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I Just Can't Afford It

5/23/2013

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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.  



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    Gwen

    Incubating practice and teaching ideas in written form here.

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