Touchstone Blog Archive
Friday, April 3, 2009
  iFitness for iPhone: Great App for Exercise

Want a personal trainer but don't want to shell out the cash? I think we might have a solution that will meet you halfway in the middle. If you're an iPhone user, you might just be in luck. There's a new app on the block, called iFitness, that is basically a miniature personal trainer in your pocket.

This new iPhone app doesn't just tell you which workouts to do, and hopes that you will understand what they are saying, instead, they actually SHOW you. There are 110 fully illustrated exercises that not only tell you how to do it, but Show you in photos. Here's a bit more about the app, straight from the creators themselves:

"iFitness is our solution for expensive personal trainers at your local gym.

Performing an exercise incorrectly is harmful to your body, and repeating the same few exercises you know will never push you forward - that is why iFitness is so handy.


iFitness offers:

+ over 110 fully illustrated exercises with accompanying text

+ favorites option to create your own custom routine

+ preset routines that our experts have made for reaching different goals

+ exercises organized by the muscles they target
...and more!

Constantly updating, and getting rave reviews - no wonder from Australia to the UK, we are the top selling worldwide fitness application!

Purchase your copy on iTunes today.
"

So, what do you have to lose? Try it out, see how it works for you.

(image via iFitness)

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
  Body Fat Testing @ Berkeley Ironworks on April 27

Mark your calendars for this one, as it's something you really shouldn't miss. Looks like for all of you who missed out in the past, BodyFatTest is coming back, and will be at our Berkeley Ironworks gym on Monday, April 27th.

For those who have been tested in the past, don’t miss out on the chance to see the changes to your fat and lean mass. For those who have missed out on testing before, take this opportunity to start tracking your fitness progress now using the most accurate body composition analysis available with BodyFatTest!

BodyFatTest is a mobile, hydrostatic, body composition testing clinic that will provide you with a four-page printout including your body fat percentage, lean mass percentage, resting metabolic rate, and caloric expenditure activity chart tailored specifically for you. Body composition testing is exciting and motivating because you will track your gains in muscle mass while decreasing your body fat – this is not recognized on a bathroom scale and can frustrate fitness enthusiasts and those trying to improve their health through diet and exercise. The test takes only a few moments during which you will totally submerge yourself in comfortably warm water, heated to between 89 and 94 degrees. The water is cycling through a pump and filtration system throughout the day. Mark your calendar now.

BodyFatTest will be here on Monday, April 27th from 3pm – 8pm. The initial test costs $49, with retests at $39. Advanced registration at the front desk is strongly encouraged. Bring your bathing suit on the day of testing – changing rooms are available in the clinic. For more information, check out their website at www.bodyfattest.com. See you there!

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
  New Women's Clinic @ Berkely Ironworks

Here's a heads up for an event that is sure to fill up fast, so the sooner you sign up, the better. Katie Brown, author of the instructional book Girl on the Rocks and also one of our very own Berkeley Ironworks desk staff, is going to be teaching a women's clinic on Sunday, February 22 from 6-8pm.

You can sign up at the front desk at Berkeley Ironworks and we really do encourage you to do it soon as space is pretty limited. The two hour clinic will cost $35.

Here is a little bit about her book, we hope to see you all at the Clinic:

"For women intrigued by the sport of climbing but intimidated by its male dominance and stereotype as “extreme,” Girl on the Rocks is a monumental and essential resource, providing instructions on technique, strength, and mental agility—from a woman’s perspective.

Through the sage advice of one of the world’s foremost female climbers and the lens of an internationally acclaimed photographer, women learn that climbing is more fun than dangerous, that overcoming fear can boost self-esteem, and that the fitness benefits are tremendous. Most women learn climbing from men, but the sport is different for a woman—both physically and psychologically—and it is empowering for women to learn about climbing from “girls” who’ve been on the rocks themselves. Bringing the sport to life alongside the book’s numerous color photos, Katie Brown’s interviews w ith female climbers—from a young girl to a sixty-something professional climber—reveal, on a more intimate level, what the sport has done for them.
"

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Thursday, January 29, 2009
  Nicros Training's Three Cornerstones of Training

I just found something I thought was both interesting and useful for all of you out there interested in learning more about training, training techniques and some of the foundations of good, solid training. Eric Hörst has been recognized as an authority on climbing performance for a long time now, so when has ideas about how to train smarter, harder and more efficiently, I listen.

