training

THEY GAVE UP ON ME

THEY GAVE UP ON ME

Cam Ward, DVRT Master-4everfitness.com.au- Victoria, Australia

The last year my clients have seen a lot more of this funny looking bag. We do all these very different types of movements that finally the other day I was asked the question, why I love using the DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training System . Why have you travelled thousands of kilometres to America to learn how to throw sand around. 

Yes, I left beautiful Victoria to go to New York in the middle of a snow storm to learn this funny bag of sand! 

Well that is a really good question. Why do I specialize in DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training. Easy, because its helped and continues to help clients move more freely, it’s backed by a wealth of expert knowledge and education and more important it’s opened the doors for me to train clients with specific conditions. The people that most would give up on, I feel, no I KNOW, I can help! 

For those that haven’t used the system or picked up an Ultimate Sandbag, below is a great example of why we love the DVRT system.

IT’S NOT JUST SAND IN A BAG! A sentiment I am sure many of you really feel. I don't blame  you, there was a point I felt the same. That was until I gave the system the chance to live up to what it promised and I wasn't ever the same after! Especially when I can tell you stories like THIS....

Over the last few months we have been fortunate enough to work with a client born with a congenital condition structural scoliosis.  As described by Scoliosis Australia, scoliosis is a Greek word meaning curved or bent.  In medical terms this is described as a common type of spinal curvature. When scoliosis forms it bends the spin sideways and the ribs will follow the rotating spine posterior and upwards.

So what does that mean....?

For a long time training prior to our training, our client at 55 years of age was uncomfortable and often in pain when training. As a coach and athlete training, I know and can appreciate training through pain is NOT something we are trying to achieve. It was hard to figure out what would really work, what would change this women's whole life. Having confidence in DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training, I wanted to see if the system could be a strong as I believed it could be! 

BUT WHY DVRT?

On top of yoga and pilates, our client wanted to start some strength training but was hesitant due to previous discomfort from her condition. After a short overview of how the system works our she was moving through specific movements that previously done would cause pain. In a really short time we were able to monitor not only strength gains and progression we had no pain. 

How was this possible?

First off, having a great system to work with gives us both direction and knowledge of how the body works. Whenever we have pain or changes to the body's structure, we often have certain muscles that become dominant and others that "turn off" which should be on! It was important to identify where weaknesses had come about and how we could strengthen them.

The other part is having the RIGHT tool! What we found worked was the unique design of the Ultimate Sandbag. Yea, I didn't think there was much to the Ultimate Sandbag either. In fact, because it was a challenge to get Ultimate Sandbags here in Australia at first, I actually just found a company that kinda looked like an Ultimate Sandbag. That would be one of the biggest mistakes I would make! At the time I didn't realize the thought of handle placement and many other things that would change the outcomes of our training.

The position of the handles the overall design of the Ultimate Sandbag allowed me to create movements and positions that would allow her to train without pain. Not only was she able to really strength training for the first time without the pain she knew before, but we were able to work on many of the problems she faced. The areas of the body that were impacted by her congenital issues.

The above is one of many movements we are able to achieve. The progression from a Ultimate Sandbag standard bent over row to an off-set grip row was something she had never seen or done before. A real exciting time for our client. But what was the most exciting part of our job was three words said, “I’M PAIN FREE”.

To date we continue to work together and have now progressed even further with a healthy pain free life at the age of 55.

Train smart, train with purpose

Learn more how to positively impact people's lives beyond the workout with our PERSONAL or GROUP TRAINING SESSIONS HERE

MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOT GIVING UP

Never give up

Working in the fitness industry, as a lot of fitness professionals will know it can be a life changing experience for our clients and on the flip side and extremely rewarding position for us.  You get excited when you see your clients achieve and reach mile stones and you definitely feel for them when....it just doesn't work out for them on the day.  

We've all heard the phrase, "you need to get back on the horse". Well when we have a set back in life sometimes it's not that easy.  We can push and push and push our clients to give it another go but at the end of the day, it takes determination to 'never give up'.

Recently posted on the Ultimate Sandbag Fitness Facebook page was the above image our photographer captured of myself and a client training in the 4EVERfitness training studio.  To the naked eye this image is of a coach and his client completing an Ultimate Sandbag front loaded squat, but here's where an image can mean so much more.

Born with a congenital orthopaedic issue where his femur or thigh bones are internally rotated or both of his knees face inwards. Specialists said to him as a little boy the option of surgery would mean breaking his hip, resetting and being wheel chair bound for 12 months with the potential of  learning to walk again.  Opting out as a young boy he played high level cricket and followed his passion basketball.  Knocking his knees together when running and riding, he was not able to perform at his best, let alone knee pain and tightness through his pelvic muscles was never ending.

As time when on he learned to deal and adapt with his issue and for years as a young adult would train himself at home on a multi function weight machine.  I approached him a little over 12 months ago and asked how his training was progressing. To my surprise he said, “Great, I have been maxing out my machine for 12 months”. “WHAT” I replied.  I was shocked to hear he had stayed at the same weight for this long.  He went on to tell me he would love to run but it caused him pain and as his weight training didn’t cause him grief he wanted to continue.  I could read in his face that he was frustrated and wanted change. He was stuck and didn’t know what to do.

So what did we do!

We set up a plan and introduced him to functional training. Being a DVRT Master instructor, I felt confident that using the DVRT system we could create some pretty amazing changes. Setting up a plan of progressions, identifying and addressing his specific issues we got to work. Did it work? Well here he is today and what a difference.

So what changed???

We started working on ..............

Wait! The real question is what HAS changed.  As you can see from the picture above this is Dan’s very first ½ marathon in 36 degree C temperatures, he’s completed a 10 day charity ride from Adelaide to Ocean Grove a little over 1000km and best thing yet is he has shot over his weight limit of 60lb in the Ultimate Sandbag Clean and Press Challenge knocking out 40 reps at 80lb in 5 minutes.

Writing this blog gives me goose bumps thinking of how far he has coming and the hurdles he has jumped to get him to where he is today.

The take home message here is have a vision, voice it and listen to your client.  We all get hooked up with the latest fads and crazes and forget to listen to number one.....the clients goal. 

What DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training has given me is a great possibility of leading my clients down a path of success. An ability to more accurately and effectively identify their needs and address them. Having great will is part of the equation, having the right know how is the other! 

Until next time train safe and with purpose.

Cam Ward

Director 4EVERfitness

Visit Our Site HERE

For more on DVRT Ultimate Sandbag training follow DVRT Ultimate Sandbags Australia