-rack was created for triathletes and cyclists because of the aerodynamic posture for breathing.  I have found that almost every sport can benefit.  If thoracic mobility is increased then shoulder mobility improves so any sport using the shoulder girdle like baseball, golf…etc will be affected positively.  I could list so many sports but we would run out of space!  The creation from cycling, swimming and running has ultimately expanded to any sport that mobility anywhere in the spine from the neck to the pelvis is important.

You’re a runner and you hate going shopping for new running shoes. You have done your research and decided to try a brand of running shoe that you have never tried before. The best price is usually online so, that is the route you decide to purchase your new running shoes.

Here is the problem. You wear a size 10 in your current brand and model of running shoes, but will you be a size 10 in the new brand?

That is where Shoefitr comes in to save the day for online running shoe shoppers! Shoefitr uses 3D scanning technology to help online shoppers find the correct fit.

According to the Shoefitr website, if a consumer chooses the same size shoe in a different model he will not receive his preferred fit 40% of the time. Ordering the correct size the first time around means less returns and less money spent on shipping; a win for the consumer, the retailer and the environment.

Healthynomics asked Nick End, co-founder of Shoefitr, a few questions about their product.

A big thanks to Nick for his time!

Healthynomics: How did the idea for Shoefitr come about?

Nick End: All the founders of Shoefitr were college athletes (soccer, cross country, and track) and we all still run or compete today. The idea of an online footwear fitting application came about through our own frustration with ordering poor fitting footwear online. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best approach to solving the problem and once we had it, we started to turn it into a business.

HN: Tell us about the technology behind Shoefitr and how it may apply to products beyond shoes.

NE: Shoefitr uses 3D imaging technology to scan the inside of shoes. Each scan is basically a 3D model of the inside of a shoe from which we extract hundreds of different measurements that are pertinent in fitting a shoe to someone’s foot. As you’ve seen in the application, when someone finds a shoe he wants to buy, Shoefitr asks for the shoe and size he currently wears, compares those measurements to the shoe he wants to buy, recommends the best fitting size, and shows where the shoe will loose or tight compared to the shoe he is wearing. The technology and general approach behind Shoefitr could be applied to clothing or any wearable item like glasses, hats, or helmets.

HN: What have been some of the biggest challenges in getting running shoe companies and online retailers on board?

NE: We have talked to a lot of online retailers and they all really like our product. The challenge in getting on retailer sites is that each company has a list of projects they planned to complete in a given year and Shoefitr is such a new technology that it is hard to become the number one priority. However, the more innovative retailers are giving Shoefitr the attention it deserves.

HN: What’s next for Shoefitr?

NE: We are now expanding beyond running shoes. We recently launched on a biking shoe retailer’s site (artscyclery.com) and are planning to make an entrance into several new shoe categories this Summer. Look for the application on some popular footwear sites very soon.

You can try Shoefitr at Running Warehouse.

A few months back, I wrote a review on the VIVOBAREFOOT Evo running shoe. After running in the Evo for almost a year I can firmly say, it’s a fantastic option if you’re looking to take your running in a more minimalistic direction.

The VIVOBAREFOOT Evo running shoe retails for $160 on the VIVOBAREFOOT website, but for two lucky readers (one male and one female), Healthynomics will spare you the trouble of buying a pair.

So here’s your chance, ladies and gentlemen.

Contest prizes:

1 FREE pair of Men’s VIVOBAREFOOT Evo running shoes

AND

1 FREE pair of Women’s VIVOBAREFOOT Evo running shoes

To enter, please complete the entry form below. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY! The winners will be announced on August 22, 2011.

Bonus:

As a token of our appreciation, Healthynomics will email everyone that has submitted an entry for the contest a coupon code for 15% OFF at Foot Forward Training Systems.

Good luck to everyone, and very big thanks to VIVOBAREFOOT for sponsoring this giveaway!

