About Shane McLean

Shane McLean is a Certified Personal Trainer who’s worked with a wide variety of clients, from the general population client all the way to ex-Navy seals and college athletes.

Shane is a big believer in seeing exercise as a gift for the body and never a punishment — exercise should be as enjoyable as possible and never just a “work” out.

In today’s, heavily-scheduled, electronically plugged-in world, where you stare at your smart phones, check your emails/texts and generally sit for too long, there is a real disconnect between you and your body.

This is where he can help you.I want you to have better mobility, stability, and strength, so you can move better and feel better, and he wants to help you to better deal with the challenges of daily living.

When you get to the gym he want you to crush your deadlifts, squats and bench presses with a smile because getting stronger is also fun. Shane writes regularly here on a variety of health and fitness topics while guzzling copious amounts of coffee. Check out his professional website at The Balance Guy.

Comparison

• The Leg Press Vs. the Squat — Who Wins the Battle for Leg Day?
• Cable Pull Through vs. Kettlebell Swing — Differences and Benefits
• T-Bar Row vs. Barbell Row — Which Back Builder Is Best for You?
• EMOM vs Timed Circuits: The Best Ways for Athletes to Burn Fat

Exercise Guides

• Our Favorite Forearm Workouts, + the 11 Best Forearm Exercises
• The 9 Best Scapular Exercises to Improve Shoulder Strength and Health
• The Best Cable Leg Workouts to Build Lower Body Muscle and Strength
• The 10 Best Barbell Biceps Exercises to Boost Your Arm Size and Pulling Strength
• Learn the Preacher Curl to Build Strong and Inspiring Biceps
• Seal the Deal on a Bigger, Stronger Back With the Seal Row
• The 15 Best Posterior Chain Exercises for Stronger Lifts and Bigger Glutes
• The 8 Best Calf Exercises for Lower Body Support and Power
• Get a Leg Up On Your Training With These 8 Exercises for Balance & Stability
• The Best Core Exercises With a Stability Ball
• The 13 Best Trap Exercises & Workouts, CPT-Approved
• The 5 Best Hip Flexor Exercises for Your Leg Day Warm-Up
• The 7 Best Foam Roller Exercises for Mobility and Better Movement
• The 5 Best Neck Exercises for More Mobility and Bigger Traps
• 5 Best Adductor Exercises For Hip Strength & Injury Prevention (CPT-Reviewed)
• 6 Unique Trap Bar Exercises for Muscle, Strength, and Conditioning
• The Best Foam Roller Calf Exercises for Recovery
• 5 Superman Exercise Alternatives To Build Your Lower Back
• 3 Pallof Press Variations to Superset With Your Lifts
• 6 Effective Good Morning Exercise Alternatives

Exercise Roundups

• 15 Best Lower Back Exercises for Strength and Reduced Pain
• The 15 Best Barbell Exercises For Mass, Strength, and Power
• 6 Best Lower Chest Exercises, + 3 Lower Chest Workouts
• Our Favorite Forearm Workouts, + the 11 Best Forearm Exercises
• The Best Cable Leg Workouts to Build Lower Body Muscle and Strength
• The 10 Best Barbell Biceps Exercises to Boost Your Arm Size and Pulling Strength
• The 15 Best Squat Accessory Exercises for Muscle Growth and Plateau Busting
• The 15 Best Deadlift Accessory Exercises for a More Powerful Pull
• The 14 Best Bench Press Accessory Exercises, Period
• The 9 Best Reverse Flye Variations to Boost Your Back Training
• The 10 Best Mini Band Exercises to Strengthen Your Warm-Up
• The 10 Best Deadlift Variations for Beginners to Improve Your Pulls Today
• 14 Best Box Jump Variations to Bring Your Leg Power to New Heights
• The Best Battle Rope Exercises for Battle-Ready Grip Strength and Conditioning
• Learn the Best TRX Exercises for Your Experience Level
• 15 Best Hamstring Exercises & Workouts for Stronger Legs, DPT-Approved
• The 15 Best Dynamic Warm-Up Exercises You Need Before Your Next Workout
• The 15 Best Bodyweight Chest Exercises for Benching Strength and Power
• The 16 Best Trap Bar Exercises to Move More Weight with Less Strain
• The Best Unilateral Exercises to Even Out Imbalances and Help You Get Stronger
• Elevate Your Presses and Squats With the 12 Best Landmine Exercises
• The 15 Best Resistance Band Exercises for Mass, Strength, and Endurance
• The 8 Best Calf Exercises for Lower Body Support and Power
• 13 Best Upper Back Exercises and 4 Upper Back Workouts
• The 12 Best Bodyweight Cardio Exercises You Should Be Doing
• The Best Core Exercises With a Stability Ball
• The 6 Best Rotational Strength Exercises Worth Adding to Your Workout
• The Best Stability Ball Exercises to Improve Balance and Core Strength
• The 8 Best Foam Roller Exercises For Your Legs
• The 5 Best Foam Roller Exercises for Strength (Yes, Strength)
• The 5 Best Hip Flexor Exercises for Your Leg Day Warm-Up
• The 7 Best Foam Roller Exercises for Mobility and Better Movement
• The 5 Best Neck Exercises for More Mobility and Bigger Traps
• 5 Best Adductor Exercises For Hip Strength & Injury Prevention (CPT-Reviewed)
• The Best Foam Roller Calf Exercises for Recovery
• The Best Core Exercises for Strength, and 3 Core Workouts
• 4 Coaches Reveal Their Best Exercises for a Functional Core

