Blog
Pain Points – Knee Replacement
In this Pain Points blog we’re looking at knee replacements. In this post, we’re taking a closer look at life after knee replacement surgery — and why a structured rehabilitation programme is essential for regaining strength, mobility, and confidence in your daily movements.
Read PostCoach’s Corner – First Competition Experience, Alex’s start in the Powerlifting World
Recently Alex competed in his very first South East Powerlifting Competition. We thought we would catch up with him to discuss his experience, share some insights and his plans moving forward.
Read PostWhy You’ve Stopped Making Progress in the Gym — And How to Fix It
Plateaus are something everyone experiences in their fitness journey, struggling to progress through the weight or add an extra rep. It is hypothesized that there is likely a finite ability for muscular adaptation, what is difficult to determine is the difference between a true plateau following long term training, and short term muscle growth. With plateaus being contributed to simply reaching your genetic potential.
Read PostAre You Taking Enough Rest Between Sets?
Rest is one of the most underestimated parts of any training routine. It’s easy to see it as just downtime between sets, but those few minutes of recovery are where real progress begins. The amount of rest you take can completely change the quality of your performance — influencing your strength, focus, and overall training outcomes. Finding a balance is key to building consistency, progressing, and ultimately making every session count.
Read PostPain Points – ACL Rehabilitation and Prevention
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is most commonly injured due to sporting activity, however, can be injured during everyday life. It is estimated that there are 52,000 ACL injuries per year within the UK, with roughly half of these requiring surgery. Recovery on average takes six to nine months, however, this can take even longer for elite athletes.
Read PostWhy a Full Depth Squat is The Bare Minimum
A proper squat is about control, balance, and moving through the range your body is designed for. When your hip crease drops below the top of your knee, you’ve achieved full depth or also referred to as below parallel. This is the bare minimum we accept – and it’s a principle you’ll want to incorporate into your squat sessions. The only exception to squatting to full depth are trainees who have a history of injuries that prevent them from being able to squat to full depth, such as a knee replacement.
Read PostBeats & Barbells – Can Music Affect Strength Training?
Music is a widely used tool within the gym, from background music to playing through peoples headphones. It has repeatedly been shown to have ergogenic benefits during multiple forms of exercise, from endurance events, sprinting and even resistance training. This is done as a resource to potentially boost motivation and increase exercise performance.
Read PostWhat Your Squat Says About Your Femurs
The low bar back squat is the backbone of Body Mentors strength training programmes. This is because it allows us to incorporate the largest amount of muscle mass, having the longest effective range of motion and enabling us to lift the most weight. However, no two people's squats look the same and there are many reasons for this, one of the main reasons being a person's femur length.
Read PostPain Points – Muscle Pain – It’s ‘Knot’ What You Think
I'm sure you've experienced a tight, tender, or aching pain in your neck or back that just won't seem to go away. This might be what many people know as a ‘muscle knot’ – or more accurately, a trigger point. These stubborn spots can show up without warning and linger for days or even weeks, affecting how you move and feel.
Read PostProtein – Know the Difference
When it comes to building strength, your protein intake matters – a lot. Whether you're training for a heavy squat single or aiming for functional strength, protein plays a key role in the process of building muscle and increasing strength.
Read PostChristmas Cheer and PBs Aplenty at Merry Liftmas 2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Merry Liftmas. It was a really enjoyable day, with loads of PBs and a strong community spirit throughout.
Read PostUnderstanding the Stress-Recovery-Adaptation Cycle
The stress recovery and adaptation cycle describes how the body responds to a stimulus such as resistance training which allows you to become stronger. This cycle is fundamental to training and development. With each step being as important as the other, let's look at each stage in more detail.
Read PostFour Clients Qualify for National Powerlifting Championships
Last weekend, four Body Mentors clients took to the platform at the South East Powerlifting Autumn Competition, and all four came away qualified for nationals, with some incredible lifts on the day.
Read PostBody Mentors Clients David and Rachel Featured on BBC South East News
This week, BBC South East News featured Body Mentors and two of our incredible clients David (81) and Rachel (77) – both competing in a regional powerlifting competition tomorrow.