Using a ground-breaking resistance cord system, the Rip Trainer establishes an unbalanced load similar to the demands and movement patterns of sport and everyday life.

Here is a preview video from the TRX website:

Inside The New TRX® Rip™ Trainer

TRX Rip Training Kit contents:

• TRX Rip Trainer
• Medium resistance cord with protective nylon cover
• Door anchor
• Carrying bag
• TRX Rip Trainer: Basic Training DVD
• TRX Rip Trainer: Basic Training Workout Guide

I first tried the Evo’s on when I was in London on my way back to Canada. They fit my foot amazingly well, but I must admit – spending that much money (the Evo’s retail for £100.00) on a pair of shoes that felt like a pair of cheap aqua socks I used to wear at the lake (i.e. no fancy air bubbles, cushioning, motion control, etc.) seemed a bit much. Heck, if I wanted to have the barefoot running experience I could have it for free, by simply wearing no shoes at all! I however, was wrong. The VIVOBAREFOOT Evo’s are amazing. Let me tell you why.

Ordering Process

I ordered my Evo’s online as they are not readily available in shops in Canada. It probably took about 7 business days for my shoes to arrive, which is not bad at all. The shoes arrived in a nice shoe box (as shoes do) and I noticed the company urging me (the consumer) to reuse and recycle the box. After all, VIVOBAREFOOT is all about using eco-friendly materials and sustainability. For this reason I do not mind spending a bit more for a shoe that is made by a company with eco-conscious principles.

Within the shoe box, each shoe was contained within a small fabric bag with a drawstring attached. A very nice touch if you ask me. In fact, I used these bags protect my wedding shoes last week when I travelled across the country!

Cost

As I mentioned above, the VIVOBAREFOOT Evo’s do not come cheap. They retail for $160 in the US and £100 in the UK. I did not mind paying a bit more for the Evo for two reasons.

Firstly, VIVOBAREFOOT is a relatively small company with highly ethical values and eco-friendly principles. Wherever possible, I will always try to support the smaller company over the biggies like Nike and Adidas.

Secondly, the EVO is a great product. How did I know this before I purchased them? Well, I did my research and was following VIVOBAREFOOT for about a year prior to buying my first pair of their shoes. All of VIVOBAREFOOT’s shoes came highly recommended and I am a fan of minimalistic shoes anyway.

Appearance

The Evo does not look like the standard running shoe, but then again….it’s not a normal running shoe. The Evo looks like track and field spikes, without the spikes of course.  I purchased the red and white version. In my opinion the white Evo looked the most ‘athletic’ of all the colour options, but I would have been happy with any of them.

My first visual impressions of the Evo were good. The Evo is very light at 8.2 ounces. For comparison purposes, the Asics Gel Kinsei weighs approximately 13.9 ounces. Although the Evo is very light its TPU cage, breathable mesh and microfiber reinforcements make it feel solid without sacrificing weight and flexibility. The tongue of the shoe is this thin yet contains enough padding so that the laces do not dig into your foot.

I am not sure if running shoe laces are a pet peeve for you, but I hate it when the laces are too long, too short or are made of material that does not permit a nice tight knot. The laces on the Evo are good, although I would prefer them to be a bit shorter (I double knot to get around this) for running.

The ultra this puncture-proof rubber sole (4 mm) on the Evo provides just enough protection for the feet without moving very far from the barefoot experience. Like probably most others considering barefoot running; fear of stepping on a sharp piece of glass or even worse, dog crap, keeps me from running completely barefoot. The Evo gives you the best of both worlds – complete foot mobility with ample protection from the running surface.

The tread on the VIVOBAREFOOT Evo is excellent for running on the streets, dirt or grass. The grip on the Evo is also great for basic trail running but, I would be careful if the trail surface is wet.

Size and Fit

I normally wear a UK 11 and a US size 12 (my Nike Free’s are US 12). I ordered an EU 45 (US 12) and it fits perfectly, with a little room in the toe box for natural movement of the toes when planting the foot on the ground. The Evo sizing appears to be in line with my Nike running shoes size.

