Weight training assists in building a fuller life

Published 11:03 am Friday, May 3, 2013

Over the years, I have served as head strength and performance coach to several teams and agencies.

I have also worked with individual athletes in sports including football, basketball, tennis, horseback riding, baseball, martial arts, track and gymnastics.

I’ve seen firsthand how strength training enhances athletic performance. I really enjoy working with athletes, but have found the same meaningful progress can be made by people doing everyday activities.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

With proper strategy, people can get remarkably stronger and gain better balance at any age. It doesn’t matter if you’re 12 or 92, you can still obtain great results. Let me give you an example.

A few years ago, a lady come to me who was in her mid-80s. She had never worked out before, but I assured her I would teach her everything she needed to know. We started slow, and she stuck with it and worked hard.

One day she came in with a big smile on her face. I asked what she was so happy about. To my surprise she told me she could finally put dishes up on the top shelf of her kitchen cabinets, and had not had the strength to do that in years. I’d never thought about things like that before. That was the first time I truly realized just how many aspects of our lives are affected by our strength, or lack of it.