Training people with 'Body Baggage' is kind of my thing.

I've had the privilege of working with individuals who have had joint replacements, old and outdated surgical procedures, strains and sprains, and of course the "it only hurts when I do ____" folks.

Through hundreds of training sessions there have been 3 major commonalities. These traits have become the 7 commandments that have helped guide me through pain-free training sessions and hopefully after reading this article, will help you rethink and navigate your own training to alleviate your "body baggage".

ArticlesCasey LeeOctober 25, 2024Comment

Hip Popping? Use this in your next workout!

"My hip pops during ab exercises...is that normal?"

This is a question that I get asked every month. My rule of thumb is when a question surfaces with more than one of my personal training clients, then it probably would make a decent article on my website or newsletter for lovely humans such as yourself.

So your hip pops...normal? No. Common? Yes.

Does that answer help? Absolutely not.

From a Personal Trainer's point of view, if it pops and it doesn't hurt, business as usual. If the popping is persistent with each rep, you should probably ditch that exercise (for now) and find something that is a little bit more comfortable.

ArticlesCasey LeeOctober 21, 2024Comment

Sore knees? Do these in your next workout.

Three things plague most of my personal training clients, and in my experience, most active gym-goers.

1) Lower back pain.

2) Hip popping.

3) Sore knees.

Today, we tackle number 3. Sore knees.

ArticlesCasey LeeOctober 18, 2024Comment

Achy, sore shoulders? Try these pressing variations for strong shoulders!

I've been on a body baggage binge as of late.

Body baggage is a term I use to describe the everyday aches and pains we get. Sometimes these aches are from past injuries. Sometimes they're just from sleeping the wrong way the night before...

If you know, you know.

Regardless of how the baggage arrives, I'm ready to tackle it. Hands down the number 1 thing that I do as a Personal Trainer is find ways for people to work out, even when their bodies say no.

ArticlesCasey LeeOctober 11, 2024exercise technigue, strength training, body baggageComment

The EASIEST Way To Make Any Exercise HARDER

Every once in a while I'll get asked the best way to make an exercise harder.

Some people are exercise sickos and want movements to be hard.

Others, well, they just have started to 'outgrow' a movement and want to spice it up.

Regardless, my answer is to add a "half rep" to every rep you do.

Video, ArticlesCasey LeeOctober 9, 2024exercise tutorial, workout tipComment

Spare your lower back with these squat variations!

I recently started with a new client who expressed a concern about his lower back in workouts.

As someone who has a spine in the same of a question mark (? instead of a normal S curve)....I vibed with that statement.

Sparing your lower back in lower body workouts is a must-have for many. If you have lower back pain, these variations may help keep!

ArticlesCasey LeeOctober 6, 2024back pain, squatting, exercise techniqueComment