When it comes to hitting your fitness goals, it helps to keep your body guessing. That means adding variety to your workouts so you’re challenged. Enter Peak Performance, a new six-week cross-training program designed to boost strength and power.
According to MYX coach Lauren Sambataro, anyone, regardless of age or gender, can benefit from improvement in these areas. “Some people overlook strength training because they’re focused on burning calories,” she says. “But it’s about more than aesthetics. It's about getting stronger for everyday tasks such as chores. It’s called functional movement.”
Power is another important variable. We tend to lose power more quickly than strength as we age. It's important to get ahead and prepare for the challenges that we may face later in life.
Equipment is essential to the process. You can expect to use a combination of dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, a foam roller, and your body weight in the prescribed high-intensity movements.
You will also notice a format change in this program. Coaches work in pairs, adding another dimension to the experience. “Just like the user, one coach is doing the workout,” says coach Shaun Patrick Tubbs.
There’s also a time and place for rest, and Peak Performance accounts for that. Recovery gives our bodies time to build muscle, burn fat, and reduce inflammation. Coach Dan Lawrence says. “Prioritize recovery. Make sure you're getting rest, eating right, and moving but not too intensively.”
Before you dive in, it’s important to establish a baseline for your current level of physical fitness. That’s why Peak Performance has a new 20-minute initial assessment. Users are encouraged to perform the assessment at the beginning and end of the six-week period, so they can track progress. And, to help bring your journey to life, download (or screenshot!) the graphic below to log your assessment results and share your progress on social along the way.
According to Coach Garner Pilat, the assessment consists of a series of timed intervals, basic exercises that require strength and power. “You're going to hold a plank, do Turkish get-ups with the kettlebell, and do as many pushups, kettlebell swings, and burpees as you can in a minute,” she says.
The assessment is a taste of what’s to come. Whatever your results at the end, Coach Shaun reminds us that the process is just as important as the outcome. “The journey is going to be different for everyone, but what matters is that you’re committed. That’s what Peak Performance is all about.”
Looking for a little extra motivation? Join our Peak Performance Facebook group to help hold you accountable and provide that extra push you might need to jumpstart your fitness goals.
