Firstly i thought i better bump that last post down, just in case Jonny read the description of a calm, smiling me as his opponent - and spat drink over his computer or choked on some food!!
There have definitely been moments of calm and smiling though - it's just not always been easy to maintain.
Here's why.
I started off learning to play with a dodgy grip on the racket - i was tearing up the grip and cutting my thumb! However i minimised this and managed to improve fairly quickly.
'Problems' began as soon as i tried to hold the racket properly - i started to get worse.
If you have the wrong technique for something it soon becomes a big challenge to unlearn it and do something different - especially if you are always trying to learn in a pressure or performance situation - and that pressure can easily be self imposed.
You can often see this with simple patterns of movement or exercises that people just want to work hard at and not take the time to learn the skill.
This is what happened to me - and i was totally freaked out by the reality of my squash playing situation.
I'd had a pretty bad game, and i'd already been thinking i needed some time just practicing hitting a ball by myself. So after this bad game i decided the time was now!
I couldn't believe it when i found i could basically do nothing with the ball that i wanted to - literally hit it where i wanted between 0 and 2 times on any given attempt. I stuck it out for 25 minutes or so until i could have some basic control for a decent number of repetitions.
Sometimes i think we need to stop and consider if we need to strip something back to its basics so our only concern is what we are doing and how we are doing it - especially when starting something.
I think the grip issue stemmed from the small amount of tennis i played as a child.
Faulty habits can be physical and mental so watch out what you carry forward with you!
Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Beginnings.........
Beginnings are always a very interesting dynamic time - anything can happen, radical choices can be made and beliefs left behind or taken on a new.
Beginnings can be more uncomfortable for some than others. Ever seen (or been) that person clinging to their old ways and habits for fear of change!!
I've enjoyed beginning a new game over the last few months - squash.
It's challenging, exciting, sometimes frustrating, sometimes exhausting!
I like the game and i like the quality and intensity of the physical challenge.
I guess like most games there is a strong mental aspect. It's easy to focus on results only and get caught up in frustration and self criticism. But when pretty much anyone is better than i am to begin with, that would not be a recipe for long term enjoyment and participation!
I'm still very eager to see improvements and points - but it seems the best moments come when i just focus on hitting the ball well, moving well, and smiling!!
This no doubt reflects what many go through with their fitness training. We want it all right now. We don't want to spend time learning to move effectively, develop the necessary qualities and build that all important foundation.
But if you can step back, set yourself some targets, agree and commit to a certain amount of work to achieve them, it's then ok to mentally relax and enjoy the process. In fact you may get there faster and with better results!
I had a different beginning about 3 years ago - i took up gymnastics for the first time! I loved it!
As i'm not going to classes of this anymore what could i share with you about that experience?
Well with a background of movement and fitness i picked up a certain amount of basic stuff reasonably well. This was both good and bad!
It meant when i started to get the hang of how to do something i would then hammer it! I would definitely get overly frustrated at times, and keep practicing things when i was no longer fresh enough to reinforce perfect technique.
I also probably didn't respect the different forces that i was subjecting my body to enough.
So all of this ended up with tendinitis on the back of my right hand / wrist, and at this point, not doing any gymnastic training.
Sometimes you just have to step back and look to the longer term. Having done this you are more likely to be able to enjoy the moment - and that is something we should all have more of!
As Pete Cohen said at our Haywards Heath event recently - "people take themselves far too seriously"!
Steve
Beginnings can be more uncomfortable for some than others. Ever seen (or been) that person clinging to their old ways and habits for fear of change!!
I've enjoyed beginning a new game over the last few months - squash.
It's challenging, exciting, sometimes frustrating, sometimes exhausting!
I like the game and i like the quality and intensity of the physical challenge.
I guess like most games there is a strong mental aspect. It's easy to focus on results only and get caught up in frustration and self criticism. But when pretty much anyone is better than i am to begin with, that would not be a recipe for long term enjoyment and participation!
