The human body has one task, and that is to survive. It is constantly and passionately trying to make it through to tomorrow. It’s primary weapon in this pursuit is movement, it is no coincidence that we are one of the most multifaceted moving mammals on the planet. Push, pull, dip, and squat, we posses potential in every direction. This has allowed us to thrive on virtually every terrain on earth. Our mindset to expand movement is ingrained into our survival hard drive and is best displayed by babies learning to walk. Babies are fed on demand, live in cotton wool habitats and have no survival needs they are responsible for, yet they still strive to walk. Unburdened the “monkey see, monkey do” mind is King and Queen of a happy state of mind. Have you ever seen a sad baby nailing their first left foot, right foot walking waddle??? No, that’s because the human body loves to move, so why do we stop learning?
As I’ve finally hit the ripe old age of forty three I have recently become very thoughtful about aging, and what it means to be old. When is it that we begin the decline from our peak, what defines that peak, what markers do we use to assess if we are still climbing or descending? So this is my two hippy rupees worth of thought, when the body loses the ability to progress it’s range of movement and the mind lacks the presence to apply new knowledge, the universe demands its carbon back for redistribution. You have nothing more to offer the collective. You slowly begin your journey to death. Progress or Die
“You can not teach an old dog new tricks”
I feel there is a lot of wisdom in this old and wise phrase, when you lose the ability to learn a new trick are you in fact beginning the decline to death? Has the body and mind come to a point of uselessness to the universe? So what happens if we did not stop learning new tricks? One gram of DNA is reported to have the capacity to hold 215 petabytes, its so ginormous I don’t even know what a petabyte is. However it does seem we are capable of learning, storing and being so much more than our daily lives suggest.
From the physical perspective there is a huge difference between growth and intelligence. Increasing muscle mass, cardio endurance and carrying out day to day tasks are all things that help the body to survive. Is it enough to thrive? To create new neural pathways, the body needs to have it’s physical intelligence tested. This happens by expanding your range of movement, only in this play phase of your limits does your mind get involved. This unison of mind and body is only engaged until you reach competency, it is then downloaded, becomes instinctive, and part of your survival kit. Without further expansion repetition becomes unfulfilling and you rely on other emotions to maintain your status quo. These emotions rarely survive the test of time and eventually disappear along with competency. As you begin to decline, leaning on old age and memories to sooth your ego the carbon reaper is knocking at the back door.
A world obsessed with the comfort of repetition and the adulation of expertise has calcified the mind, body and spirit. We have been encouraged to fail to fulfill our potential by the haven of vanity and the ridicule of failure. Instead the hijacking of health puts us into little boxes and fads to keep us in a very safe but unfulfilled state of physical growth. I am not here to bash muscle growth or cardio training as they are critical components of health but we have lost sight of progressing our range of movement. Often these practices are less safe and the benefits can not be seen on social media. However when the chips are down and you fall, its not muscle growth or cardio that will save you.
We must break eggs to make an omelette.
The physical vessel is the soul of interaction with this reality and is therefore the gatekeeper to leading your best life. When the body is relaxed with both states of fight or flight the mind, and spirit are free to do and engage in more mindful, creative and productive tasks. I believe we need to look at health with our eyes wide open and start gaining a broader perspective again. The uptick of sedate lifestyles in recent years has gone hand in hand with a surge of issues both cognitively and physically within society.
Unfortunately progression in movement is not a linear path, you can not just add weight or run a little further. Instead progression is a journey of discovery and what works for your favourite Instagram model, may not work for you. Delving into your weakness and being uncomfortable is often the point when we of retreat backwards, however these moments contain the most valuable experiences, not only physically but also mentally and spiritually. The next move might be a yoga practice, you might need to go into the gym with the big boys and pound some weights or maybe just add a new hobby that you enjoy. All practices even movement have regressing risk to reward, do not get consumed by the cult mentality.
Is there a part of you that wants to put on your Dora the Explorer backpack, and just find out if you can still do a forward roll? Go with that energy. Find your feet, find your hands, see what they can do. Maybe today and tomorrow you will fail, you will bump, you will bruise but one day it will come. On that day the data is stored, you become a little more accomplished and you realise this vehicle you are blessed with has got some moves. Breathe, think and dream about what is next. Live in this moment, because in this moment you have found true health.
STAYING IN THE PLAY PHASE.
Staying in the play or learning phase should not be about taking crazy risks, or crossing your fingers and hoping to live. There are many directions of progression, instability, elevation, center of load, surface tension, line of sight, explosion vs control,the list goes on. When it comes to reps I often use the 9,6,3 process to keep the play phase active.
when you can competently perform 9 repetitions of a movement with correct form use this as a first set. 9 push-ups
make that movement incrementally more difficult. Use this as a second set of 6 repetitions. 6 push-ups with feet elevated onto balls.
make the 6 movements more difficult or just think about how you could advance the movement. Even the idea of progression is progression. Movements of 1-3 reps that push limits of concentration and execution is you fully in the play phase. 1-3 push-ups with feet elevated on balls and shoulder tap on extension.
My best advice is not to get caught up on one movement, but play with several at the same time. Your deep squat will improve your push-up, your push-up will improve your dip and having fun will improve everything. Stay safe and enjoy the journey.
BeMore 