Former NBA Strength Coach Talks Training

Guest: Sean Light, 4A Health, NYC
Strength and Conditioning in the NBA is probably different than you envision. Sean Light talks about the realities of training professional athletes and why people should understand the left ZOA, or zone of apposition, to reach their athletic potential.
PRItrainer.com

[@brap97]

We are more fucked mentally than phisically. I dont think any type of exercise is the answer here. The problem is much deeper in the mind/spirit. Think about those athletes, they are the people that did whatever they wanted their whole life. They didnt hunch over school desks, they didnt strain their eyes and mind studying, they got in a fight whenever they see fit, they hit on girls however they want, no inhibition. They also never tried to be polite, never tried to have a "posture". I also noticed they never smile unless they feel like it, flat calm expression most of the time. The rest of us got scared and conditioned to think about the future, money and social norms too much, and we got out of balance. We can do exercises for some temporary relief, but I think the problem is so much bigger. The problem is in our unenlightenment and fundamental misunderstanding of existence. Just like those athletes dont think too much about their skills, they dont think too much about their enlightenment either. They do not fear death, they know what life is about. We should try to clean our mind, and its full of shit. From movies, from school, from books etc.

[@mattmoran100]

Have been obsessed with my tightened flexed posture hampering my sporting abilities/techniques for years now, delving into musculoskeletal textbooks and KZbin videos etc, and it's still my favourite thing to do! I experimented with some magic mushrooms with my wife one day, purely as a fun, novel activity that we would never do.. I learned and felt that day how posture/poise and attitude/outlook go hand in hand. It felt like the ego had lifted and the shackles were off!!

[@joaorafaeloliveira1781]

Wow Neal, the quality of your content is really high, I'm glad for the opportunity to learn from you. Regards from Brazil!

[@brap97]

Also Neal, do you have any opinions or planned videos on floor sleeping? Supposedly it lets muscles relax more because bones are being supported by a hard surface.

[@uboobly]

Some people are always neutral and they'll never know it's their super power. As I got formerly "broken"living my postural lie for decades and learned PRI I noticed almost invariably professionally athletes are stacked ribs over pelvis and appear incredibly neutral. Look at their dentition as a marker, the symmetry and full bite. I stare at DeMar DeRozan's teeth as much as his jump shot lol. When I visited the Postural Restoration Institute in Lincoln, my therapist with a relative dad body, DD, stated matter-of-fact ly, " I always test neutral". Kind of shoulder shrug, with the tone and inference that even he has no idea why. And so it is for some people. Thanks for your channel Neil.

[@NealHallinan]

Oh, definitely. I’m always looking at athletes mouths. Nice wide smiles, lots of teeth visible, and mostly symmetrical faces.

[@linglingpho]

recovering break dancer and i had to find this knowledge myself ! i always new there was ppl with this knowledge, nice to have found one and got to hear some of this knowledge amazing thank you for sharing and thanks for pulling back and speaking on the "ZOA" best information of all

[@sulo1039]

Hello Neal. I have just discovered your videos on postural restoration, and as a singing teacher I have always had to deal with postural issues in connection with correct breathing and vocal production. Thank you for putting out your invaluable knowledge. If I may permit myself one criticism, I find it very difficult to bear with the constant use of abbreviations and acronyms, especially for those who are new to the material being presented. If you really must use them, having them written in full as a caption would be a considerate help to fuller understanding. Thank you.

[@philipmartin3902]

On Rodman, several 90s Bulls players said he was a phenomenal athlete with a crazy motor relative to other players. However, if you listen to his ESPN detail episode, his game comprehension was phenomenal too. He seemed to have a knack for remembering how player's balls rotated off the rim based on how they shot and where they were on the court.

[@trenthm]

Great interview! Thanks, Neal and Sean!

