Active Concept Training

I haven't posted anything in a while.  People who believe and think the way I do are almost always posting eloquent ideas, theories, and writings...so I will continue to pass those along whenever I think they are pertinent to someone's situation.

Today I woud like to bring up a question...why do we exercise?  I think we have seen enough reason to exercise as it pertains to health benefits.  The other main reason we hear is of course, to look better naked...or on the beach, right?

Well, there is another reason that isn't talked about enough.  This reason, in my opinion, is the most important...that is of nervous system regulation.  Like we read all the time, "exercise relieves stress" but how?  If a person is stuck in the fight or flight response (their autonomic nervous system is "on" all the time) does it really matter how much they exercise?

Have we all heard someone say that they go in for a massage, and it feels good for a while, but then fairly quickly, the tightness or stress "comes back?"  How do we keep stress from coming back?

Our brains do not distinguish between stressors, a job deadine or a lion chasing you.  What then is the difference between these two?  A physical response!  Very rarely in today's vocational world, do we have to run or fight or climb or swim or throw something heavy to physically respond to a stressor.  THIS is why it is MOST important to exercise...for regulation of the nervous system.  The trick is, to know this and think about it!

When you finish with a workout, or playtime, take a few minutes to reflect on the movements you did.  Take a few minutes of calm, either lying down or leaning back or being seated, to drink in what you just accomplished and let your nervous system pendulum swing from the ANS to PNS (turn away from fight or flight being stuck in the on position.)  I personally don't stretch to be flexible, I like positions that allow me to relax, to not feel taxed in any way...to DOWN-REGULATE my nervous system.

(my son down regulating after climbing!)

This is how we regulate our hormones for weight management, for sleep, for health.  We can't be stuck in any one rhythm...we need them all to regulate our well being.   Think about down-regulation after your next few workouts, and see if you don't feel better for hours afterward!

Have fun moving!

Hunza breath

Rocking chair

push up plank

If you don't know what these are, let me know and I can walk through them with you over skype or over the phone.

These are active recovery drills for cancer patients.  They involve some squatting, some reaching, and some upper body strength.  With what we know about how the brain releases hormones and (other proteins that help our bodies work) http://activeconcepttraining.webs.com/apps/blog/show/2290174-you-re-a-mean-one-mr-grinch      These exercises can help one recovery from just about anything.

Try them daily, or at times 2 or 3 times a day.  Get the blood flowing and get your brain working again!

GO!

It bears mentioning that since the last weekend in January, I have had 100% success with the use of Total Motion Release with my clients with injuries or quirky issues.  Turf toe, knee tightness, lower back pain, ankle twists, stroke patients, etc.

Total Motion Release has proven to be as beneficial a rendering of knkowledge as any I have learned in my 15 years as a conditioning and mobility specialist.  It helps even those who have no pain or issues to achieve a better workout by making sure their neurons are firing on all cylinders!

If you want more info, click on the link above to learn more!

Next on the list...Associative Awareness technique!

Relief of pain is a must in today's world, and movement is a key to achieving pain relief!

GO!

I found this page from a book several years ago around the time I started to question our workout beliefs cemented in bodybuilding routines.

Yes, today the book would be titled "Athletic Sports for Adolescents" and I think we know that drinking cold water does not equal death!  Otherwise, the exercises shown above are that of gymnastics, right?  Why have we gotten away from that?  Who told us that 3 sets of 10 was the magic remedy?

Remember, I am one that thinks that everything works...all types of training.  However, in our training I think we need to remember that climbing, jumping, pulling, pushing, and playing are most important.

Find some time to move this weekend...even if it's in the cold!

GO!

Over the last couple of years, I have learned more and more about, and have been working with my clients on, Total Motion Release.

http://www.totalmotionrelease.com/index.html

Tom developed his idea and turned it, over years of research, into a great use of several exercises that create symmetry in human movement.  In utilizing TMR, I have seen several folks have pain relief, and create instant improved strength in an affected area, just by training the "good" or unaffected side in a unilateral exercise.

If you have any questions, let me know, or check out Tom's website link above.

Who here really thinks about their workout before they go into the gym?  Anyone?  Some of you?

The reason for my asking of the question--what is the goal of your workout today?  Further, what is the goal of you working out?  Period.  I don't think enough of us keep to the forefront what the real meaning of workouts are.  You ready for it?  I'll tell ya...

I call it the "what if" scenario. 

• What if you had to have a surgery that kept you inactive for 8 weeks--how soon could your body bounce back?
• What if you were in a car accident with multiple breaks, traumas--could you be the same person you were before?
• What if you were diagnosed with a disease that ravaged your body--could you, after hospital or doctor's care, still take care of your children or grandchildren?

(The turf bog above.  How long would it take for you to heal from an injury to take care of your family?)

