Hip Hinge - What is it and Why should we care? We perform the hip hinge hundreds, maybe even thousands of times per day. We would be here until Christmas if we named all of the times we get in and out of the hip hinge. Any time you bend over, stand up, sit down, or simply move through space you are hip hinging. What is interesting is we tend to lose touch with this movement over the years. Why?...
Having a home gym set-up can be a life saver during these tough times. Bodyweight exercises and cardio can get old really fast, making training not as enjoyable. Depending on your budget and space available you can grab just a few essentials or you can build the holy grail of home gyms. Extra home fitness equipment is going to give you more versatility, better exercise options, and allow you to load exercises more precisely than you could with just body...
(Read and Video Time - 5 mins) By: Jared Blincow At LIFT we pride ourselves on not forcing clients into movement patterns that they aren’t ready for. There’s nothing in the gym that we absolutely have to do, and it makes little sense to try and shove a square peg into a round hole. One of the most common modifications you’ll see in our weight room is elevating the heels for squat/lunge patterns. We will get a little bit more...
With the COVID19 pandemic hitting the country and forcing us inside, it’s easy to get frustrated and come up with a number of excuses as to why our training should take a backseat. Although training at home may not be the most ideal solution, something is always better than nothing. If you think your “gains” you’ve been working so hard to develop over the last few months/years has been for nothing, I’ve got some good news for you… Previous studies...
By: Jared BlincowWith December comes DEADcember and another opportunity to build and develop one of the big three lifts! The deadlift is one of the most important lifts in our training arsenal and comes with a handful of benefits. The posterior chain of the body often gets neglected by gym goers even though our largely sedentary lifestyles means we need to train and strengthen this part of the body more than ever. The posterior chain is a group of muscles...
By: Jared Blincow CSCS, FRC, Coach at LIFT ChicagoHow many times have you heard that if you’re leaving reps on the table and not training to failure then you’re missing out on some serious gains? What if I told you there was an alternative approach that was just as effective, allowed for greater recovery, higher quality reps, and still yielded the same results? I’m not saying there isn’t a time and place where training to failure fits into a well-designed...
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1365.0"] Schedule your last “first session'“ : Get Started [/caption] If you’re not, you’re missing out. For some reason this topic still get resistance from the media even when there is tons of favorable evidence. It is ridiculous to think women shouldn’t strength train, but men should. Let’s hash this out right now…Burn more calories: Strength training builds more muscle mass. Having more muscle mass has been proven to increase overall daily caloric burn.Get “toned”: The term...
1. Dead Bug + Banded Hip FlexionThis is a great bang for your buck exercise. The dead bug exercise teaches pelvic control and trains the abdominals to resist extension and protect the lower back. The banded hip flexion challenges the core even further and provides the added benefit of strengthening the hip flexors at the same time. Focus on keeping your lower back in contact with the ground (push your belly button into the ground), and hold each...
By: Jared Blincow, CSCS, Strength Coach LIFT Chicago The average person spends eight hours of their day sitting at a desk only to get home and sit on the couch watching tv, surfing the internet, or scrolling through their phone. This daily pattern can wreak havoc on your posture and is a popular culprit for a number of different injuries and might be the source of your chronic pain. The “rounded shoulders” (shown on the left) look is caused by...
Core training may be, simultaneously, one of the most overused and most commonly misunderstood concepts in the fitness world. Whether we are at the gym, taking a yoga class, or simply scrolling through social media, we see countless fitness influencers performing incredibly complex movements and slapping them with labels such as “functional” and “core” training. Some of the most common examples include people throwing themselves to the floor and jumping back up, swinging their legs to pull up over a...
After working out at LIFT for a year now, I can't say enough good things about this place. My trainer, Isaac, is kind, knowledgeable, experienced, and careful, making sure... read more
Paula LissI have trained with the guys at Lift for a long time and consider my sessions to be some of my best long-term investments. My workouts there are sustainable, enjoyable... read more
Brigid SweeneyAmazing Gym! All the instructors are incredible! I'm hooked! Never a dull moment! Every single second is used! Scheduling Training! One of the easiest and most transparent... read more
Erik FogelWhen businesses understand what matters, it makes a world of a difference and Lift Chicago understood that it’s not just about providing a place to workout, it’s about creating a... read more
Tausif KhianiI've been training with Sarah for two years and she has been amazing to work with! Both locations are clean and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I highly... read more
Kathryn SugrueI have been lifting here with Sam for a couple of months, and couldn’t say anything better about Lift! The gym is clean, equipment well maintained, and the staff is... read more
Erik SwansonGreat programming. Great staff. Pete is very tuned in and makes sure you get the most out of the workouts.
Grant Chavin, MDI have been coming to LIFT since the day they opened and have been training with Josh for years now. Nothing compares to the workouts and knowledge you’ll get from... read more
Michelle BuckmasterI highly recommend Lift Chicago. I have been training here for a little under a year and love it! All of the trainers are extremely knowledgeable, motivating and welcoming. Every... read more
Jessie AllenI've been going to LIFT for over a year and a half and I cannot say enough positive things about this gym. The minute you walk in, you are personally... read more
Stephanie SilversteinI have a very busy schedule, so my training sessions need to be very efficient, staying under an hour at all times. LIFT provides a highly “efficient” workout protocol—... read more
Pete WilkinsLift Chicago is a fantastic full-service gym. The trainers are knowledgable and motivating, the facility is clean and bright, and they take all steps to insure health and safety. As... read more
Margaret BergLIFT is fantastic!! The trainers are motivating and push you to your max but not in a way that you would injure yourself. The work outs are challenging but... read more
Julie ScottI recently found Lift on Yelp like a month ago and I’m absolutely loving it. I workout with Sam, Isaac and Kyle and they’re amazing. I’m looking forward to continuing... read more
Mandy Jo WalkerSarah H with WMNxLIFT is the best!!! I’ve been active my whole life and she is by far the best coach I’ve ever had. She’s attentive, extremely knowledgeable, and has... read more
Karen LiuI’ve been training at Lift since it opened, and with Pete prior to. Everyone here is always extremely professional and so very nice. They may not know it, but they... read more
Jenny GariepyAmazing, diverse gym. Place to get strong and lean.
Malika WhitmoreI started training at LIFT over a year ago in prep for my wedding. I have never looked or felt better! I have worked with almost every coach, and they’re... read more
Cara jI started training at Lift over a year ago, after my daughter recommended it. I typically work with the same trainers, but it varies occasionally, and all have been careful,... read more
karyn hurwichI have been coming to Lift for a few months now. Staff is incredibly knowledgeable, flexible with schedules, and are great people to train with. I have noticed a significant... read more
Matthew BrunstrumThis best place to work out in Chicago. Intelligent trainers with a great atmosphere. You can tell they love what they do and are passionate about creating the best gym/workout... read more
Danielle SpellmanOne of the best workouts in the city. Always challenging and thoughtful workouts. Being able to see myself grow stronger and stronger week after week is all thanks to this... read more
Maddie PassIf you're looking to train with coaches in safe, and clean environment away from crowds this is it. These coaches have years of experience and bring their expertise to... read more
Lisa RichardsWOW!!! I cannot say enough great things about Lift Chicago! Truly a fantastic experience. First off, with all things COVID, I felt very safe and comfortable using the equipment. Every... read more
Alexis Jawny