Anyhow, I just found his 3 "cornerstone training principles" that were spot on, so I thought I'd share them with you. Head over and check out what else he has to say, but for now, here are some of his thoughts:


"Individualization
This could also be called the snowflake principle, since it highlights that no two climbers—or their optimal conditioning program—are the same. The best training program for you will target your specific weaknesses, address past or present injuries, provide sufficient time for recovery, and be structured to provide the greatest output for the available training input.

Since there is no other climber quite like you, there is no other climber's conditioning program that you'd want to copy—doing so will provide less-than-optimal results and might even get you injured.

Specificity
The principle of specificity may be the most important of all for climbers to heed. It simply states that the more specific a training activity is to a given sport—muscle group, work load, velocity and pattern of movement, body posture, and range of motion—the more it will contribute to increasing performance in that sport. Therefore, for an exercise to produce meaningful gains in functional strength and endurance for climbing it must be markedly similar to climbing. Obviously, exercises that involve actual climbing motions (bouldering, fingerboard pull-ups, H.I.T. Workout, and such) are the most specific and will have the greatest transfer to climbing performance.

Effective training must also target the specific muscle fiber type and energy system most used in your preferred style of climbing. For instance, hard bouldering draws largely on fast-twitch muscle fibers and the ATP-CP energy pathway, so your want to favor brief, high-intensity exercises that target these constraints. Longer traditional or sport climbs, however, typically demand extended and alternating use of fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers with energy coming predominantly from glycogen stored in the muscles and liver. To specifically train these systems, you'd want to perform many high-repetition exercises or climb for mileage at the gym or crag.

Overload
This grand daddy of training principles states that in order to increase functional capacity for exercise, it is necessary to expose the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems to a level of stress beyond that which it is accustomed. You can achieve this overload by increasing the resistance and intensity, volume, and speed of training, or by decreasing the rest interval between successive sets.

The best method of creating overload depends on the desired outcome of a conditioning program. For example, to excel in bouldering you'd want to create overload by increasing resistance and exercise intensity in order to build maximum strength and power. A roped climber would be more interested in developing local endurance and, thus, he should create overload by increasing both the exercise volume and reducing rest intervals between exercise sets. Finally, a big wall or alpine climber in need of greater stamina should train at a lower overall intensity and create overload by increasing total daily exercise volume."

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
  A Brief FYI About Aerobics

At Touchstone Climbing, we're proud to offer a great deal of ways for our customers and clients to get into and stay in the best shape of their lives. I just found a study that reinforces just how important and successful it can be for your lives to add daily exercise into the mix.

Everyone knows just how important exercise is, but a new study contains some surprising facts. According to new studies, regular, daily exercise can actually shave 12 full years off of your biological age. 12 years. According to the research:

"A person who maintains aerobic fitness may delay biological aging by up to 12 years, a new analysis shows. Jogging and other types of aerobic exercise improve the body's oxygen consumption and its use in generating energy (metabolism). However, a steady decline in maximal aerobic power begins in middle age, decreasing about 5 ml/ (kg. min) every decade, according to the information in the analysis. When maximal aerobic power falls below about 18 ml in men and 15 ml in women, it becomes difficult to do any activity without experiencing major fatigue. A typical 60-year-old sedentary man has a maximal aerobic power of about 25 ml, nearly half of what it was at age 20. But research shows that a long period of relatively high-intensity aerobic exercise can increase maximal aerobic power by 25 percent (about 6 ml), which equals 10 to 12 biological years."

So, what we always thought has been officially confirmed. For more on the study, head over and check it out. In the meantime, hit the gym.

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
  New Year's Eve Is Here!

It's New Year's Eve, so I'm sure the vast majority of you are going to be spending time with friends, family, or heck, even strangers on this big night. The final hours are counting down and before you know it, 2008 will have come to pass. That's right, the year is over and as of 12:01 tonight, a new one will begin.

