I began playing roller hockey when I was 10 out in front of my house in the street. A group of kids my age would play every Saturday from the time we got up until it was too dark to see what we were doing. The game became such a regular occurrence that kid’s parents began to play. My dad even donned the rollerblades a time or two and would join in. It got so competitive that mini feuds would break out and neighbors were less than friendly as a result. I loved every minute of it. When I was 12 I graduated to playing in actual roller rinks and did so for the next 5 years. By the time I was 16 my team had made it to the junior Olympics and we even had sponsors. But roller hockey is for dorks.

My freshman year at UT I had a good friend that played for the UT men’s club Ice Hockey team. He would practice regularly at Chapparral Ice on I-35. He randomly asked me to join one night and it changed everything. He let me borrow a pair of skates and supplemented me with any gear I was missing. I could barely stay up the first hour but eventually got the  hang of it. From then on hockey was once again all I could think about. Christmas break that year I returned to Dallas for a month off from school and played just about every single day at the local Starscenter. My girlfriend at the time got so jealous of my preference of hockey over her that she dumped me. To this day I still think I made the right choice. For the next several years any time I was in Dallas I would bust out the gear and play drop-in hockey. I did so until around my senior year until I just didn’t have the time to play any longer.

My hockey gene lay dormant for the next several years until November 2009. I took my then girlfriend to a Texas Stars game www.texasstarshockey.com.

Being around hockey again made me realize how much I really missed playing. When I was home for Christmas later that year I pulled my gear out of mothballs in my mom’s garage and began to play again. I started by going to stick and puck sessions, which is where you can work on skating, shooting etc.. but not actually play.  It was a great way for me to get my skates back under me. One day I was in the locker room after a session when a group of guys were getting ready to play. One of em asked me if I’d like to join sometime. They informed me that they were in a program called “Hockey Lite”, which is a weekly, organized, pre-paid drop in session. They break it down by skill level so you can be competitive and play with those of similar abilities. I bought a new helmet, new socks, a new stick and on my 28th birthday played my first session. It was VERY intimidating that first skate back after such a long break but by the end I was at least hanging with some of the regulars. Since then I’ve been in every hockey lite session for 2 solid years, rarely ever missing a skate. In fact, if I take more than a week off I don’t feel like myself.  Here’s a video and some random shots from Hockey Lite:

Hockey Lite

Hockey lite has become such a regular part of my life that I can’t imagine not doing it. I have a great group of friends that I’ve come to know through hockey and they’ve become a regular part of my life. There’s such an interesting mix of personalities in this group. More than half are migratory snowbirds from Canada, Michigan, Boston, etc..and the rest are native Texans like myself. Most are over the age of 35 and have kids, however there are a few younger, single guys like yours truly.  We always go out to eat and have a few beers afterwards and the conversation is always about the game we just played. Its such an awesome way to play the sport you love and make new friends while doing so. There’s always friendly smack-talk yet for the most part everyone is very positive.  I’ve been playing consistently for several years now, so much so that I’ve started playing in the organized leagues. Which brings me to the Hyper Vest PRO and the SandBells.

Since my time as an employee at Hyperwear my fitness has already improved tremendously. Our daily workouts have improved my core strength, flexibility and overall fitness level. The 10 lb Large Hyper Vest PRO: http://www.hyperwear.com/buy/weight-vest/10-lb-large-hyper-vest-pro.html has become a part of my regular fitness regiment. I try to incorporate it into as many exercises as possible and even wear it around the office sometimes. I recently took my hockey playing to the next level and signed up for the Adult Men’s League at the Cedar Park Center. This is a major step up from the once a week drop-in game I’ve been playing, as such I knew I needed to really get in shape if I wanted to be competitive. I joke with the guys that getting paid to workout at FitMob! events is pretty great. Hyperwear products have already put me on the right path towards a higher plane of fitness, and it’s only going to get better. After last night’s FitMob! event I decided to keep rolling with the vest and give it a shot at an actual hockey game. To prove I’m not B.S.’ing I had a buddy snap a few photos:

Even warming up in the vest is a challenge. The compression and extra weight really forced me to breathe deeply and focus on my strides as I skated. Your average player wears up to 20 lbs of gear so that extra 10 really made a huge difference. I skated several laps, took some shots and stretched and was ready to play. The first shift was fairly normal as my adrenaline was already pumping so I didn’t notice too much of a difference, however by the time I had settled down and began my second shift the weight of the vest was very apparent. I barely made it off the ice that shift. I decided that I had enough extra gear already and ditched the vest in the locker room. The next shift I FLEW down the ice like Sidney Crosby. Just half an hour skating in my Hyper Vest PRO and I could tell a huge difference. I was skating faster, had more energy and just overall felt like I had a step on everyone. I know keeping up with my Hyperwear training will only lead to more gains. Take it from me: If you want to get fit and perform better at any sport, go get some Hyperwear gear.

Chris Remington

Upper-Body Blast:

1. Dive bomber: Start in pike position, pull chest through to low position to challenge shoulders and create a great extension through the lower body
2. Upper-body  step-ups: Start at the top, executing great range of motion, and as you step up work to stabilize and get single arm involvement
3. Slide shuffle: This exercises involves the challenge of doing an upper-body shuffle on the slide, works the stabilizer muscles and strength of the upper-body
4. SandBell punches: Focuses on grip strength and getting a controlled, punching strike with each movement

Make every rep count and follow good form.  It’s your move!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv5U9Ut15gY[/youtube]

Set-up: Depending on how many SandBells you own, you can complete each circuit using the same SandBell, or create each circuit station with multiple SandBells. You’ll also need to find a place to securely attach your TRX Suspension Trainer for the t-pull station.

