Why athletes should spend more time stretching: – Decreased stress and tension (stretching can even help with headaches) – Increase range of motion for increased athletic performance – Helps reduce soreness and speed up recovery after difficult workouts – Provides an opportunity for a mental “cool down” after a hard workout Programs for increased flexibility…

The battle rope is an old-school training tool that is as simple as it gets. Pick it up, wave it around like a maniac, put it down. Result: burn a whole bunch of fat, work out muscle imbalances, develop power, and more. Even though it’s a simple enough piece of workout gear, there are some…

Using swim paddles can help you do a ton of different things in the water. Here is a look at the six benefits of hand paddles for swimming. Hand paddles, also known as swim paddles, are a popular way for swimmers to increase power and upper body endurance in the water. More importantly, it’s done…

If you are looking for the best tech suit for swimming fast, then there are a few things you should look for. These suits are made to enhance your hard work and excellent performance, not make you faster. These suits are primarily intended for athletes who are serious about their sport. The following are some…

Looking for a new wetsuit to swim in cold water? Here are some tips for choosing the right one for you. 1. Start with the thickness of the wetsuit. Made of neoprene rubber, wetsuits range in thickness from 1mm to 5mm. Look for a wetsuit that has 4-5mm thickness in the core and chest, with…

Ab Mats are another in a long line of devices that are designed to help you train your core and mid-section. You’ve got your ab benches, ab roller wheels, ab loungers, and yup… ab mats. Ab mats are low tech and awesome because they take the regular crunch and significantly increase the range of motion…

There are many different styles of exercise equipment designed to help you achieve the toned and firm muscles that you are looking for in order to get the perfect six-pack. One such piece of equipment is the Ab Roller, which has been proven to be an effective way to tone your abdominal muscles. My favorite…

Lifting straps are a tool for safer and stronger lifts in the gym. Here are some reasons that you should use them when stepping up to the barbell: 1. Help target the muscles you are actually trying to train. Often a weak grip keeps us from maxing out on our target muscles when doing pulling…

Bumper plates are a versatile tool for your strength building program. Using them: 1. Protects your floor from cracking and hard impacts. 2. Allows you to bounce the weight off the platform or floor. 3. Easier to slide on and off the barbell compared to steel/iron plates. 4. Don’t rust

Strength training is a way for swimmers to get stronger in the water and also prevent injury. Here are some quick tips for making the most of weight lifting for the competitive swimmer: 1. Technique and form above all else. Nearly half of the injuries that competitive swimmers experience is during their dryland and strength…