NHB Strength Training
Review

In last few years, we have been flooded with information on fitness and training through various web sources and publications, media, research centers and bookstores. There are several covers available, on the shelf and off the shelf, on workout regimes and fitness basics that help individuals to achieve the athlete look and feel good about their physical condition. However, fitness is more than just feeling good about oneself. It’s a science and needs to be analyzed and studied scientifically to absorb the most out of it. ‘NHB Strength Training’ gives exactly the needed dose of scientific knowledge with perfect combination of fitness regimes and understanding the human body and its physiological conditions, with emphasis on achieving a fit body through bodyweight exercise.

Bodyweight exercises have been around for many years. It is believed that bodyweight exercises were among the first exercises imparting resistance training to the human body through simple and convenient body movements. Ergonomic sciences over the years have proved time and again how bodyweight exercises can prove to be injurious to some muscles and joints. This has led to developing a stream of athletic workout machines and equipments used in gym, aiming to support the key areas of the body in order to impart stress and resistance training to particular muscle groups. One consideration which has been overlooked by many, while laying this theory, is that ergonomic sciences have pin pointed sensitive areas of the body, keeping in mind weight training and not bodyweight training. This means, athletes undergoing heavy weight training, which is substantially more then their own bodyweight, often need such ergonomically enhanced equipments. Another factor overlooked by ergonomically designed equipments is that it provides support to key muscles and joints, however fails to impart flexibility in the human body, which is vital. Bodyweight training is ideal to impart the much-needed flexibility to the human body, without use of any equipment. This is one of the key areas, where ‘NHB Strength Training’, scores over other books.

‘NHB Strength Training’ takes a close look at the human body and vital aspects that need to be considered before undergoing a bodyweight training program. It begins with entailing various parameters associated with fitness of body, popular myths and reasons why everyone should follow the fitness way. It also examines the derivatives of human fitness: flexibility, skill, endurance, strength and agility. It is not surprising that these derivates are best achieved by bodyweight training, which can be performed at any location with help of your own body weight and elements of form that exist around you. ‘NHB Strength Training’ is a true primer to understanding these key derivatives, which are very subjective to individuals. In recognition of these, it goes about making an individual assess his/her own fitness level by analyzing their existing diet, lifestyle, commitment, work time, stress time and physical attributes, that are prevalent varying from person to person. This is smartly assessed using simple questionnaires so as to derive individual fitness quotient. This quotient helps individuals understand the underlying need for taking up a bodyweight fitness regime and training intensity.

The book provides benchmark information on getting started with bodyweight exercises. This is something that has been referred in many books and references. However, ‘NHB Strength Training’, provides a comprehensive list of various bodyweight exercises and a very good descriptive look at each of the exercise, targeting the upper body, the core, and lower body. Some basic warming up routines before beginning these exercises have been aptly explained and importance of warming up has been stressed to enable higher flexibility and less susceptibility to injuries.

The book also includes a very compact yet powerful 9-month bodyweight training program, entailing an exercise chart spanning through each week of every month. The program is unique, as sequencing of bodyweight training has been given prime importance in the program. There have been very few books emphasizing on importance of sequencing. Science has proved that sequencing of exercises has been one of the most important factors contributing to a physically fit and strong body. The training program chart also includes an incremental training process, with increasing intensity of bodyweight workouts keeping in mind the various levels through which an individual attains the required proficiency and efficacy of training. The beginner’s level in the initial months requires less training time as compared to the intermediate and advanced levels encompassing higher aerobic activity and increased resistance capacity. These levels are wonderfully formulated to induce an incremental enthusiasm value along with high endurance training for individuals inclined to bodyweight training.

