EVERY WORKOUT HAS THE POWER TO TEACH US SOMETHING…
Whether you’re about to begin workout 1 or workout 1000 the potential to learn something new is always there. We start some workouts with the sole aim of practicing specific movements or approaches, and others we have no defined objective besides getting it done. However the underlying rule to both is to be present, mindful and analytical about your performance. This doesn’t mean you have to find something to criticize yourself on, exercise should always aim to be enjoyable and without the added pressure to perform, but to finish a session and to feel like you’ve got something out of it for next time is great.
Learning therefore could be described as the acquisition of information, both tangible and intangible. Information we sift through, think critically about what we’re seeing, hearing or doing and then absorbing the relevant bits. We then analyze what we’ve learnt, experiment and then conclude on the outcome. This sets us up for a more refined and focused learning experience next time. Workouts are the perfect example of this process.
Learning about your body in the context of exercise and movement is so multidimensional that it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start, what to direct your attention on, where to focus your efforts and how to identify what you’re even trying to find out in the first place. This is where having a coach becomes so powerful. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or pro, the fundamentals are always the most important. From these everything else will grow. It could be something as simple as foot placement or bar placement. Small details that make huge differences and which reinforce the need to be present during your workouts. We can streamline our learning experiences in the gym by setting out some clear objectives before we start. And to ensure that our session objectives match our session design. Our learning experience is definitely not restricted to just the physical, the psychological and the emotional part of the jigsaw puzzle is as important and as omnipresent. Learning how to bind the two together overtime will yield powerful results and really do epitomize our successes.
Before you’re about to start your next workout, think about a few of these points and integrate them into your learning experience. Teach yourself about yourself, because what we learn in the gym transcends into all over parts of our lives.
Mindset: Nothing is perfect. We strive for sustained improvements, not perfection. Our mindset often changes before, during and after our workout. But regardless of any change we remain focused on the task at hand, we don’t allow failure to deter us, we embrace the challenge of hardship and we aim to learn where and what we find hardest to accomplish and we star it for next time.
Quality matters: Whether it’s a 1 rep max squat or 100 jump squats we fight to make them as good as they can be. Both movements are very similar but are far removed in their execution. Learn what you need to do to ensure they’re both performed to the highest standard that you’re able to give.
Patience: Whether it’s maximum strength, endurance or new movements, it’s a long road to success. We have to show up week in week out in order to get better. By design we’re quite impatient creatures, even more so in today's society. Having the ability to look towards the horizon and still know that there’s more to come after can help to build and maintain our habits
Habit forming and breaking: Do we have the fortitude to build, mold and retain habits and just as importantly, are we able to break bad ones? Whether behavioural or mechanical, the ability to persevere until something becomes second nature and baked into our existence whilst eliminating anything that might be destructive is a great attribute. It forces us to be objective, honest and frank about how we show up and what we do when we’re there. Don’t let familiarity breed contempt.
Community: There is power in numbers, use your support network to better your learning environment. Having a common purpose and a shared goal not only lessens the burden for you personally but it amplifies your potential for success. Being able to discuss ideas, gain feedback and know that others around you are experiencing similar emotions will keep us on the right path and motivated.
We don’t need to finish each workout feeling that it was better than the last. It’s a futile, arguably impossible endeavor. What we can do, regardless of perceived success or lack of, is to embrace it in whichever form it presents itself. The aim is not to be better than last time, the aim is to be better equipped for next time.