There are a lot of words in the arena of health that to many might sound somewhat interchangeable. Fitness, athletic, strong, conditioned, exercise and training are some of the examples. While some of them might point to slightly different things, what is the difference between fit, in shape and strong? What is the difference between exercise and training? Why would an individual decide to do or become one or the other, and what are the various benefits or drawbacks? This understanding will put us all on the same page as to what it is that Kettlebell Movement is all about. It will help you understand the way we train, the reason we train the way we do, and what benefits you can expect from your practice.
Training is exercise, but exercise isn’t necessarily training. Exercise can make you fit, but not strong, if you want to be strong, then you must train. Your training sessions are a practice, and these two words are somewhat interchangeable depending on the context. Training requires you to become more aware of how to use your body, developing unity between all the various systems. As you progress, you will improve as your nervous system becomes more and more aware of the ability of the physical body it controls. A formula one car in the hands of an inexperienced driver is a recipe for disaster, but if you put the right driver in the car, it can do incredible things. A good practice will turn you into that race car driver, and allow you to use that formula one car that, surprisingly to some, was sitting there all along. As the driver learns the machine, in the case of strength training, the machine also adapts which makes it even more rewarding. With the right practice you will develop strength on the level of the mind and then the body, and bring about countless benefits.
For someone that has never strength trained regularly, it can take years to reach their potential and learn how to use their body in various ways. The same isn’t true for conditioning, this can be achieved quite quickly, because you are being challenged mostly on the physical level. Exercise can condition you or make you fit, and so can training, but training will provide you with a whole host of other benefits. This includes increased functional ability (strength), decreased joint pain, increased energy levels, posture, metabolism all day - every day, and increased production of fat burning hormones. These are benefits that exercise as a general term cannot provide. In fact, if your daily physical practice is endurance running, cycling or any other cardio, there’s an excellent chance you will actually diminish in these areas. Endurance exercise typically causes joint pain, bad posture, cortisol production and often leaves you feeling low energy for the rest of the day.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with this kind of exercise, what I am saying is don’t do these activities with an expectation that they cannot meet. I also encourage you to engage in these activities only after you have developed a sound physical foundation with strength training. One quote you may hear fitness professionals saying is “don’t run to get in shape, get in shape so you can run”. With this in mind, it is also wise to ask yourself what your goal is before doing any exercise. If your goal is to enjoy the scenic landscape and allow your mind to be free, then by all means, hop on a bicycle and go for a long ride, if that’s what you like. Running, hiking, cycling and the like can all be wonderful as a means of clearing your head, moving and enjoying a beautiful day. The more you train, and the more strategic and individualized your practice, the more you will be able to do these kinds of things. Even playing with your children in the park, or boogie boarding at the beach can be some of the most rewarding activities you can do, but they won’t make you stronger!
If your goal is weight loss, then you must start with diet. The specific foods and individual needs to make weight loss occur are beyond the scope of this article, but I wouldn’t want you to start your physical practice with an expectation that it can’t meet. This isn’t to say that your physical practice won’t aid in weight loss and reshaping your body, simply that it is limited by the quality and quantity of what you eat. For some people, the physical practice must come first, simply because the motivation to eat better isn’t there. The physical practice inevitably becomes the catalyst to healthier eating, and thus, weight loss happens until a healthy weight is reached. This is a fine strategy, as long as you know the weight loss, and other benefits of proper nutrition won’t happen until you have a good diet.
Your physical practice should be as individualized as you are a unique being in so many ways, and is dependent upon you listening and learning from what your body is telling you. Learn the areas where you are weak and develop strength, where you are tight and develop mobility, where your posture is poor and work to straighten it out. Move slowly enough so that your mind can be completely immersed in the experience, feeling the contraction, stabilization and lengthening of every muscle you are using. Hold yourself to the highest standard, each move is an opportunity to develop one of two things: good motor patterns or bad motor patterns. This will effect the muscles, the joints, ligaments and tendons in either a positive way or a negative way. The way I see it, if you are going to put in the effort, you should be meticulous about getting as much benefit as possible and not end up with an injury.
Let me wrap this up with one more thought. The tradition of strongman, kettlebell training and even martial arts and yoga are all about efficiency. Learning to generate power in the most efficient way possible, and learning to keep anything heavy, including your own body, in the position that it will feel the lightest. This is why there is so much technique involved in these traditions. The first thing you must do is learn the most efficient route to creating the movement you want, and then practice it until you can’t get it wrong. This applies in the real world and also in any activity or exercise you participate in. You don’t have to be the most muscle bound person, or even have conditioning for days if you are far more efficient. Learn to do more with less, with your body, equipment and even your schedule. You shouldn’t need supplements, limitless machines and gadgets or half a day in the gym to maximize your results.