The Evo is so comfortable that I have been wearing them everywhere. Riding my bike, to the cafe, travelling etc. The fit is snug, but not restrictive in anyway. My feet feel free to move exactly as they would without shoes.

Breathability

The upper mesh design of the Evo provides great breathability. I usually wear the Evo’s without socks and one concern I always have is sweat. I found the my feet did not sweat as much as they do in my Nike Free’s, which is a good thing as sweat can lead to blisters. After one month, I have yet to have a blister from running in my Evo’s.

Wearing running shoes with barefoot can sometimes lead to some funky smells. Well, the Evo utilizes Agion antimicrobial protection to help fight odours, prevents bacterial and fungal growth in an environmentally friendly way. It seems to work.

Running Experience

I have now run 5 times in my Evo’s. The longest run has been 7 km with the shortest being 4 km.  The Evo’s have felt amazing. My calves were a bit tight after the first couple of times running in them, but from what I have read about barefoot running, this is normal. Landing on the midfoot / forefoot places larger demands on the muscles of the calves. Be sure to check out my previous barefoot running post for a barefoot running preparation training program to help you get started with barefoot running or running in minimalistic shoes like the Evo.

With regards to my foot strike, wearing the Evo’s almost instantly forced me to land more on my midfoot.  Without the large amount of padding that traditional running shoes provides, the Evo promotes running with a midfoot / forefoot foot strike in a natural way. Even my posture improved when running in the Evo; I ran more upright with greater efficiency. Running in the Evo brought ‘fun’ back into running for me.

The VIVOBAREFOOT Evo can be purchased in North America and Europe from the VIVOBAREFOOT website.

Related posts:

Running barefoot and barefoot alternatives

Get Free Health Tips and Workouts Delivered to Your Inbox

I have been traveling throughout Southeast Asia and India for the past three months. My primary method to stay fit when I travel has been the TRX Suspension Trainer. I have been more than pleased with the TRX and the ease to get a full body workout from literally anywhere.

Here are my top 5 reasons to take the TRX Suspension Trainer with you when traveling to stay fit.

1. Portability / Light Weight

The TRX Suspension Trainer weighs less than 2 pounds and thus, makes it an ideal total body fitness tool to pack in your suitcase or carry-on luggage.

Here is a picture of my luggage for this trip. As you can see, the TRX is very easy to pack.

2. Adaptability / Anchoring Solutions

With the TRX Suspension Trainer’s unique and versatile anchoring solutions, you workout locations are numerous. I have hooked the TRX up to over 40 hotel doors over the past 3 months of traveling using the TRX Door Anchor. Additionally, I have hooked the TRX up to palm tress on the beach, chin-up bars at a park and wooden support beams. If you have a space at home that you would like to make your TRX Suspension Trainer home, the TRX Xmount is an option. The TRX Xmount can turn any room into a functional training studio.

The TRX hooked up to my hotel door in New Delhi, India.

The TRX in Jodpur, India.

Here is a video of me performing the TRX Back Row in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. Working out on the beach – you cannot beat it!

3. Quality of Workouts

As mentioned above, I have been using the TRX Suspension Trainer on the road now for 3 months. I am continually amazed at the quality of the workouts that I have been able to perform from my hotel room our outside. In 25-30 minutes, I have been able to squeeze in tremendously effective and efficient full body workouts. Of course there are some days when I feel like just stretching or maybe focusing on the core. This is no problem as there are literally hundreds of different TRX Suspension Trainer exercises to choose from.

For you athletes that have demanding travel schedules, the TRX is an excellent solution. You can work on speed, cardio, agility and balance right from the confines of your hotel room.

