Train like a baseball player: Workouts for improving endurance and mobility

 

John Eilermann. Those who want to improve their physical fitness can try to train like a major league baseball player. As a sport that requires speed and strength, athletes must condition their bodies to avoid shoulder and elbow injuries that are common in their sport. Fitness experts say that some workouts MLB athletes do can also benefit the average person. Here are some MLB player workouts worth trying out. 

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Medicine ball overhead stomp

John Eilermann. While this looks like an easy workout, this step is important for athletes who need to get the ball to base. As a power workout, this routine trains the shoulders, triceps, calves, back, and especially the core. For baseball players, this can help them gain upper body strength and flexibility while developing their balance and endurance.

Fitness ball with cable rotations

This exercise involves holding the fitness ball up to the chest with the rope handle on the opposite side. Starting at a slightly bent position, the rope should be gripped with the outside hand while the other hand should stay open to balance the ball. This workout focuses develops a player's rotational strength while also training their core. John Eilermann.

Weighted backward bear crawl

Perfect for batters, this workout specifically trains the legs and the back muscles with a full range of motion. Focusing on these two areas allows batters to improve their bat speed and strength. For the pros, two weighted plates are used but for those who are new to this routine, using one weighted plate is enough. John Eilermann.        

Six books that are perfect for beginning readers

 

Reading is a great way to have one's mind open to different cultures, worlds, and languages. Not everyone has the privilege of developing good reading habits from childhood, which may become a disadvantage when a person enters adulthood. Here are six books every beginning reader should have on their list. John Eilermann St. Louis. 

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"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White is an incredibly crafted novel that fits all age groups. Part of most school curricula, "Charlotte's Web" is a beloved classic with principles children can carry throughout their adulthood. "Meiko and the Fifth Treasure" by Eleanor Coerr is not exactly a popular choice. However, it does teach beginning readers a few things about Japan and its culture. John Eilermann St. Louis.

"Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie is popular among people of all ages for its familiar story. While aimed at kids, the book still captures and recaptures the hearts of adults. It's a true testament to the belief that reading is a means to travel. "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemmingway is a school staple that almost all English speakers have read it. Reasonably short, the classic inspires readers to grab a dictionary as it has a challenging vocabulary. John Eilermann St. Louis.

"A Wrinkle in Time" written by Madeline L'Engle is yet another classic that is easily a part of every early reader's life. The novel is composed of short and long sentences, engaging readers and letting them rest at times—great for pacing. Lois Lowry's "The Giver" has an easy-to-understand vocabulary and is free of confusion. With those qualities, the long novel can be finished in a breeze. John Eilermann St. Louis.