Read PostPain Points – Dislocations Explained: Separating Fact From Fiction
A dislocation is when bones in a joint separate, and the bones are no longer in contact. There are many myths around dislocations, who do they affect more, what joints are affected most and many more. Lets delve into some of those myths and see if they’re fact or fiction.
Read PostWhy Barbell Strength Training is Good for Injury Prevention
Barbell training is quite simply the best form of exercise for injury prevention. Whether that's shoulder pain, back pain, or neck pain, we’ll explore why and how barbell training is brilliant for injury prevention.
Read PostClient Stories – How 2-to-1 Strength Training is a Game Changer for David and Liga
We recently sat down with David and Liga and discussed how training 2-to-1 helped them throughout this past year on their strength training journey.
Read PostWhy Barbell Training Doesn’t Make Women “Bulky”
This is a common concern for a lot of females who are new to strength training, and is a massive misconception. In this blog, we will discuss how and why strength training won’t make you bulky or look like a bodybuilder.
Read PostClient Stories – Isabelle’s Ironman Journey and the Strength to Stay Injury‑Free
From seven marathons to an ultra and now an Ironman, Isabelle has tested the limits of both body and mind. We sat down with her to hear how strength training kept her resilient, injury-free, and ready to take on 140.6 miles.
Read PostThe Importance of Setting Your Back in the Deadlift
The deadlift can be a very daunting and scary exercise to perform in the gym. We have all heard stories about people being injured when performing deadlifts and never touching the exercise again. This can be as a result of many different reasons, however, a key one is what we call ‘setting the back’ giving us the best opportunity to prevent injuries whilst performing the lift.
Read PostAre You Too Intimidated to Start Barbell Training?
Using a barbell and rack for the first time can feel daunting. The plates look heavy, the technique seems tricky, and working out how much weight to use can feel confusing. It's no surprise that many beginners avoid the barbell. But with the right approach, barbell training is the best use of your time and effort.
Read PostPain Points – Shin Splints Symptoms and Treatment
Medial tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints, is a very common overuse injury, estimated to affect 35% of all athletes.
Read PostExpert Q&A – Nutrition for Optimal Recovery and Performance
We're pleased to introduce a special guest for our Q&A this month. We sat down with Registered Dietitian, Nichola Ludlam-Raine BSc PGDip MSc RD, to explore the science behind post-workout nutrition and recovery.
Read PostPowerlifting Meet 2025 – Save the Date!
Following on from the success of Merry Liftmas in 2024, we're happy to announce the details for our Powerlifting Meet on Saturday 6th December.
Read PostPain Points – Tennis Elbow Symptoms and Treatment
Tennis elbow is most common for those between the ages of 35 and 54 years of age, according to the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is the most common cause of persistent elbow pain.
Read PostMy Approach to Sports Massage
One of the great things about sports massage is every practitioner has a different style and technique. Here’s a quick rundown of my approach to sports massage and how I help my clients to move better, feel stronger, and stay injury-free.
Read PostBrent picks up Third-Place in the National 2025 British Masters Classic Championships
Brent’s third-place at the national level, follows two record breaking appearances at the South East regional level in the past 12 months.
Read PostPain Points – What is Sciatica, and how can it be treated?
Pain Points is our new blog series looking at the most common injuries we assess in the Injury Clinic. This month we're looking at sciatica, a condition which affects millions of people every year.
Read PostClient Stories – How Strength Training helped Lucy at the World Irish Dance Championships
From childhood dreams inspired by Lord of the Dance to winning the World Irish Dance Championship. We sat down with Lucy to find out how strength training has been helping both her strength and stamina on the stage.
Read PostClient Stories – How deadlifting 100kg at 77 is Christine’s new happy place
Christine’s story of embracing strength training in her mid-seventies is an inspiration. Following multiple surgeries and doctors advice to ‘not lift anything too heavy’ – she has proved them wrong, and then some. With a 100kg deadlift already under her belt, Christine has her sights set on 110kg!
Read Post