I'm still very eager to see improvements and points - but it seems the best moments come when i just focus on hitting the ball well, moving well, and smiling!!
This no doubt reflects what many go through with their fitness training. We want it all right now. We don't want to spend time learning to move effectively, develop the necessary qualities and build that all important foundation.
But if you can step back, set yourself some targets, agree and commit to a certain amount of work to achieve them, it's then ok to mentally relax and enjoy the process. In fact you may get there faster and with better results!
I had a different beginning about 3 years ago - i took up gymnastics for the first time! I loved it!
As i'm not going to classes of this anymore what could i share with you about that experience?
Well with a background of movement and fitness i picked up a certain amount of basic stuff reasonably well. This was both good and bad!
It meant when i started to get the hang of how to do something i would then hammer it! I would definitely get overly frustrated at times, and keep practicing things when i was no longer fresh enough to reinforce perfect technique.
I also probably didn't respect the different forces that i was subjecting my body to enough.
So all of this ended up with tendinitis on the back of my right hand / wrist, and at this point, not doing any gymnastic training.
Sometimes you just have to step back and look to the longer term. Having done this you are more likely to be able to enjoy the moment - and that is something we should all have more of!
As Pete Cohen said at our Haywards Heath event recently - "people take themselves far too seriously"!
Steve
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Big Event - Big Goals - Big Progress
Everything has been a bit manic after our successful charity night.
I still can't quite believe how well the evening went and how positive everyone has been about it.
Anyway - let's relate this to your fitness!
I've said for a while that having some big 'WOW' goals will probably add a lot of fuel to your efforts in the shorter term. As long as you can link that inspiration with action that is!
Once you commit to doing something bigger and perhaps out of your comfort zone, all sorts of things need to and will start to happen to get you there.
Just taking initial steps towards that bigger goal will likely give you great confidence and experience to draw from in the future.
It wasn't until life coach Will Perry made a comment that i realised this as related to running our our event. He said something along the lines of "It's always nice to see people doing something out of their comfort zone and growing accordingly".
This is exactly what happened with us and the event, and with people taking on those bigger goals everyday.
Maybe you decide to take an aspect of your training to a new level, maybe take part in some event or competition. For some people completing a month of Bootcamp would do this!
I've done a couple of more endurance based charity events in the past - the Three Peaks Challenge, and the Trailwalker.
Personally, i don't like to needlessly suffer, and i like to succeed. So a commitment to do such events spurred on specific training to make these events easier.
I'm not sure how you would do it any other way. Maybe neither of these is such a massive undertaking - you only need to walk after all! Yet many people did not get close to the end.
When you prepare for and achieve something beyond the normal for you - it raises the bar on what is possible for you - new beliefs are formed, maybe even new parts of your identity.
I read something recently about someone who really made progress with their training and the effects on their physique when they accepted the statement "I am an athlete". This was then put on top of the computer screen and anytime there were any doubting voices about going to train, she only had to look at this to get going!
Find something that would fire you up and maybe even re-set your beliefs in what is possible!
Be an everyday athlete!
Steve Cork
I still can't quite believe how well the evening went and how positive everyone has been about it.
Anyway - let's relate this to your fitness!
I've said for a while that having some big 'WOW' goals will probably add a lot of fuel to your efforts in the shorter term. As long as you can link that inspiration with action that is!
Once you commit to doing something bigger and perhaps out of your comfort zone, all sorts of things need to and will start to happen to get you there.
Just taking initial steps towards that bigger goal will likely give you great confidence and experience to draw from in the future.
It wasn't until life coach Will Perry made a comment that i realised this as related to running our our event. He said something along the lines of "It's always nice to see people doing something out of their comfort zone and growing accordingly".
This is exactly what happened with us and the event, and with people taking on those bigger goals everyday.
Maybe you decide to take an aspect of your training to a new level, maybe take part in some event or competition. For some people completing a month of Bootcamp would do this!
