The ability to engage our functional training skills learned while exercising and translate them into our daily life is of paramount importance to us.
The weekly exercises deliberately focus on functional movements patterns because we have little time and our aim is to “switch” on movement patterns that with repetition become “normal.”
“Normal” in this instance means to move as we are designed physiologically and not environmentally.
It means to use our backside “gluteal” muscles with every movement and stabilising through the core muscles.
The “Dead lift” is a good example and can translate to picking keys up off the floor. This movement requires the bracing of the core muscles, push the hips back, lowering the backside, then shifting weight through the heels, pushing the hips forward to return to standing.
Each of us has our reasons for exercise and “why” is crucial for the longevity of fitness success. My personal “why” is to continue to be able to move actively and pain-free.
Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, wrote:
“If youth only knew and age only could.”
Stevenson died at age 44, from a possible brain hemorrhage, while straining to open a bottle of wine, with his wife, Fanny.
If the legend is true the manuscript for his most famous book was burnt by Fanny as she considered it “ full of utter nonsense.”
Stevenson, suffering from the effects of medicinal cocaine prescribed for his tuberculosis, spent the next 3 days redrafting the 30,000-word story by hand.
This newsletter is not meant to be a book review, but the book does address the inner turmoil we may feel as we struggle to be “good” with our exercising and healthy eating.
My issue with being “good” is that it is often associated with an angelic creature of insipid whiteness that is comfortable with utter boredom.
Stevenson explains why Dr. Jekyll continually chooses to transform himself into the evil Mr. Hyde;
“I was growing old. I liked feeling young and free.”
The irony of Stevenson’s master piece written under the influence of cocaine is that, essentially, it is about the dangers of drug abuse.
We only need to look at the effects of the drug ICE on young people and more sinister, the effects of alcohol abuse on the general population to see the emergence of Mr. Hyde in our daily life.
In our society, we are taught that instant gratification and hedonism is utopia, and health and fitness through magic pills and potions are essential.
We are also taught that by eating well and exercising consistently and regularly is boring or part of a fanatic cult that is detached from reality.
Dr. Jekyll’s passion was to find a potion for youth; his method failed because he did not address the human body’s need to move.
Stevenson unintentionally captured the transformation to youth caused by exercise:
- “It began working almost immediately: A grinding tore at my bones, I was racked with deadly nausea, and when my mind cleared, I felt strangely younger, lighter, and happier. I felt newborn, and, above all, absolutely free!”
This extrapolation of Stevenson’s words may be cheeky, but it does for me capture how difficult exercise can be and how liberating it is to have finished an exercise workout!
If you haven’t as yet tried our early morning shape-up program, and you are curious whether it is the fountain of youth, contact me and give it a go.
I leave you this week with words by George Burns, an American comedian, actor, singer, and writer, who lived to 100.
You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.
George Burns
Live well and eat well!
Anna
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