I also appreciate the courage it took to share, because it is very capable of ruffling feathers in today's climate (I am guessing that was apart of the fun for you though) .
I love how you pointed out most gym goes have no purpose. Totally accurate. I find this to be the case in a lot of cultivation.
It's usually something vague. I digress.
One thing I wanted to add is that what I find most us truly desire for ourselves is 'the feeling of stegnth'. We want 'feel strong'.
Because objective strength in and if itself is actually nebulous and always conditional.
For some people, that will never include classical weightlifting for example.
The secrets of a person's individual body are often held by specific art/s or types of arts.
I do agree that strength is context/purpose dependent, but if you're rooted in purpose, then in practice and experience, strength is not at all nebulous.
Thinking about strength can be nebulous though - disembodied - which seems to be the point. Strength is the embodied experience of self connection — the ability to feel and direct our own power — that desired feeling you speak of. We know it when we feel it. It's clear.
True that weightlifting isn't everyone's cuppa tea, but I believe anyone and everyone can benefit from the lessons of simply reckoning with gravity. Don't discount strength as an art. It is one of the oldest arts of time! Ever since there was man and heavy stuff to be moved - he was learning to move it, and move it better. No it didn't take place at a gym, but as humans we've always had to interface with heavy obstacles. Builders and craftspeople knew this, developed their skills, and created art from their mastery. Strength training is the same thing. It's the foundation for the art of feeling and channeling the weight of life through your body.
I am by no means saying weightlifting is not an art, only, that it is not an art for everybody. 🙏
What I meant, but perhaps did not accurately express, is that there are many different kinds of strength, and many different ways to feel strong.
I have seen 60 year old Tai Chi masters throw young, heavily muscled men across a room with little effort, because their study of 'how to contend with gravity', took the shape of a Chinese martial art for decades.
Heavy objects could be other humans. 😉
Or even purposefully amplifying the effects of gravity without weights, and learning how to resist the flow of it through you as little possible.
Strength is often defined by what someone even means by moving better, feeling connected, embodied, grounded etc... or what the objectives are.
What I meant by nebulous was the standards people set to define "this is strong".
Well okay, a double bodyweight deadlift is great if your art defines strength that way (I am not saying you are or do), but not everyone does or even cares. Which is not to discount your work, which I think is awesome.
Only... (that in my opinion), it is the feeling that matters more than external measures, because external measures are always conditional.
I think we're saying similar things in different words here. My philosophy is rooted in each person defining strength for themselves based on their own values and purpose. Otherwise, exactly, we fall into "shoulds" and rely on external measures that generally aren't so useful. We need to train to be able to feel strength and remain embodied, period. Just like pleasure. And weight training is one of the simplest ways to focus on that felt experience, and to be able to manipulate and progressively become able to channel more power through the body.
There's a spectrum of strength, to be sure. I always say, "move in many ways for many reasons — and make sure they're your reasons."
I just happen to think that, whether someone's art requires the ability to lift heavy weight directly, the skill of strength, pure and true, still transfers. And for many people whose lives are full of complications, the sheer simplicity of weightlifting can be a powerful salve. I've experimented with a huge variety of physical and mental training, and I can say that the body awareness and presence built through strength training has enhanced all my other practices, from dance to bodyweight practices to sex to writing, to generally nourishing myself.
I agree with everything you said. I do think we are saying the same thing in different ways.
I love your philosophy.
It's interesting. My experience has been the opposite in many ways.
I have been training since I was a kid. Consistently for over 2 and half decades. I have trained in a wide variety of methods and was even a trainer for years. .
And weight lifting and or western style stregnth training has always left me feeling the least capable and the least embodied.
But Parkour in nature, Chinese martial arts, and bioenergetics, has been where I find 'my' stregnth.
I find it interesting how different people find their way, and love that you have found yours.
Great photo of that gal, was she AI or ay-ya-yi? That whole strength thing was always an interesting thing. In my early 20’s I delivered Sheetrock with another guy, Luke was his name. We were both at 6’ and was maybe 170, about like me but he could carry 5/8” fire rated board, 12’, two at a time alone all day. That man was a walking freak show of power.
