Workout

Low Back Pain When Deadlifting? Start With Good Mornings

The good morning was one of the first strength exercises i did during my first 3 months of recover from my L5S1 herniated disc. Why is it such a great movement if you have low back pain? #1. It’s very similar to movements such as the Romanian deadlift or high hip deadlift except the bar …

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I’m Leaning To One Side During Deadlifts, What Do I Do?

Do you have a side to side imbalance? Notice that one side of your core is working more than the other during deadlifts? Leaning to one side during this movement? Have trouble doing single leg deadlifts and balancing on one leg? Check out the video below for a fantastic exercise you can superset with your …

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3 Kettlebell Exercises To A Pain Free Deadlift

All 3 of these kettlebell exercises I did before I even touched the barbell again for deadlift. I had to take the time to rebuild my hip hinge position and stability as well as fixed the strength imbalances I had. I love the 1 arm sumo deadlift because it puts your hips and back into …

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A 5 Mile Run or a 5k Row as NOT an Active Recovery Day

I’m going to say it again because it is that important to get in your head: “A 5 mile run or a 5k row is NOT an active recovery day.” When someone tells you this was their “active recovery day” it no longer becomes an active recovery day — it an actual workout. “But I …

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Increasing Core Stiffness For A Happy Spine

Proximal stability is critical for distal athleticism. Core stability gives us the ability to bare load & perform movements of high motor control. Let’s take the back squat. If we lack core stability and stiffness, our body will be unable to bare the load & it’ll shut down. Once the brain senses a loss of …

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Shoulder Pain Going Overhead? What Is Your Single Arm Press Left to Right?

Shoulder pain during overhead movements like push press, push jerks, or handstand push ups? Notice that you lean to one side during handstand push ups or you’re compensating to one arm during overhead barbell movements? Mostly likely, you’ve got a left to right strength imbalance. Here is an easy way to test if you do: …

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Four Ways to Add Spice to Your Workout

We get it. It’s CrossFit. It’s always spicy. It’s always brutal. We understand that your coach programmed the workouts so their already perfect. They’re intelligent, elegant in ways we can’t comprehend and have the perfect amount of sexy to them. But, just in case you want to do something different here are 4 simple and …

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A Warm Up For Before Heavy Deadlifting

Before my injury, I rarely warmed up. I didn’t take the necessary time to prep my body for heavy lifting. After my injury and going through my recovery process with Active Life, I understand the importance of a proper warm-up. I now treat my warm-ups just as, if not more important, than the rest of …

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7 Reasons Why You’re NOT Getting Stronger

Strength is one of the most desired elements of fitness. The idea of moving significant weight during a workout—not to mention the aesthetic benefits, is very appealing. It’s a vital component of the majority of CrossFit workouts, and we spend a lot of time working to become stronger every week. But sometimes our strength stalls. …

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MICHAEL GAINES

Founder & Head Coach

My career started as a personal trainer at your typical “big box” gym franchise. Although it was a challenge from day 1, I was ready for it – clients at 5 am, clients at 9 pm; clients who aspired to be collegiate athletes; clients who had never exercised; clients who wanted a “quick fix” and crash diets; clients who were lost; and clients who were stepping into the gym for the first time.

It was a daily challenge working with a “one size fits all” program and platform created by executives focused on profit over people. Everyone is so different, so why is the program the same for each person?

I became continually frustrated – how was anyone supposed to hit their individual goals with a program created for an “average” person. How were my clients ever going to feel encouraged when their progress and success was based on impossible standards? It was wrong, and I was determined to do something better.

There needed to be a genuine collaboration of long-term strategies aligned with our member’s unique goals and lifestyles. Couple that with a safe place where they are heard, seen, and understood. Where programs for exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, conquering health battles, and gaining control are creatively designed, individually prepared, intelligently managed, and continually monitored. It took some time to get it right, but I finally curated a program in a place where each member is individually recognized, yet part of a like-minded community. A place we call The X…and a program that is Proudly Different.

My name is Michael Gaines, and I am the proud founder and head coach of The X. Before you ask…the answer is yes – I hold numerous certifications and have put in years of research that serves as the backbone of every individual program we curate. Our members are my family, and it’s hard to articulate the joy I get watching them triumph over their health, fitness, and diet battles. The results are real, long-term, and rewarding. Stop in and say hello. Tell us how you define success and we’ll help you get there!

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