• Home
  • About FFTB
    • The Mission
    • Start Here
    • Disclaimer
  • The Team
    • Contributors
    • Photo Contributors
    • Guest Contributors
    • The Original Crew
  • Contact
facebook
twitter
youtube
google_plus
email
  • Start Here
  • PODCAST
    • About The Podcast
    • Podcast Episode Pages
    • Podcast on iTunes
    • Podcast Official Sponsors
    • Podcast Sponsorship
  • 5 Min Clinics
    • 5 Minute Engine Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Truck Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Officer Clinic
    • 5 Minute Clinic Series
  • Product Reviews
  • Articles
    • Eng Co
    • Truck Co
    • Co Officer
    • Safety & FF Rescue
    • General
      • Social Media/ Public Relations
      • FF Communications
      • Art & Science of Firefighting
      • Life Skills
      • Hazardous Materials
      • Rescue Operations
      • Special Operations
        • Marine Operations
        • Airport Fire & Rescue Operations
  • Health & Fitness
  • FF Mindset
BREAKING NEWS
3 Rule Outs of the Medical Patient
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 2
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1
Keys to Conducting Comprehensive Feedback to Firefighters
3 Keys to Truck Check Success
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 3
PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 2
3 Ways Firefighters can Reduce the Chance of a Back Injury
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 1
Practice How You Play
How to Execute the Proper Kettlebell Swing
What Every Firefighter Needs to Know About NFPA 1583
5 Exercises to Improve Grip Strength for Firefighters
6 Ways Firefighters can Use Exercise Progressions and Regressions
3 Workout Tips for the Volunteer Firefighter
074 – Introduction to Firefighter Functional Fitness
Firefighter Functional Fitness – 7 Tips for Planning Weekly Workouts
The 3 Cornerstones of Firefighter Fitness Success
8 Must-Do Exercises for Serious Firefighter Functional Fitness

The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 3

Posted On 20 Oct 2016
By : Dr Karlie Moore
Comment: 0
Tag: basic yoga for firefighters, firefighter exercise, Firefighter Fitness

In this three-part series I’m going over three types of exercise I believe all firefighters should do. While there isn’t ONE right way for everybody to exercise (although superfans of certain workout regimes will argue with that) there are some workouts that are beneficial for firefighters specifically because they help you either perform better on the job and/or reduce your risk of suffering a heart attack or injury.

Best Workout #3 – Basic yoga

Notice that I stated “basic” yoga because advanced yoga involves some twisting and spinal hyperextension that is potentially damaging to firefighters’ spines. However, basic yoga is safe and has lots of health benefits.

Yoga is great for firefighters for several reasons. Firstly, it improves flexibility. Having done hundreds of firefighter fitness tests myself I can say that many firefighters are way too inflexible. You shouldn’t be Gumby (being too flexible is a problem too) but you should be able to comfortably do a downward dog –the most common yoga move – shown in the picture below.

A downward dog stretches the hamstrings and the shoulders which, in my experience, are notoriously tight among firefighters, and is partial to blame for so many back and shoulder injuries.

Because yoga relies on body weight (and it’s a lot harder than it looks), it helps improve muscular endurance. Studies show that muscular endurance is important for firefighters to perform well on the job and reduce your risk of having a cardiac event.

Another obvious benefit is that yoga is a stress reliever – and it’s no secret that firefighting is a very stressful profession.

Relieving stress in your life can bring on lots of health benefits including:

  • better sleep
  • blood pressure
  • weight loss

 

Your family may thank you because you’ll be in a better mood!

Stress is known to cause abdominal obesity which is a major risk factor for developing heart disease – the #1 killer of firefighters each year. So ultimately the stress relief combined with the calorie burn you get from yoga could help you reduce your belly fat and live a longer life.

Click here to read Part 1

Photo Courtesy Dr. Karlie Moore, PhD

About the Author
Dr Moore has been helping firefighters improve their health since 2007. Her work includes conducting fitness assessments, research, consulting and developing protocols for fire departments. Her research and expertise is in firefighter exercise/nutrition and improving the methods of assessing back injury and cardiac risk among firefighters. She has developed the only protocol of its kind to predict aerobic capacity in firefighters. Get more free health tips for firefighters at FitForDutyConsulting.com
  • google-share
Previous Story

PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review

Next Story

“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1

Related Posts

0

“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 2

Posted On 07 Nov 2016
, By Firefighter Functional Fitness
1

“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1

Posted On 04 Nov 2016
, By Firefighter Functional Fitness
0

PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review

Posted On 18 Oct 2016
, By Jim Moss

The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 2

Posted On 13 Oct 2016
, By Dr Karlie Moore
0

3 Ways Firefighters can Reduce the Chance of a Back Injury

Posted On 07 Oct 2016
, By Firefighter Functional Fitness
0

The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 1

Posted On 06 Oct 2016
, By Dr Karlie Moore

Search Site

Archives

DOWNLOAD FREE REPORT

Popular Posts

FirefighterToolbox Podcast

FireFighterToolbox Podcast (Internet Radio Interview Show)

48 Comments

Top 6 Reasons To Use A 2-1/2" Handline

29 Comments

The Role Of The Second Due Engine - Part 2

18 Comments
Copyright 2013-2017 FirefighterToolbox.com All Rights Reserved.