I do xc and eventually plan on getting into am and dh but I was wondering what if any lifts you guys do to help your handling,control and overall riding any lifts helpful
Goblet squats, Turkish get ups and kettlebell swings are all awesome for the core and pedalling muscles. Shoulder presses and dips can provide a pretty good base for the upper body.
If you're serious about training, check out James Wilson's website. He has a wealth of free bike-related workout tips and videos. If you get really into it, you can buy programs or subscribe to his site, but there's so much to learn even from the free stuff he offers.
The key and I will stress is you NEED to do these exercises with correct form. especially the big lifts you can really do damage to your body with poor form so you should get a trainer to get form nailed, sometimes this means using minimal weight at first. You should also get the all clear from your doctor before starting anything new especially weightlifting its a heavy stress on the body and needs to be given the all clear by a professional.