[fitness] Active Rest

[smackshack]

(Potential triggers: exercise, diet, weight, male-female relations.)

The CrossFit studio declared that this week would be devoted to active rest (or "spring cleaning"). Normal classes would be suspended, but special seminar classes would be held instead; just sign up for what interests you.

So on Tuesday I attended a class devoted to core exercise and myofascial stretching designed to improve stability and prevent injury. It turns out I was the only guy in a class of 15 women, and the class was about kegel exercises and how to make them the foundation of one's posture in exercise and daily life. I had gone in expecting to be tutored in the finer points of planks and crunches and back extensions, but it was a fascinating class anyway. I can see how the principles and practices taught would help a person regardless of sex.

The social dynamic was a little bit weird---I found myself volunteering to be the demonstratee a couple of times because nobody else seemed to be willing to do it, and it's unclear to me whether that's because:

• I've never gotten over my classroom habit of raising my hand and saying "Ooo! Pick me!"
• Women are uncomfortable putting themselves forward when guys are around
• I'm running on "man-time," as a woman friend suggested later, and I just got impatient faster than any of the women present

I suppose any or none of these factors might have been involved. The net effect was strangely junior-high-ish, but maybe that was just me. I confess I skedaddled pretty quickly after the class was over. But I still wonder if I was a an impatient jerk or if I was just being kind by taking pity on the instructor who seemed embarrassed that it was so difficult to get a volunteer. Could I have been both at once?

On Thursday I took a class in "POSE" running, and this turned out to be interesting as well, an attempt to teach people to run naturally (that is, like a barefoot person on an African savanna) instead of in the heel-striking mode encouraged by modern, thick-soled athletic shoes. I enjoyed the training a lot, but when it came to running for distance, I found myself becoming fatigued very quickly. If I decide to do this, it will clearly require a lot of work.

On the other days I did a bit of jogging and a bit of walking, but in a very relaxed manner.

I also relaxed my diet restrictions. Since I started exercising and watching my diet at the start of the year, I've lost about 30 pounds, and I'm now hovering right around 200 lbs. I want to lose more, but I've been stuck for a couple of weeks now. I hope that giving myself a week to eat a bit more freely and drink a few more Mexican martinis than usual will mean I can go back on the wagon without too many regrets.

Comments

[daedala]

I was reading the interwebs a few weeks ago and found some interesting reports about POSE. You might want to poke around in that site.

[smackshack]

That's some great material. Thank you! Based on personal experience it seems obvious that attempting to switch from "typical" running to POSE cold-turkey would be a great way to injure oneself. On the other hand I sometimes find that doing a kind of half-POSE thing -- shortened stride, forward center of gravity, but maybe not the full-on run-on-forefoot technique -- really feels good. Count me curious but wary.

[martyna]

Sounds like the spring cleaning turned out good for you! :)