During
March we hold a month long challenge that encompasses duration cardio and intervals,
upper/lower body splits and a couple benchmark workouts. One of the benchmark workouts is a “Spartan”
workout and I put a small group of the participants through the workout. Steve was a late entry to this group, and he
was so excited after that he wanted to write a piece about his experience.
Last
week was an interesting day at the gym to say the least. I was just getting off
the treadmill having completed a 10 minute warmup when I saw a group of people
gearing up for a "Spartan Style" workout with Big Joe. I was
intrigued by the eclectic group that was about to embark on an undoubtedly
intense workout. As I was just walking away to the bench press to begin another
uninspired workout, I was encourage by Joe to join the group and give it a try.
Immediately my mind began to delve into its typical thought pattern of excuses.
"Nahhh, the hip kinda hurts today." Or "Uh, thanks but I haven't
been working out much so I wouldn't be able to keep up, blah blah blah."
But today was different. Something was pulling me right into the group and I wasn't quite sure what it was. I could feel a vibrant energy brewing within the group as a few members encouraged me to join them. This energy trumped the laziness of my mind and I joined up. After a quick rundown of the exercises by Joe it was go time. 3 minutes in I was breathing heavy and was looking longingly at the bench press and of the comfort of an easy workout. That self -defeating thought only lasted a moment as another member encouraged me to get back up on the pull up bar like Dan Henderson training for a Rampage Jackson fight . Bam! The endless chatter of my mind started to fall away as I entered a deeper state of flow. It seemed as if the other members were right there with me as I observed them doing the tough reps with more ease. Joe kept the pace high with encouragement and adjustments to technique. That, I feel, was the biggest benefit of the workout. Its one thing to be in a group and have some good energy to get you through a tough workout. Its of WAY more benefit to be accompanied by a personal trainer such as Joe who is there to to make sure no one gets injured. A case in point, when I was doing some difficult plyometric jumps Joe observed my knees collapsing in which I wasn't aware of. As some of us know, middle age can be a ripe time for injuries from bad technique that our younger bodies could get away with. Bad habits have a way of perpetuating without to oversight of a good trainer and I'm thankful Joe was there to catch my bad form.
But today was different. Something was pulling me right into the group and I wasn't quite sure what it was. I could feel a vibrant energy brewing within the group as a few members encouraged me to join them. This energy trumped the laziness of my mind and I joined up. After a quick rundown of the exercises by Joe it was go time. 3 minutes in I was breathing heavy and was looking longingly at the bench press and of the comfort of an easy workout. That self -defeating thought only lasted a moment as another member encouraged me to get back up on the pull up bar like Dan Henderson training for a Rampage Jackson fight . Bam! The endless chatter of my mind started to fall away as I entered a deeper state of flow. It seemed as if the other members were right there with me as I observed them doing the tough reps with more ease. Joe kept the pace high with encouragement and adjustments to technique. That, I feel, was the biggest benefit of the workout. Its one thing to be in a group and have some good energy to get you through a tough workout. Its of WAY more benefit to be accompanied by a personal trainer such as Joe who is there to to make sure no one gets injured. A case in point, when I was doing some difficult plyometric jumps Joe observed my knees collapsing in which I wasn't aware of. As some of us know, middle age can be a ripe time for injuries from bad technique that our younger bodies could get away with. Bad habits have a way of perpetuating without to oversight of a good trainer and I'm thankful Joe was there to catch my bad form.
After about 40 minutes the workout was finished and it was
now time for some high fives as the endorphins started kicking in. This is why
we go to the gym, is it not? For that endorphin rush which is the body's way of
giving thanks for a strong effort towards a healthier existence. I'm now
friendly with two of the members of that group who I had previously never met.
They ask me to ask Joe (they are a bit intimidated by him) if he can continue
this Spartan Friday for months to come. I believe they intuitively understood
something special happens when you have the right energy with the right
trainer. Who knows? Maybe this will catch on sometime soon at our club. But
until next time, Happy Trails in the name of Health!!
