Sunday, August 15, 2010

Moving outside the box

Imagine if you could watch on a split screen t.v. a boxer boxing vs. a boxing class or a basket ball game vs. an interval class doing "jump shots". What would be the differences between the two images?

The movements of the "real" sport would be constantly changing. The basketball player would be running, avoiding other players and getting to the basket at different,angles, heights and directions each time would be need a varying amount of force to "make" the basket. The boxer would be ducking and weaving and trying to land a punch differently every time. The people who were doing a simulated "class" would likely be standing with their feet facing a mirror and going at the same angle or at most changing sides with feet unmoving and repeating the same angle and body position repeatedly. The "real sports" would require changing momentum (using the core and muscles to quickly overpower the direction the body is moving and propel into another direction), shifting balance and a great deal of explosive force with each shot/punch to actually succeed in making the basket or delivering a powerful punch.

We can make our workouts more effective and constantly challenge our bodies if we begin to move "outside the box". If we are doing timed intervals of one exercise or choreography based exercise, we can be creative and explore the many different ways of doing a movement. Our workouts can be creative and exploratory if we stay present in our movements and make it a goal to make each one "real" and authentic. Not only could we reduce repetitive movement injuries but we could develop the strength in our muscles and ligaments to support our daily movements in 3D not just in a linear fashion.
Too often, our workouts don't really train our bodies to move in the real world. When do you ever stand straight (legs shoulder distant apart) ,directly in front of your cabinets, to lift groceries in a straight line ? We don't. Our lives require us to be able to reach, twist, push, pull and move at constantly changing angles.
Why don't we start to make our workouts more effective by thinking and moving "outside the box".


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