Why Bother with Strength?
Why Bother with Strength?
Know Yourself Through Movement is officially open! Plus a bit of theoria (fancy Greek word for contemplation)
It’s here! Know Yourself Through Movement has officially begun and I couldn’t be more excited. If you’re already a paid subscriber, just scroll to the bottom of this post for the deets to access the program. If not, you’re free to join us today, or whenever. The movement journey is always open to you. Now for some contemplation…
Why do you move? Why don’t you move? Yes, I’m talking to you…
Please answer if the inspiration strikes. In the meantime, here are my guesses…
If you do participate, maybe it’s because movement feels like an obligation - some sort of servitude you must fulfill to avoid the guilt of not doing it? Maybe you like how you feel after a workout. Or maybe you’re one of the few who moves for the love of the process. My grand plan, by the way, is for us all to become process lovers here.
According to my last check in, somewhere around 85% of people don’t participate in intentional movement. Maybe movement feels like a chore. The idea of working out seems like the cruelest form of punishment (because it’s often presented as such). Maybe it seems like too much to add to your already overloaded plate (of note: when you embark on a holistic strength journey, you end up with more time and energy). Or perhaps you see images of “fit” presented by the fitness industrial complex (FIC) and feel excluded from the community.
Am I striking any chords?
I get it. The environment is often uninviting and the information offered about where to begin is at once lackluster and overwhelming. I mean, does the industry even present a starting point?
If you ask “what’s the “right way” to do fitness?” you’ll get a million different answers from a million different people. Almost none will give you a real foundation. And most will mindlessly cite the latest fitness trend or quote their guru of choice. But we’re smarter than that.
So, what is the right way to do fitness? You tell me.
Ancient Greek athletes knew their physical training was incomplete without a practice of contemplation. This act of theoria lays ground for the integrated power network. When we ask, “why?” we begin to develop a personal bullshit filter (Ancient Greek word for bullshit filter is unknown). The contemplative act ensures incoming signals are processed according to our values. We open our bodies and minds for spirit — inspiration — to enter. We begin to act from the passion of purpose.
I’m not saying you should be an expert at programming or exercise technique, or that you should have any experience at all, for that matter (though if you stick with me, you sure freakin will!).
What I am saying is you should (and I use that word, should, understanding its great implications) know why you’re doing what you’re doing. Though your reasons may change over time, ideally, you have a rough idea of your why before you begin.
Now, there’s good news: if you’re at the inception of your strength journey, you’re actually at an advantage. You get a relatively blank slate to work with, and probably have far less to unlearn than those who have been involved with fitness for years or decades. That’s right. It’s probably wise to unlearn 99% of what the fitness industry is selling.
Why are you doing what you’re doing? Why do you want to be strong? The FIC doesn’t give a flying fuck about your values. They want you to buy their message (you’re unfuckable, but hey, we can help!) and subsequently sign up for Zumba (or, whatever), buy the merch, and mindlessly take directions. Yuck.
Let’s face it, we are a vain people (and there’s absolutely nothing with appreciating the beauty of a body. I admit I’ve got a thing for biceps, and abs and…. oh sorry did I start daydreaming) but we’re also deep thinkers. Depth applies to fitness, too — not just in the depth of your squat, but the depth of your philosophy. (Oh, p.s. part of learning with me involves developing your own philosophy… get ready.) (Am I using too many parentheses?)
If working out because it’ll make your ass phatter or get you a six pack feels torturous, like a boring obligation, or even if it feels (temporarily) exciting, go deeper, beneath the muscles, where passion lives.
Why do you want to become stronger?
What does strength mean to you, for you?
Despite the lack of participation in movement culturally, we all want to be stronger. It’s human nature to desire the ability to do stuff and to do it well. It makes our lives easier and more interesting. And that’s just the pragmatic view. Let’s go further.
If it hasn’t become evident, what we’re all about here is developing strength as a form of unique self expression. This isn’t some cookie cutter program, but an inquiry into the very essence of who you are now, and who you are becoming. A journey that can be directed through… yep, strength training. In communion, of course, with your personal philosophy. Aka training within your why, your value system, your purpose.
The foundation of the personal transformation system that is fitness is far different than what the FIC is selling (random ass exercise “programs” that often do nothing more than make you tired while offering no real skill development, but plenty of dogma…) Yeah, we don’t want that.
True fitness requires first grokking MOVEMENT. We want to be able to move in many ways, for many reasons. Dogma free.
Movement is not the same as exercise. We’ll get to exercise later. Don’t worry. There’s a method here.
Strength training level 1 is simply developing a relationship with the force that already exists within your body, through movement. Orienting yourself to the here and now. Exploring your current ability. Feeling your body. Noticing sensations. Experiencing yourself within shapes, space, transitions. Noticing the quality of your internal environment — not just how it feels physically, but how you think about it and how you respond emotionally to your experience. There is a connection between these aspects. Our training is to strengthen that connection.
What connection, specifically? Body, mind, and spirit. The integrated power network.
“Movement expression for all human beings is the body’s instinctive reflexive response to our internal sensations, thoughts, and feelings in the moment.” - Judith Fischer, dance/movement therapist
May the Force be With You
A basic definition of strength is the ability to produce force.
With this definition in mind, it’s clear that to move, period, is to produce force, yes? The moment you take a single step, you’re pushing against gravity.
Here’s where exercise comes in. Exercise is a specific task performed for a specific purpose or reward, like to build a skill (which we like doing), or a muscle (which we sometimes need to do to build a movement to build a skill). So we train. And we do it with purpose. And forethought. Unlike crossfit.
Wanna train the body to produce more force? Add a little intensity. Make it challenging. Indeed, challenge is integral to the process of transformation.
Rather than take a simple step forward, we can hop, jump, crawl, run, add some weight, go longer, go harder, go uphill, do it blindfolded (maybe not the best idea). And this is just in regard to moving one leg in front of the other! You see where I’m going with this. There are infinite ways to move. Infinite ways to produce force. Infinite ways to express our strength.
Do some of this intense movement stuff wisely (harder than it seems), consistently… while remaining connected to your purpose (value system, remember?) and you’re neck deep in the recipe for transformation.
A warning: do not mistake the above as an intensity free for all. Not all intensity is useful, which is easily demonstrated by the abusive roller-coaster relationships we find ourselves in with friends, romantic partners, food, and, yes, torturous workout habits.
Intensity is not synonymous with torture.
Challenge is not synonymous with suffering.
Training within our value systems will show us the difference and open doorways of connection to our joyous, infinite potential.
Strength training. Force development. It’s more than building muscle. It’s developing the ability to reckon with the gravity of life, and maybe even enjoy the heck out of it. How’s that for motivation?
•••
If you’d like to embark on the incredible journey, our foundation program, Know Yourself Through Movement, begins Today!! If you’re reading this after today, August 10th, still feel free to join — the program is go-at-your-own-pace.
Over the course of five weeks you’ll learn:
• the simple skills that build a solid foundation of strength so you can move safely, confidently, and freely
• tools that will help you experience autonomy and self-connection through your movement practice
• the benefits of training in connection with your values and desires
• how you can use simple skills to build a profound personal movement practice the empowers and inspires you to continue growing
The program is open to paid subscribers (you can upgrade for $6/month or $60/year).
If you’d like to join us but don’t currently have the funds for a paid subscription, I am offering five scholarships in exchange for your feedback on the program. Just send me a DM and I’ll get you set up :) And please feel free to share with a friend who might be interested.