It started with my discovery of something called "Crossfit", with the use of "functional" movement and a Paleo diet. Crossfit radically changed my view on training and eating. I stopped using machines to perform isolation exercises that worked on individual muscles. I eliminated a number of foods from my diet, and I experienced a vast improvement in my overall health.
After a few years though, I began to question how complete Crossfit training was. There seemed to be some elements missing from the standard program. Elements of natural movement and (particularly) mobility & flexibility were largely ignored in favor of "work capacity". Sure, I was "becoming the machine", not using them. However I was not maintaining my machine properly and started to experience wear and tear. I saw this happening in many others as well.
That is when my focus shifted to movement based training and mobility, which eventually led me to Gymnastics Foundations. This change of focus has made a significant difference in my overall physical health and mobility. I now have better range of motion and greater strength in my joints. My core is much stronger and my whole body feels more connected.
Throughout this "evolution", the temptation has often been there to overdo certain things and, in my enthusiasm, I have hurt myself. Human nature, I suppose. We get excited about our progress and figure more would be better. I have also often questioned how much is enough, sometimes wondering if I am doing too little.
I always come back to asking myself "what am I doing this for"?
The answer has always been that I enjoy the benefits of being physically capable to do whatever it is I need or want to do .... without difficulty and pain. I have never been a competitive athlete, but I enjoy being athletic enough to participate in any activity I want, at a recreational level.
My goal has always been one of self improvement and developing my skills. I have never been overly competitive, and have no motivation to be better than others. At his stage of my life I just wish to maintain my health and ability to enjoy an active lifestyle in my senior years. It's about quality of life.
For general health and wellness, variety and moderation is what I believe is needed, along with a balanced and progressive approach to improving mobility and physical capacity. Having goals is great to keep motivated, but there should be no "deadline" for achieving them. Health and physical fitness are a lifetime pursuit. It doesn't end when you reach your goals, so why rush towards them and hurt yourself in the process? These are the things I (also) need to be reminded of!
Over the next decade I hope to continue to learn and grow on my "fitness" journey. The elements I wish to focus on will continue to be movement, mobility, skill development, and general strength & conditioning.
I will continue to learn new methods of achieving these things and will not become obsessed with any one method. I will strive to find the right balance of effort and intensity so as to progress appropriately and reduce the risk of injury. And I will continue to share what I have learned with others in the hope that it will be of use to them as well.
Wishing you all the best on your own journey in 2016!
2 comments:
Great article Rick!
Thank you very much Martin!
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