She sure does look a little AI-ey, but ay ya yi I do not know!
Another powerful Luke?? Sheesh, 90 tons is a wild amount to fathom moving in a day. I've always had jobs that were quite physical, but that is a another level. Strength is interesting, huh? It only becomes moreso the more I pay attention. Especially since I used to take it for granted and make it so complicated
I think what you are doing is simplifying for the rest of us, trying to make it work for any of us and make it accessible and understandable. You are rolling now and the momentum is just beginning.
I went back and checked an earlier post on drywall hanging and we did 90 tons together on a good day, so 45 per man and he did all the doorway stuff since he was shorter than I was. Funny, when I wrote to you I recalled him as my height. That was an essay on working, which I wrote at least 7-8. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/summer-work-1979-paper-hanging-and
Really apt points you make. Great insight! And healthy shared sexuality is such a quality of life measure for some (many I assume). It’s quite the wild card what aging/illness/injuries/season of life (and don’t they often go together?) add to the formula, but I’m working on it all the time! I see fit and viable seniors in their 80s and 90s and really want to make that my goal. As 40 approaches I know strength training is key for maintaining muscle mass and I’m excited to get back to it!
Right!? It’s always a work in progress, this strength/ability/sexuality and uh — humaning stuff - learning to navigate the variables and changes as they come. The best description of training I’ve come across is “controlled chaos to prepare for uncontrolled chaos.”
Your comment reminds me of a hilarious video my boyfriend sent me the other day with the comment “the reasons I continue my quest for strength and wellness”
Lmao the ending where they all fall apart 😂 that’s rich! Oof 😅 Hits home a bit but this ish is still new 😩 and I’ve taken my health quite seriously since I was 18, so even extended black mold exposure can’t slow me all the way down! Fighting for my right to Fuck with no Fs given haha
I enjoyed reading this article.
I also appreciate the courage it took to share, because it is very capable of ruffling feathers in today's climate (I am guessing that was apart of the fun for you though) .
I love how you pointed out most gym goes have no purpose. Totally accurate. I find this to be the case in a lot of cultivation.
It's usually something vague. I digress.
One thing I wanted to add is that what I find most us truly desire for ourselves is 'the feeling of stegnth'. We want 'feel strong'.
Because objective strength in and if itself is actually nebulous and always conditional.
For some people, that will never include classical weightlifting for example.
The secrets of a person's individual body are often held by specific art/s or types of arts.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Ramon.
I do agree that strength is context/purpose dependent, but if you're rooted in purpose, then in practice and experience, strength is not at all nebulous.
Thinking about strength can be nebulous though - disembodied - which seems to be the point. Strength is the embodied experience of self connection — the ability to feel and direct our own power — that desired feeling you speak of. We know it when we feel it. It's clear.
True that weightlifting isn't everyone's cuppa tea, but I believe anyone and everyone can benefit from the lessons of simply reckoning with gravity. Don't discount strength as an art. It is one of the oldest arts of time! Ever since there was man and heavy stuff to be moved - he was learning to move it, and move it better. No it didn't take place at a gym, but as humans we've always had to interface with heavy obstacles. Builders and craftspeople knew this, developed their skills, and created art from their mastery. Strength training is the same thing. It's the foundation for the art of feeling and channeling the weight of life through your body.
I am by no means saying weightlifting is not an art, only, that it is not an art for everybody. 🙏
What I meant, but perhaps did not accurately express, is that there are many different kinds of strength, and many different ways to feel strong.
I have seen 60 year old Tai Chi masters throw young, heavily muscled men across a room with little effort, because their study of 'how to contend with gravity', took the shape of a Chinese martial art for decades.
Heavy objects could be other humans. 😉
Or even purposefully amplifying the effects of gravity without weights, and learning how to resist the flow of it through you as little possible.
Strength is often defined by what someone even means by moving better, feeling connected, embodied, grounded etc... or what the objectives are.
What I meant by nebulous was the standards people set to define "this is strong".
Well okay, a double bodyweight deadlift is great if your art defines strength that way (I am not saying you are or do), but not everyone does or even cares. Which is not to discount your work, which I think is awesome.
Only... (that in my opinion), it is the feeling that matters more than external measures, because external measures are always conditional.
