It's About More Than Just The Gym

Getting better at what we do in the gym is great—there’s no doubt about it. But, more than just the gratification that comes with knowing we’re making improvements in class, the true reason for our hard work is that we want to be more capable people in the real world, right?

Sure, deadlifts are a chance to test and measure how strong we are, but if that’s all they are, we’re missing the point. More than just a feat of strength, lifting weights is our way of working to maintain the strongest and most mechanically advantageous positions we can as we safely move something from point A to point B.

How about push-ups? They’re a great way to build strength in our arms and upper body, and are a measure to test capacity, but done correctly, the basic push-up position also just represents a stable position from which we can generate force and power. The next time you’re helping someone push their car out of a snowbank, think about the position you get into before you start working: it should look just like a vertical push-up.

Or, the most basic of all: running. Sure, sprints are one of the most effective methods we have readily available for developing our conditioning, but every time we run here at the gym, we’re also building a solid movement pattern that should help us move as quickly and efficiently as possible should we need to in a pinch.

If we train to make moving well second-nature when we’re in the gym, we know we’re going to resort to quality positions when we’re not thinking about it!

It couldn’t make me happier when I see someone lift a weight that they previously weren’t capable of, or become competent with a movement that they previously struggled with, but it’s so important that we keep in mind that what we’re doing here goes way beyond just gym-specific accomplishments. How are you putting to work what you’re learning in class? Or, better yet, how is what you’re learning here helping you to do more in everyday life?

There are hopefully countless ways to apply what we learn in the gym to what we do in the real world. My hope is that, instead of just trying to work as hard as possible each time you exercise, you can keep in mind the true benefits of refining your efforts so you are able to take full advantage of what you've accomplished!