If there’s one thing I learned at the Asia Fitness Convention, it’s that the human body has incredible potential, and most of us have great potential to really excel in a sport.
Push yourself hard enough in the area you are weak, and your body has no choice but to respond. (but push yourself stupidly and you’ll end up injuring yourself like a Biggest Loser Asia team member, but we’ll save that for another blog post). Terms like Maximum performance, speed, power, and evasiveness - it’s almost as if you were describing a 40 million dollar fighter jet… but nope, it’s our body that I’m talking about.
I guess I’ve learned how to appreciate the body in a whole new way - even the way we walk, balance, sit, jump, and run - the simple things we do everyday without a thought can be improved to create a super-efficient body if we only trained it to.
In the new Integrated Fitness Training(TM) Model introduced by the American Council on Exercise, much emphasis is now being placed on getting the basics right for an individual wanting to train to see results. Even if that person is an athlete, or just a recreational exerciser, it is now recommended that the trainer takes a look at the basics for a start, focusing on client Stability, Mobility, and building a good aerobic-base. Get these right and strong from the beginning, and we’ll be able to push our bodies harder and stronger without injuring ourselves easily.
The rationale behind this is that if one has not even trained our body to do the basics correctly, and to even just move correctly (especially for a new exerciser) - then what business do we have adding more load to the body and immediately progressing to heavy resistance training, which will only further reinforce any poor technique, postural imbalances, etc that one may have?
Once we have learned to move correctly, utilize the right muscles when doing basic exercises, and also built up our aerobic base, should the trainer progress the client further. Often, even if one is an advanced athlete, fixing certain postural issues, or simply re-learning/re-’programming’ our body to move/function correctly will bring about a significant improvement in whatever it is we do with our body. For example, learning how to engage the right core muscles when sitting down, or performing a basic squat. A typical bodybuilder would most likely use the strength from his/her abs to support their spine when it should be the core (Transverse Abdominus) doing the work. With practice, we can all improve our technique.
How this applies to me personally
I personally am hopeless when it comes to balancing my body, and I also believe I have some weaknesses which has led to a not-so-perfect posture, affecting most things I do at the gym without me realising. So I have much to learn and improve myself if I want to take my body to the next level.
Of course, I could just spend MORE time at the gym focusing on strengthening my core and improving my balance (which I already do)… but I thought that the best (and more fun) way to do this would be to make PROPER use of my membership at beyoga. Who better to help me out than Malaysia’s best, if not, most famous pocket-rocket Yoga Instructor, Ninie Ahmad. :-)
I had an incredible 60-minutes last week at the Hot Yoga class (yoga in a heated room which facilitates deeper stretching, prevents injury, and relieves stress and tension - and in my case, caused me to almost soak the floor that I needed to wipe the base of my foot to prevent myself from slipping).
Though it is only a beginner-level class, all that stretching, twisting, and engaging muscles I never knew existed - there were some moves I could do quite easily, and then there were those I was absolutely hopeless at! Which is good, cos I know that the more I persist, the more my body will respond and overcome that weakness. I also plan on getting a regular dose of Pilates there.
I like how Ninie said in her class, that in Yoga, we break our own records every time we try - and that is so true. I can’t wait to reap the benefits that Yoga and Pilates movements are going to bring to enhance my existing routine.
So how about you? Are you humble enough to take a step back from moving manly heavy weights at the gym, and taking some time out to focus on the little things?
Whatever doesn’t kill you, will only make you stronger.
Read also:
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
“but push yourself stupidly and you’ll end up injuring yourself like a Biggest Loser Asia team member, but we’ll save that for another blog post”
that, cracked me up
Funny you should mention this. Part of my corrective back exercise program is eventually fixing my balance once I’m strong enough to do more. My PT is trained to the CHEK principles and it’s been a very interesting program so far. :)
My flexibility and balance is pathetic… which is why I’ve been avoiding yoga :P
Myremi: I’m glad you’re enjoying your PT experience! Did you injure your back or are you just working on strengthening/correction?
Aizan: Which is why you SHOULDN’T avoid it! :P
I had a slipped disc injury re-injured back in mid Aug 09. The doctor recommended surgery which I did not want to do. So I explored the available options in Kuching, Sarawak. There were only 2 then.
1. Chiropractor : Charging double-triple to what is the cost in West Malaysia and I didn’t have RM10K to spare.
2. Corrective Back Specialist who is also a PT : She helped my cousin over the past 3 years. So I went to see her. What convinced me to go with her was that during the 1st meeting, she already suggested 3 moves that gave me immediate pain relief. The balance bit came about because during the posture evaluation, she found out that I was imbalance on one side as well as some upper back problems that haven’t started yet but would occur if I didn’t take steps to fix it now. So it’s a long-term program with her to fix my problems.
Myremi: We’ll i’m glad you were fortunate enough to find someone who could help you! Isn’t exercise wonderful? ;)
Oww DM, I just registered for the “tv” loser club (you know which one) and found out it’s not up to my expectation. And to make it worse, I registered for the 6-months program.
I had been waiting for your 1-on-1 program for a long time already, but since I did not know when it’ll be launched, I just go ahead with the “tv” loser club. Just now I noticed your program will be launch in January. If the price is right, I might forgo the loser club, and stick with your program instead. Just keep us updated. Thank you.
Oh Wida! I’m sorry to hear that - might as well put it to good use then… it’s still better than nothing. My program will be launched for sale in January, and if all goes well, will commence on the 11th Jan 2010 (Monday), for a duration of 90 days. Yes, I’ll keep you posted - just ensure you’re on the pre-launch notification list at:
http://personal-training.dailymuscle.com/
In the past i thought yoga was a joke and i’ve avoided it like Aizan but my workout routine says it’s a MUST … and let me tell you by implementing yoga practice have improved my life. I have become stronger, faster and my breathe are so much more in control, and recovery times are shorter. To top that up my calmness and my patience is much higher than what i was.
@DM: yes when i first started yoga i was too “FLOODING” my matt … those cheap and thin matts are useless .. once you get sweat on it , it becomes extremely slippery .. There are the other kinda MATT.. i’m not too sure what material are those but they are much THICKER and when sweat drops it becomes GRIPPIER (not too sure there’s such word) .. You don’t wanna accidently do a twisting half moon and then slipping .. it would be a disaster !
Just catching up on some archived articles on the DM site… Having recently emerged from 6 weeks of physical therapy from an amazing PT who taught me roughly twenty exercises to increase stability, increase active muscle fiber count, as well as techniques to release entrapped muscles) I am almost completely pain free and am seeing a definite improvement in my quality of life. There simply is no substitute for the advice and training of a certified professional coupled with the dedication to improve.
Everything I’ve read on this site thus far is spot-on, and once I’ve completed another 3-6 weeks of stabilization/core focused exercises, I hope to use this site as a resource for continued improvement.
Leave a Comment