Continuity of Life Life is continuous and complete. Plans designed in isolation disregarding the continuity of life have limited benefits and reduced longevity. Continuity of life may seem an esoteric concept on the surface until we look at the role it plays in everyday life. A common workout plan limitation Let’s look at workout plans and posterior chain exercises as … [Read more...] about Posterior Chain Muscles [Video]
Physical Fitness
Our mental definition of physical fitness determines if we like the idea or not. Our perception of what physical training is controls if we want to be engaged in it or do whatever we can to avoid it.
In many cases, the type of exposures we have had in the past creates many misconceptions.
Our fitness training programs may be put on hold because of these misconceptions.
Or we may get involved with the type of fitness programs totally unsuitable for our unique personalities and needs.
What is physical fitness?
Physical fitness is our body’s ability to engage life with confidence and joy. It is owning a body that is responsive to our needs at work and home. It is a holistic partnership of our mind, our heart, and our physical body.
This partnership determines the quality of our life and the nature of our activities as well as our longevity.
We were born to be fit.
Watch young children. They cannot help themselves, they squat, they crawl, they run, they climb, and they chase each other.
They giggle as they do these things.
Healthy children express the energetic engagement with life that is physical fitness.
What do adults do?
They either create exercise guidelines that are so far removed from natural motions, or they focus on the fun aspects of activities so much that they neglect the health benefits and safety and create chronic pain and injury.
Engaging life with confidence and joy is a lifetime process not limited to our twenties and does not end in our eighties.
A client came to one of my camps. She was in her mid-fifties. The camp was her first exposure to physical activity.
One day she was trying to pull a large fitness ball away from another client, and she burst into laughing.
“I had no idea that exercise could be so much fun,” she said.
“What did you expect?” I asked.
“Something hard,” She said.
“Are you getting stronger?”
“Sure.”
“Are you experiencing less pain?”
“My knees don’t hurt as much.”
“Are you losing weight the way you want to.”
“I am.”
“Are you happier?”
She laughed.
“Then this is physical fitness training,” I said.
Horizontal Pull Ups [slide show]
Horizontal pull ups, if done correctly, could help you correct your posture, build upper back and arm strength as well as core stability. Simultaneous engagement of major muscle groups makes horizontal pull ups an effective calorie burning exercise. Watch the video below to see this exercise in action. … [Read more...] about Horizontal Pull Ups [slide show]
Squats Exercise Imbalances | Excessive Hip Flexion
Excessive hip flexion in squats exercise could easily lead to lead to knee and low back weakness and injury. You can recognize excessive hip flexion when the shin line crosses the trunk line. The typical instruction to keep the knees behind the toes without understanding the dynamics of squats contributes to this imbalance. The image above is a prisoner squat. Notice … [Read more...] about Squats Exercise Imbalances | Excessive Hip Flexion
Figure 4 Stretch
Lack of hip mobility contributes to low back pain and diminishes your performance during your exercise and sports activity. Shortened and overactive gluteus maximus is one aspect of limited hip motion.The figure 4 stretch helps lengthen glutes. How much improvement you feel in your low back pain and your performance depends on how much of the problem is caused by … [Read more...] about Figure 4 Stretch
Lying Dumbbell Triceps Extension
Lying dumbbell triceps extension is an isolation exercise with a focus on the extension of elbow joint. In any isolation exercise, you need to stabilize your body and restrict your motions so that only your elbow extends resulting in straightening your arm. Any motion in the shoulder joints will reduce the effectiveness of lying dumbbell triceps extension exercise. Lying … [Read more...] about Lying Dumbbell Triceps Extension