Clinton Township Newsletter

2 4 a p r i l 2 0 1 9 w w w . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . c o m E c c E n t r i c S t r E n g t h t r a i n i n g : W H A T I T I S A N d H O W I T H E l P S y O u R W O R K O u T S ! By: Jim Brown – ACSM Certified Personal Trainer As a personal trainer, I'm frequently asked about how to improve strength training programs or how to change workout regimens due to boredom. In either instance, I ask members if they are including eccentric strength training as part of their workouts. The answer is usually no, because most people are not familiar with this highly-beneficial form of exercise. Eccentric muscle contraction is the motion of a muscle lengthening while under load or resistance. During resistance training most people are usually doing a combination of concentric (flexing or shortening muscles) and eccentric (releasing or lengthening muscles) movements. Most individuals focus on the concentric half of the exercise but not as much on the eccentric half. However, many studies have shown that focusing on the eccentric half of the exercise can lead to improved strength and neural stimulation. Let's put this into action. Take a basic compound exercise, such as an overhead shoulder press. Start by pushing the weights over your head making the triceps shorten (concentrically). Then slowly lower the weights for 5 -7 seconds causing the muscles to work eccentrically. This is the step people tend to skip. Make it burn! Eccentric strength training is used in a variety of ways, from body building to physical therapy, and is beneficial to everyone in the gym. If you would like more tips about how to use this form of training, feel free to ask me or any of the fitness staff. Enjoy! Bring this article in with you to one of our Wellness Center locations and enjoy a one day complimentary guest pass on us! (Please note: This offer is limited to one visit per guest, per month). H u N T E R d O N H E A l T H A N d W E l l N E S S c E N T E R l O c A T I O N S : Whitehouse Station: 537 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 Clinton: 1738 Route 31 North, Clinton, NJ 08809 Lambertville: 333 North Main Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530 T H E F R E E d O M H O u S E 5 K R u N & 1 M I l E F u N W A l K The Sixth Annual Freedom House 5K Run & 1 Mile Fun Walk will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Duke Island Park, Bridgewater, NJ. Duke Island Park is a certified 5K course with a flat running path along the Raritan River; the one-mile fun walk will share part of the 5K course making for a great leisurely and scenic walk. This event is dog friendly as long as our furry companions are on a leash. With exhibitors, music and prizes it will be a great morning to come out to support a worthy cause and help reduce the stigma associated with the disease of addiction. With the rising heroin epidemic, this event gives us a chance to promote health and wellness in the community while helping raise awareness and funds to help with Freedom House's mission of reuniting families torn apart by alcohol and drug addiction. Do you have a group of 10 or more? Groups of 10 or more will be given a discount. Deadline for group registration will be April 1. Contact Shani Gorman at 908.617.5492 or sgorman@freedomhousenj.org for more details. If you miss the on-line registration option, – no worries – we will be accepting day of registrations beginning at 8:00 am. Please note that registering the day of will be slightly higher than if you pre-register. We look forward to seeing everyone there! Register using this link: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/ Bridgewater/FreedomHouse5KRunWalk. "The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise." ~ Carl Knudsen

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