I mentioned it yesterday, but I'll mention it again today...what a perfect time to set some concrete, exciting, and important Resolutions aimed directly at your health and fitness. Use 2009 as THE year to get back into shape, Stay in the shape you are already in, or even better, advance yourself further than you ever have before. With the No Initiation Fee January, there is no reason why you can't make this 2009 your healthiest year ever. We want you here, we want you climbing, biking, running, doing Yoga and joining our community. Trust us, you won't find a happier, healthier and just all around more FUN group of people.

So, enjoy the rest of 2008, spend it with those that mean the most to you, and we'll see you again in 2009. Hopefully that means we'll see you in person, in our gyms, not just on this blog. You've got nothing to lose, join up today!

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Monday, November 24, 2008
  AFAA Workshops Coming January 2009!
Look out look out all you Diablo Rock Gym members, we've got some pretty cool news for you if you're going to be in and around the area come January! That's right, the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) are going to be having some of their workshops at the Diablo Rock Gym!

That's right, January 9-11, 2009 kicks off the workshops for Personal Fitness Trainer Certification. On the 9th we'll be going from 1-9:30pm, and on the 10th and 11th, we'll be rocking from 8am - 6pm. The price for this set will be $469. On January 17, they'll be having the Primary Group Exercise Workshop from 9am - 6pm and this workshop will be $299. Finally, on January 18th, from 9am - 6pm for $129 they'll be having the Floor, Core & More Workshop, and this one is only $129.

The AFAA is in full control here, DRG will just be the venue for all this craziness! Something to keep in mind, however, is that all Touchstone Members will receive a 25% discount off these sessions if you email Andrew@touchstoneclimbing.com by midnight next Monday! For more information on what to expect at these workshops, head over to the AFAA site and check it out. Hopefully we'll see you there!

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Thursday, November 6, 2008
  New Name, Same Amazing Class @ Berkeley Ironworks

Only one more day until Friday! We've made it this far my friends, we're almost to the much deserved weekend! That said, I just wanted to offer up a quick reminder to all of you that one of the best, and most popular classes at Berkeley Ironworks has undergone a bit of a makeover when it comes to its name.

What used to be called "Sports Conditioning" is now renamed, much more appropriately I might add, "Full Body." It's the same great class, just a new name. For all of you veterans to it, no worries, for all of you that have yet to join and get into the groove, now is the time. Just to prove to you how much you need to be a part of this great class, here's some of what you can expect:

The Full Body class with John Downey (formerly the Sports Conditioning Class)

Tuesdays @ Noon and Thursdays @ 1PM


All human movement must traverse the core. Having a strong set of abdominal and lower back muscles makes every movement stronger, more precise, more graceful and much, much safer. Teaching the brain and nervous system to coordinate all of our actions through a strong, stable core is the essence of fitness. Training our body to work as a single unit, using whatever combination of muscles and extremities and in whatever rotating, lifting, turning movement we find ourselves in, is the ultimate state of physical strength and power. To say nothing of staying injury free!

This is the philosophy that guides the design and development of each and every Full Body class given at Berkeley Ironworks.
  • Get ready for an endless supply of new, imaginative and innovative workout experiences each and every week!
  • New exercises are constantly being added and taught to everyone!
  • Looking for the most complete 1 hour workout available anywhere?
  • Want to learn scores of new exercises while a certified Personal Trainer makes sure your form is perfect?
  • Feel like getting stronger, gaining the endurance you always wanted, develop the speed, agility and balance to do what ever you want? And have some fun at the same time?
  • No muscle group left untouched!
o Biceps
o Triceps
o Shoulders
o Chest
o Back
o CORE!!!
o Glutes
o Quads
o Hamstrings
o Calves
o Heart & Lungs!!

  • Develop full range of motion, balance, strength, endurance, flexibility!

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
  Fight Cancer with CrossFit
Join CrossFit EastBay, Wounded Warrior Project and Athletes for a Cure Foundations in the “Fight Gone Bad III” a one day fund-raising workout to crush prostate cancer on Saturaday, September 27th at 11am. Five grueling exercises on one minute intervals for three rounds will test your mind and body, all in the name of a good cause. Ask your favorite CrossFit enthusiast or Max Lewin, the local CrossFit Boss for more information. Show cancer and everyone else the business side of your fitness!

