Working as a strength coach, you get to work with a wide range of athletes, and not all demands from each sport require the same attention. Having worked with collegiate athletes and now competing as a high-level Highland Games athlete, Nik Aston is no stranger to analyzing the athlete at hand and creating a program that fits their individualized needs. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, Nik shares information about the Highland Games, his background working with athletes, and his mental approach to competition. Nik enjoys the Olympic lifts and shares his approach to teaching these complex movements. Working with athletes can sometimes require weighing the cost-benefit when it comes to specific exercises, and Nik describes where he starts each new athlete he is working with.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
What is unconventional exercise?
Unconventional exercise refers to fitness routines that deviate from traditional methods, incorporating innovative and often non-mainstream approaches. It emphasizes creativity and variety, allowing personal trainers to help clients engage in enjoyable and effective workouts. Examples include utilizing unconventional equipment like sandbags, kettlebells, or resistance bands and incorporating movements from disciplines like parkour, dance, or martial arts.
The benefits of unconventional exercise are numerous. It helps to break the monotony of standard training regimens, making workouts more stimulating and fun. This variety can keep clients motivated and committed to their fitness journey. Moreover, unconventional exercises often target multiple muscle groups simultaneously, improving overall strength, agility, and flexibility.
As a personal trainer, introducing your clients to unconventional exercises can help them develop new skills and enhance their physical capabilities in unexpected ways. It encourages functional fitness, which translates into improved performance in everyday activities, and fosters a sense of achievement and confidence. By diversifying your clients’ training programs with unconventional methods, you can promote physical and mental resilience, setting the stage for lifelong fitness success. Exploring new avenues of exercise can inspire clients to challenge their limits and discover their potential beyond the conventional gym setting.Nik Aston holds bachelor's and master's degrees in exercise science and specialized certifications with NSCA and USAW. He was a collegiate javelin thrower and, at the time of recording this podcast, one of the top amateur Highland Games athletes in the world. Nik owns his business, Enchanted Strength, in Albuquerque, NM, which specializes in fitness training for all populations.Learn more about Nik - https://www.enchantedstrength.com/Nik on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/enchantedstrength/Join our email list - CLICK HERE.
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