To the uninitiated that might appear to be a picture of a yoga pose called “downward dog”.  That would be wrong.  In reality that is a full bore push-up rest position.  I know.  I’m an expert at this position.  I failed in my effort to reduce the number of sets to achieve my 200 push-ups today but I amazed myself by reducing the rest period by 25% (from 2 minutes to 90 seconds) and was still able to knock out 20 rep sets.  So not too bad.  Although it did mean practicing my rest position a little more than usual.

Especially since I committed a cardinal sin of exercise motivation and worked out this afternoon and even knocked out my 4 x 25 sit-up sets, but DIDN’T DO THE PUSH-UPS.  ”I’m tired, I’ll come back and do them later.”  Big mistake.  Nine times out of ten that is a recipe for a skipped workout.  It almost was this time.  That’s why at nine o’clock at night I was the only schmuck in the fitness center killing myself doing push-ups.

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Now, the lacrosse ball.  That comes into play because my traps are killing me.  Some combination of barbell squats, push-ups and too much time spent at a computer (at work and at home) is killing my shoulders and neck.  They’re really tight all day, often to the point of continuous pain.  

As a result I spend a good amount of time each night leaning up against a wall with a lacrosse ball behind my back.  Moving around with the ball behind you really lets you control the pressure and you can really hit the tight spots in your traps, shoulder blades and along your spine.  Be careful not to hit it right on your spine though.  You can also use it on the floor to do your shoulders, back, hip flexors … use your imagination.  It’s like a foam roller but more localized and let’s you work specific tight spots.

If you don’t have one, get one.  Ahhhh … .