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Friday, September 12, 2008
  CrossFit: The Best View in Town

With the gorgeous weather we've been having lately, it might be hard to get to the gym to work out. But now there's a perfect solution to wanting to work out AND be outside: CrossFit at GWPC. Now taking place on the roof, CrossFit offers the best of both worlds, a booty kicking workout and your daily vitamin D allotment.

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Friday, August 29, 2008
  G.W.P.C. offers Yoga on Saturday Morning
Join us Saturday mornings at 11AM for yoga at GWPC. Shy Sayar is the instructor and founder of Upeksa Yoga, a style of yoga that perfectly balances the alignment and safety of Iyengar, the strength building of Ashtanga, and the deep flexibility achieved by Bikram Yoga - all with no need for a heated room. Pronounced “oo-payk-sha”, the term literally means “balance” or “equanimity”, and it captures the style’s focus on perfectly balancing both practitioner and practice - physically, psychologically and emotionally. This invigorating, challenging, safe and fun style often also draws on the healing power of Tibetan Heart Yoga, the subtle energy work of Shadow Yoga and the fun and loving kindness of partner yoga.

This class is open to all levels and is FREE to members, $12 for non-members.

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Friday, August 22, 2008
  10 Excuses for Not Biking to Work
1. I’ll be all sweaty and gross when I get there.

Find a way to clean up in the bathroom, use the shower on the next floor, keep spare clothes in your office, or find some other way. The benefits are worth it.


2. It’s too far.

Your subjective sense of the distance may be skewed if you haven’t really given it a serious try. Leave some extra time and try it out for a few weeks. You’ll be surprised at how the distance seems to shrink as you get used to it, and as you get into better shape. For most people, riding as much as 8-12 miles each way to work can be enjoyable.


3. There are too many hills.

What if you thought of hills as the best part of biking. Nothing feels more primal and satisfying that digging into the pedals and clawing your way up a hill and then the feeling of self-sufficient accomplishment you have at the top.


4. I feel like a dork riding my bike.

What is this, the 8th grade?!? Besides, being a dork is the new cool, dating all the way back to Devo.


5. It takes too much time.

The chances are that if work is less than 12 miles, you can find a way to get there on your bike that actually takes equal or less time than driving. Bikes don’t sit in traffic; they can use alleys, bike paths, and other short cuts. (We didn’t tell you to run any red lights.)


6. I’m too tired in the morning/after work to ride.

Have you ever gone to work out, even when you feel tired and crumby at first, and then felt worse later? No way – you always feel better. And, once your fitness level comes up, you’ll be shocked at how much more energy you have overall. You’ll be leaping out of bed and onto the bike.


7. There’s no place safe to put my bike.

Could there be a closet, an unused corner in your office, or a storage room? A bit of space for a hook on the wall? Could the boss put in a bike rack or help you find a solution?


8. My work isn’t very bike friendly.

That sucks. We sympathize. But what if you do it anyway, and others notice and follow your lead? (We didn’t tell you to cause an uprising.)


9. Bad weather.

This bites. But there are buses, trains, and subway options for going in or coming back when the weather suddenly turns bad. Sometimes the fear of bad weather is worse than the real thing. Sometimes it’s not so bad once you’re out in it. And you can take a perverse pride in your suffering.

10. I telecommute.

You have a point there. Ok, you’re pretty much off the hook.

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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
  Track Your Runs & Rids on Your New Iphone
With the introduction of new applications for the iphone, there have been numerous fitness based apps appearing in the iTunes store. One of these is RunKeeper, a $9.99 training assistant, that allows you to track your runs & rides by keeping GPS. It keeps track of:

- Duration
- Distance
- Pace
- Speed

It even plots your route on Google maps.

Here is a demo:

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Friday, August 1, 2008
  Yoga for Detox


Mission Cliffs

Sunday Aug. 3rd 10:30am-noon
Cost: $20

Detoxification is essential to maintaining a healthy body and clear mind. In this Vinyasa flow class, we will twist and sweat in order to activate the body’s natural cleansing abilities. Appropriate for students experienced with vinyasa flow yoga.

