It has been one hell of a week. Apologies for not posting this sooner but we have been swamped with new and perspective members, not to mention everyone else back in training hard this week, along with programming for everybody.
Thank you to everyone that came to our official opening party last Friday evening, and to Portland Design Works for providing us with some cool cycling gear to give away to those that made it across the ring course. There were more people than we expected, and everyone cleaned up the food and took on our fitness challenges. And props to Impact Personal Training coach Rick Janosek for sacrificing his shin to try new ways of getting across the bar and ring course 
Saturday’s clinic started out bright and early and everyone looked a bit slow, but thanks for my wonderful wife who brought coffee everyone perked up in time for Roland and Galya Denzel’s excellent nutrition presentation.
Roland and Galya Denzel's nutrition presentation at the Elemental Fitness Clinic
Galya & Roland walk the walk and have deep experience when it comes to helping other’s lose fat. Their common sense approach based firmly in science and personal experience has already helped a few EFL members adjust to pitfalls that always occur when trying to overhaul eating habits. Everyone I spoke to took away cues and strategies, and the most interesting thing is each person seemed to remember different cues, which means their presentation was especially effective at addressing a variety of nutritional roadblocks and goals.
Dewey Nielson and Rick Janosek from Impact Performance Training were up next with a great presentation on mobility issues common in fighters and jiujitsu players. Of course most of us have similar postural issues so it applied to everyone in the room.
Dewey Nielson presenting on mobility at the EFL Clinic
It’s clear that Dewey is always learning and experimenting with what works and what doesn’t and he showed some great thoracic spine mobility progressions that I’m putting to use with our clients already.
My presentation on concepts of movement efficiency via kettlebells was next and hopefully everyone took away some useful ideas on how to apply certain movement and breathing patterns into their skill training.
Finally it was time for Robert Dos Remedios to inflict his particular brand of hell on everyone. I’m not gonna lie, there were some nervous faces on the gym floor among those that knew what was to come.
Robert Dos Remedios coaching at the Elemental Fitness Clinic
Dos did not disappoint. He took concepts from his Cardio Strength Training Book and moved from larger density circuits done for time and reps down to finishers including some especially brutal 15 second on 15 second off rounds of squat jumps and burpees. For those looking to improve work capacity and power endurance make sure you pick up Dos’s book or go see him present live. You and your clients will thank for the performance improvements.
Post-clinic food and beer were definitely warranted for all.
Stay tuned for the next educational events currently being planned. We aim to hold such clinic and workshops on a regular basis.
Presenters at the 2011 Elemental Fitness Clinic
The 1st Elemental Fitness Clinic Group
AUG
About the Author:
Owner of Elemental Fitness Lab in Portland, OR. Our approach to training is to integrate research (I'm an NSCA CSCS, certified Functional Movement Screen, and Precision Nutrition) with practical experience. I've studied martial arts in Japan and the U.S. for many years, and have put in my time in the gym, in the water, on the snow, on the rock wall, and on the bike.