Do you remember that time when I shared an image with you about what a normal person's journey in life looks like? Specifically in regards to their goals and being successful? If you don't, I'll be generous and share it again for a healthy reminder. I share this with you because that scribble scrabble on the right is my life - at this very moment. There's a sick kid on the couch, though he's not actively puking. There's a little guy collecting little plastic African animals from the floor and putting them away because he was unhappy and chucked one across the room. "The Polar Express" credits are rolling because I'm too lazy to simply turn the movie off. And me, well I'm sitting here in front of this screen wondering when my scribbles are going to straighten themselves back out. When?
This is life. This is the journey. There are times when what you want gets sacrificed for what is necessary. I want to write blogs. I want to workout. I want to organize my new business. I want to not be coughing. I want . . . but all the wanting does not change the circumstances. So in the mean time, I wait for the scribbles to loosen up a bit and not be such a tight wadded mess. I bask in the grace and patience of those I work with, knowing this too shall pass. And, I keep compiling my thoughts in my head until the time actually reveals itself for me to sit down for more than five minutes of silence to put together a single solid thought. So, keep working hard. Keep doing what you know you need to do. If you're lacking motivation fall back on the foundations. Soon, very soon, there will be new thoughts to continue your journey and expand your knowledge with! But hey, thanks for being understanding until then!
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Want to know the best book buy I've ever made? Well, let me narrow that down a bit, because, well, I've bought some pretty great books. So, best fitness book I own . . . this one! When you assert being the "Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance" you've got my attention. Honestly though, this was not a book I just happened upon. Kelly Starrett is a renowned movement specialist I followed for quite a while for making this book buy. I respect his approach to movement - locating the source of problems and mechanical break down above shouting corrective cues and expecting solutions. This book does not disappoint as he has loaded the pages with a hefty dose of his knowledge. It is written in a straight forward terms, so you don't have to be a specialist to understand what he's talking about. They couple the simple language with photos of movement to assist in understanding the content. 99% of us could stand to move better. Healthy movement helps us to prevent injury. The bulk of the time I hear an athlete express discomfort or pain in a movement we are able to break that movement down and uncover how ineffective mechanics are causing improper loading of the body and thus stressing the body during said movement. For instance, low back stress or pain during a deadlift. Mechanically we are not loading the back in the deadlift, it is not made to apply force in order to move a mass. However, our legs are created to lever and lift. Being able to properly engage our bodies in any movement translates into safe mechanics - which means reduced risk of injury. KStar covers the basics of proper execution of the most common movements we use in the garage. He explains proper mechanics of these movements, how to apply force/torque throughout the movement, and common faults with corrections. In addition to explaining proper techniques, this book also provides great mobility work. Mobility is like lubing the engine to keep things functioning properly. This is especially important when we work in strength movement as the fibers in our muscles want to contract and tighten. Being able to maintain good range of motion is vital to our health. We need to be able to bend over and tie our shoes. We need to be able to reach the top shelf. We need to be able to jump out of the way. You get the picture. We need to be able to bend and stretch around to do normal everyday activities. Additionally, if you don't find yourself with a knot in your thigh or tweak in your shoulder, KStar has packed the pages with options for resolution. Not to mention the handy color coded body you can use to find the solutions your need - anterior and posterior to help you navigate! So, if you're looking to increase your knowledge and add some more tools to your belt you should grab this book. Play with some of his theories, test out some new mobility pieces, see how growing your understanding of movement can increase your physical capacity!
Can you believe it is already November?! If you're not quite sure where the last ten months disappeared to, be certain that the next two will be gone in a wink. The parties will stack up, the shopping will become cumbersome, the kids shows will mount, and before you know it we'll be ringing in the New Year! You know it's true! That being said, you're going to need to be super intentional about where and how you want to spend your time.
Take some time, even just moments as you're reading this, to consider how you want to close out your year. What's important to you? What would you regret not staying committed to and what would you willingly cut loose to create space in your schedule? Sometimes, the biggest problem we experience is that, while we know we'll be busy, we don't actually plan for being busy. We somehow convince ourselves we'll do all the things we currently do, add in all the holiday chaos, and still come out on top like a champ. It's super likely that is not how that story is really going to end though. So think about this:
Taking the time in advance to anticipate these challenges helps you being prepared to overcome them when they arise. They will no longer surprise you - pulling you in to their whirlwind existence and spewing you back out like Dorothy in the Wizard Of Oz. Instead, they will become like hurdles in your race - challenging but easy to overcome because you anticipated and prepared to respond accordingly to them. You don't have to be a victim to the holiday hubbub! Think ahead, plan ahead, and be ready to change course as necessary! |
AuthorMy name is Tiffany and I am the owner and trainer at Frank Fitness, a garage gym. I provide workouts to increase/maintain cardiovascular wellness and build strength. My goal is to help athletes maintain life-long wellness. Archives
January 2018
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