Is Your Workout as Stale as Your Gym Shoes?

There are three kinds of contractions that work your muscles.

1. concentric—the shortening of muscles; generally associated with force exertion
2. eccentric—the lengthening of the muscles; generally associated with a return from exertion
3. isometric—stack muscular contraction where the muscle does not lengthen or shorten; rather it resists a force

It’s likely you’re familiar with the first two, if not by name, then at least by deployment. But isometric muscular training is far less commonly practised at the gym, though it can offer some serious benefits. Isometric exercises have been shown to reduce pain, increase muscle volume, and help maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

So how do you do it?

You’re already doing it. Seriously though, if you’re holding this magazine, your biceps are in a flexed isometric position. If you’re sitting upright without the support of a chair while you read this article on your tablet, your back muscles are isometrically contracted.

Look at you, exercising and you didn’t even know it! Of course, these are things that we do on a daily basis. But our bodies adapt to these movements and they eventually provide us with little to no added health benefit. If we pair isometric contraction with other exercises, though, or add a little extra resistance, we’ll be cooking with fire.

Feel the burn

You know that burning sensation you get in your muscles when walking up a long flight of stairs? Or when you have to hold your luggage overhead while someone struggles to find their seat on the airplane?

Well, as the kids used to say in 1991, that’s going to be “our jam.” This workout embraces the burn and may even “put some hair on your knuckles”—Grandpa, circa 1987. Here’s the best part: you don’t even need a gym to do it!

Perform 3 rounds of the following exercises. The first component of each exercise is completed for 6 repetitions, the second is 12 repetitions, and the third is held for 30 seconds. There is no rest in between each component and minimal rest between exercises.

Jumsquasits

Muscles targeted: quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves, core

Do you ever sit down or stand up? Of course you do! All day, every day. This will not only strengthen and grow those muscles, but also create a little more stability in your joints. The isometric contraction in the quads is associated with improvements in knee pain, even for those with osteoarthritis!

Squat jump

Squat down as low as you can, maintaining ground-heel contact. Jump as high as you can, tucking your knees up as close to your chest as possible at the peak of the jump. Land as softly as possible with bent legs, going right into your next squat and jump.

Deep squat

Much the same as when you load into your squat jump, ensure your heels stay down and your knees track over your toes. To get added depth to your squat, let your arms drift out in front of you for counterbalance.

Wall sit

Find a wall. Lean against it. Slide down until you are in a seated chair position. Knees over toes, head and back pressed against the wall. Don’t move.

Wiclolows

Muscles targeted: chest, triceps, shoulders, core

Remember the last time you helped push a stranger's car out of the snow? OK, so maybe chest push exercises aren't the most functional. But muscular balance is important in terms of body function, and the ability to properly tighten our core while resisting a force is critical to avoiding injury (plus, who doesn't like to be a winter hero?).

Wide clap push-ups

Get into push-up position. If you're feeling strong, you can try this from your toes, but I recommend starting with knee push-ups so the floor doesn't give you a facial. Go chest to floor, like a normal push-up, but explode up as fast as you can, pulling your hands off the floor at the peak of the push-up, clap, then land in your starting position and immediately go down for another push-up.

Close grip push-ups

Like normal push-ups, but decrease the distance between your hands to body width, and instead of your elbows winging out to the side, tuck your elbows in against your ribs. Again, this can be done from either knees or toes.

Low push-hold

Start in regular push-up position, but when you get to about an inch (2 or 3 cm) off the ground, hold that position. Focus on keeping your core tight and chin tucked. Do on either toes or knees.

Lungestaholds

Muscles targeted: glutes, quads, hamstrings

Lunges might be the most underrated exercise in fitness. They help to bring muscles through their full range of motion, they challenge our balance, and theyíre safe. If I had to choose one exercise only to give a client: Squats? Deadlifts? No sir, give me a well-performed lunge any day.

Lunge changes

Start in a lunge position. Drop your back knee to just off the floor and then jump as high as you can, switching leg positions and landing in a lunge position. Immediately go into the next lunge and jump. Do this six times per side.

Stationary lunges

Start in a lunge position and simply drop your back knee to just off the floor, and then raise it back up. Go slowly and try to keep your weight in your front foot.

Lunge holds

Start in a lunge position. Drop your back knee to just off the floor. Hold this position and try to keep your upper body as tall as possible.

Mobicranks

Muscles targeted: core

The key to an on-point dad bod is a soggy midsection. If that's your goal, don’t bother with this next group of exercises. If, however, you want a flat stomach and less potential for chronic back pain, carry on.

Mountain climbers

Get into a push-up position, on your hands and toes (don't worry, no more push-ups). This time, drive one knee forward and across your body, bringing it as close to your chest as possible. As you return that foot, drive your other knee forward. Do this as fast and as forcefully as possible.

Bicycle crunches

Start on your back, fingers touching your temples and with knees and feet in the air. Extend your right leg to straight, bring your left knee across your body, and crunch your right elbow across to touch your knee. Then extend your left leg to straight and bring your right knee across to touch your left elbow. Do this slowly and with special focus on keeping your core tight.

Plank

Get into a push-up position, but instead of being on your hands, hold your weight on your forearms. Raise your hips up slightly above shoulder height while you scoop them toward your chest. Don’t. Move.

Resunanas

Muscles targeted: lower back, upper back, lats, glutes

Sitting in a chair for hours on end (at work) and then sitting on a couch when you get home (to relax) is probably one of the worst things you can do. And yet, we all do it. It creates a lazy core and shortens muscles like you wouldnít believe, setting us up for injury and dysfunction. The remedy? Activating and strengthening your posterior chain.

Reverse daydreamers

Imagine yourself lying face down on a sunny tropical beach with your hands under your chin. Now get to work! Keeping your chin tucked, arch and lift your chest, thighs, and feet off the ground as high and as quickly as you can. Lower to starting position. That’s one.

Supermans

Start in the same sunny position, but this time extend your arms out in front of you (yes, like Superman flying) and point your toes back behind you. Do the same arching motion, but this time slowly, smoothly, and with a little pause at the top.

Banana holds

You’re probably starting to understand the theme here. Same same, but hold at the peak of your extension.

Brendan Rolfe, BA, DipA, PTS, specializes in functional movement and athletic training in Penticton, BC, where he strives to bring healthy lifestyle choices to every household. @brendanrolfe; healthaholicsunanimous.com