Isometrics are Iso tastic

I am a big fan of ridiculous titles as you can see.  Today I just want to to touch a bit on the isometric function of exercise.  Isometric essentially means "same length" so any movement where your muscle is flexed but the length of the muscle is not changing you are doing isometrics, think of holding the top of a pull up, or holding a handstand against a wall..  You can hold more weight isometrically than you can concentrically and even more so eccentrically.  By doing iso holds in body weight work you can break through plateaus. Stuck at 25 push ups, try holding the bottom position of a push up for as long as you can for a few sets instead of doing full range push ups.  Stuck on pull ups?  Hold the top of a pull up for as long as you can for a few sets instead of your usual routine.  The pull up iso holds have really helped me personally break through a lot of plateaus.  I recommend throwing in some isometric holds every 2-4 weeks.  It will help you keep things fresh, strengthen your tendons and joints and help you bust through mental barriers.