Is your “why” (you work out) being realized (PART I)
Before delving deeper into these questions, let's explore another crucial concept: Adaptive Capacity. Your adaptive capacity refers to your ability to effectively respond to the environment you are currently in, whether it's your home, workplace, or recreational space. It comprises three essential features:
Awareness: Making the invisible visible.
Intention: Providing direction.
Attention: Being fully available.
So, how is your adaptive capacity?
Efficient adaptation involves noticing things that were once overlooked in terms of how your body interacts with and responds to both itself and its environment. This process is about making the invisible visible. For instance, consider the act of bending forward to pick something up from the floor. Many people instinctively bend at the waist without realizing the tremendous focused force and stress this places on the lower back. Over time, this can lead to strain and damage to the lower back joints and connective tissues, resulting in pain.
Imagine having the ability to recognize and perceive the difference between an efficient and inefficient adaptation to a particular body activity as it occurs and being capable of modifying your poor movement behavior with a better one. Achieving this requires attentiveness to the process, which you can learn more about here.
Now, let's revisit the original question: "Is Your 'Why' for Working Out Being Realized?" Reflect on your current approach to conditioning your body and determine whether it aligns with your purpose for working out. If you find that physical tasks around the house or the demands of your occupation leave you feeling sore, stiff, and uncomfortable despite your conditioning efforts, it may be time to consider a change.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach, so try incorporating various types of conditioning into your routine. This might include yoga, bodyweight calisthenics, running on different terrains, free weights like dumbbells and kettlebells, basic gymnastic strength training, and floor exercises. You don't necessarily need to change the exercises themselves; instead, focus on modifying how you execute them.
I'd love to hear how these changes work out for you.
Until next time... Move Better.
