Month: May 2025

We get it, side planks don’t always look like the most exciting movement. But believe it or not, we program the side plank for many reasons as it’s such an underrated exercise that gives you a huge return on your investment!

Why we love the side plank:

💡Stability training!
Most people train their core using a lot of flexion (think crunches!). The side plank trains anti-lateral movement — resisting side-to-side bending. This kind of stability is crucial for protecting your back and building better posture.

💡 Improves shoulder and scapular control
Supporting yourself through one arm challenges your shoulder in a way that’s both safe and functional. It forces smaller stabilizing muscles to engage, making your joints more resilient.

💡 Glute medius strengthening!
The glute medius gets overlooked, but it’s essential for stabilizing your hips and knees! A strong glute medius muscle means better control in everything from squats to running to simply walking up stairs pain-free!

Watch this video from Coach Natalie about how to perform the side plank and some great cues we use at SSP! 

Now that you know how much bang for your buck you get with side planks, hopefully you’ll appreciate them as much as we do 😋

And if you’re ever unsure whether you’re getting the most out of the movement? Ask an SSP coach. We’re here to help you move and feel better.

There’s a reason SSP frequently shows up at the top when you search “strength training” in Seattle.

It’s not just because we’ve been doing this a long time. It’s because we’re really good at helping people get stronger.

Unfortunately not all training is created equal. We’re not here to knock other fitness approaches because movement is movement, and we love seeing more people get active. (Heck, it’s the reason I created Seattle Fitness Week to support the entire industry!) 

But when we’re talking about strength training, and specifically, real, measurable progress in how you move and how strong you feel, there’s a reason why Seattle Strength & Performance is different from other gyms. 

Here’s why:
There are three things we never compromise on…

1️⃣ We teach you how to strength train—safely and effectively.
Whether you’re brand new to the gym or you’ve been training for years, we focus on movement quality first. You’ll learn how to lift with confidence, build real strength, and stay injury-free while doing it.

2️⃣ Your program is built just for you.
There’s no cookie-cutter plan here. Every member at SSP gets a custom program designed around your goals, training history, preferences, and schedule. You get the benefits of personal training with the energy of a small group setting.

3️⃣ We track your progress—because results matter.
We don’t just guess whether it’s working. We measure it. So whether your goal is to get stronger, move better, feel better, or all of the above, we track your individual data and you’ll feel the difference over time.

And here’s the crazy part:
Our members who train just 2x/week have gotten up to 114% stronger in only 6 months.
We’re not just making that up—we’ve got the numbers to prove it.

This isn’t just a gym. It’s a training experience that’s both highly personal and community-driven. You’ll work alongside an amazing group of people and coaches who are all in your corner.

💥 Over 700 of your fellow Seattleites already train with us consistently. 

Ready to see what all the hype is about?

We can’t wait to meet you.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about deadlifts or wanted to make sure you’re doing them right, this one’s for you. At SSP, we love starting with the kettlebell deadlift because we believe it is one of the best exercises to help you:

✅ Learn the foundational deadlift pattern
✅ Build serious lower body and lower back strength
✅ Perfect your hip hinge—a movement that shows up in a LOT of training

But we know learning the KB deadlift can be tricky at first, which is why we are specific in our coaching of the set up, your body position, and the cues we use when pulling the kettlebell from the floor. 

To help you out, Coach Nat put together a quick coaching breakdown to walk you through the movement and share some helpful cues we use at SSP every day.

👉 Watch the short video here

Whether you’re brand new to strength training or want a little technique reminder, this is a great reminder of how to stay strong, safe, and effective in your deadlift.