Rocky Snyder | Using Strength Training to Restore Movement Efficiency

In this episode, Rocky Snyder, a certified strength conditioning specialist and personal trainer with over 30 years of experience, details his unique perspectives on human performance and biomechanics. As the owner of a successful Santa Cruz studio, Rocky shares his journey from bodybuilding-style training to embracing unconventional education pathways that led him to uncover innovative training methods.

Rocky highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach to strength and conditioning, and discusses the significance of a "Return to Center"-based approach to strength training. Through this approach, Rocky explains how he restores function and performance to clients who have been experiencing pain and suboptimal movement for decades. He also sheds light on how to build strength, power, and explosiveness without the common nagging injuries that often arise when using traditional strength training methods. Additionally, Rocky shares insights on the role of foot anatomy in body movement, the connection between the foot, pelvis, ribs, and skull, and the chain reaction it can create in the body.

Rocky also shares information about his upcoming talk at the 2023 NSCA National Conference, where he will be discussing foot wedges and their effect on movement. Don't miss out on this fascinating episode that will leave you with a greater understanding of the human body, its intricate connections.

Time Stamps:

[5:19] The importance of seeking multiple avenues of education

[10:01] Missing elements in the traditional approach to strength training

[16:30] How Rocky helps clients attain or return to proper functioning

[21:41] How to appropriately create stronger and more powerful athletes

[35:03] Rocky's movement assessment process

[40:55] The importance of the foot in optimal functioning and performance

[43:47] Using foot wedges to impact whole-body movement

[49:34] How to make lasting changes to movement patterns

Rocky Snyder is a nationally recognized expert in human movement with 30 years of professional experience and knowledge. He is the author of Return to Center: Strength Training to Realign the Body, Recovery from Pain, and Achieve Optimal Performance and is the host of the Zelos Podcast.

Rocky has trained thousands of clients ranging from grandparents to professional athletes and Olympic champions. Aside from owning and operating his training studio in Santa Cruz, California, Rocky travels far and wide providing educational workshops to personal trainers, manual therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists. He offers his services as a part-time consultant to professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, and MLB. He continues to present for IDEA, NSCA, FIBO USA, and Perform Better. 

You can follow Rocky on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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