Thursday, May 15, 2008

Strength

As we grow older, our levels of strength and mobility define our quality of life (whether we like it or not). There is no excuse for not developing or maintaining strength--neither age, nor sex, nor race, nor injury, NOR displeasure or discomfort stemming from the thought or practice of training.

When I train my clients, I remain sensitive to the limitations each brings with him or her. Understand that I will never ask any of you to perform exercises that are unsound. Having said this, everyone must accept that training can be unpleasant, life doesn't care that you don't like certain exercises, and that you must, therefore, train in ways that are uncomfortable in order to meet life's demands, or else risk sustaining a truly devastating injury outside of the gym.

If you experience sharp, stabbing pains--the kind which threaten to throw you off kilter--then you should never continue with a given exercise. However, the fact that you are uncomfortable, or that you just don't "like" an exercise, does not fly with me. If you're having difficulty performing an exercise, then you should probably invest time in discovering why this is the case--with my help, of course--so that we can make adjustments and continue to move forward. Always come prepared to do your best and work hard, no excuses.

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