Physical Intelligence

Physical intelligence...

Like the mind, if you park it you can plan on some serious atrophy kicking in.

Keep moving.

Take it from one who knows. I went from very active to an unplanned corporate gig that added stress, wonky hours, and poor eating times for a decade.

Two guesses how my first run went once I realized I needed to get more active.

I had always been active, or so I thought. In reality there was about an 8 year gap in there.

Let's just say that when someone says they used to be very active or that they used to be an athlete I shift gears and approach them in a slightly different way than Joe or Jane. There is an ego to be handled as well as a physical component. The reintroduction of activity to a body that has a history, a memory of what it used to be able to do. And it will get frustrated with itself when it can't achieve the high water marks it was used to.

It's like cracking open your grade 11 math book, and you know you knew this. But you sure wouldn't want to write a test at that moment. Some practice would be in order.

But the upside, of course, is that it won't take any time at all to get back to where you were. You are not doomed. It takes time and patience, but a high level of fitness is achievable. Mental and physical.

So have at it you retired fitness fanatics. Just be smart. Use the wisdom of your years and the patience you have gained to make gains again. Oh, you know I am leaving that sentence there just to bother the grammar police.

Have a wonderful day all!

Be sure to check out my Facebook page. It's getting started and could use some joining.

Physical intelligence...

Like the mind, if you park it you can plan on some serious atrophy kicking in.

Keep moving.

Take it from one who knows. I went from very active to an unplanned corporate gig that added stress, wonky hours, and poor eating times for a decade.

Two guesses how my first run went once I realized I needed to get more active.

I had always been active, or so I thought. In reality there was about an 8 year gap in there.

Let's just say that when someone says they used to be very active or that they used to be an athlete I shift gears and approach them in a slightly different way than Joe or Jane. There is an ego to be handled as well as a physical component. The reintroduction of activity to a body that has a history, a memory of what it used to be able to do. And it will get frustrated with itself when it can't achieve the high water marks it was used to.

It's like cracking open your grade 11 math book, and you know you knew this. But you sure wouldn't want to write a test at that moment. Some practice would be in order.

But the upside, of course, is that it won't take any time at all to get back to where you were. You are not doomed. It takes time and patience, but a high level of fitness is achievable. Mental and physical.

So have at it you retired fitness fanatics. Just be smart.

Use the wisdom of your years and the patience you have gained to make gains again. Oh, you know I am leaving that sentence there just to bother the grammar police.

Have a wonderful day all!

Be sure to check out my Altius Fitness Facebook group. It's getting started and could use some joining!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_214436551930376

todd at altiusfitness dot com

Lack of Dynamic Movement!

Here is what I think.
And it ain’t pretty…
Training these days has been reduced to isolation.

A hamstring curl, a leg extension, and a calf raise machine all wait for the next client.

And they should wait (and collect dust) because a squat is far superior for complete leg strength. Hands down.

It blows my mind… that’s not quite right… it bothers me, that I, at a ripe old age, can move better than teenagers I have had the opportunity to train. It bothers me that I am more flexible than every teenager that I have ever met… to this day. I know they are out there.

Full disclosure: I am not saying I am a better athlete! (Not by a long shot!) There are lots of things these athletes can do better than me. But moving smoothly, changing direction fluidly and flexibility are not those things.

Sure it’s my job to be in shape and to have pretty good flexibility. But I shouldn’t have such an upper hand on so many.

And that is my point: why so few?

Well here is a kettle of fish. It’s partly because there has never been a more sedate generation. When they do go to the gym they are most likely met with a trainer who’s idea of “leg training” is hitting the leg curl, leg extension and calf raise machines. (Scary!) A little bit because flexibility is quite undervalued.

So little time is spent on dynamic movement. And I don’t mean gymnastics. More like chasing, climbing, jumping, crawling.

When an adult joins my class it is immediately apparent whether or not they were active as a kid. I can even take a pretty good guess at what they played or martial art they took. Just by their ability to move, change direction and range of movement they still possess.

The good news: we are a pretty trainable bunch. With some time and attention a lot can be overcome.

This is from a complete thought but I just had to say this much. There is more to follow, you can be sure.

In the meantime, move and be healthy. And while you’re at it, have some fun!

Have a great day.

Todd