I've done a couple of more endurance based charity events in the past - the Three Peaks Challenge, and the Trailwalker.
Personally, i don't like to needlessly suffer, and i like to succeed. So a commitment to do such events spurred on specific training to make these events easier.
I'm not sure how you would do it any other way. Maybe neither of these is such a massive undertaking - you only need to walk after all! Yet many people did not get close to the end.
When you prepare for and achieve something beyond the normal for you - it raises the bar on what is possible for you - new beliefs are formed, maybe even new parts of your identity.
I read something recently about someone who really made progress with their training and the effects on their physique when they accepted the statement "I am an athlete". This was then put on top of the computer screen and anytime there were any doubting voices about going to train, she only had to look at this to get going!
Find something that would fire you up and maybe even re-set your beliefs in what is possible!
Be an everyday athlete!
Steve Cork
Sunday, January 18, 2009
It's 11.14pm on Sunday night!!
And what am i still doing up and on my computer?
Well there is not long to go now until our charity health and fitness event on Tue night at Central Sussex College in Haywards Heath.
I've been up working on some final bits and pieces to make sure everything goes as well as possible.
You have to know what this is all for and what i'm going to be talking about.
Why do you have to know? Because it's all about YOU! Your health, your fitness, and making 2009 the best it can be.
If you have got your health and fitness sorted then it's far easier to raise your game in all the other areas of your life.
If you wait until your fitness and especially your health suffers, well, you can pretty much guarantee that everything else is also going to be affected for the worse.
Don't let this happen!
All the speakers on the night will be giving you as much valuable information and inspiration as possible, to take what you are already doing to the next level or get you started in the most effective ways.
The second reason for the event is to raise money for St Peters and St James Hospice.
I hope you can see what a great evening this is shaping up to be.
Come and make a difference to yourself, and a local charity.
We are filling up fast so register now at www.sussexbestever.com
Oh, and i'll be talking about the 5 keys to transorming your body in record time. I'll be sharing what i've learned as a personal trainer and fitness professional for over 11 years.
Join me and the other speakers;
Jo Bareham
Christian Bates
Pete Cohen
for a fun night and a chance to win some great prizes!
We want to help you make a difference!
www.sussexbestever.com
Steve Cork
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
Well there is not long to go now until our charity health and fitness event on Tue night at Central Sussex College in Haywards Heath.
I've been up working on some final bits and pieces to make sure everything goes as well as possible.
You have to know what this is all for and what i'm going to be talking about.
Why do you have to know? Because it's all about YOU! Your health, your fitness, and making 2009 the best it can be.
If you have got your health and fitness sorted then it's far easier to raise your game in all the other areas of your life.
If you wait until your fitness and especially your health suffers, well, you can pretty much guarantee that everything else is also going to be affected for the worse.
Don't let this happen!
All the speakers on the night will be giving you as much valuable information and inspiration as possible, to take what you are already doing to the next level or get you started in the most effective ways.
The second reason for the event is to raise money for St Peters and St James Hospice.
I hope you can see what a great evening this is shaping up to be.
Come and make a difference to yourself, and a local charity.
We are filling up fast so register now at www.sussexbestever.com
Oh, and i'll be talking about the 5 keys to transorming your body in record time. I'll be sharing what i've learned as a personal trainer and fitness professional for over 11 years.
Join me and the other speakers;
Jo Bareham
Christian Bates
Pete Cohen
for a fun night and a chance to win some great prizes!
We want to help you make a difference!
www.sussexbestever.com
Steve Cork
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
Friday, January 9, 2009
Sussex Charity Health And Fitness Evening!
I've got BIG NEWS -- a major announcement to share with
you.
But first, I want to take a moment to say something
very important -- something I may not say often
enough...
THANK YOU!
I feel fortunate to have you as a subscriber and in
many cases client and I really appreciate your interest
and business during 2008.
We work hard at being the best Fitness Professionals
and being the best fitness resource in Sussex, but we
realize we're not the only choice. This is why we're very
appreciative of your loyalty and grateful for the opportunity
to continue helping you however we can.
So again, thanks!
Now...on to the BIG NEWS!
And this is really BIG - in fact you will probably be
reading about it in the newspaper, possibly hearing
something about it on the radio.
Here's the scoop:
I have teamed up with three other highly respected
Sussex health, fitness and nutrition
professionals to host THE event of the New Year.
It's a 2-hour extravaganza called...
"How To Make 2009 Your Healthiest and Best Year Ever!"
The focus of the entire event is YOU, your body, your
appearance and your health - because without your
health, what do you really have?
And the focus will be on THE most important aspects of
you health - the strategies and techniques that
radically and rapidly improve your quality of life.
This special event will also help raise much needed
funds for St Peters and St James Hospice.
Plus, you'll have an opportunity to win some of the
£1,000 in prizes we'll be giving away at the event.
Wait until you see what we have in store for you!
You can get the entire story by clicking the link below
- or copy and paste it into your browser window:
http://sussexbestever.com/
We are putting on this event for three reasons:
1. We want to give back to the wonderful Sussex
community that supports our businesses.
2. We want to challenge Sussex residents to make 2009
your best year ever, and
3. We want to raise money for a very worthy charitable
cause.
In the spirit of the season, we are not charging
anything for you to attend How To Make 2009 Your Best
Year Ever! - all we suggest is that you make a donation to
St Peters and St James Hospice.
So you can help yourself and help others at the same
time.
In my book, that's a BIG WINNER. I hope you agree.
Go to our website right now to get all the details
about "How To Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever!"
Just click the link below or copy and paste it into
your browser window:
http://sussexbestever.com/
I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Ben Davis and Steve Cork
Sussex Bootcamps
P.S. This is a rare opportunity to learn all the inside
secrets from Sussex's most respected and in-demand
health, fitness, and nutrition experts. The event is
perfect for men and women of all
ages. I encourage you to tell your family and friends
about "How To Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever" by forwarding
them this email. They are welcome to attend also - and they'll
certainly thank you for sharing the good news with them.
you.
But first, I want to take a moment to say something
very important -- something I may not say often
enough...
THANK YOU!
I feel fortunate to have you as a subscriber and in
many cases client and I really appreciate your interest
and business during 2008.
We work hard at being the best Fitness Professionals
and being the best fitness resource in Sussex, but we
realize we're not the only choice. This is why we're very
appreciative of your loyalty and grateful for the opportunity
to continue helping you however we can.
So again, thanks!
Now...on to the BIG NEWS!
And this is really BIG - in fact you will probably be
reading about it in the newspaper, possibly hearing
something about it on the radio.
Here's the scoop:
I have teamed up with three other highly respected
Sussex health, fitness and nutrition
professionals to host THE event of the New Year.
It's a 2-hour extravaganza called...
"How To Make 2009 Your Healthiest and Best Year Ever!"
The focus of the entire event is YOU, your body, your
appearance and your health - because without your
health, what do you really have?
And the focus will be on THE most important aspects of
you health - the strategies and techniques that
radically and rapidly improve your quality of life.
This special event will also help raise much needed
funds for St Peters and St James Hospice.
Plus, you'll have an opportunity to win some of the
£1,000 in prizes we'll be giving away at the event.
Wait until you see what we have in store for you!
You can get the entire story by clicking the link below
- or copy and paste it into your browser window:
http://sussexbestever.com/
We are putting on this event for three reasons:
1. We want to give back to the wonderful Sussex
community that supports our businesses.
2. We want to challenge Sussex residents to make 2009
your best year ever, and
3. We want to raise money for a very worthy charitable
cause.
In the spirit of the season, we are not charging
anything for you to attend How To Make 2009 Your Best
Year Ever! - all we suggest is that you make a donation to
St Peters and St James Hospice.
So you can help yourself and help others at the same
time.
In my book, that's a BIG WINNER. I hope you agree.
Go to our website right now to get all the details
about "How To Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever!"
Just click the link below or copy and paste it into
your browser window:
http://sussexbestever.com/
I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Ben Davis and Steve Cork
Sussex Bootcamps
P.S. This is a rare opportunity to learn all the inside
secrets from Sussex's most respected and in-demand
health, fitness, and nutrition experts. The event is
perfect for men and women of all
ages. I encourage you to tell your family and friends
about "How To Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever" by forwarding
them this email. They are welcome to attend also - and they'll
certainly thank you for sharing the good news with them.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Embrace The Challenge!
**MAGIC 100 ALERT!! - START YOUR YEAR WITH THE MOST AMAZING 100 DAYS - AND THEN BUILD ON IT AGAIN AND AGAIN - CLICK THE LINK ON THE RIGHT, YOU'LL BE HAPPY YOU DID!**
Here is something you need to do in order to take things to the next level - or even just easily sustain your efforts.
Find a challenge, maybe something you have never done before, not done for a long time, or something familiar but with a twist!
It's great if you are motivated purely by keeping fit, being active and the feeling that comes with this.
Many people however are not!
This is where you want to get specific on some fitness or activity challenges.
Competing at a sport or in an event is one great way to focus your efforts. And don't put this off until some distant date, you'll probably learn far more and meet some great people by jumping in at the deep end and going for sooner rather than later.
Have fun with it! Don't insist on perfection or being the best just have a blast!
If you track your numbers - probably most easily done with weights or numbers on some kind of fitness machine, you have a great way to compete against yourself, or workout partners.
If you don't want to restrict this to something local, get online and find some places where you can post your workouts - enter into some friendly competition this way.
There are gym challenges, concept 2 indoor rowing events, outdoor events etc, etc.
I'm all for competing against yourself but sometimes it's good to check in with what others can do.
This can be a massive wake up call, and can be great for re-setting your beliefs for what is possible. Hopefully at some point you will get some reassurance that you're doing pretty well in at least some areas.
I sometimes use types of challenge in classes or bootcamps - usually of the variety of a set of exercises and seeing how much can be done in a given time.
One challenge i'll be having another crack at shortly will be the 100 burpees as fast as possible. It's been quite a while since i first did this, and this time i'll beat my old time (i hope) and video it for your pleasure!
Cheers,
Steve Cork
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
P.S. New Bootcamp starts Mon 5th Jan - hear we go again, it's going to be a great year!
Here is something you need to do in order to take things to the next level - or even just easily sustain your efforts.
Find a challenge, maybe something you have never done before, not done for a long time, or something familiar but with a twist!
It's great if you are motivated purely by keeping fit, being active and the feeling that comes with this.
Many people however are not!
This is where you want to get specific on some fitness or activity challenges.
Competing at a sport or in an event is one great way to focus your efforts. And don't put this off until some distant date, you'll probably learn far more and meet some great people by jumping in at the deep end and going for sooner rather than later.
Have fun with it! Don't insist on perfection or being the best just have a blast!
If you track your numbers - probably most easily done with weights or numbers on some kind of fitness machine, you have a great way to compete against yourself, or workout partners.
If you don't want to restrict this to something local, get online and find some places where you can post your workouts - enter into some friendly competition this way.
There are gym challenges, concept 2 indoor rowing events, outdoor events etc, etc.
I'm all for competing against yourself but sometimes it's good to check in with what others can do.
This can be a massive wake up call, and can be great for re-setting your beliefs for what is possible. Hopefully at some point you will get some reassurance that you're doing pretty well in at least some areas.
I sometimes use types of challenge in classes or bootcamps - usually of the variety of a set of exercises and seeing how much can be done in a given time.
One challenge i'll be having another crack at shortly will be the 100 burpees as fast as possible. It's been quite a while since i first did this, and this time i'll beat my old time (i hope) and video it for your pleasure!
Cheers,
Steve Cork
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
P.S. New Bootcamp starts Mon 5th Jan - hear we go again, it's going to be a great year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
What Does The New Year Hold For You??
Firstly a Happy New Year to you!
New Year can be just another day, exactly the same as any other. I prefer to give it some significance by seeing it as a time for reflection and renewal. How do you approach it?
I don't really liken this to New Year resolutions though - that seems to have a negative association to something that doesn't get done!
I tend to set and re-set goals throughout the year anyway so i'm never that far from having thought about and hopefully acted on this.
New Year is a great time to do it though as we have that whole convenient 12 month block out in front of us. Where do you want to be by the end of 2009?
Too many people seem to be limited by a lack of imagination, belief, and action.
You could just throw a few things out there and weekly 'try' to make a few changes. Or you could use a system to really help you make a difference. Something that helps you stay focused, motivated and taking that all important action.
I recommend clicking on the 'Magic 100' link on the right hand side of this page.
I seriously recommend you do this, read what the page has to say and then buy yourself a copy. It will be the best belated Christmas gift you could give yourself.
This is not something you buy and use once, but a system you can use over and over again.
Guess what? I make a few pounds if you purchase through this link. Even if i didn't i would still be recommending you go and get it.
Why? Because i truly want you to be more, do more, and have more in your life. I want you to realise your wildest dreams!
Does it help you or anyone else to just keep living the same life and not be happy about it? Absolutely not.
Here is a secret for you! Sometimes fitness training is not about fitness. That can be just a surface benefit. Often the benefits go way beyond even the health benefits, into improving confidence, self esteem, relationships, energy levels, attitude to life etc.
I love improving people's fitness and health. I love it even more when this touches every aspect of someone's life.
Use the Magic 100 to purposely enhance all aspects of your life and you could be looking at making the first 100 days of 2009 your best ever!
I'm working on my Magic 100 today and tommorrow. Whether or not your do the same, i hope you do what you need to, to make 2009 a great year.
To your success, health and happiness!
Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
New Year can be just another day, exactly the same as any other. I prefer to give it some significance by seeing it as a time for reflection and renewal. How do you approach it?
I don't really liken this to New Year resolutions though - that seems to have a negative association to something that doesn't get done!
I tend to set and re-set goals throughout the year anyway so i'm never that far from having thought about and hopefully acted on this.
New Year is a great time to do it though as we have that whole convenient 12 month block out in front of us. Where do you want to be by the end of 2009?
Too many people seem to be limited by a lack of imagination, belief, and action.
You could just throw a few things out there and weekly 'try' to make a few changes. Or you could use a system to really help you make a difference. Something that helps you stay focused, motivated and taking that all important action.
I recommend clicking on the 'Magic 100' link on the right hand side of this page.
I seriously recommend you do this, read what the page has to say and then buy yourself a copy. It will be the best belated Christmas gift you could give yourself.
This is not something you buy and use once, but a system you can use over and over again.
Guess what? I make a few pounds if you purchase through this link. Even if i didn't i would still be recommending you go and get it.
Why? Because i truly want you to be more, do more, and have more in your life. I want you to realise your wildest dreams!
Does it help you or anyone else to just keep living the same life and not be happy about it? Absolutely not.
Here is a secret for you! Sometimes fitness training is not about fitness. That can be just a surface benefit. Often the benefits go way beyond even the health benefits, into improving confidence, self esteem, relationships, energy levels, attitude to life etc.
I love improving people's fitness and health. I love it even more when this touches every aspect of someone's life.
Use the Magic 100 to purposely enhance all aspects of your life and you could be looking at making the first 100 days of 2009 your best ever!
I'm working on my Magic 100 today and tommorrow. Whether or not your do the same, i hope you do what you need to, to make 2009 a great year.
To your success, health and happiness!
Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
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