Dumb Question

[Oucheeeeee]

Hi,

Had my SkierG for 2 weeks now and have what is probably a dumb question:

I watched the video on technique and figure I'm there or there abouts but wondered if my core is going to engage automatically? When I started, I'd be tensing my abs as I I brought the handles down. After a few days, it seemed as though I didn't need to think about tensing my abs, they were just engaging on each stroke anyway.

Should I be conciously tensing up (making a "Hew" noise) during each stroke? Will it burn more calories? Must admit, I think my core is in decent shape (even though I just turned 60, I've always hit gym 3-4 times a week for past 40 years) but will I get better results by conciously crunching?

I'm hoping the answer is, my core engaging on every stroke as long as my technique is correct.

Thanks,

Oucheeeeee

[hjs]

Hi,

Had my SkierG for 2 weeks now and have what is probably a dumb question:

I watched the video on technique and figure I'm there or there abouts but wondered if my core is going to engage automatically? When I started, I'd be tensing my abs as I I brought the handles down. After a few days, it seemed as though I didn't need to think about tensing my abs, they were just engaging on each stroke anyway.

Should I be conciously tensing up (making a "Hew" noise) during each stroke? Will it burn more calories? Must admit, I think my core is in decent shape (even though I just turned 60, I've always hit gym 3-4 times a week for past 40 years) but will I get better results by conciously crunching?

I'm hoping the answer is, my core engaging on every stroke as long as my technique is correct.

Thanks,

Oucheeeeee

Think it depends a bit.
First pace, at not to fast a pace, you don’t really engage you core very hard, just hanging bodyweight is enough to get speed. Fast sprinting is a different matter, here you need everything you have, and bodyweight and a hard

Technique, roughly speaking there are two ways (talking double pooling), keeping the hips high and using a goodmorning. And dipping the hips, and squatting more.

And last, for aerobic gains, try to use a higher strokerate and not a heavier slower stroke.

[mict450]

I think you're overthinking it a bit. You just have to engage your core sufficient to keep your lumbar spine in a neutral position.

If you're attempting to do a crunching motion, ie: decreasing the distance between the bottom of you sternum & public bone, this is much too extreme. Per Stuart McGill, repetitive flexion of the lumbar spine is a powerful mechanism for intervertebral disc herniation.

The movement is a hip hinge. Henry describes it as a Good Morning. I prefer to call the movement similar to a medicine ball slam.

[Eric308]

I agree with Eric above. Check out this video which contains some great tips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVvoLcC ... CXCAcademy

[Oucheeeeee]

Thanks for the advice. Had it a few months now and can see what you're all saying. I started at just 5 minutes, adding one minute per day till I got to 20 minutes and have been slowly increasing my meters per day. Right now, I'm at around 4500 for 20 mins so it's hard enough to get me breathing heavy (I'm 61) and sweating like a sweaty thing but still plenty of room for improvement.

I've found I can keep up a 2.15/500M and beginning to be able to push to 2.00/500 for the last 2-300. Also found I can improve SPM by pulling harder (not faster) and really feel it in my triceps. Feels good.

The only downside is I'm worried my right rotator-cuff is about to kick-off (my left RC was rebuilt a few years ago) and I THINK I've got Plantar Fascitis from doing it (Fnar Fnar) on the floor stand. I've cut up an exercise mat into 4 and now stand on those. Has made things better but it's still there, just not half as bad. Hoping that as I keep going, my shoulder and base of feet will get used to it. Pretty sure I wouldn't have any of these issues had I come across a similar machine in my 30's or 40's.

[mict450]

The only downside is I'm worried my right rotator-cuff is about to kick-off (my left RC was rebuilt a few years ago) and I THINK I've got Plantar Fascitis from doing it (Fnar Fnar) on the floor stand. I've cut up an exercise mat into 4 and now stand on those. Has made things better but it's still there, just not half as bad. Hoping that as I keep going, my shoulder and base of feet will get used to it. Pretty sure I wouldn't have any of these issues had I come across a similar machine in my 30's or 40's.

RE: rotator cuff. Try restricting your ROM. Hands coming up no higher than your forehead, ala cross country skiing.