[@keenanvanzile]

Neal have more chats with Sean Light on athletic topics...this was awesome to hear! Cheers

[@carbon_1284]

Hey neal im a Houston Rockets fan and there's 3rd year up and coming star level player on the team named Alperen Sengun, n like you said for the best athletsism your ribs have to be stacked over you pelvis, he is stuck in a back extension pattern (if you watch a couple highlights its quite obvious) I think he is desperate need of a PRI expert. I didnt know you knew people in the sports training world maybe you could inform Sean, anyone else you know or the medical staff to get that guy an expert, hes already had a couple of back injuries this season. Thanks neal 👍

[@secretsauceskateboarding4337]

This was great, Neal! Really enjoyed it.

[@colinsweller]

Everytime I watch one if your videos somthing hits home, immedietly he went to "oh your right knee hurts" I have not been able to figure out my right knee pain for 18 years. 8 years of actively working on it

[@meishac9277]

You’re doing great Neal! Proud of you 🎉

[@webfire32]

Sean Light is my PRI trainer. He is very good and a great guy.

[@35sherminator]

This is the absolute pinnacle of gross-subtle connection. It's just incredible that being neutral / symmetric has got so much to do with neurological stuff governed by the mind.

[@marciaaaron6044]

Hey Neal, I’m 23 male from Brasil, I’m a left dominant because I have scoliosis since birth probably so I had to go to my left diaphragm to breath you know. So what I been doing is going to my right side, it’s easier laying down sideways with the right side in contact with the bed you know.And the right leg stiffened all the way to the back of the Achilles, and the left leg I bend the knee more upwards so the nervous system aren’t pushing through the left foot, witch is my dominant one, but I’m strengthening my nervous system on my right side. I can see the results already, like I can see more veins and just feel more confidence in my right side. Unfortunately I injured my right side , in the shoulder, in the right hip, right knee and right ankle I have torched so there is some pathology but it’s getting better, and you are big part of the knowledge process that is necessary to heal. Big thanks Neal and a happy new year for more healing and strengthening!

[@marciaaaron6044]

When aí was born my right nipple was like on my lower ribs so the doctor removed my right nipple and put it on the right place but I can feel the difference between the sensitivity of both nipples. That is the proof that my scoulioses is since I was born and that’s the reason why I’m a left handed and also left leg and everything left side of the body. So my PRI exercises are focused in my right side.

[@velizarzhelev6552]

Hello Neil ,i noticed i have a pattern which you are talking about in many of your videos. I a little bit see worse with one of my eyes, have shoulder tilt to one side, have been chewing on my right side almost my whole life and most importantly my midline is shifted to the right. Because of that my right tmj is a lot more worn down. I got braces and are still wearing them to get my midline centered and be able to bite on both sides. I'm wondering if that is really the best solution since I heard in one of your videos referencing you getting braces as a kid being a negative thing and also have read many people complaining about braces ruining their faces(recessing them), obviously alongside fixing my facial assymetries a goal of mine is to not lose forward growth, and I'm scared of that. I am so thankful for your channel and your content because it helped me realise all my biggest mistakes.

[@ayjay5894]

this is gold

[@FIASCOGAMING]

Solid content

[@kozmosius]

Stange things are happening to my body. I did left leg pistol squats to strengthen the hamstring and adductors. Then i bought and installed orthotics and started holding my phone in my left hand. Now my jaw seems to be shifting and i can feel the molars making better contact. I know i still have a lot of work to do but feels like im progressing.

[@petermaharajh2088]

What an enlightening yet entertaining video. It also made me realize my cranium was out…

[@joeh3827]

Hey Neal! I was wondering if you knew of any dentists in the Austin/San Antonio area that are familiar with the impact that a severely misaligned cranium and jaw can have on the rest of the body. I desperately need a stabilization splint made by someone who knows what they are doing.

[@daltropical5236]

Mmm. Random thought that just came up..i wonder if there are any pri guys in the pro golf world.... reckon lot of pro golfers would benefit..that said, great content neil have been watching yr vids...going to be in contact soon...thanks again👍🍻

[@jmitch0062]

Love the content Neal, do you have a preferred PRI provider in Minnesota?