Featured

• 3 Essential Prehab Exercises To You Keep Lifting for Longer
• The Ultimate Workout for Office Workers Who Sit All Day
• Why Concentric Workouts Are Ideal for Deloads
• The Best Resistance Band Accessories for Powerlifting
• How to Work Around a Rotator Cuff Injury
• 3 Bottoms Up Kettlebell Exercises to Improve Lifting Technique
• 3 Longevity Benefits of a Super Strong Grip
• 5 Coaches Name the Most Neglected Exercises in Strength Training
• 3 Benefits of Push Presses and How To Do Them

News

• 4 Bench Press Variations When You Have Shoulder Discomfort
• 5 Benefits of the Overhead Press

Op-Ed

• 3 Overhead Carry Trap Bar Variations and Their Benefits
• 3 Ways To Reduce Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
• 3 Overrated Lifts You Should Do Less Of
• 4 Accessory Exercises To Improve Your Pull-Ups and Chin-Ups
• 4 Hanging Band Exercises That Can Improve Your Powerlifts
• 8 Strength Training Mistakes I See Way More Than I Should
• 3 Exercises You Can Do On the Floor to Become a Better Powerlifter
• 4 Barbell Exercises You Should Try Adding Bands To
• 6 Ways to Modify Powerlifts When the Barbells Are All Taken
• 4 Exercises Most People Butcher (And How to Fix Them)
• 4 Alternatives For When You Don’t Have Cardio Machines
• 4 Upper Body Exercises You Can Do With Just Weight Plates
• 5 Yoga Poses Powerlifters Should Try For a Better Big 3
• Op-Ed: 4 Unilateral Exercises You Should Do No Matter What Your Sport Is
• 4 Mini Band Exercises to Improve Your Shoulder Mobility
• 4 Common Items To Spice Up Your Outdoor Training (With Workouts)
• 3 Supersets to Help You Maintain Power Without a Gym
• The Right Way to Prime Your Muscles for a Great Workout
• 3 Back Squat Alternatives for Cranky Shoulders
• 5 Great Ways to Use a Wall (Yes, a Wall) for a Better Workout
• 4 Warm Up Exercises You’re Not Doing (But Should Be)
• How to Use “Muscle Irradiation” to Create Tension for Stronger Lifts
• 4 Farmer’s Carry Workouts for Fat Loss
• 5 “Chaos” Band Exercises to Add Instability to Your Workout
• 6 Fantastic Kettlebell Workouts for Burning Fat
• 3 Great Ways to Improve Your Shoulder Mobility (Not Stability)
• 4 Bench Press Variations When You Have Shoulder Discomfort
• 3 Methods for Working Around Knee Discomfort
• The Small Muscles That Will Make Your Lifts Bigger
• 3 Kettlebell Variations That Will Improve Your Barbell Back Squat
• Op-Ed: 5 Workout Challenges Every Athlete Should Try
• Reaching Is Easily the Most Underrated Movement for Shoulder Health
• 4 Awesome Cardio Finishers for Your Next Strength Workout
• How to Grow Stubborn Calves and Forearms
• Powerlifters: Do These 6 Bodyweight Exercises For A Better Big 3
• 5 Drills Every Athlete Should Do Every Day
• 3 Hinge Exercises You Can Still Do When Your Back Hurts
• The 6 Best Deadlift Accessories for Smashing Your Sticking Points
• Op-Ed: Everyone Should Meet These Strength, Mobility, and Body Fat Baselines
• 4 Household Items You Can Use for a Killer Workout
• Dead Bug Benefits and Three Core Blasting Variations
• 3 Goblet Squat Variations to Make Leg Day Fun Again
• 2 Exercises to Keep Your Feet Active When You Lift
• 3 Exercises to Help Strengthen and Improve Posture
• 3 Things to Remember When Recovering From Lifting Injuries
• Hate Doing Mobility? Here’s How to Do It Between Sets