The bodyweight training exercises have been explained with a lot of detail and simplicity. The procedures to be followed for each exercise are very easy to understand, follow and learn. Each exercise has been explained with excellent quality pictures along with benefits and techniques for achieving optimum results. As mentioned earlier, these exercises have been neatly classified in two sections, the upper body exercises and lower body exercises. There are many individuals who need to focus on either of the two rather than both, as they all have diverse routines which strengthen the upper body half or the lower body half. Strengthening their other half can greatly help in restoring a perfect body and increase the stamina. Few realize the importance of balance of muscle strength of both the body parts. This has been thoroughly emphasized and explained in the book. The later portion also provides some bonus, customized workout routines usually performed by Hindu trainers (the Indian version), which are fresh variations from the normal routine workouts.

Finally the book also talks about the importance of breathing while performing bodyweight exercises. Breathing is one of the central issues in bodyweight training, as your body is experiencing higher cardio-vascular activity while performing these exercising. Correct breathing technique and adequate breathing strength can help achieve better results of training workouts. ‘NHB Strength Training’, looks at breathing as one of the most vital aspects to be included in the training sessions, and this is one key issue addressed by very few fitness training guides.

Finally, to make things more interactive, fun and enjoyable, the author Lloyd Irvin has introduced to the World to his special creation “BODYLOW THE DICE GAME” the BODYLOW game, which involves an individual rolling 3 dice and following the numbers appearing and exercises on the dice to follow a specific routine. There are two different levels of BODYLOW, one for the beginner and one for the more advance. The complete BODYLOW dice game instructions are provided along with the book. This makes the workouts a lot more interesting. Many individuals view exercise routines as monotonous, time consuming and boring. There comes a point in time when an individual merely follows the routine as habit, and is no longer keen on undergoing training to keep himself / herself fit, especially after attaining a certain level of improvement in his physiological condition. At such junctures, the ‘BODYLOW’ re-installs the required energy, motivation, and will to undergo training, as it induces the gamble aspect in the training intensity. This is something very unique, and you shall not find it in any other book other than ‘NHB Strength Training’. This makes it a MUST BUY for every individual aspiring to indulge into fitness training. Many people feel that BODYLOW is worth the entire cost of the book.

The book has the capacity to muscle in every important aspect of bodyweight training. More than that, the book provides an in-depth look at issues pertaining to body’s conditions and in many ways can be customized for every individual. It proves to be an ideal companion as a fitness friend. The do-it-yourself approach of the book also makes learning easy and a step-by-step process for incremental fitness growth. Now this is something you do not find in most training manuals.

The other manuals that I have referred in the past have proved to be very strict in focusing on core issues of technique and variations in bodyweight exercises. They are very intricate and too athletic oriented. ‘NHB Strength Training’ is a book every individual can use to elevate his/her body to an enhanced state of self-being. Its unique methodology and rich content influencing an individual’s state of mind is highly appreciative. As stated earlier, introducing play and fun through the dice routine is one of the unique attractive propositions of the author making it a very good investment for every fitness conscious individual. Recommended as a ‘BEST BUY’ this year for bodyweight training, the book covers a complete variety of bodyweight training techniques.

If you are an individual who does not have time or motivation for training or keeping your fit body, ‘NHB Strength Training’ which change your mindset and help eliminate fatigue from a strenuous daily work schedule. It is something you will cherish for years to come as it takes a close look at how to keep fit without hitting the gym or owning any expensive equipment. It will boost your energy levels, impart flexibility in your body and most importantly give you strength and agility. At work you shall be able to perform more as your mind and body feels revitalized by these very effective bodyweight training workouts. The training program chart helps you keep track of your progress and understand the level of endurance in you as you go from beginner to intermediate though expert training level within a period of 9 months. Your personality will be infused with more enthusiasm and confidence, as you will deal every issue at work and home with effective challenge and stamina.

‘NHB Strength Training’ has been specifically written keeping in mind a beginner, having no knowledge about exercise or its benefits, yet proves to be a great asset to an accomplished body trainer as its content are very comprehensive and the training routines made extremely simple and effective. All in all it’s a book everyone should possess and follow the process.