Thanks to my friend Joe who helped me articulate this.
Here's something I get a lot from newcomers coming to the studio to learn some yoga or strength skills, "I'm hesitant because I'm not sure I'll be any good and...I'll fall behind/I'll hold you up/I'll embarrass myself."
I began my counter-argument by saying basically, who cares? If you're there learning how to move, we're getting extraordinary benefits as brain and body begin communicating more.
Daniel Wolpert: The Real Reason For Brains
Then...the conversation switched; we were talking about "beastly" individuals that are "so strong."
I had recently pulled up a set of standards that one particular high school coach, Dan John, published.
[I think I know one woman [in her 30s] who could nab the high school young women's standard for strength. What this means is, the person is, minimum, this strong and then they're doing their sport.]
I countered with, "I think she [and I] are baseline strong." In a joking manner I added, "Now we can start training for sport."
We all paused and took it in.
What's it mean to baseline strong, regardless of what standard one uses? [I'm using the RKC/SFG standard as first base, Dan John's standards as second base, sport skill requirements bootstrapped onto that as a triple, homerun is winning nationals?]
The question goes around athletic circles: What's strong enough? The OTs and PTs may ask: What's functional? [Strong enough to carry your groceries, lift your kid out of the crib, or push a lawnmower]. The question I'm asking is what's baseline strong?
What's a starting point of strength, after which, really interesting things start to happen, doors open, and enormous possibilities reveal themselves?
I don't know. I'm not proposing a standard. I'm usually in a position wherein I'm convincing people that they must move better and enjoy more strength in their life.
In that conversation, my up sell went like this: Now that I'm this strong, and I'm enjoying this much more clarity of mind, focused awareness, metabolic adaptation.... Now that I feel this capable, this good, this vibrant, I can't afford to be less strong. Knowing how many more possibilities are open to me now--hopping on the bike for a 60-miler, learning O-lifts, taking a MovNat course, taking up a martial arts style--I would never choose to go backward.
My challenge to you: pick a strength standard. Go after it [in your "off-season"]. Because you can. Because no one folds with a good hand. Because someone else may be laid up in the hospital and can't. Because it's your human duty to stand up and make more possible.
Here's something I get a lot from newcomers coming to the studio to learn some yoga or strength skills, "I'm hesitant because I'm not sure I'll be any good and...I'll fall behind/I'll hold you up/I'll embarrass myself."
I began my counter-argument by saying basically, who cares? If you're there learning how to move, we're getting extraordinary benefits as brain and body begin communicating more.
Daniel Wolpert: The Real Reason For Brains
Then...the conversation switched; we were talking about "beastly" individuals that are "so strong."
I had recently pulled up a set of standards that one particular high school coach, Dan John, published.
[I think I know one woman [in her 30s] who could nab the high school young women's standard for strength. What this means is, the person is, minimum, this strong and then they're doing their sport.]
I countered with, "I think she [and I] are baseline strong." In a joking manner I added, "Now we can start training for sport."
We all paused and took it in.
What's it mean to baseline strong, regardless of what standard one uses? [I'm using the RKC/SFG standard as first base, Dan John's standards as second base, sport skill requirements bootstrapped onto that as a triple, homerun is winning nationals?]
The question goes around athletic circles: What's strong enough? The OTs and PTs may ask: What's functional? [Strong enough to carry your groceries, lift your kid out of the crib, or push a lawnmower]. The question I'm asking is what's baseline strong?
What's a starting point of strength, after which, really interesting things start to happen, doors open, and enormous possibilities reveal themselves?
I don't know. I'm not proposing a standard. I'm usually in a position wherein I'm convincing people that they must move better and enjoy more strength in their life.
In that conversation, my up sell went like this: Now that I'm this strong, and I'm enjoying this much more clarity of mind, focused awareness, metabolic adaptation.... Now that I feel this capable, this good, this vibrant, I can't afford to be less strong. Knowing how many more possibilities are open to me now--hopping on the bike for a 60-miler, learning O-lifts, taking a MovNat course, taking up a martial arts style--I would never choose to go backward.
My challenge to you: pick a strength standard. Go after it [in your "off-season"]. Because you can. Because no one folds with a good hand. Because someone else may be laid up in the hospital and can't. Because it's your human duty to stand up and make more possible.
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