Golf Fitness Exercises for the Amateur Golfer

With all the talk about the players on tour getting stronger and more flexible, we hear a lot about exercising for golf from television commentators and read about it in the golf publications. But what exactly are the best exercises for the amateur golfer?

A great question that has a good answer, but before we give you the answer let us provide some background so the answer makes a little more sense to you. First of all, discussing the golf swing for the time being will get us rolling.

What exactly is the golf swing? The golf swing is an athletic movement that requires using of the entire body from feet to fingertips in order to complete the swing. Realize that the golf swing is not about the club, not just about your grip, or where your head is during the swing. The golf swing is a movement that requires your entire body to move through a sequence of movements with the correct timing. To perform the athletic movement of the golf swing requires the body to begin at address, move through the actual phases of the golf swing and complete it with the follow through. In order to perform this activity with efficiency and repetitively, the body must have certain physical parameters.

These parameters, as I call them, are actual physical categories of the body that need to be developed to a certain level. These categories of the body are the platform from which the body is able to perform the athletic movement of a golf swing efficiently. The categories are probably familiar to many of you, but for the purpose of this article let us briefly run through them.

The body is required to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power to complete a golf swing. If the body lacks in any of the above categories, then the results will be seen in the golf swing. The results are usually in the form of poor mechanics, bad shots, or poor scores on the course. So, now that we know what the connection is between the body and the swing let us address the question about the best exercises for golf.

The Best Exercises for golf

Lets say you walk into your local health club and see all the fancy machines and aerobic machines at the facility to get you shape. What ones would choose? Would you choose running on the treadmill for 30 minutes, or would it be better to push out a couple sets of bench presses? Well, the answer to our question really lies within the connection between your swing and your body.

I will tell you that exercises meant to pump you up! or give you that six pack are not necessarily the correct exercises for your golf game. Neither is that weight training program you used back in high school. So, with those thoughts in mind what do you think the best exercises for golf are?

Right now we know, in general terms about the golf swing, what is required of the body for the golf swing and what exercises are not good for the swing. Armed with that knowledge we can decipher what the best exercises for golf are for you.

Beginning with flexibility, we know that the entire body must move through certain ranges of motion to perform an effective golf swing. And what happens if your body is not able to move through the required ranges of motion of the golf swing? The answer: the golf swing will mechanically suffer resulting in shots that are less than optimal. So part of the exercises that are good for golfers are flexibility exercises and, even more so, flexibility exercises that work the muscles used in the golf swing through the movements involved in the golf swing. So first and foremost flexibility exercises should be on the top of your list.

The second category of exercises that would be conducive to the golf swing would have to do with balance. We hear about balance in reference to the golf swing all the time. Stay balanced through the swing; transfer your weight to maintain balance during the swing But what does balance exactly mean? Balance is the ability to control your body through a specific movement pattern. The movement pattern we are discussing just happens to be the golf swing. We know the importance of balance in relation to the golf swing, so how do we train our body for better balance in the golf swing? Before we answer that question we need to know a little more about balance. Balance in relation to the body has to do with the connection between your nerves and muscles. Essentially your nervous system, as a result of messages sent from your brain, tells your muscles how to move to maintain the bodys balance. The more efficient your nerves and muscles are to these messages the greater balance abilities the body develops. So balance exercises train both the nervous system and muscular system to become more efficient at this function. Summing it all up, balance is the second category of exercises that will assist your golf game.

The third category of exercises that are beneficial to golf have to do with your muscles. The golf swing requires the muscles of your body to move through a specific range of motion (flexibility) and help with your balance capacities. In order to perform these actions and others, your body needs certain levels of strength and endurance. The definition of strength is the ability of the muscles to exert force for the given athletic action (simplified definition but a good working definition for us). Endurance is the ability of your muscles to do the same activity over and over again for a specific amount of time.

First off, let us discuss strength. The golf swing has one intention of developing club head speed while maintaining balance through the swing. The muscles in your body must have enough strength in them to do both. Now, when we discuss building strength for the golf swing it is NOT the type of strength needed to bench press 250 lbs. Or squat 500! It is strength geared towards the improvement of your swing. I refer to this type of strength as golf strength. So when you get to the gym, performing strength exercises like bench press will not help your swing. Exercises that train the body in the positions and through the movements of the golf swing will help your swing.

In addition to strength, we need to develop endurance in your muscles. Think of how many swings you may take over the course of 18 holes. In order for you to be able to swing the club the same way on the 18th hole as you did on the 1st hole. Your body has to have high levels of endurance. This will allow your body to perform the golf swing without getting tired. You develop endurance similar to how you develop golf strength. Utilize exercises that train the body in the positions and through the movements of the golf swing. Lighter loads with higher repetitions will be used for these exercises. The end result will be the development of golf endurance.

