Resistance Training Instruction

Detailed illustrations combined with expert technical guidance demonstrate how to target specific muscles as well as the most efficient alignment, positioning, and lifting technique for each exercise. In addition, you will learn how and when to vary intensity, volume, recovery, and exercise sequencing to customize any routine.

Organized by movement function, emphasizing the connection between technique and results, each exercise provides the following:

• Step-by-step instructions for setup and technique
  
• Guidance on monitoring, cueing, spotting, and coaching clients for the safest, most effective training
  
• Full-color anatomical illustrations that depict muscle use throughout each exercise

With sample periodized programs, Resistance Training Instruction demonstrates how to develop base strength, improve whole-body fitness, and design advanced split routines by selecting, combining, and sequencing the best exercises for each client.

Used by the renowned Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research to certify personal trainers, Resistance Training Instruction makes it easy to achieve maximum gains for all of your clients.

A second disagreement I have with another reviewer concerns partial movements. As a long time trainee I have learned through bitter experience that, "The body never forgets an injury". Aaberg's advice regarding the disregarding the "full range of motion" philosophy (a philosophy that will take many years to kill)is right on the money. Using heavy resistance in the "red zone" of a joint on the premise that it is necessary or useful for "fully developing the muscle" or that it will increase or maintain flexibility is an invitation to injury. This may be one of the reasons that the Westside Barbell Club spends very little time doing full range bench presses and instead chooses partial movements such as board presses and floor presses for much of its training.

RESISTANCE TRAINING INSTRUCTION is too short to illustrate every exercise. Happily, it does not show potential shoulder wreckers such as upright rows, lat machine pulldowns behind the neck, or presses behind the neck. Nor does it show stretches. The routines do have exercises for the rotator cuff. This is a huge plus. Aaberg at times announces quite clearly that some subjects are beyond the scope of his book.

At the present time -- January 2003 -- this is one of the best introductory texts on the market. If you're looking for a single text that covers everything, forget it. If there is one, it will probably be outdated in one month. When I read most training texts my BS detector goes off several times. When I read Aaberg's stuff it's pretty silent.