Nerves of steel

I mentioned briefly about your nervous system and want to delve a little bit deeper into how it gets information from your brain to your muscles and vis versa.  The nervous system consists of 2 parts brain and nerves and we can break that down again and your spinal cord and the brain make up the central nervous system, all communications in your body run through these two pieces whether it be a commands or feedback. Quickly we are going to go over the autonamic and somatic nervous systems and the tremedous amount of work they do in our everyday lives.

Your spinal cord houses the Autonomic nervous system which operates largely below the level of consciousness and conveys messages from all of the organs in our chest, abdomen and pelvis. For example, it manages our “fight and flight” responses (adreinal glands), our “rest and digest” responses. It looks after the automatic activities of our heart and blood vessels and plays an important part in sexual response and bladder control.

The somatic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for carrying motor and sensory information both to and from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). This system is made up of nerves that connect to the skin, sensory organs and all skeletal muscles. The system is responsible for nearly all voluntary muscle movements as well as for processing sensory information that arrives via external stimuli including hearing, touch and sight.  This is odviously the one we consciously use in crossfit and everyday life.  This is the nervous system that is also being 'warmed up' when we are doing pre-WOD warm ups. Just like muscles before you can exert maximal load or high intensity functional movements we as humans need to wake up our nervous system and prime it for these activities.

So what does all this hoopla mean? This means your nervous systems are complex and just like anything else needs to be trained and also need rest.  If you try to max out your back squat every day for 3 weeks your will probably never see improvement.  That isn't to say your muscles are not getting stronger but your nervous system in all its complexity may be having issues copping with the strain your are placing upon it.  Just like your muscles your nervous system needs to be warmed up too and can get tired after hard work.  This is why getting 8-9 hours of sleep is so important yor not just giving your muscles a break your are also letting your nervous system recouperate as well.  Your take away from this is, its not just your muscles that have to do the work it is also your mind and nerves.  If you are frustrated with a movement and it just isn't happening for you take a moment clear your mind, let your muscles relax and take a few slow controled breaths and than try again.

Skillz do you got 'em?

You know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills...

Skills are a mainstay of crossfit.  Snatchs, Clean & Jerks, muscle ups, and pistol squats can all be classified as skilled movements.  Each one takes a level of physical and mental competence to accomplish. These movements must be learned and require a level of maintenance.  Almost everyone is capable of executing these skilled movements, however there are some road blocks that must be ironed out.  The first being your nervous system.  If you have not attempted a muscle up but you can do 3 pullups and 3 ring dips the only thing you are lacking is the muscle memory.  Obtaining this kinesthetic awareness (body awareness) is extremely important as your progress in your crossfit lifestyle. This kinesthetic awareness connects the brain with your muscles via your nervous system superhighway and helps you organize the order in which the muscles must fire for you to successfully complete the skill.  Once you get the movement then you must practice.  Even if you are extremely tired after a workout just a few minutes going through the progressions will aid you in the next time you come across that movement.

Fitness a state of mind?



Being smart, working hard and never quitting = Results



While looking over the interwebz I saw an add that made me think.  It said "Fitness is a state of mind" my first reaction was to cry 'bullshit'.  But, it did make me think about how people are trying to sell their product i.e. gym memberships.  I know adds of this nature can be taken in many different ways.  But, when I read this the little crossfit cultist inside me grabbed his fiery torch and starts screaming "Burn the heretics". Most wouldn't be offended by this add.  Fitness isn't a state of mind, fitness is a state of being. Your mind, body and spirit have to be in sync.  If one or the other is out of whack then everything will suffer.  People can't think there way into being fit and they can't mindlessly work themselves into it either and if their spirit isn't committed than they will eventually falter.  To be in crossfit and to be fit you have to go in knowing what you want and have an understanding of the techniques being used or be willing to learn them and invest time into those movements.  You have to be physically primed and read (eating right, drink enough water and get adequate sleep) and you must have the will (i.e. spirit) to hold on to the bar or pick it up if you do drop it and most of all never quit.   We all workout for many different reasons.  Some want to become healthier individuals, some want to push the bounds of their human capacity and some want to be competitive in the sport of crossfit.  But, not one of us is going to sit there and say thinking about it is going to make us fit.  Globo gyms aren't marketing fitness, they want people to sign the dotted line so they can charge them $30 a month for something they hope you never use.  And by an act of self motivation you do regularly show up to their nice air conditioned facility and your not seeing results, just remember "Fitness is a state of mind" so as long as your making an attempt you are getting fit... I guess. 

I wonder what these two are thinking about?

In crossfit gym, we take joy in people doing a workout faster, executing a snatch perfectly or just getting a kipping pull up.  My greatest joy is seeing people come in and learn something faster than I did because it means we as trainers have found better ways to teach someone to succeed.  Something tells me the trainer at Globo Gym X doesn't get that same type of joy when their (insert client here) isolates their glutes on the Nautilus machine.  When participating crossfit there is a 3-15minute period where your brain needs to be completely invested in that moment.  Not day dreaming about sandy beachs, food or rippling muscles.  You need to be invested in what your doing right this instant.  Our minds and bodies need to be in ever exhausting moment of the workout.  We become mentally stronger.  It is painful, it is hard and yes your lungs feel as though you are breathing hot coals.  But, what we feel when it is over trumps all that.  We accomplished something great! Doesn't matter if you used 10 lbs or 100 kg.  You did it and you never gave up. Client/Athlete success is what a trainer lives for, it's why I do, it is why ever instructor at Soco does it and its why we will keep training people.  Fitness is a lifestyle.

Keep drinking the Cool-Aid.