4. The ‘Wow’ Factor

On my current trip, I have tried to exercise with the TRX Suspension Trainer outside s much as possible. I just prefer to be outdoors when I can. I was pleasantly surprised at the curiosity I have received when locals wonder what I am doing on the wild looking black and yellow straps! Many locals have approached me and wanted to have a try on the TRX. I never would have thought that my workouts would have been one of the best ways to interact t with the locals. At one point in Hanoi, Vietnam, I had 10 people watching me workout on the TRX. I went around and showed them some exercises as if I was teaching a class – it was fantastic!

Here is a video of me teaching the one-leg TRX squat to a local in Hanoi.

5. No Excuses

With the TRX Suspension Trainer’s portability, adaptability and ability to challenge all areas of total body fitness, there are absolutely no excuses! Whether you want a fully body workout in 30 minutes or just have 10 minutes to do some core exercises, the TRX Suspension Trainer is there and ready to be used. Fitness anywhere, anytime.

Where can you buy the TRX Suspension Trainer?

The TRX Suspension Trainer is available for purchase in the UK from TRX Fitness and in North America from Fitness Anywhere, the maker of the TRX Suspension Trainer.

Related Posts

1. TRX Suspension Trainer: The Ultimate Core Workout

2. Q+A with TRX Suspension Trainer’s Fraser Quelch

Fraser Quelch is the Director of Training and Development of Fitness Anywhere, the maker of the TRX Suspension Trainer.  Healthynomics would like to thank Fraser for his time.

HN: What does being healthy mean to you?

Fraser Quelch: It means being disease and sickness free with the physical ability to engage in any activity vigorously. Additionally I believe that being healthy constitutes a positive self-concept with strong psychological and mental capacities and emotional health.

HN: How do you stay fit?

Fraser Quelch: While I do a regular exercise regimen including TRX, body weight movement, kettlebell techniques along with traditional strength training and cardiovascular training.  I also engage regularly in many activities including rock / ice / alpine climbing, back country / downhill skiing, cross country skiing, mountain / road cycling, trail running and basketball.

HN: What advice would you give individuals looking for ways to motivate themselves to start or maintain a fitness program?

Fraser Quelch: People need to truly make a commitment to themselves and set some rules around what they are doing. Some ways to make sure they stay on the rails. Plan everything out in advance, Knowing what they will be doing and when they will be doing it helps keep things on track. Keep a daily log book, commit to a workout partner, get a personal trainer and train early in the day so that other things can’t derail the plan and the day’s demands don’t sabotage your energy.

HN: For someone looking to start a home workout program or maintain their fitness while traveling, what tools or pieces of equipment would you recommend?

Fraser Quelch: I am certainly bias here but my honest opinion is that no single piece of equipment offers the advantages of the TRX Suspension Trainer in this regard. I spend an incredible amount of time on the road and I continue to be amazed at the quality of the workouts that I can get done in my hotel room.

HN: The TRX is a functional training and fitness tool.  What is functional training and how can the TRX assist people looking to start or enhance their fitness routines?

Fraser Quelch: Functional training is that which maps to the demands of our daily lives. While basic human function is the same for everyone (and the reality is that the vast majority of people are using compensatory patterns to perform many of these basic functions) that which sits on top of basic human function is going to be specific to each individual. In my view the most fundamental elements of function is the ability to move one’s body through space. The better able we are able to do this, the better we will be able to function at increasingly higher levels. The TRX Suspension Trainer meets this demand perfectly as your body is your resistance for every exercise. It demands that the entire body works coordinatively to perform the exercises and also scales incredibly well across the entire population.

Case in point: Right now we are doing a fall prevention study with the University of San Francisco and are working with a number of Physical Therapists developing effective exercise protocol using the TRX for these populations. At the same time some of the top athletes in the world are using the TRX as a significant component of their training including athletes like Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints QuarterBack and MVP Candidate), George St. Pierre (UFC Welterweight Champion) and Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic Centre).

The ability for a single product to be used with breadth of user means that not only does the TRX have the ability to meet people wherever they are in their fitness journey but it also will be able to scale up with them as they improve.

