Tag power

Don’t Touch!

drstaceynaito Leave a comment
123rf.com image
ID 124703902 nikkolia

It is never appropriate for a man — or anyone, for that matter — to touch a woman’s body, including her legs or butt, without her clear, enthusiastic consent. This isn’t just about “manners” or “boundaries”; it’s about basic human dignity, respect, and the right each person has to autonomy over their own body.

Invasion of a Woman’s Body

Touching someone without consent is a violation. It’s not a compliment, not a joke, and not excusable because of a friendship or past closeness. A woman’s body is her own, not an object to be touched at someone else’s whim. When a man puts his hands on her without permission — even if they’re “close friends” — it invades her personal space, disrespects her autonomy, and communicates a total disregard for her comfort and her right to say what happens to her body.

Disrespect and Objectification

When a man touches a woman’s body without consent — especially in a sexual or suggestive way, like grabbing her butt — he is objectifying her. He is reducing her to something that exists for his pleasure or amusement. That kind of behavior says: “Your body is here for me to use,” whether consciously intended or not.

It’s not about affection or connection — it’s about power and control. It disregards who she is as a person and treats her like a thing. Even if they’re friends, even if she’s never said anything before, it’s not okay. Silence is not consent, and familiarity doesn’t equal permission.

The Impact

For the woman, it can be confusing, infuriating, violating, and dehumanizing — especially when it comes from someone she trusts. It can make her feel unsafe in spaces where she should feel secure, like among friends. It sends the message that her comfort, safety, and agency don’t matter.

The Responsibility

It is every person’s responsibility to respect others’ boundaries, and that starts with recognizing that touching someone without permission is a form of disrespect and harm. Being close friends doesn’t mean you get a “pass.” Respect is not situational — it’s foundational.

Touch is not harmless if it’s not wanted. Just because you don’t mean anything by it doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean something to the person you’re touching. The intention does not erase the impact.

Wanting to talk about this openly is important — especially because it’s not just about one action. It’s about the culture that normalizes the objectification of women and teaches some men that entitlement is acceptable if it’s dressed up as “playfulness” or “friendship.” But real friendship is rooted in respect.

Minimalist Footwear

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

minimalist footwear

Please check out my latest article for American Fitness Educators which discusses minimalist footwear! Original post can be found at:

http://www.fitnesseducators.com/blog/minimalist-footwear/

Merrell-Road-Glove-Barefoot-Shoe
Less Is More

Are there benefits to training in minimalist footwear? Studies have demonstrated that training while wearing minimalist shoes results in enhanced performance due to greater foot pliability and a closer approximation to a barefoot stance. Since our feet adjust to wearing raised heels over time, it can be incredibly challenging to keep our heels on the ground while performing exercises like deep squats. Proponents of minimalist footwear may even argue that barefoot is best for heavy weightlifting, but the risks of exposure to microbes or hazardous fragments of glass, metal, or rocks, make minimalist shoes a much more feasible choice while at the gym.

Dysfunctional movement patterns become established throughout the body over time. Conventional athletic shoes can often contribute to ankle and foot dysfunction because they inhibit natural foot action. If you don’t believe it, then try to perform some of your physical activities barefoot and see how well, or poorly, you perform. Chances are that the impaired mechanics in the feet and ankles will make it difficult at best to perform those activities. By gradually switching over to minimalist footwear, an athlete can essentially correct improper foot mechanics and optimize kinetic feedback throughout the body during movement.

Benefits Of Minimalist Shoes

Conventional athletic footwear features a cushioned heel which also can compromise power. In contrast, minimalist footwear features little to no heel, and the soles are very thin and malleable, so they allow the joints in the foot to move and adjust to weight loading movements. In addition, the heels and midfoot make solid contact with the floor, causing more activation in the glutes and hamstrings. Studies have demonstrated that people who wear minimalist footwear develop greater strength in their legs and feet, since more power is transferred from the working muscles, through the feet, and into the movement. Plyometric movements and sprint power will also be enhanced while wearing minimalist shoes.