The final segment of exercises beneficial to your golf swing is power training. Power training is geared towards the ability of your body to generate high levels of club head speed. Power development by the body is what allows for greater distance on your shots. Clubs help, golf balls help, but it really comes down to the piece of machinery, your body, swinging those club and hitting those golf balls. Development of power for the golf swing is very similar to the development of golf strength and endurance. It is the utilization of exercises that place your body in the positions and move you through movements similar to the golf swing.

Summary

So there you have it, the answer to the types of exercises best for the improvement of your golf swing. I think you now realize it is not one exercise, but a group of exercises that incorporate flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power. A combination of these exercises is what will enhance your golf swing.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness progams go to http://www.seancochran.com

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Winsor Pilates - What Exactly Is It And Can I Do It At Home?

If you're much of a fitness buff, you're probably constantly alert for fun and challenging workout videos and products. Pilates is a phenomenon that is catching the attention of many because of the results experienced by certain Hollywood stars. many community colleges, adult education and recreation centers, and gyms are now beginning to offer pilates classes.

Pilates is a non-aerobic system of floor exercises that strengthens and firms the body while it promotes flexibility and coordination. It was invented by health and fitness guru Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century and became especially popular among professional dancers.

Pilates works the abdominal and the back muscles, which are referred to as the "core" muscles of the body. The core plays an important role in nearly all fitness related activities, so a strong, but flexible core means less risk of injury and enhanced performance in other workouts. Unlike many forms of exercise however, pilates requires great concentration. Because proper form is so crucial to success, you're forced to pay special attention to how your body is moving. In this way, it is actually quite similar to yoga and there is a lot of crossover between people who practice both.

It is advantageous that pilates is great for all fitness levels, even for beginners. With the many videos that have been produced, you can even do pilates at home. When you first work out to winsor pilates tapes, you may be quite surprised at how challenging the seemingly-simple movements actually are. That is because pilates works muscle groups you probably aren't used to exercising. If you keep up your workouts however, you will adapt quickly. Don't assume that just because it is difficult the first time that it will be impossible. You will get much better with practice.

working out to the winsor system can be a great way to get in shape. You get a 20 minute workout and the longer, more challenging 50 minute accelerated body scultping video. So, once you're proficient in the basic moves, you have an additional video to keep you challenged. The instruction is clear and friendly, and modified moves are demonstrated for those who have a weak back or neck.

It is convenient that the mari winsor pilates workout tapes do not require extra equipment. The exercises can be performed comfortably on a carpeted floor. If you have hard floors, you will want to get a mat.

One drawback to these tapes is that once you know how to do the exercises, the instruction can seem too wordy. You get a better workout if you don't take breaks in between the exercises, but Mari frequently pauses the workout to explain how to do the next move. One solution is to hit fast forward; another, is to write down the sequence of moves and do them without the video once you're familiar with the exercises and comfortably know what to do.

The bottom line is, the winsor pilates videos are effective, especially when combined with a healthy diet and aerobic exercise.

kathy Hildebrand is a professional writer who is easily bored with her "day job" assignments. So, she researches anything and everything of interest and starts writing. Writing about an extremely wide variety of subjects keeps her skills sharp, and gives her food for thought on future paid writing assignments.

More of her research and articles can be found at www.lasertargeted.com/pilates and other sites around the internet.

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Advice for the Theme Park Weary

When you just cant take another day at the theme parks on your Orlando vacation consider these suggestions:

Book a Spa Treatment - What better way to soothe fragile nerves and sore feet than a session at one of Orlandos resort spas. On disney property theres the Grand floridian as well as the Saratoga Springs Spa where one of their luxurious treatments are a perfect addition to your vacation. Off property you cant do any better than the ultra luxurious Ritz-Carlton Spa or the Gaylord palms Canyon Ranch Spa. Those staying at a Universal Resort should consider an exotic Javanese treatment at the Mandara Spa at Portofino Bay Hotel.

Relax At Your Resorts pool - Orlandos resort pools are justifiably renowned for their spectacular theming. disney offers some of the best, particularly Stormalong Bay at the yacht and Beach Club, a 3-acre mini waterpark, or the boulder lined beauty at the Wilderness lodge featuring waterfalls and its very own geyser. Off property, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress fantasyland pool is cooled by twelve waterfalls and at the JW Marriotts Lazy River you can float to your hearts content. And at Universal Orlandos Hard Rock Hotel is the coolest (and I dont just mean the water temperature) pool around with an underwater sound system, sand beach, and poolside cabanas.