Warm-up: Five to ten minutes of jogging, jumping-jacks, jumping rope, etc.

Duration: 45 seconds at each station, with a 15 second transition in between stations.

Station 1. Level change with dead lift – For this two handed Romanian dead lift, begin with feet hip-width distance apart, keep your back flat and knees slightly bent. Raise and lower the SandBell to the floor, hinging at the hips and making sure the back is flat and that you’re completing the drill within your range of motion

Station 2. T Pull – Using the TRX Suspension Trainer, set your back and shoulders so you’re in a solid plank position leaning backward with feet slightly raised off the ground. With hands outstretched, forming a “T” shape with your body, bring hands together and apart, slightly lowering and raising your body. This drill focuses on posterior shoulder muscles, so be sure to keep your arms straight and extended and that each motion is smooth and controlled.

Station 3. Prong plank with alternating leg lifts – Begin in the plank position, elbows each resting on a SandBell (this is for comfort, if you don’t have two SandBells then complete the exercise with elbows on the floor). Make sure to keep everything from your shoulders to trunk still and straight, and then alternate raising each leg six to eight inches off the ground. When alternating, raise the leg straight up and not out to the side and focus on maintaining core stability.

Station 4. Scissor locomotion – Start with legs split, in a slight lunge position and feet hip-width distance apart. Slightly jump while “scissoring” your legs front to back and maintaining the lunge position, keep feet hip-width distance apart at all times and land on the balls of your feet.

Station 5. Figure eight – Start with feet spread and knees slightly bent in a squat position. Grab and hand off the SandBell to each hand while making a figure eight motion, going under and over each leg. Focus on grip strength and hand-eye coordination to improve agility, stability and overall coordination.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRDk7fFvI-Y[/youtube]

Repeat the circuit four or five times, and be sure to end with a five minute cool down. For those of you wanting to take this circuit to the next level, complete this circuit series while wearing your Hyper Vest PRO!

The safety of the Sandbell lies in it’s combination of the neoprene outer layer and the play sand on the inside, providing for maximum safety when throwing and catching at high levels of intensity.

Advancements of this exercise include splitting your stance or even standing on one leg.

Never Stand Still!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEnq08erYk&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]
Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach

MMM98

Finishing up this Pick 3 Series, we’ve got quite the doozy! The famous SandBell Plank Crawl, loved by many for its strength development, and hated by just as many for how it makes you feel after multiple rounds.

Grab one or two SandBells of your choice and get to crawling. Make sure that your foot placement is directly in the middle of the SandBell, and then get ready for some fun.  As you see in the video, even with changing directions the SandBell remains steady and balanced in its weight, providing small or great amounts of resistance for your athlete.

My favorite of the Slick Floor series; find some proper flooring and give it a shot today!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7xA7cxAbmI[/youtube]

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach

MMM97

With Thanksgiving just behind us and the Christmas Holidays staring us right in the face, most of us are having a tougher time fitting in our usual quality workout. So today, grab your Hyper Vest PRO, zip it up nice and snug, and get ready for a quick and simple core exercise that can be done anywhere!

The Plank Walk is an exercise that focuses on the stability of your core as well as your shoulder girdle and is good for beginners all the way to elite athletes. Make sure your stomach stays tight to your spine and enjoy the Hyper Vest PRO’s snug feel to the body, quietly adding that perfect amount of resistance to your short and intense holiday workout! Enjoy!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYrwLLWHSGk[/youtube]

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach

MMM #84

Who doesn’t love training their core? Well, today I’m going to show you yet another way you can mix a SandBell with another great piece of training equipment…..We’re going into the training vault for this one, yes, it’s time for the return of the Ab Dolly! So I was thinking the other day while watching some of my athletes doing an Ab Dolly relay race, “What would happen if the Ab Dolly weighed much, much more?” So, I stopped the race and threw a 50lb SandBell on the Dollys and watched the madness ensue. Now it’s your turn to watch the madness, check out the video and then get to work!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHRrlI09FTE[/youtube]

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #68

We are going to start off 2010 with an oldie but goodie in the Hyper Wear list of fun activities. We take a game of catch and add a little challenge. First, we all stand on one leg as we toss the SandBell from person to person. We call out the person’s name before we throw it and try to toss it so they have to reach for it, challenging their balance, stability and strength. Longer reaches also add a dynamic stretch into the mix. To make it more challenging, stand on a SandBell as you toss the other set around. If you want to make it really tough, add more SandBells into the mix.

Enjoy!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9YjR2bzhD4[/youtube]

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #38

We are going to start off 2010 with an oldie but goodie in the Hyper Wear list of fun activities. We take a game of catch and add a little challenge. First, we all stand on one leg as we toss the SandBell from person to person. We call out the person’s name before we throw it and try to toss it so they have to reach for it, challenging their balance, stability and strength. Longer reaches also add a dynamic stretch into the mix. To make it more challenging, stand on a SandBell as you toss the other set around. If you want to make it really tough, add more SandBells into the mix.

Enjoy!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin