Effort Vs Struggle

Here is a concept that came to me during a few sleepless hours last night.

Approaching what you do in your training as giving it energy and effort seems pretty positive and proactive.

Being aware of the difference between putting in the hard work or effort that you can today vs going through a struggle might well be a worthwhile distinction to make.

(Not quite what i wanted to illustrate!)


If we cross the line into 'stuggle' i think we are more likely to experience a mental or physical 'panic'. It won't necessarily be a state that many people want to expeience on a regular basis to build an enjoyable and lifelong habit of exercise!

Occasionally, i think we may all have training sessions where we decide to push the envelope or get taken a bit by surprise and go through more of a struggle - it may even be beneficial from time to time or you may derive mental strength from such an experience.

I would suggest however that most of the time we focus on putting in the effort and energy at a slightly more sustainable level that we can continue to build on over the long term. This will also allow for better focus on technique.

I think this is especially true for people just getting started or coming back to exercise. I've seen people cross the line into struggle way before they were really ready to do so and it doesn't look like a happy, positive, or healthy experience!

For the more experienced, the actual work being done may be the same, but the approach to it and internal state of the athlete or participant may be quite different!

I Love It When A Group Comes Together!

Yes, we had a new bootcamp start this week and i do love the way our Bootcamp groups take on the challenge and achieve their goals.

I have a new appreciation of this from being on the 'other side' several times in recent weeks. Being in various group training situations gave me a fresh perspective on the atmosphere, expectation, camaraderie, and energy available.

It also gives me a good look at how someone else is teaching which is always valuable to reflect on.

Personally i've always loved teaching groups, and yet i've always spent the big majority of my own training time alone. I guess part of this comes from having very specific goals and ways i want to achieve them, which are not always compatible with other people being around!

In recent months i've enjoyed spending more of my training sessions with other people involved. Even more recently i took part in several practical sessions at a youth fitness convention, at an athletic training gym, and a weekend on a kettlebell instructor course.

There is a lot to be said for rising to the challenge as part of a group, and if you're lucky enough to be surrounded by people of a good standard or a lot better than you, then you have some great examples and maybe targets to aim for.

Many people on the kettlebell course commented they wouldn't have completed a particularly challenging sequence of squats if it hadn't been for doing it with a group.

I commented on this kind of thing on our members forum today and it seems they agree, this is a very valuable part of bootcamp.

Are you using this to your advantage?

What results might you achieve if you did?

I've been using kettlebells for years now, and this was my 3rd different instructor course. Look out for our kettlebell group sessions coming soon in Haywards Heath!

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

One of my Favourite and Most Dreaded Exercises!

I still teach a certain amount of group fitness classes at the Olympos Centres in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

It's not massively uncommon for my poor lunchtime circuit training group to be moved about from time to time.

This happened to us yesterday at the last minute so i had to throw something together with less space but more kit than normal.

With access to some weights for a change, i thought i'd take the opportunity to throw in a Barbell Thruster! This is also known as (perhaps more descriptively) a front squat to push press.

This is a great exercise that i sometimes use myself, with personal training clients, and occasionally in classes.

It can be a brutal exercise if loaded quite well (20 - 40kg's) and pushed on to a slightly higher rep range (15 -20).

The two components of this movement - the front squat and the push press or over head press - are a great addition to a routine, and are a staple part of my training exercises.

Combining them for more of a metabolic effect has to be tried to be believed. It's a great athletic challenge for the entire body. You have to keep your body tight to effectively transfer the effort from the lower body through the core and into the upper body and weight.

Obviously this can also be done with Dumbells, Kettlebells, Sandbags, heavy enough medicine balls, or the right size cat or dog (joke)!

In the circuit class we paired this exercise with burpees for evil effect.

I usually like (and dislike) to combine the Thruster with a set of pull ups, which is a classic Crossfit workout (from www.crossfit.com).

Take on the challenge of some thrusters - you might not like me at the time but you'll love the results!!

And results based training is what it should all be about....

Steve Cork
www.everydayathletes.co.uk
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Sussex Saturday Outdoor Fitness Class - New!!

Steve Cork and Ben Davis present a new outdoor training option!

Saturday Fitness begins on Sat 7th June at 9.30am.

The circuit training and group training based session will last for 1 hour and will be a great way to kick start your body to burn fat all weekend!

We'll be enjoying the views of the South Downs from Whitemans Green in Cuckfield, West Sussex.

Classes will draw from our experience with personal training, bootcamps, and group fitness classes.

No commitment, just turn up as and when you are able to, obviously the more often the better.

Your investment in a better body while you get on with the rest of your weekend is just £6, for one of the best and most productive group training classes in Sussex.

Come and join us in the sunshine (fingers crossed)!

Whitemans Green, Cuckfield, Every Saturday, 9.30 - 10.30.

There is not much better than challenging yourself in the fresh air with lots of space around you, and being able to look up at the blue sky. It will set you up for your weekend if not the rest of the week too!

Steve Cork
http://www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk/
http://www.everydayathletes.co.uk/