Luke Carlson has trained hundreds of Minnesota Vikings players, was the head strength coach at Blaine and Minnetonka High Schools, and co-authored two books. He has his Master of Science in kinesiology and has spent years researching the best way to exercise. In May 2006, he opened his first Discover Strength studio in Plymouth, filling it with both the best equipment in the world as well as the most knowledgeable trainers available. Today, there are three studio locations, and his message—that low-force resistance strength training is the best way to exercise for everyone—is spreading. Here, he explains why people should listen, as well as why many people don’t want to.
In every other field, we strive to be better, faster, and safer. In exercise, we’ve ground to a halt. The research is out there, but we aren’t applying it. Discover Strength exists to bridge the gap between what science knows and how we actually exercise.
Our message is palatable: research proves we should be working out less often for shorter periods of time and doing fewer exercises, just working a little bit harder.
How we train is not controversial in the world of academia, it’s controversial because it flies in the face of how people have been exercising their whole lives.
Every guy thinks he’s worked out hard before. We tell them that our 70-year-old female clients work out harder than they ever have. And three to four exercises in, they all go, “Whoa, okay, now I know what you’re talking about.”
There’s no such thing as the “right fit” or “right style” of workout. Some things just flat out work better than others.
Would I say our workout is perfect for everyone? Physiologically, yes. Medically, it’s exactly what every person needs. Does it resonate with everyone? Maybe not. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s what they should be doing.
Research says that strength training provides all the same benefits as aerobic exercise, plus some that we can only receive from resistance training, such as building bone density.
The benefits of strength training are independent of lifestyle choices. If you work out with us, you’ll decrease your disease risk factor—even if you keep smoking or drinking or eating things you know you shouldn’t. It’s not an all or nothing thing.
Even if you have all day to do whatever exercise you want as long as you want, this is still what you should do. It just so happens that it’s time efficient. People want better results in a shorter amount of time. And that’s what we give them.
WORK IT OUT: 3 THINGS TO KNOW
1. Go at it solo or work it out in a group. Try an intro session for free. $49/solo; $29/group.
2. This workout requires only 30 minutes, one-two times weekly. No loopholes, just results.
3. Locations in Plymouth, Chanhassen, and downtown Minneapolis. discoverstrength.com
