The three laws of fitness
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/02/2016 (3571 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
This week, I’m attempting to reduce fitness down to three essential laws.
I could have made this article about the five laws of fitness or the 10 laws of fitness, but when it really comes down to it, most of the things we fret about in our workouts don’t matter all that much.
We worry about whether we should run sprints or long distance, whether we should do yoga or tai chi, whether we should do pullups or chinups, push press or bench press, Tabata intervals or circuit training. The list goes on and on. These are trivial details. Here’s what really matters.
The first law of fitness: Better form means better fitness. In physical culture, technique trumps everything. For example, if you don’t take the time to learn proper running technique, your times will suffer and you’re more likely to sustain injuries in the process. In strength training, if you do shoddy half squats, you are just not experiencing the full benefit of this amazing exercise. Every sport or physical discipline has an element of technique; from weightlifting to martial arts, from calisthenics to running. If you don’t endeavour to move with purpose and virtuosity, you are wasting your time.
The second law of fitness: Results require consistency. To get better at something you have to actually do it. Not only that, but you have to do it often enough to convince your body that it should adapt. Each time you do an exercise, you are essentially practicing. Not only does your technique improve as your brain builds new neural pathways, but your body physically adapts to improve its capacity to perform the exercise. For this to happen, you must repeat the exercise over and over again.
The third law of fitness: Progress depends upon rest and refuelling. Without sleep and proper nutrition, you won’t see the results you want at the gym or in sport. Fitness is a whole-body endeavour. The brain needs to be well fed to ensure focus on technique and the body needs to be well rested to ensure consistency in training. This means good sleep and good food.Really, the most important rule is that there are no rules. Do something you love, and do it with passion, mindfulness, and conviction.
Once this is in place it’s easy to work on technique, to do it often and to take good care of yourself in the process.
Tania Tetrault Vrga is owner and headtrainer at CrossFit Winnipeg. Send questions to her at www.crossfitwinnipeg.com.