A 2011 study by Squadrone and Gallozzi assessed the ability of experienced runners to estimate the degree of inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, and plantarflexion, of a slope surface board placed under their right foot while standing. They found that the degree of proprioceptive feedback which subjects received while wearing Vibram Five Fingers® was much more accurate than in subjects who wore a standard running shoe. In conclusion, cushioned shoes conferred a distinct disadvantage when compared to minimalist shoes during assessment of foot position awareness.

How To Transition Into Minimalist Shoes

Anyone who is transitioning from conventional athletic shoes to minimalist footwear needs to do so gradually, since the body has to adjust to radically different proprioceptive input. There have been cases of metatarsal stress which developed after converting too quickly to minimalist shoes. However, once the transition is made, noticeable strength gains should occur. Try spending about 15 to 30 minutes, twice a day, wearing minimalist shoes around the house. After about a week or two, you can try them out at the gym one to two days a week until you become accustomed to the feel of the shoes. Be aware that your gait and foot stance will probably change as you acclimate to this type of shoe.

REFERENCES:

Squadrone R, Gallozzi C (2011) Effect of a five-toed minimal protection shoe on static and dynamic ankle position sense. J Sports Med Phys Fitness Sep;51(3): 401-8.

Versa Gripps Are Awesome!

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

versa-GRIPPS

I am now the proud owner of a pair of Versa Gripps Pro, and I love them! I used them on chest and back day right after returning home from Olympia, and immediately noticed a difference in my strength while using them. They effectively reduced the strain in my hands, which was excellent since I have issues with them as well as forearm tendinitis.

These grips are especially fantastic for deadlifts, wide grip pulldowns, and any type of row. Bravo Versa Gripps!

Versa Gripps Purple

Check out the descriptions from their website:

The Mind-Muscle Connection

The latest achievement in muscle building technology, Versa Gripps allows you to train better moving you to the next level of performance excellence. A Self-Supporting Grip assist ingeniously designed to enhance muscle isolation and optimize performance. This revolutionary grip is the most effective and easiest way to increase your strength, muscle mass & stamina while maximizing your overall fitness results. Versa Gripps eliminate the need for gloves, hooks, and lifting straps. Absolutely, the Best Grip in the World. For Men & Women
ALL IN ONE

#1 Patented, Self- Supporting Grip
Secure One-Hand Grip & Release Movement
Comfortably Eliminates Grip Fatigue & Failure
New Built-In Arch Support offers Carpal Tunnel Protection
Locks your grip in place for complete control
Made of Strong, high-quality Non-Slip material exclusive to Power Gripps USA
Quick Release Feature makes it safe & easy to release the bar
Ergonomically designed protect hands & wrists
Secure hook & loop closure around the wrist
Protects Hands from unsightly calluses
Ergonomically designed to protect hands and wrists
Innovative wrist support: a funnel-shaped design allows the weight to rest at the base of the hand
Superior Quality. Made in the USA
Excellent Wrist Support
Versa Gripps incorporates a unique stand-up grip making wrapping the grip around the bar easy with one hand, even over your head. Developed by strength trainers who demanded a product that exceeded the limits of ordinary weightlifting hooks, workout gloves, and straps. Used for pushing and pulling exercises. Proven to endure even the toughest of workouts. Versa Gripps provides excellent wrist support and are the most versatile fitness accessory on the market for men and women.

Our grip is our weakest and most vulnerable link to a successful workout regiment. Like a chain, we are only as strong as our weakest link. The success of our workout depends upon our connection to the weight. Fatigue, due to high repetitions using lighter weights or failure due to a heavy weight, is caused by an unsupported and/or unprotected grip. This can result in dropping the weight; a set cut short due to loss of focus; or injury.

Versa Gripps eliminates grip fatigue and failure, allowing the user to concentrate on the larger muscle groups while not thinking or worrying about one’s grip. When you no longer have to worry about losing your grip or your grip becoming tired, you will then be able to concentrate and appreciate the mind/muscle connection. Huge gains will be experienced.

Versatile
Versa Gripps are used for all pushing (as in the bench press) and pulling (as in the deadlift) movements in strength training. The patented Versa Gripps take the place of gloves, lifting straps, hooks and wrist supports. By using Versa Gripps, both movements are accomplished safely, easily and comfortably.

Self-Supporting
Unlike lifting straps – that are difficult to use, particularly over your head – Versa Gripps are flexible, self-supporting and stand-up in front of your hand. This design makes it quick and easy to reach by the tips of the fingers on the same hand that is wearing them.

