The following principles serve as the foundation of my own personal practice and my work with clients.
The ability to move is a gift. Unfortunately, nowadays many people look at movement as a chore i.e. slamming away on a treadmill. I will help you re-discover the joy that movement brings.
Movement is medicine - NO ONE is too "out of shape" or de-conditioned to begin training. No one is "too old" to begin training.
There is more to training than just the physical aspect. Mental, emotional, and even spiritual growth are tied to cultivation of the physical self - this has been well documented through history.
Looking fit and being fit are not one in the same. Being fit is being capable of performing physically in the real world with effectiveness and efficiency. Looking fit does not guarantee this. Be a working dog, not a show dog.
Purpose - people should train in movement patterns that mimic the demands of every day life a.k.a. practical movement skills. These include walking, running, jumping, moving on all fours, climbing, balancing, lifting, and throwing. Further, these skills should be trained in conditions that are changing and challenging i.e. outdoors. Stop training "mirror muscles", train to move.
Play - sadly, in today's world play is no longer part of the adult experience. Play allows for creativity in movement, dexterity, enhanced neuromuscular development, and is fun. Play provides nourishment for the body and spirit - it's a shame that as a society we deprive ourselves of it.
Every activity, exercise, set, and rep has both a reward and a price. Therefore, variance and spontaneity are key.
People often try to reverse the negative physiological effects of months/years of neglecting their bodies by abusing it "back in shape" in a matter of weeks. This results in severe physical and emotional backlash. It is also why most folks with New Years Resolutions are out of the gym or injured by February. I teach with proper progression and safety in mind.
The sign of a good workout is not being "crushed" at the end of it. Any trainer can design a workout that has a client laying on their back gasping for air - this doesn't take skill or knowledge. Training sessions should improve a client's quality of life, not detract from it.
Movement breeds movement - start moving more and you will want to move more.
Our Need for the Outdoors
For tens of thousands of years, our lives as humans centered around a deep connection to nature - being outdoors was critical to survival and the overall human experience. Sadly, with the advent of settled agriculture and industry, most people have lost this connection. We now seal ourselves in climate controlled pods nearly 24 hours a day, never coming in contact with the air, water, and land so vital to our health and well-being.
The positive effects of being outdoors are well-researched - being in nature promotes calmness, fights depression, combats illness and infection, and increases cognitive abilities and attention span. Simply put, the more time you spend outdoors, the better you will feel and the healthier you will be.
For these reasons (and many others), I take clients outdoors as much as possible. The movement studio is in an ideal location adjacent to several parks and trails - sessions often involve a combination of some work in the studio and some work outdoors at a ratio dependent on the client, their goals, their preference, and the weather. Many clients begin to actually look forward to training sessions in challenging weather, knowing the invigorating feeling that working in the cold, rain, heat, and snow bring.
I really look forward to sharing more about my training style and philosophy with you in person. Please click here to schedule a free consultation.
- Christian