strength training - Summit Strength & Fitness | Madison's Training Community

Resistance Bands: Build Strength, and Stability in the Gym or On The Go

Resistance bands don’t get the credit they deserve. Unfortunately, many people use them only for warm-ups or active recovery, implying they don’t deserve a place in the main workout. A study from 2019 proves this untrue. This study compared resistance bands with traditional strength equipment, including weight machines and dumbbells. Results show that when directly…

Tess enjoying the view on top of a 14er in colorado

What are you training for? Feeling powerful, motivated, and more.

How to find your why in fitness, from races and climbing trips to everyday health, and why training for what you can do beats training for how you look.

Courtney is doing push ups on the bumper of a van

How to Restart Your Fitness Routine and Get Back on Track

We’ve all been there. Life gets busy, motivation dips, or unexpected challenges pop up—and suddenly your workouts, meal prep, or daily movement fall to the bottom of the list. Maybe you or your kids were sick, so you missed a week at the gym, which turned into a month. Maybe your nutrition habits slipped, or…

Patrick lifting large sandbag off the ground

Personal Training or Group Classes? Find the Best Way to Feel Strong and Confident

When it comes to reaching your fitness goals, the path you choose matters just as much as the destination. Two of the most popular options include personal training and group fitness classes. Each offers unique benefits depending on your needs, preferences and lifestyle. Understanding the differences between these approaches can help you make a choice…

Bodyweight Movement prevails in the Time of Need

Bodyweight movement doesn’t get the credit it truly deserves. Too often, it's dismissed as too easy or only for beginners, simply because it doesn't involve lifting heavy weights or using fancy equipment. Many people wrongly assume that if you're not dripping sweat under a barbell, you're not making real progress. But this couldn’t be further…

The fitz roy mountain range in patagonia

Physique vs. Skill: Training Lessons from the MTNS

When I started training, my motivation came from wanting to change how I looked. Like so many others, I walked into the gym with the hope of chiseling out a body that matched the images I’d seen on fitness accounts and magazine covers. Lean, toned, maybe even "shredded"—whatever that meant at the time. Little did…

Muscle Growth Starts Here: Understand the Science, Maximize Your Gains

When it comes to muscle growth, it's more than just lifting heavy weights — it’s a complex physiological process happening beneath the surface. Understanding the science behind muscle growth not only helps optimize your workouts but also sheds light on how your body adapts to training over time. Let’s break down what really happens inside your…

Patrick Hanging upside down doing calisthenics at the playground

Movement: Strong Medicine for the Mind, Body, & Soul

In a world that demands we sit still—at desks, in cars, behind screens—we often forget one simple truth: We were born to move and that movement is medicine. Movement isn’t just about fitness goals or burning calories. It’s a powerful, natural medicine that nourishes your mind, strengthens your body, and uplifts your soul. And…

the body hinge is a movement like this single leg dead-lift

The body Hinge and how to train it properly

The Body hinge is a fundamental movement pattern crucial for strength, athletic performance, and injury prevention. Here’s why training it is essential: The Body Hinge 1. Builds Posterior Chain Strength The hinge primarily targets the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back, strengthening the posterior chain, which is vital for power, stability, and proper movement mechanics.…

sport climbing and rappelling off of an overhung cliff

Mountain Athlete; how to train

When you think of elite athletes, you might first think of sprinters, football players, or swimmers. But in outdoor sports, mountain athletes are a category of their own. Whether climbing high-altitude peaks, trail running over rugged terrain, or backcountry skiing deep in the wilderness. Mountain athletes push their bodies to the limits in some…

Mountain athletes do barbell back squats

Glutes are made for working; get yours to Work Better

As much as we celebrate the postpartum journey, not enough is said about the flat, deflated feeling many of us experience with our glutes. Yes, I’m talking about the “pancake butt” phenomenon. And may I say, this isn’t just a postpartum issue - this is a relatable issue among sedentary and non-sedentary people, too. Glutes…

Coach and trainer doing med ball v-sit tosses sitting on a bosu ball

Coach and Trainer: Is one or both Essential?

Coach and Trainer. I have seen these two terms used very loosely lately. Having chosen a career path that entails both these titles, I wanted to clarify what the difference between the two means to me. Yes, you can be both a coach and trainer, but they are not mutually exclusive. Just because you are a certified…

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