Please note that registration for this class is through missioncliffsyoga@gmail.com only or at the door. Please bring your cash donation of $20 to the class.

All proceeds from this class will go to City Slicker Farms. www.cityslickerfarms.org

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Monday, July 28, 2008
  Yoga Beginner's Series at Diablo Rock Gym
New to Yoga ? Never tried? Looking for a place to start? This August Diablo Rock Gym will play host to a 4-part beginner's series for Yoga. Learn yoga basics at a comfortable pace in a supportive environment. Poses will be broken down and individuals specific needs addressed. It will take place Tuesday evenings from 5:00-6:15pm on August 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th. The cost is only $20 for members, thats just $5 a session ($60 for non-members). Sarah Pascual one of our great yoga instructors will be leading the series. Sarah also teaches five different Vinyassa classes each week at Diablo Rock Gym.

Have questions or would like to sign up? Please call out friendly staff at 925-602-1000.
Pre-registration and payment is required.

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Thursday, July 3, 2008
  Yoga Flow for Detox at Mission Cliffs
Join Kate this coming Sunday, July 6th from 10am-Noon for this FREE MEMBER EVENT

Detoxification is essential to maintaining a healthy body and a clear mind. In this vinyasa flow class we will twist and sweat in order to activate the body's natural cleansing abilities.

Appropriate for all students with a basic knowledge of vinyasa flow.

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Friday, June 6, 2008
  Free Yoga Workshop at Mission Cliffs
Yoga Workshop for Members at Mission Cliffs Saturday, June 7th @ 1pm

Join us at Mission Cliffs for a Pranayama workshop with Ian on Saturday, June 7th at 1pm. Out of breath? Feeling like you really need to relax? Many of us run around during the day taking shallow breaths. Let the ancient techniques of yogic breathing (pranayama) inform your daily breath. Increase the oxygen in the body & relax the mind. Often focus on the breath naturally leads to concentration & meditation.

FREE MEMBER EVENT!

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
  Touchstone Running at the Lake
Berkeley Ironworks spinning instructor extraordinaire Wendy Georges, and Marc Trotz represented Touchstone Running at the Lake Merritt Half Day Run at Lake Merritt on Saturday May 10th. In the race each runner has either 6 or 12 hours to run as far as they can, doing laps around Lake Merritt. Each lap is 3.1 miles around the lake which just so happens to be the nation's largest urban saltwater lake (155 acres) and the nation's oldest wildlife preserve.

Both Wendy and Marc competed in the 6 hour version and did really well. Marc, in his first ultra race ever, covered 33.2 miles and placed 8th in a field of 25 runners. Wendy covered 37.3 miles, good enough for 1st place in the women's category but 3rd place overall!

If you are interested in the Touchstone Running club please email Marc: trotzliboff@sbcglobal.net

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Thursday, May 8, 2008
  Journey Through the Chakras
Sacramento Pipeworks newest instructor Daljit Bains invites you to join her in an 8 week chakra workshop series. The workshops are free and are held during her regular Thursday 7:45 yoga class. “Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel” says Daljit, who teaches in the Kundalini style of yoga. She adds: “Your chakras are spinning vortexes (like a wheel) of energy which start from the root chakra, at the base of the spine, all the way up to the crown of the head”. Each chakra has a specific talent and characteristic associated with it, from creativity to willpower to compassion. She invites people of all abilities and yoga experience to come learn what each chakra represents, and how to more easily access the talents associated with each chakra. Beginning date is May 15th, with each Thursday focusing on a new chakra.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
  Worth 1,000 words
“It’s too sweet now. I can’t ride it.”
– Member, after putting top-end alloy wheels on his road bike.

“The crux is being hungry all the time.”
– Member trying to slim down for a redpoint attempt.

“I think I finally found a sport I might be good at.”
– 4th grader climbing at Sacramento Pipeworks.

“Seats are for sissies.”
-- Touchstone Bike Club member, asked how he managed to ride the last 30 miles of the high-altitude, 123-mile Sierra Century standing up after his seat post broke.

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This is the old Touchstone Blog. This is no longer active. Please visit our new blog at http://www.touchstoneclimbing.com/blog.html

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