The gripping portion is made of a proprietary material that is reinforced tough, is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. This gripping material is engineered just for Versa Gripps, to be tacky and remain grippy throughout the life of the product. The grip is made wide enough to cover the width of the hand for protection from the knurls of the weightlifting bar, and against calluses. Other weightlifting gloves encase the entire hand and become a playground for bacteria and disease. Versa Gripps allow the hand to breath, with freedom of movement for the fingers and the thumb.

Another valuable safety feature is their ability – should it become necessary – to immediately release the weight. Simply let go. This is not possible when using straps or hooks.

GO TO THE VERSA GRIPPS WEBSITE TO ORDER:

http://versagripps.com/

Pulling-Motion-Small-Banner

Royal Sport Ltd. Burn Review

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

RS Burn
Burn is Royal Sport Ltd.’s thermogenic fat burner, but it also has water shedding properties thanks to cranberry, dandelion, and holy basil. This fat burner is more stripped down than others on the market, providing a cleaner option for individuals who still want the effects but with fewer ingredients. Burn contains caffeine anhydrous, bitter orange extract, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, niacinamide, cyanocobalamin, cocoa seed extract, and griffonia. The result is a capsule which provides sustained energy without jitters or increased heart rate.

RS Burn IngredientsI have tried a LOT of fat burners on the market. A few are notorious for producing jitters, dizziness, headaches, or nausea, but some people tolerate them quite well and prefer a wired, zingy effect. Most people, however, prefer to take a fat burner which produces a sustained boost in energy that doesn’t clobber them over the head. The best way to describe the way that Burn makes me feel is to compare it to a very smooth plane takeoff, a flight with zero turbulence, and a smooth landing on the tarmac. Even when I take a second capsule of Burn, I never run the risk of getting the jitters.

All in all, Burn is a great product for providing a boost of energy that is completely manageable and pleasant, along with a great sense of well-being and excellent focus.

Royal Sport Ltd. Siege Review

drstaceynaito Leave a comment

Siege
Royal Sport Ltd. has a pre-workout formula in its lineup called Siege which features two forms of arginine (nitrate and HCL), citrulline and norvaline to give you a decent pump and power through a workout. I personally get great pumps from this formula and notice a definite difference when I don’t use Siege before I hit the gym. Siege gives an energy boost as well, as a result of the presence of taurine, caffeine anhydrous, bitter orange extract, and rauwolfia. When I compare the boost I get from Siege from the boost I get from other pre-workout formulas, it’s more of a sustained focus as opposed to a sudden rush or buzz. To be honest, I usually don’t like the intense zingy effect because I usually get a headache and stomach upset from those types of formulas. I don’t get a crash, nor do I get the jitters, when I use Siege, so it’s a great way to start my day. Add in an intense workout and I am set!

I love the fact that Siege is creatine free because I am one of those creatine-sensitive types who retains a bit too much water when I supplement with creatine. I respond well to beta-alanine, but I know that many people do not enjoy the tingle which it imparts. Siege contains no beta-alanine, so those of you who are sensitive to that substance will love this pre-workout formula. Most people who lead a fit lifestyle or are trying to get fit will enjoy using this product. The reason why I make this distinction is because I know there are some balls-out, monster lifters who demand the most intense pumps and who actually enjoy being wired from a pre-workout matrix. Honestly, I have seen these guys train and it is intense! That small segment of the population might not be as impressed with Siege.

As for the flavors, I LOVE Blackberry. It has a pretty faithful flavor profile, evocative of the fruit itself, and is refreshing and bright. Raspberry Lemonade is another refreshing flavor with the distinct notes of raspberry and lemon coming through. I also like the Fruit Punch flavor because it isn’t overly sweet or syrupy, and has good balance. Blood Orange is my least favorite flavor, but I am not a huge fan of orange flavoring. If you are a fan of orange flavored items, you would probably love this, but I just don’t turn to it as often as I do the other flavors.

I know people have been griping about the price of this product, but hang in there! The price should calm down over time and become more accessible. Also keep in mind that I will be passing along my Royal Sport Ltd. discount code which will give you a big discount on all products in the line!