Strong Bear scrunchies

[Firm Believer]

In Strong Bear there is a move where you are in a plank, come down to the floor, then hike up your butt then do a push-up. What does hiking up your butt do for the move?:confused:

[cat44]

Might this move put extra pressure on the lower back?:eek:

[fionaangel]

I'm confused! These appear to be the same videos as the original Fit Prime series with Tracy Long! She did this exact Strong Bear and I never understood the reason of the butt-lift either! Is WHFN reissuing the same videos with different instructors and calling it the Kick-Butt series? Can anyone clear this up for me? I am a Firm Believer!

[LoriInND]

I always feel that one more in the shoulders. I don't know if that is the point of it or not.
Lori

[TeamWHFN]

Most pushups are performed in the top half of the range of motion. We can go down about half way, but not much further.

A variation is to begin the move at the bottom, instead of the top. However, most of us are too weak to truly begin the move at the very bottom. We cheat up & quickly out of the critical zone.

By lifting the hips, it becomes easier to hit the very bottom, to engage the chest muscles in the critical zone where the pecs ‘tie-in’ to the chest. The closer the hands can come to the chest, the better. The 'hip lift' preceed allows you to kick-in the pecs and/or triceps at the optimal range, the depth of the negative.

That 'low-low' position - is the optimal start for the 'power-up' phase.

This variation is optional, especially if you've got the strength to hug the floor during the depth of the negative with a perfect plank.

[NeonJungle]

Hi fionaangel, from what I undertand, several of the workouts incorporate previously designed choregraphy sequences, yet incorporated suggestions from the old forum members, and were re-tooled and tweaked. Several of them are all new choreography. There will be reviews when the vids are in hand, so you can hear more about the exact content then! ;)

[donnadonna]

Thanks, TeamWHFN for your response. Not sure that I understood the whole thing but it confirmed what I suspected ~ that there are few, if any, wasted moves in an Anna Benson workout and that it all serves a purpose. When I was younger, I would skip over any of those things that I, in my infinite wisdom, felt was not contributing to my fitness level. Now, I don't skip anything, pay lots of attention to form, and am in the best shape I've ever been!

[fionaangel]

Thanks for your info NeonJungle! The video clips and music appeared to be identical to the original Fit Primes. Thanks also to WHFN for explaining the Strong Bear push-ups!:)

[nancy]

"Scrunchies" - I love your name for this move!

On a somewhat related note, can anyone tell me what the advantage is in jumping into/out of the plank position (as opposed to gradually readjusting this old body?)
Thanks!

[Tarheels]

"Scrunchies" - I love your name for this move!

On a somewhat related note, can anyone tell me what the advantage is in jumping into/out of the plank position (as opposed to gradually readjusting this old body?)
Thanks!

Hey, Nancy, I could be wrong, but I feel it takes some major core strength (and coordination :p ) to jump in and out of plank.

[NeonJungle]

Oh, me too. I always feel like Calamity Jane when trying to do those moves! As if I'm gonna knock over my water bottle, scooch my mat the wrong way, etc. It's really taken some focus to get the move right! (though I don't know if I'm quite "there" yet :p).

[Vanessa]

I never knew what they did, but whatever they do, I do! And you are right, Donna, there are few, if any waisted moves in Anna Bensons workouts. Isn't it amazing how she incorporated many functional fitness moves before functional fitness was the "thing"?:cool: !

[fitpal]

I agree, there are no wasted moves, eventhough sometime awkward at first. I think it's great, too, that when I pick up any fitness magazine and look at their "new" exercise moves, they are usually moves that I saw in the Firm/FitPrime videos first. Anna knows what she's doing! I'm a firm believer!