Monday, September 17, 2012

Dynamic Strength and Conditioning is....


Even though we've been doing this for 4 years now, I sometimes forget that we are still a relatively small gym in Southern NH and, just maybe, not everybody out there knows who we are and what we're all about. I'm writing this because one of the biggest issues we run into with 90% of the public is an initial misconception of what it is we do. Once a person comes in to check us out and talks to one of our coaches, or comes in for their initial consultation and movement screen, it becomes very clear what it is that we do. But before that happens a lot of people don't really understand what it is that we do. 

First, let me just say what we're not. We are not P90X, Insanity, Boot Camp, Crossfit, Aerobics Class, Cardio Kickboxing, Body Pump. All of those are different varieties of conditioning-based group sessions that rely on non-structured, aerobic capacity workouts of varying intensities. Some of them are focused on doing as much "work" in as little time as possible regardless of form and without any clear purpose other than trying to ensure that the client is left in a heap on the floor, and is sore for the better part of the week, if not outright injured. This is the opposite of the goals and training philosophy at Dynamic. We strive to make people stronger, help to improve body composition, increase energy levels and metabolism, in a structured, progressive strength and conditioning program while ensuring that our clients can move through a full range of motion pain free.

Let's start with the first thing that makes Dynamic unique. Every incoming client into our small group or semi-private training programs, as well as any athlete into our athletic development program will go through a comprehensive movement screen to identify any mobility or flexibility issues as well as any asymmetries that may need corrective exercise built into their training program. As I mentioned, our goal is to have every client moving through a full range of motion, pain free so if there are any existing limitations we will address that straight away before trying to add strength onto dysfunction.

Then the client enters a training program. This could be a small group, semi-private, or private program based on the goals and needs of the individual. These are not "fitness classes". These are coaching-based personal training programs in groups of anywhere from 1 to 8 people to a coach depending on the program. In a "Small Group Program" there could be as many as 8 people training with a coach. The program is a performance-based strength and conditioning program that includes dynamic movement prep, linear and lateral movement training, plyometrics, progressive-resistance based strength and power programming, and high intensity energy system development. Each client receives a program that they use to track and monitor progress, and a new progression is written every 4 weeks to avoid plateaus. Every client is brought into a program at the exact level that they are capable of with the necessary amount of customization to ensure success.


Promo Video for our Small Group Training Programs

In our athletic development program we deal with athletes from every sport from middle school through professional levels. We even do some customized programming for kids as young as 7. In addition to being different ages, genders, and playing different sports, every athlete also has different needs, goal, and levels of training experience. For that reason, every athlete receives their very own, customized program to address their exact needs and goals, balanced with the requirements of their individual sport. You will never see a group of athletes of different ages, genders, and playing different sports come into Dynamic and all do the same "Workout of the Day" on a white board. We won't even do that with athletes on the same team because on any given team there are going to be athletes that play different positions, have different levels of training experience, different injury histories, and different needs and therefore require different programming. As an example, we worked with the North Middlesex High School Football team over the Summer. There were seniors who could perform a perfect back squat with over 300lbs, and there were incoming freshman who couldn't touch their toes. Needless to say, these athletes had different needs and we programmed them accordingly. We can condition teams together as a mental toughness and team camaraderie builder, but if an individual athlete is going to reach their greatest potential they need the level of programming that is appropriate for them. That's what we give them at Dynamic.


Promo Video for Athletic Development Program

If you want to train in a performance-based, progressive strength and conditioning program, or if you are a competitive athlete looking to achieve your maximum potential and take your game to the next level, Dynamic Strength and Conditioning is THE place to train.