Overcoming Weaknesses for Lifelong Fitness!
I may not be as young as I used to be, and I bet you can relate 😉. As we age, our bodies go through all sorts of adventures—accidents, injuries, and even the joy of pregnancy. And let's not forget those surgeries and treatments that leave their mark. Our bodies just don't bounce back like they did in our younger days.
Now, some of us may not have experienced any of these wild escapades, but we still find ourselves with imbalances in strength, stability, and flexibility. Blame it on those muscle groups that got a little too much attention while others felt left out.
Life has a way of leaving us with physical imbalances and weaknesses. It's just a fact. We learn to compensate, but deep down, we know we're not really fixing the underlying issues. Then one day, the desire to "get into shape" strikes, and we start pushing those weaker parts of our bodies. And guess what? Things don't go as planned.
Here's the usual scenario we've seen unfold at other gyms:
Someone decides to improve their life and starts training with us. They find everything challenging but don't realize any particular area is tougher than the rest.
Despite subtle hints from their body, they keep pushing hard, determined to reach their goals.
A coach, ever watchful, notices imperfect movement patterns and offers cues during training to improve form.
They keep training, and as their fitness improves, the hints from their body become less subtle.
The coach suggests some quick interventions—exercises they can do at the gym or at home—to address the issue. But alas, quick fixes can only do so much.
Often, people don't make the time to do these interventions, and they end up with chronic pain, injuries, or no improvement in that troublesome area.
That's quite a detour from their initial goal of improving their life. In fact, it could be the opposite! And that's not what we want at Timber and Steel. Our goal is to bring you closer to health every day.
Our training methods are infinitely adaptable for all levels of ability. But sometimes, the best solution isn't feasible in a group training setting.
Here is an example:
Imagine a 45-year-old woman who joins our gym. She's generally healthy, except for some lingering hip and back issues from her years of softball. She's excited to join one of our small group classes. However, due to years of compensating for those old injuries, her ability to hinge at the hips is compromised in terms of both stability and range of motion.
To truly thrive in the group classes, she needs to address and fix that weakness. Personal training is the ideal option for her. In personal training, we can thoroughly assess her weakness, design exercises that retrain her body to move properly, improve her range of motion, and enhance stability. As she progresses, we gradually introduce more challenging demands, ensuring continuous improvement and a return to "normal" function as much as possible.
Fixing such issues is challenging to accomplish in a group class. Sure, we can modify movements to avoid pain, but that won't fix the root problem. On the surface, it makes perfect sense, but in practice, we often encounter a bit of ego (even if we deny it) from some folks who believe personal training for addressing weaknesses is beneath them. They see themselves as more advanced.
Being physically fit isn't just about breaking a sweat and pushing yourself hard every day. It's about placing value on your health and well-being and doing what's necessary to enhance your overall wellness for years to come. Remember, incremental progress is always better than no progress or, worse, reversing progress. Take full advantage of the tools and resources at your disposal to improve your health. Look at personal training through the lens of addressing and fixing your weaknesses. It's a wise investment in your long-term well-being.