That's what I call the what if scenario.  Notice, I didn't even go into what if you were attacked, or your home destroyed.  No, I stuck with the more likely events that may cause us to be inactive.

The same answer to those what if questions is that the more endurance and strength you have (both mental and physical), the better you and your body can bounce back.  So the next time you go to your workout place, ask yourself "why am I doing these exercises?"  If they involve simple vanity, look for different exercises to do, because it's my bet they will not allow you to bounce back in the what if scenario.

(Notice the tribe in the picture, seeing this flying machine they'd never seen before trying to use their bows to shoot it down. Can you take care of yourself?)

http://activeconcepttraining.webs.com/apps/blog/show/2588934-play-time- 

I want my clients, family, friends, and readers to be able to take care of themselves.  Can you?  If not, get started!!  The above link will tell you how!

GO!

So, here is this guy named Jacob, who has looked at his life, and decided it was easier to accumulate wealth by being minimalistic.  Imagine that.  Being minimal in life, survivng, he has had success in his pursuits far greater than most in our country. 

http://earlyretirementextreme.com/modern-fitness.html

"However, gym workouts have substituted kinesthetic ability for perceived “safety” and highly expensive and specialized equipment (ring a bell?). In the gym people sit down on comfy padded surfaces and pull levers back and forth in repetitive motions. Never do they get the chance to lift a real weight from the floor to lockout position over head. This is considered too dangerous. I tell you though, repeatedly ripping 100 pounds of pig iron from the floor to a lockout position feels much more manly than sitting in a padded seat and pushing a lever while wearing spandex shorts."

http://activeconcepttraining.webs.com/apps/blog/show/3650002-get-on-with-it

Get outside folks.  Use real weight--stones, logs, concrete, etc.--not just gym weights.  Using these other implements act on your DNA for survival.  Sitting on machines do not.  Take a walk in the woods, climb something, pick up a rock or limb, and throw it.  It's fun.

GO!

Hi gang!

I just launched my you tube channel.  Once in  a while, check it out for information, exercises, or just a rant about anything fitness, mobility, or mindful conditioning related!

http://www.youtube.com/user/activecontrain

Again, provide feedback anytime you want!

GO!

"The moral that I want to drive is that the quest for calorie dense food was a stimulus to lead us to modern, intelligent beings. But biochemically we are still animals. And if the quest for food led us to a specific diet, one would logically think that deviating from that diet would cause illness. This is exactly what we see today. Case and point. Lions and tigers do not eat bananas and mangoes. They eat meat. Zebra and Elk eat grass NOT mice. All animals have their dietary niche and so do we. Grains, sugar, beans, vegetable oils, and excessive fructose intake are not part of our dietary niche. Otherwise, natural selection would have filtered through genes for us to cope with these foods. We developed a symbiotic relationship with our environment in the past."

 Read the entire post here:

http://nephropal.blogspot.com/2010/08/quest-for-food.html

Now, this post from the EVMed Forum was meant to be more about our quest for food.  Well, every animal's quest for food.  But I liked their line that "biomechanically we are still animals."

They are correct.  We are still animals, with such DNA that was built on survival and mobility.  Seated where ever you are to read this, was not meant to happen for 8 + hours a day at work, then watching  the tele or the PC for more hours after work.  Time spent sitting!  What were your ancestors doing?  MOVING!

http://activeconcepttraining.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4361631-sit-down-ok-don-t-please-

Our niche as humans was and still is survival.  The problem is that our environment changed dramatically by advanced techonology.  We don't have to "survive" anymore.  Food is plentiful, so keeping our mobility to survive has lost it's value.  Unfortunately, our DNA hasn't changed as quickly.  WE MUST MOVE!

My rant is over.  Get up out of your chair and move...

GO!

What were your ancestors doing at this time of day 150 years ago?  Building a home, maintaining a home, hunting for food, washing clothes by hand, etc., that's what they were doing!  How long have you been sitting down today?

The question about what happens when one sits down has been answered.  Like a computer, things shut down, go into 'hibernate' mode.  AND THIS IS BAD!

http://www.eatmoveimprove.com/2009/11/shoes-sitting-and-lower-body-dysfunctions/

Even going to the gym just doesn't cut it.  Sitting down for hours negates the effects of going to the gym!
http://blog.zeroinginonhealth.com/2010/07/28/gym-benefits-undone-by-too-much-sitting/

Here is another link to the possibility of  malfunction due to lack of function-ing.

 http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/007355.html

Now, in this day when we don't have to build our own home or fight off bears (well we still have to do that sometimes), getting outside for a little "play" SHOULD be easier, but we don't let it happen.  We sit for hours, then go home and sit some more.  Your kids, and grandkids, would love for you to play with them!  When in doubt, get out!

GO!