I think we're saying similar things in different words here. My philosophy is rooted in each person defining strength for themselves based on their own values and purpose. Otherwise, exactly, we fall into "shoulds" and rely on external measures that generally aren't so useful. We need to train to be able to feel strength and remain embodied, period. Just like pleasure. And weight training is one of the simplest ways to focus on that felt experience, and to be able to manipulate and progressively become able to channel more power through the body.
There's a spectrum of strength, to be sure. I always say, "move in many ways for many reasons — and make sure they're your reasons."
I just happen to think that, whether someone's art requires the ability to lift heavy weight directly, the skill of strength, pure and true, still transfers. And for many people whose lives are full of complications, the sheer simplicity of weightlifting can be a powerful salve. I've experimented with a huge variety of physical and mental training, and I can say that the body awareness and presence built through strength training has enhanced all my other practices, from dance to bodyweight practices to sex to writing, to generally nourishing myself.
I agree with everything you said. I do think we are saying the same thing in different ways.
I love your philosophy.
It's interesting. My experience has been the opposite in many ways.
I have been training since I was a kid. Consistently for over 2 and half decades. I have trained in a wide variety of methods and was even a trainer for years. .
And weight lifting and or western style stregnth training has always left me feeling the least capable and the least embodied.
But Parkour in nature, Chinese martial arts, and bioenergetics, has been where I find 'my' stregnth.
I find it interesting how different people find their way, and love that you have found yours.
We need strong humans.
Great photo of that gal, was she AI or ay-ya-yi? That whole strength thing was always an interesting thing. In my early 20’s I delivered Sheetrock with another guy, Luke was his name. We were both at 6’ and was maybe 170, about like me but he could carry 5/8” fire rated board, 12’, two at a time alone all day. That man was a walking freak show of power.
On many days we moved 90 tons.
She sure does look a little AI-ey, but ay ya yi I do not know!
Another powerful Luke?? Sheesh, 90 tons is a wild amount to fathom moving in a day. I've always had jobs that were quite physical, but that is a another level. Strength is interesting, huh? It only becomes moreso the more I pay attention. Especially since I used to take it for granted and make it so complicated
I think what you are doing is simplifying for the rest of us, trying to make it work for any of us and make it accessible and understandable. You are rolling now and the momentum is just beginning.
You're right, simplifying is exactly what I'm trying to do. Strength is not quite as nebulous as people want to think it is.
I wonder what it'll feel like when the momentum really gets going. So far it's getting more and more fiery.
I went back and checked an earlier post on drywall hanging and we did 90 tons together on a good day, so 45 per man and he did all the doorway stuff since he was shorter than I was. Funny, when I wrote to you I recalled him as my height. That was an essay on working, which I wrote at least 7-8. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/summer-work-1979-paper-hanging-and
It is funny how the mind does that. Maybe he seemed taller because he was a freak of power? Off to read your essay now
Ain’t nobody using catchy titles like you!! I am so seated!
Gotta pull out all the freakin stops! Lately I’ve been kinda bored with my thoughts so… the beginning of my attempt to spice things up again.
Really apt points you make. Great insight! And healthy shared sexuality is such a quality of life measure for some (many I assume). It’s quite the wild card what aging/illness/injuries/season of life (and don’t they often go together?) add to the formula, but I’m working on it all the time! I see fit and viable seniors in their 80s and 90s and really want to make that my goal. As 40 approaches I know strength training is key for maintaining muscle mass and I’m excited to get back to it!
Right!? It’s always a work in progress, this strength/ability/sexuality and uh — humaning stuff - learning to navigate the variables and changes as they come. The best description of training I’ve come across is “controlled chaos to prepare for uncontrolled chaos.”
Your comment reminds me of a hilarious video my boyfriend sent me the other day with the comment “the reasons I continue my quest for strength and wellness”
https://youtu.be/F3gUy40Stzg
Lmao the ending where they all fall apart 😂 that’s rich! Oof 😅 Hits home a bit but this ish is still new 😩 and I’ve taken my health quite seriously since I was 18, so even extended black mold exposure can’t slow me all the way down! Fighting for my right to Fuck with no Fs given haha