Train For What Purpose?

During the quarantine that has afflicted all of us these past months, to say there has been ample time to really delve deep and reflect, is an understatement. Through the whiplash of it all, much thought has been given to how we workout/train, what it means to me, how it impacts others, and ultimately....to what purpose do we train? It's apparent that everyone has their particular unique reasons, but hear me out and indulge me the opportunity to give some reasons that I feel have become more solidified over these past weeks of much solitude and the times we live in. Now more than ever should our physical health and sustainable training practices take priority. I see a demand for getting strong in ALL planes of motion and in unconventional environments. Locking oneself into just machines or gym equipment has benefit for sure, but doesn't complete the overall picture. To develop untapped abilities we have as a human, whether it's picking up a new fitness tool, training for power not just endurance, improving movement patterns that are applicable to real life scenarios, keeps us moving forward away from the status quo. Now is a time to embrace our individual strength and capabilities. As we have seen, gyms being open can't always be relied upon. Becoming self-sufficient, adaptable, and resilient are cornerstones for longevity in body and mind.

So what does this all really look like? Well for starters, it’s to consistently lay down the foundation of strength training. Applying the basics...push, pull, hinge, squat, carry, get up and down. From there you can use different modalities, terrain, stance or grip variations, combining multiplaner drills, and so on and so forth. Get stronger in as many ways as possible. Come back to the basics most times of the week. When the foundation has been established, then filling in the "holes" to complete the entire puzzle or human, in this case, creates a training protocol that has unlimited growth potential and optimizes health for sustainability. What are those gaps or "holes" you might say? That's your agility, mobility, balance, coordination, flexibility, or skill work. Some of these protect the joints and ligaments and reinforce posture; others heighten body awareness and reactivity to situations (i.e. rolling an ankle but not actually spraining it). All these tie in to to help you withstand strength training year after year and aid in true health. They also help create consistent workout habits by fluctuating the intensity each day. Your body will rarely need a day off because you're able to ward off excess fatigue or soreness....basically, increase recovery time. This mindset and approach is how I train myself and the clients that I am honored to work with.

Whether you're training by yourself, with a personal trainer, or via online programming, I sincerely encourage you to make sure the whole body is being addressed and the big picture taken into account. Workouts, exercises, or sports that are gimmicky, only endurance based, HIIT, or moving within one plane of motion for repetition end up following the law of diminishing returns in one way or another. One may not see that immediately, but it does show up down the road. How are you progressing into each decade? More aches and pains? Less mobility? Less strength? If so, an evaluation and call to action is a necessity. These things don't have to be so and will become more complicated and overwhelming to address when put off. Now, is always a good time to listen to the body, learn, and put that info into practice. Build the body and mind, nourish it, and be willing to lay aside those things that hinder its longevity.

Coming back full circle all that was said can be summed up by this:

We train for what purpose?...........

To be all that we can be for as long as we can!

Monica

*All online programs on this site take into account all statements addressed above.