While DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization) started as a powerful rehab approach, the very first time I took a DNS course, I saw its application to strength training immediately. In fact, at lunch, right after the introduction lecture in which we learned about stabilization and IAP (intra-abdominal pressure), I attempted to apply this to a heavy snatch workout I had scheduled.

Even before I was a certified DNS practitioner and well before I was brought on as an instructor, I was presenting DNS concepts to strength coaches and personal trainers at conferences and clinics all over the country.

In 2016, after being brought on as an instructor, I presented to the DNS team how one would apply the DNS principles to strength training. Soon after, I started teaching DNS Weight Lifting, a 3 day DNS Exercise 1 course with some time tacked on the end for strength training. This was version 1.0 of what is now a fully established, 3 course training track to help coach improve their results and reduce risk of injury.

Over the next decade, with the help of Jakub Novak (from the Czech Republic), Michael Maxwell (from Canada), and Han Lindgren (from Australia), I evolved, tweaked, and pruned, DNS strength training into a comprehensive 3 course track.

Two people/athletes/coaches who were absolutely critical to this process (patient 0 and 1 if you will) were Drew & Chelsea Dillon of Project Lift (www.Project-Lift.org). It was 2012, right before the US Weightlifting Olympic Trials and well before I was brought on an instructor, when I met these two special humans without whom DNS Strength Training would have never come to fruition. It was on them that the DNS principles were applied to training. Previously, DNS' involvement in sports was confined to the treatment of athletes. They had not yet been applied to training.

Using DNS principles, I was able to rehab both of them through near career-ending injuries, getting them both back to the National level where they belong. In this process where DNS Strength Training was truly born, I rehabbed them through their injury, tweaked their technique to align with DNS principles of movement, and programmed for them for nearly 6 months to get them back to National level athletes. This process was crucial for bringing DNS Strength Training to fruition.

Since that time, both Drew and Chelsea, both certified DNS strength coaches (DNS-SC), have been applying DNS to Olympic weightlifting at its highest level out of their gym Project Lift right here in Columbus, Ohio. If you want to learn about applying DNS to strength training, particularly Olympic weightlifting, there is no one doing it better...literally. Check out www.Project-Lift.org for more information on Project Lifting. Tell them I sent you!

In this long overdue conversation Drew, Chelsea, and I talk about this process, this evolution of DNS Strength Training.

I am eternally grateful that I was able to meet them, about the gracious way they allowed me to "experiment" on the them (if you will), and that I have them as close friends.

Please enjoy this conversation with two of my favorite humans on the planet, Drew & Chelsea Dillon.