To gym or not to gym?
Posted on | May 10, 2008 | No Comments
Is gym = fitness?
(duh! gym is where we get fit, everybody knows THAT)
Ok, ok – many do go to the gym in search of better fitness, better body and better health. (thank you commercials..) But does it work? Is trip to a gym an ultimate way to a better, stronger body and improved health?
Dangers of gym training
* Reinforces improper muscle memory
* Puts more strength on top of dysfunction
* Brings body out of balance
Reinforces Improper Muscle Memory
We all have muscle memory – the way our muscles activate. It determines how we move.
If Joe sits all day in front of a computer his shoulders will soon become rolled forward. The prolonged seating position will make chest muscles short and lengthen back muscles in Joe’s body. Muscles will remember this position. Chest muscles will remain shortened and back muscles will remain lengthened even after Joe gets up and head to a gym.
As a result of Joe’s posture and muscle memory, his back is very weak. Pushing exercises will be much easier to perform and Joe will stick with a variety of Chest Presses, Pushups, and Dumbbell Presses. He will do exercises for his back but since his back is weak and tends to compensate – his arm will do most of his work.
The result? His chest muscles will get even tighter and back muscles will get longer and weaker.
Joe is putting more strength on top of his dysfunction.
As Joe goes through his training and gains muscle his chest/back imbalance will become more and more pronounced as the time goes by.
Gym exercises bring body out of balance
Gym fitness machines and even free weight training is primarily isolation based. In other words, we find a muscle that we WANT to work and then we work it.
We don’t ask ourselves whether we NEED to work the muscle that we are working.
Most often during our workouts we are making the muscles stronger that do not need further strengthening (remember Joe?). We are putting more strength on top our dysfunction and getting closer and closer to injury.
The answer?
Full body exercise – in one movement we are engaging ALL muscles.
Since ALL muscle are activated our body must work as one unit. Weak links are revealed immediately and taken care of.
This is why Russian Kettlebell and Obstacle Course Training are far superior methods of training and preventing injuries and pain.
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