Here is a video of Fraser Quelch demonstrating the TRX Cool Combo: Single Leg Squat-Crossing Balance Lunge .

Fraser Quelch demonstrates numerous other awesome combination exercises within the TRX blog.

More TRX sample core exercises:

TRX Video Library

Related posts:

TRX Suspension Trainer: The Ultimate Core Workout

The best way to stay fit when you travel: The TRX Suspension Trainer

Get Free Health Tips and Workouts Delivered to Your Inbox

Here are my top pieces of home gym equipment:

TRX Suspension Trainer – A total body workout tool. Challenges your core strength, cardiovascular fitness and flexibility. The TRX Suspension Trainer is also great for traveling and can be used inside or outdoors. My favorite piece of home gym equipment.

Image source: Fitnessanywhere.com

Swiss Ball - What home gym would be complete without a Swiss ball? The number of exercises one can perform on a Swiss ball are endless. For beginners, I would recommend the Bosu Ballast Ball. The Bosu Ballast Ball is slightly weighted on the inside of the ball and keeps it from rolling around the floor.

Image source: PhysioRoom.com Ltd

PowerBlocks – Save time, space and money with this fully adjustable set of dumbbells. The Sport 5.5 PowerBlock replaces 22 pairs of dumbbells.

Kettlebell – Have become hugely popular over the past couple of years, especially with athletes. Significant gains in cardio, strength and power can be made with kettlebell swings.

Perfect Pullup – Perform pullups and chin-ups to workout the muscles of your back, shoulders and biceps. Adjustable handles make this pullup bar uniquely effective.

Image source: Perfect.PUSHUP

Jump rope – A good old fashioned jump rope is great for burning calories while strengthening the muscles of your legs.

Workout bench – A good solid workout bench will be the base for many strength and core exercises that can be performed at home. Not a necessity, but if you have the space, a great addition to your home gym space.

Image source: Fitness Superstore UK

If you have any home gym equipment recommendations or have seen an interesting new ones, let us know!

What is Nike ID?

Who doesn’t want to make their own shoes?

Nike ID is a cool service offered by Nike that lets you design and customise your own Nike trainers. Whether you are looking for customised trainers for football, running, or working out out at the gym, there are lots of models to choose from. Many of Nike’s old retro styles are also available under the Nike ID service – perfect for casual wear on the weekend.

There are a few different options available when you’ve decided to design your own trainers with Nike ID.

Customising your Nike ID trainers online

• Starting with a blank canvas – This option is for those of you that want total control over the design of your shoes. You basically start with the shoe of your choice in solid white and you can customize the colour for many different aspects of the shoe from the Nike swoosh to the laces.
• Starting with an existing to design – This option allows you to take a design and make it your own by changing the colours and patterns to make the shoe your own!

Nike ID Studio at Nike Town

The Nike ID Studio in the London Nike Town is a luxury, private appointment space whereby you are allocated your own design consultant to assist you is designing and customizing your perfect trainer.  I received this as a Christmas gift from my fiancee.  As a huge retro trainer fan, this was probably the best gift I have ever received!  Darren Bent of the Tottenham Hotspurs was just leaving the studio as I arrived.  He was apparently designing his new boots. I opted for the original Air Max running shoes with my nickname stitched on the back of each shoe. You can have your own name or personal message stitched in any colour (subject to space of course).

Here is a look at the custom Nike ID trainer that I designed:

Here is a look at my second Nike ID trainer, designed in Manhattan, New York.

When will I receive my Nike ID trainers once they’ve been created?

I designed my own Nike ID trainers in the Nike Town store. My order was placed on the 21st of January and I received my shoes approximately two weeks later.

Summary

I would recommend Nike ID to everyone. I had a great experience from the start of the design process, to the customer service, to the shipping updates and lastly, to the final product. If you are looking for a unique birthday or Christmas gift, Nike ID definitely delivers!