[@NealHallinan]

Thanks. I do not know any of them personally, but there are many!

[@JamisonMyth]

Do you think it's easier to gain/maintain a ZOA if the space between your ribs and hips is longer or skinnier? I'm curious because of Sean's comments about NBA players being tall, skinny, and having uniformly strong ZOAs.

[@taborgreat]

That’s an interesting connection you’ve spotted. I think it has (the correlation) more to do with them being nba players than being tall and skinny. There are probably many tall and skinny people who are even more out of balance.

[@adamchmelovsky9941]

Neal when I do all on fours technique and feel left serratus (that means im rounded), my left ql turns off. But when I stand for some time after that my left ql turns on again. Could it be from not wearing pri shoes?

[@adamchmelovsky9941]

Neal is left lower trapezius weak in Left AIC, right Bc pattern? I felt it when doing all on fours so im wondering.

[@NealHallinan]

Yes it is, in regards to scapular stability. It’s overactive as a spinal rotator to the right, but it’s “weak” or more like “disengaged” bc the ribcage and scapula aren’t sitting flush.

[@gatesroyale]

Hey my friend, it looks like you take high consideration to the comments. I do have one recommendation. Could you possibly find someone to speak on how to work out like a professional athlete like Kobe Bryant without adrenal fatigue?; something that I've ran into in the past working 6 to 8 hours a day for whole month is chronic fatigue that lasts two weeks. I have a different approach but it would be interesting to hear from a professional point of view and how to do the utmost without running into potential barriers. And what are some strategies and protocols for maximum rest and recovery.

[@timq7632]

Hi Neal, I had a great meeting with you. and I think I am finally on the right track to sorting out my issues! However I haven't received the email that I was supposed to get? With more information, and excersizes etc. I'd really appreciate it!!! Thank you

[@NealHallinan]

I’m not sure who this is. Please email me.

[@timq7632]

Hi its Tim/Disobedient the dj from uk. Which email should I message?@@NealHallinan

[@timq7632]

@@NealHallinan Which email? thank you, its Tim the DJ :)

[@JackFoerster-Hunzicker]

Hey Neal, I sent you an email, it was very long winded. Im trying to set up a virtual consultation but having a hard time reaching you. I had SEVERE cranial torsion and its currently dramtically unwinding with PRI, I feel like im going through the crucible. How can I reach you? Thanks

[@KRGCINEMA]

Ассалаумағалейкум Нил я из Казахстана у нас в стране нету специалистов или я немогу найти, как расшифровка pri

[@ryanthompson3446]

Cant you just maintain stack in posture throughout the day so you can weight train normally? I assure you, maintaining stack is not ideal in many lifts for strength or hypertrophy.

[@NealHallinan]

Maintaining a stack is easy for most exercises that don’t use a barbell, which is why we are advocating non-barbell strength training for basketball.

[@ryanthompson3446]

@@NealHallinan sorry i meant just in general, i do jiu jitsu, i work construction and i weight train to be strong for work and jiu jitsu, is it possible with practice and mindfulness to have good rib position outside of the gym even though you use extension on many lifts and also do a martial art which puts you in moments of extension.

[@taborgreat]

⁠@@ryanthompson3446yes. Extension, being stacked (neutral), and flexion are all normal. Being in one for too long is where problems start. Most people are stuck extended, and athletes naturally have neutral spines. It’s best to practice all 3 with full ROM, and at rest notice whether you prefer extension or not, and correct but don’t stress

[@RawMilkEnjoyer]

Just change your mindset bruv!

[@brap97]

An "enjoyer" that watches goatis will rot in darkness.

[@RawMilkEnjoyer]

@@brap97 What does goatis mean?

[@KT-ed8hj]

Grow up in a home that doesnt have toxic mold. Notice how every home video taped during the MLB and the pandemic and every players home looked like a mansion.

[@RegularGuyism]

Huh?