Balance and Stability in Uncertain Times

Balance and Stability
What it means in the gym and what it means to you today

At 614Fitness we have themes each month in our Small Group Training curriculum:

• Endurance
• Strength
• Balance and Stability
• Challenge​

​Those workout themes are more than a framework for our exercises, they represent everything we work out for… the core values or essence of 614Fitness. The last article focused on Endurance. This week: Balance and Stability...

Balance and Stability
To be honest I was having a hard time writing this week’s article. Finding balance and stability has been a real challenge for me these past 2 weeks.
I won’t travail you with all the details, but the 14 hour days and sleepless nights have contributed to my own imbalance and instability. I am not practicing what I preach. So I had to get back to basics. 
I had an epiphany:
When we are training our members in Balance and Stability week, we often make adaptations and modifications to ensure the efficacy of a movement and create success. Well, I discovered that the same thing applies in life. Especially right now when our balance and stability is thrown off. 

<< Test First Name >>, Here are some of the adaptations and modifications that are helping me and might help you right now:

1.
Hold on to Something
 Oftentimes, you have seen me  pullout my famous stick for a member to use to support the exercise to get the maximum benefit. The same thing applies today. Find something to hold on to in these turbulent times. One of our members whose job is either at home or traveling all over the Midwest gave us some solid advice: “Keep things as normal as possible, find a routine and control what you can.”
Find something in your world to hang on to for support… especially right now. For me, My wife Susan and all our trainers are my sticks of support

2.
Don't be Afraid to Modify a Little Bit
Sometimes , a tiny tweak can make the difference in completing a task or pushing the challenge harder. For example, dropping to your knees in a push up makes the task a little easier. You still accomplish a lot, but you gave yourself permission to succeed another way. Maybe it’s changing your eating or sleeping habits. Maybe it’s meditating or taking more walks. Modifying your world just a little can restore your balance and stability.

3.
Fail, and Try Again
During Balance and Stability week in SGT we often put our members in uncomfortable positions to do a common exercise. Like standing on a balance disc to do rope slams. We fall off and look silly a few times before it finally kicks in and the task gets easier. Same thing during this crisis. Everything is new, throwing us off balance. We have to allow ourselves those initial failures, but have the perseverance to get right back on it again. 
      As an editorial sidebar here, I want to thank all of our members who have been so patient and gracious as we’ve rolled out our virtual training. We fell off the disc a few times, but we are getting back on and getting better at it as we go!
4.
Recognize the Energy it Takes
One of our members famously noted: “Ever notice how quiet it is during balance week. We are focused so hard we can’t talk!”
It’s true, I burn more calories in Balance and Stability than any other week, even cardio. Being off balance and trying to perform basic tasks takes an extraordinary amount of energy. You mind and body have to focus in new and different ways. And that takes energy. So when you are off balance - as we are right now with the changes and adaptations that have been thrust upon us - recognize that you are expending more energy. Get your sleep, plan your recovery time, implement strategies that recharge your battery. Now even more than ever.

5.
Know that it will end
One of our trainers, Josh, used to yell. “ONLY 45 SECONDS, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING FOR 45 SECONDS!” 
When you’re training, we know you look over to that timer to see how much more you have to endure. But that timer always dings. The exercise always stops. And the challenge is always met. This time of crisis and uncertainty will end. We can’t see the timer, I get that. But it’s out there. We can get through this!

Hang on to something and modify your world a little bit. Know that you may fail a few times before you get it right and understand the amount of fortitude and energy this whole mess is requiring.

I hope this helps. Hang in there and stay strong, stay safe and stay healthy!

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