Powerlifting

• 4 Bench Press Variations When You Have Shoulder Discomfort
• 5 Benefits of the Overhead Press

Programs

• How to Strength Train for Your 5K (and Why You Should)
• Why Tennis Players Should Lift Weights (Plus Two Free Workouts)
• A Free Lifting Program for Golfers (And Why It’s Important)

Pushly

• 15 Best Lower Back Exercises for Strength and Reduced Pain
• The 15 Best Barbell Exercises For Mass, Strength, and Power
• 6 Best Lower Chest Exercises, + 3 Lower Chest Workouts

Strongman

• 5 Benefits of the Overhead Press

Training

• 15 Best Lower Back Exercises for Strength and Reduced Pain
• The 15 Best Barbell Exercises For Mass, Strength, and Power
• 6 Best Lower Chest Exercises, + 3 Lower Chest Workouts
• Our Favorite Forearm Workouts, + the 11 Best Forearm Exercises
• The 9 Best Scapular Exercises to Improve Shoulder Strength and Health
• The Best Cable Leg Workouts to Build Lower Body Muscle and Strength
• The 10 Best Barbell Biceps Exercises to Boost Your Arm Size and Pulling Strength
• The 15 Best Squat Accessory Exercises for Muscle Growth and Plateau Busting
• These Are the Five Best Stability Ball Workouts for Supporting Your Fitness Goals
• The 15 Best Deadlift Accessory Exercises for a More Powerful Pull
• The 14 Best Bench Press Accessory Exercises, Period
• The 9 Best Reverse Flye Variations to Boost Your Back Training
• The 10 Best Mini Band Exercises to Strengthen Your Warm-Up
• The 10 Best Deadlift Variations for Beginners to Improve Your Pulls Today
• 14 Best Box Jump Variations to Bring Your Leg Power to New Heights
• 7 Bird Dog Variations to Help Your Core Strength Soar
• The Best Battle Rope Exercises for Battle-Ready Grip Strength and Conditioning
• 8 Benefits of the Bird Dog to Make Your Core Strength Take Flight
• Learn the Best TRX Exercises for Your Experience Level
• 15 Best Hamstring Exercises & Workouts for Stronger Legs, DPT-Approved
• Learn the Preacher Curl to Build Strong and Inspiring Biceps
• Seal the Deal on a Bigger, Stronger Back With the Seal Row
• 15 Plank Variations to Strengthen Your Core and Help You Support Your Big Lifts
• The 15 Best Dynamic Warm-Up Exercises You Need Before Your Next Workout
• Front Squat Variations for Lifters at Every Experience Level
• The 15 Best Bodyweight Chest Exercises for Benching Strength and Power
• The 16 Best Trap Bar Exercises to Move More Weight with Less Strain
• The 15 Best Posterior Chain Exercises for Stronger Lifts and Bigger Glutes
• The Best Unilateral Exercises to Even Out Imbalances and Help You Get Stronger
• The 17 Best Lower Body Exercises to Level-Up Your Leg Day
• Elevate Your Presses and Squats With the 12 Best Landmine Exercises
• The 15 Best Resistance Band Exercises for Mass, Strength, and Endurance
• The 10 Best Posture Exercises to Help Ease Back Pain
• 8 Strategies to Help You Break Through Strength Training Plateaus
• The 8 Best Calf Exercises for Lower Body Support and Power
• 13 Best Upper Back Exercises and 4 Upper Back Workouts
• The 12 Best Bodyweight Cardio Exercises You Should Be Doing
• 10 Lateral Raise Variations for Big & Broad Shoulders
• Get a Leg Up On Your Training With These 8 Exercises for Balance & Stability
• The Best Core Exercises With a Stability Ball
• The 6 Best Rotational Strength Exercises Worth Adding to Your Workout
• The Best Stability Ball Exercises to Improve Balance and Core Strength
