Do you need to train for power?

When we think of power as it relates to exercise we think of how much weight we can move quickly.

I like to say to my clients “be explosive” with this or that move.

Muscles atrophy starting around age 30 unless you train them and power also begins to decline around that age unless you train for it.

Maybe you are thinking about Power Lifters – throwing those bars ,with 10 weight plates per side, over their head and think “I have no need for that!”, but you’d be wrong. Haha, maybe you’re right about that amount of weight, but you still do need to train for power.

The power component of our body can decline rapidly and, I think, 30 years old is early.

If you’ve ever slipped off of a curb and fallen, your “power system” wasn’t activated.

You see, the muscle fiber types needed to prevent the fall are fast twitch muscle fibers, specifically type IIx muscle fibers. They manage  sudden change of direction.

If you ever needed to run down the driveway with your garbage can, overloaded with the heaviest haul of garbage you’ve ever produced, because you saw the garbage truck was already at your neighbors house and you forgot to put it out the night before, you will need your “power fibers” the Type IIa muscle fibers. If you miss the pick up, then you need to train, if you made the pick up, then consider yourself lucky ;)

Anyway, we all do need to train for power. It’s one component of your fitness not to miss, but often skipped by “do it yourselfers.”

Some examples of power training are/can be:

• Jump squats
• Jumpling split squats
• Med ball slams
• Skipping
• Wall Push-offs
• Kettlebell swings
• Push-Presses
• And so much more!
• Check out my social media account of a low impact w/Kettlebell Split Squat for an example of a low impact move.

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There really are an abundant of options and something for everyone, sometimes you just have to use your imagination.