Spend time On Disneys Waterways - Disney has miles of lakes and lagoons to explore. Youll find that most disney resorts have a marina where many types of watercraft are available for hire. Sailboats, pontoon and canopy boats, Sea Raycers, even a 48-foot yacht. Take your pick. Perhaps the biggest bang for your buck is to be had at the Contemporary Resort where in addition to the above youll also find parasailing, waterskiing, tubing, and wakeboarding on beautiful Bay Lake.

Cool Off at a disney Waterpark - disney has two wonderful waterparks: Blizzard Beach, a perfect place for daredevils, and Typhoon Lagoon where youll find a whopper of a surf pool along with tamer attractions. Spend your day hopping from one crazy waterslide to another or just kick back and relax on a lounge chair for the afternoon.

Shop Till You Drop in The Mall at Millenia - For one of Orlandos best shopping experiences head to this fabulous new mall just minutes from Universal Orlando. Here youll find only the best with stores such as Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany. But fair warning: this trip could end up costing a pretty penny. Those with great taste but thriftier intentions will love the Orlando Premium Outlets Mall located just across I-4 from downtown Disney where designer outlet stores such as Hugo Boss, Armani, Escada, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Burberry wont break the bank.

Head to downtown Disney - For a change of pace theres downtown Disney. Here youll find over 70 shops, restaurants, and nightclubs plus a 24-screen theater, disney quest with five floors of virtual games and adventures, even a Cirque du Soleil. Adults will want to pick a great restaurant for dinner like Wolfgang Puck or Portofino yacht Club and then head to Pleasure Island to party down until the wee hours of the morning.

Swim With a dolphin - Perhaps the most unusual experience in Orlando is Discovery Cove. Spend up close and personal time with your very own dolphin friend, snorkel with tropical fish and rays, even feed birds right out of your hand. Then relax on a sandy beach with little or no crowds. Definitely a day to be remembered.

Make the Rounds Resort Hopping - Spend a few hours ogling at Disneys wonderfully themed resorts. And best of all, it doesnt cost a thing. Board the monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center and hop off at each of the three Magic Kingdom resorts. First the Polynesian, a tropical wonderland, then the Grand floridian, Disneys flagship resort, and lastly the Contemporary where youll enjoy the Grand Concourse with the monorail silently gliding overhead. Out back you can catch a boat to the Wilderness lodge, Disneys most beautiful resort modeled after an early 1900s national park lodge. Then catch a boat to the Magic Kingdom and a ferry to the TTC where you started. Its a grand circle that cant be beat.

Cara Goldsbury is the author of "The luxury Guide to walt Disney World". A former travel agent and agency owner, she has traveled extensively throughout the world. visit her at http://www.luxurydisneyguide.com.

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What Should You do With a Yoga Book?

If you are deciding which Yoga book to buy for your collection, choose a book that will captivate your imagination, and suit your needs. On the subject of reading Yoga books: It has been a life long passion for some of us. Yet, it is not the number of books you read, but how you apply them to your life and the lives of others around you, which makes a difference.

The practical application of what you learn is more important than the quantity of Yoga books you read. So, the question is: How will you put the knowledge you learn to good use? To take an extreme view: If a homeless man reads personal finance magazines every day, he has educated himself, but he has not applied any of the advice.

You would be surprised what the homeless know. I knew a man who was homeless, yet he was very familiar with the ups and downs of the stock market. How did he learn so much? He pulled the wall Street Journal from the trash and mentally absorbed it. Unfortunately, he never applied the knowledge he learned.

This is a critical point to understand. Knowledge is like a bank savings account - You have to save, but you also have to put your savings to good use. In the words of Andrew Carnegie, I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution.

To learn knowledge, without applying it to life, is a waste. It is not intentional, in most cases, but what a shame it is to know so much and not be able to help anyone with it.

Within Yoga, today, are so many books to read, which were not accessible to many of us a few decades ago. Some Yoga texts have been in existence for thousands of years, but local libraries did not have much on the topic of Yoga.

At that time, we did not have VCRs, DVDs, Internet access, e-Books, MP3 Downloads, or Yoga audio books.

So, what did we do? When we acquired a Yoga book, or any book, we analyzed it by hand, and read a little. We made sure it would suit our needs, before we checked it out of the library, or purchased it from a book store.

The reason is simple If we buy or borrow any kind of a book, the value of our time is magnified by our complete comprehension and the ability to put it to practical use.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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