Articles

ELITE PHYSIQUES

Professional Edge Convention
On Friday September 7, the opening day of the eleventh Professional Edge Convention, industry professionals witnessed the presentation of one of the UK's most prestigious awards; The Fitness Professionals Award 2001. This years deserving winner, Susie, has dedicated her life to the development and understanding of the relationship between medicine and fitness. She is known as the pioneer linking the medical profession and the fitness industry. Her specialisation is designing research and evidence based training programmes, focusing on physiological and psychological change in older people in response to exercise. Her current role is as the Senior Clinical Exercise Practitioner and Senior Research Fellow at the Royal Free and University College School of Medicine and the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust London. Susie's goal is to provide continual education and professional understanding between the spheres of medicine and fitness.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a classification of depression that is sparked by a marked decline in exposure to daylight. Blood pressure, breathing patterns, glandular activity and other bodily functions all flow in a 24-hour pattern called a circadian rhythm. For some people, lack of sunlight changes the circadian rhythm and leads to symptoms associated with SAD.

The general consensus is that there is inconclusive proof of the cause of SAD. Recently, however, researchers have identified two genes that are believed to control the body's physiological cycle. The research also showed that reduced daylight may boost the production of melatonin, a sleep-related hormone released by the pineal gland in the brain - which has connections to signs of depression.

SAD is more common in colder and darker climates. A large majority of SAD-diagnosed people are women. Usually SAD is more diagnosed in younger folks than older ones with the average age being twenty-three.

Relaxing During Training

by Tom Kubistant
An increasing number of knowledgeable bodybuilders are also doing various forms of relaxing during their workouts. They find when they do so, they are better able to sustain their concentration and endure longer periods of discomfort. Just like relaxing before a workout, relaxing during a workout should become a priority.
The rationale for relaxing during a training session is based on thie physiological fact: It takes relatively longer for a muscle to relax than it does for it to contract, and this difference is multiplied with fatigue. Relaxing during a workout gives your mind and body the opportunity to adapt more quickly to the stresses you are placing on them. Relaxing during a workout also allows you to pace yourself better so that you can put the same quality sets at the end of the session as you did in the beginning.
Remember that all effective forms of relaxing are based on your breathing. Before the next exercise follow your breathing to tune into yourself. When you are changing plates or spotting for your partner between your sets, focus for the next set. Between exercises when you are looking at yourself in the mirror, or going back to the water fountain, check in with your breathing. It will indicate whether you are physically and mentally ready to proceed. Follow your breathing, it is the pathway to self-awareness.
Some bodybuilders with whom I have worked with developed little techniques for relaxing during a workout. Some shrug their shoulders, adjust their clothing or lifting belts, roll their heads, stretch or flex. They use these movements as cues to relax and get back in touch with themselves and what they need to do next.
Rely on your relaxation. It is home base for both awareness and control. Relaxation is the foundation for maximizing your physical and mental energies. As you apply relaxing to your workouts, you will quickly discover just how indispensable it is to quality training. Like your lifting belt or training gloves, relaxation is something you should'nt leave home without!