Welcome to Straight to the Bar
If you’ve just joined us, welcome. Here you’ll find everything that grunts, groans and ticks in the world of strength training. In short, this site is the home of all things strength.
Incidentally, this site’s been helping people become fitter, healthier and stronger since January 2004. If you’ve just joined us, I highly recommend subscribing to the weekly Strength & Fitness Newsletter (part of the Strength Kit), which contains details of new posts on the site, freshly-minted video demonstrations & tutorials, details of upcoming Gymchats and a whole lot more.
And yes, it’s absolutely free.
To help get you started, here are a few of our most recent posts. And if you want to dive in to a particular area. check out the ‘Start Here‘ page above. Enjoy.
Pulsetto (Vagus Nerve Stimulator)
The Pulsetto is a fairly powerful tVNS (external Vagus Nerve Stimulator) device. A ring worn around the neck.
How Diet & Exercise Changes Your Bones (Institute of Human Anatomy)
Wonderfully thorough explanation. Love it.
Looking At : Feb 2 2025
This Week On Straight To The Bar…
Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘Hack your Body, Heal your Mind’ (by Kimberley Wilson)
Kimberley Wilson’s ‘Hack your Body, Heal your Mind’ takes a wonderful look at the two-way relationship between physical and mental health, and a number of ways to improve the pair.
Enjoy.
AcheFly (Neck Traction Device)
Nice and relaxing. Hopefully.
The AcheFly is a neck traction device with a spot of heat therapy thrown in. Sort of a mechanical massage, whenever it’s required (or desired).
Does Strength Help You Fight? (Sensei Seth)
A very interesting look at the role of strength-training in martial arts.
Looking At : Jan 26 2025
This Week On Straight To The Bar…
Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘The Great Mortality : An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time’ (by John Kelly)
There’s been plenty of discussion lately on potential pandemics, so this week we’re diving in to John Kelly’s ‘The Great Mortality : An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time’. Wonderfully thorough.
( And if you’re wondering, yes the two things are strongly connected. A detailed understanding of the past will always help inform the future. )
For Me Buds (Sleep-Focused Earbuds)
The For Me Buds is a pair of sleep-centric earbuds, with several music and noise-cancellation features.
Why London’s Tax On Driving Works — And NYC’s Might Fail (Evan Edinger)
Would love to see a congestion charge here (Sydney, Australia). Less chance of an accident, cleaner air.