Articles

In the previous post we discussed neuroception and the subconscious evaluation of threat by the sensory systems and the brain. Our ability to accurately appraise the environment — including sensory input, context, past history and future expectations, etc. — dictates...

What determines if a client is going to do well with a particular training or treatment session? How about in a game or business meeting? Lots of ideas come to mind: strength and endurance, hydration, nutrition, mobility, preparation, etc. all of which are crucially...

Around once a month (or when I've reached a critical mass of crushing some texts) I hope to add a few books to the Recommended Readings Page and post them here along with how they connect to current training and/or rehab paradigms. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon...

Our brain's ability to accurately perceive what is going on in the body depends on our mind's representation of said body via brain maps. Those who are well practiced at a particular skill have an appreciable gain in the cortical mapping of that area - think of a...

I get a high volume of questions regarding my recommendations on reading material. Like many of my colleagues and mentors, I'm a vociferous reader and love the feeling that comes from engaging in material from the minds of brilliant authors and curators. In order to...

After writing my last post, Addressing High Tension Movement Strategies, I received a question via email that I thought was worth answering here.The question: "Can you further explain the argument for the utilization of slow(er) movements as a means to reduce tension...

Obligatory rattlesnake pic Something we see commonly in treating and training movement is the chronic use of high tension movement strategies (aka over-recruiters; aka high threshold movers). These are the people with excessive amounts of muscular tone and contraction...

The year 2014 has seen a lot of growth at this here website (what's up, 114 countries) so I wanted to share the top posts based on website traffic. Top 5 Articles1. Using Grip Training to Hack the Nervous System and Improve Strength and StabilityThe hands have such a...

I recently had the opportunity to join Christopher Kelly of NourishBalanceThrive.com on his podcast. Christopher and his partners are doing some really cool holistic, functional wellness testing and programs, not to mention the yeoman's work they're doing in curating...

As we discussed in my previous post, hyperinflation (over-breathing) causes system-wide excitation which may be useful in short bouts of exercise, but over time can be a rate-limiter to adaptation and resilience. By getting air out (exhalation/flexion) we can better...

As followers of my blog (now in 110 countries — waiting on you, Greenland) have surely begun to appreciate - I have a thing for breathing. Watching clients and athletes breathe, it becomes apparent that one's breathing pattern is just such an important indicator of...

As I talk with a lot of coaches, physios, and physicians a phrase I often hear is: "well he/she just needs to get stronger". Even those supposedly "in the know" say it so much it's almost reflexive — as if more strength or capacity is all that is preventing someone...

I've had a number of questions regarding the correct performance of the box squat such that I wanted to address it here. The main theme being "When performing box squats, should one sit on the box (apply all the weight to the box) before coming back up?" I love box...

This week's post is a guest spot from my friend Dr. Danny Matta of Athletes' Potential in Atlanta, GA. Danny asked if I would feature this post on SethOberst.com and I thought it fit well with the vision of this site to improve human movement and performance. Waiting...

Whether or not you've read my prior piece on the short foot position, this bears repeating: the target organ/system of training is the nervous system. The nervous system coordinates the sensory inputs from the body and determines outputs thru expression of movement —...