One thing I have started doing with my personal training clients is strongman training. I'll have them do a variety of exercises including farmer walks, landing-mat flips (instead of tire flips), and heavy rope pulls. I'll work it in with the exercises they have become more accustomed too, and they are really enjoying it. Not only does it force them to do things they have never done before, but these exercises are often seen as more fun, or at least more entertaining. Instead of trying to hit a predetermined number of reps, going for a certain distance or time brings out a competitive spirit in them. These exercises are also often very taxing cardiovascularly for them, so they are able to get their conditioning in at the same time as their strength training.
These exercises don't take up the entire session, but rather are implemented once or twice over the course of two or three sessions. Examples of exercises I have done with clients are
- Farmer walks with dumbbells and kettle bells
- Battling rope pulls
- Heavy bag pushes
- Heavy bag carries
- Heavy bag flips
- Plate flips
- Landing-mat flips
The one common denominator between all of these exercises is that they all require a tremendous amount of grip strength. As I have said in previous posts, grip strength is something that is very much lacking in every day society, so this is another bonus.
If you are bored with your current training regimen or want to mix up your client's training, consider throwing in some strongman training.
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