I believe…
Strength training can improve life for everyone.
It will improve your physical health and ability; make you proud of your body and what it can do; help you feel braver and more confident in a world of increased anxiety and stress.
This will have a positive effect not only on you but on the people close to you. I believe strength training has such a great impact that it will help you move forward in your career, have better relationships and be a more positive influence in the world.
Strength is just as much a sign of vitality and health as cardiovascular fitness.
In recent years we’ve been presented with a model of fitness that consists of running ever longer distances. It was not always the case.
One hundred years ago, physical culture was about having a strong, able body that exuded vitality and a certain heroic posture.
Some people find more affinity with lifting weights than with running long distances. Just look at our different body tyes! We instinctively know whether we’re made to be better at running long distances or lifting heavy things.
But we lifter types have been told for decades that we are ‘unfit’ because we don’t fancy trotting 26 miles.
In fact, lifting weights improves fitness, strengthens bones and joints, improves hormonal balance, increases metabolism, builds muscle and burns fat.
If there’s a magic formula for health, lifting weights is an essential part of it.
Women deserve to thrive in the weight room just as much as men. Strength is not a male trait. And women deserve all the health, fitness and longevity benefits of strength training as well.
Furthermore, women don’t need men to supervise them and tell them when they’ve lifted enough. These days we don’t so much hear, ‘Are you sure you want to lift?’ but rather, ‘Are you sure you want to lift that?’
Being stronger improves performance in every sport and activity – just like cardiovascular fitness. And because cardiovascular fitness is prioritised, athletes – from weekend warriors to elites – are weaker than they should be and performance suffers.
Sports performance needs to be built on a solid foundation of fitness and strength.
People should master movement first, before adding load and reps-for-time. Do it well before you do it fast.
Quality must come before quantity, if you want improved performance, better results and longevity in your sport.
Coaches and trainers should aspire to the highest levels of knowledge, expertise and practise, as in any profession. Relying on your physical gifts and friendly patter is not enough when you are dealing with someone’s health and wellbeing.
We’re part of a young industry, it’s up to us to create the foundation on which others will build. We really can change lives – let’s do it exceptionally well.
Lifting a weight is a visceral moment of overcoming a challenge, that changes how you see yourself and how you present yourself to the world.
We’re Strength Ambassadors because we believe that the pursuit of strength is a rewarding and life-changing endeavour and we want to help as many people as we can to enjoy it too.