• No Barbell, No Problem — the Best Medicine Ball Exercises for Power
• The 8 Best Foam Roller Exercises For Your Legs
• 6 Core Exercises That Will Improve Your Squat and Deadlift
• 5 Travel Workouts to Keep You Fit On the Go
• The 5 Best Foam Roller Exercises for Strength (Yes, Strength)
• The 13 Best Trap Exercises & Workouts, CPT-Approved
• The 5 Best Hip Flexor Exercises for Your Leg Day Warm-Up
• The 7 Best Foam Roller Exercises for Mobility and Better Movement
• The 5 Best Neck Exercises for More Mobility and Bigger Traps
• 5 Best Adductor Exercises For Hip Strength & Injury Prevention (CPT-Reviewed)
• 6 Unique Trap Bar Exercises for Muscle, Strength, and Conditioning
• The Best Foam Roller Calf Exercises for Recovery
• The Best Core Exercises for Strength, and 3 Core Workouts
• 3 Exercises to Help Prevent Hamstring Strain
• 4 Side Plank Variations For A Stronger Core
• Why Having Fun Is Important For Your Training
• Kettlebell Cardio — Save Time and Space While Breaking a Sweat
• 5 Superman Exercise Alternatives To Build Your Lower Back
• The Benefits of the Bird Dog Exercise and 4 Variations to Try
• 2 Ways To Increase Intensity Without Adding Weight
• Why Strength Training Is Important For Cyclists
• 3 Partial Range Of Motion Lifts To Boost Your Powerlifting Game
• 3 Variations to Make Farmer’s Carries More Fun
• 3 Ways To Program More Fun Into Your Training
• 3 Variations to Take Trap Bar Squats to the Next Level
• 3 Underrated Kettlebell Exercises for Core Strength
• 4 Single Arm Row Variations to Build a Serious Upper Back
• 4 TRX® Exercises You Should Do For a Stronger Core
• 5 Medicine Ball Exercises You Should Try (That Aren’t Slams)
• 4 Dumbbell Exercises You Should Try Adding Bands To
• 4 Challenging Pull-Apart Variations For A Stronger Upper Back
• 4 Mini Band Exercises That’ll Give You Stronger and More Stable Hips
• How to Strength Train for Your 5K (and Why You Should)
• 3 Dumbbell Complexes to Help You Burn More Fat at Home
• How Exercise Reduces Cabin Fever (Plus Home Workouts to Get Started)
• 4 Forgotten Exercises That Can Deliver Serious Gains
• 5 TRX Exercises to Build a Rock Solid Upper Back
• The Right Way to Breathe When You’re Doing a Plank
• 3 Unusual Unilateral Leg Exercises to Improve Your Squat and Deadlift
• 4 Combo Exercises To Freshen Up Boring Routines
• 3 Pallof Press Variations to Superset With Your Lifts
• 4 Coaches Reveal Their Best Exercises for a Functional Core
• 4 Bench Press Variations When You Have Shoulder Discomfort
• 3 Reasons Why Bicep Curls Are Good for Your Shoulders
• 3 Simple Tips for Busting Through Plateaus
• Why You Should Try Lifting Weights from a Kneeling Position More Often
• Why Tennis Players Should Lift Weights (Plus Two Free Workouts)
• 2 Isometric Training Methods For Stronger Powerlifts
• 6 TRX® Exercises Powerlifters Should Know About
• 5 Types of Supersets and When to Use Them
• A Free Lifting Program for Golfers (And Why It’s Important)
• Crowded Gym? Try These One-Dumbbell Workouts
• 7 Workout Finishers to Improve Hypertrophy and Conditioning
• Vestibular Training: The Essential Way to Maintain Balance as You Age
• 6 Effective Good Morning Exercise Alternatives

Weightlifting

• 5 Benefits of the Overhead Press

Workouts

• These Are the Five Best Stability Ball Workouts for Supporting Your Fitness Goals