From “Just Doing It” to A Conscious Way of Exercising.
When I first began working out I was under the impression of the “tell - show - do” model of exercising. Meaning whatever was advised I do for whatever I was trying to accomplish I would be shown (or I’d research via youtube, IG, facebook, etc.), I’d find an example of the exercise being demonstrated, and then I’d do it!
It worked REALLY well until it didn’t.
Years and years of just “doing” was a recipe for absolute disaster. Eventually leading to injuries/issues with my foot, hip, knee, back, shoulder, and neck. I wish this wasn’t true how truly jacked up I was, but I was doing what everyone else was doing so...shouldn’t I have been doing better?!?!
I did yoga. I did strength training. I did foam rolling. I did dance. I did all the things that should have amounted to an incredibly put together human.
The missing link?
NOT adjusting the movements/exercise to MY body.
To its levers.
To its capabilities.
FORCING it to DO things that it was not set-up in any way, shape or form to do in those moments.
Being conscious with how I can use exercise has been the ultimate shift. One that has brought my body to using exercise as medicine. A way that has brought my body back from all the nagging issues I was having to something that only pops up momentarily. (Which is always welcomed as it is a warning light that something is not right with what I am doing).
Consciously exercising means you give your body what it needs at that moment. You have a deep understanding of how to set-up the exercise (using joint axes, lever arms, and how the muscle moves) to create the best contraction in the muscle/s you intend to work against whatever you decide to use (machine, dumbbell, body weight, etc.)
This shift in application has not only brought me results, but each of my clients as well. One that I know works for long lasting, positive strength changes in one's body and how it moves.
It took me years of sifting through information and putting my body through the ringer until I was given the opportunity for a different way to exercise.
