We are so bombarded with the message to train hard all the time. Lift more weights, do more volume, work harder – we get hammered with this hardcore exercise philosophy day in and day out. Well, I’m sick of it, and I’m trying to change this mentality one training session at a time (including yesterday’s).
I’m going to let you in on a little secret – something about John Sifferman that most people don’t know about. When someone tells me I absolutely have to do something, I usually don’t do it. In fact, I often go as far as doing the exact opposite of what I should have done. Of course, this has gotten me into a lot of trouble throughout my life. However, when it comes to my health, I have taken an almost exact opposite approach of what I have been taught to do – and it has been one of the greatest decisions of my life.
I see a fitness industry that is plagued with these NO PAIN, NO GAIN messages everywhere – and I’m sick of them, because they’re just not true. If I truly followed this “more is better” philosophy today, I would be riddled with injuries, walking wounded and in poor health. I wouldn’t be enjoying life to its fullest. Thank goodness I walked away from the “more is better” fitness mentality, and started working for my health – instead of against it.
My choice to adopt “softer” methods of fitness training have led to some of the best results in my life, and it gets better everyday. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t train like a sally all the time. And believe me when I say that some of the softer exercise methods are much more difficult than they look.
Yesterday’s session was all about the softer side of training. It was exploratory, and recuperative in nature. It was a way of getting back to baseline movement health.
For yesterday’s sesssion (12/9/08), I spent 80 minutes doing the Ageless Mobility routine. It felt refreshing as always.
I do this to give my body a recharge by working on strengthening deep ranges of motion, as well as developing core strength. The second half of the program are yoga-based floor exercises. It’s always an accomplishment when I make it to the end, since yoga-type exercises always give me the most trouble. Sure, I could lift and swing weights all day long, but put me in an awkward pose and I wimp out pretty quickly.
My plan has me doing the Ageless Mobility program every 4 days, on my low intensity day. I’m looking forward to watching my progress unfold.
To your health and success,
.jpg "John Sifferman")
Fitness Professional and Clubbell Athlete
