Presence in Strength Training — The Code of Restraint

Hello there, and welcome back to my series on bringing presence to strength training.

One of my big ambitions has been to bring Yoga into strength training, and to bring strength back to westernized Yoga. My dream has been to find a balance between the two.  You see, they’re better together.

Last week, I offered some physical practices to help you get back in your body. Today, we’ll turn inward and discuss our values. A value is a principle, a standard of behavior. It’s something that we hold true, and it’s a guide on our journey of life.

My questions for you:

1. What are your values when it comes to movement? What do you stand for?
2. What do you want to experience in your body right now? In 5 years? In 10?
3. Do your current movement and exercise related behaviors support your desired experience? Do they support your values?

Okay, now you have a solid starting point. Take 5-10 minutes to journal before you continue you reading.

We spend an entire week on Crafting A Warrior Ethos in Holistic Strength’s Self-Mastery program. Here’s a taste:

Craft a new dream-supporting and life-affirmative value around movement.

1. What is your movement dream?: What is it that you want to experience in your life more than anything else? What is it that you stand for?
   1. Example: I am movement autonomous. I have the power to do anything I want, anywhere I am, at any moment.
2. Let’s craft a supporting Statement of Intent, otherwise known as an Affirmation. It goes like this: “I do xyz…”
   1. Example: I train, flow, and move 3-5 x per week
3. Add on a because: Why are you doing it? It can be as simple as reaffirming your dream, or something else entirely.
   1. Example: I train, flow like a yogi, and run like a banshee 3-5 x per week because it enables me to be movement autonomous, and to do anything, anywhere, anytime I want to, and it feels dang GOOD!

Alright, you’ve got it.

This is your Movement Ethos. It’s what you stand for. If you’re doing something other than this most of the time, you’re out of alignment, and it’s time to reassess your values.

Let’s talk about a Code of Behavior. In yoga, we call this Yama or the law of restraint.

1. I am kind to my body, mind, and spirit.
   1. In yoga, we call this Ahimsa — Non-violence.
      1. Where are you doing things that cause unnecessary physical harm to your body. As you go into a workout, or even the next set, you can ask: is this kind to my body? Is this likely to cause damage.
      2. If it is likely to cause damage, it’s time to rest. Remember, your true growth and performance happens in the sandhi — the space between! That means your rest is far more important than “one more set.”
      3. Ditch that “no pain, no gain” mentality: Ask yourself, is that true? Is it accurate? Can I prove this statement in a court of law? How would my life be different if I could gain without pain?
2. I am honest with my capabilities.
   1. In yoga, we call this Satya — Truthfulness.
      1. Be honest with your body. Is this set, this exercise, this weight beyond your capability? Do I truly own this technique, exercise, position?
      2. If you don’t take a break, or come back to lift another day.
3. I take only what I’ve earned.
   1. In yoga, we call this Asteya — Non-stealing.
      1. This is a necessary follow-up to honesty and truthfulness. Sometimes we’re tempted to push one more rep, one more handstand, one more trick…and that one more is the one that gets us in trouble. It’s that one that gets us injured. Why? We tried to take something that wasn’t ours.
      2. What happens when you steal and get caught? You’re in a world of hurt.
4. I am tuned into my energy, and I use it wisely.
   1. In yoga, we call this Brahmacharya — Right use of energy, also correlated with sex and abstinence.
      1. Use your energy wisely! Know how much physical energy you have left and what your coordination abilities are in this moment.
      2. If you’re working-in as I’ve described in the previous article, you know exactly how much energy you have. Heck, you’re even generating more of it through your mindful-movement, like the alternator on a car.
      3. A good rule of thumb is this — save one rep in the tank. If it’s a non-rep based exercise like running, push up to 10%, and then stop.
      4. Remember, the magic and growth happens in the spaces between, during your rest periods. When we push beyond our current energy availability, we burn out. Sometimes this can result a soft-tissue injury, metabolic damage, or strengthening mental and emotional patterns that do not serve your Warrior Ethos!
5. I am committed to development rather than ownership.
   1. In yoga, we call this Aparigraha — Non-attachment.
      1. When learning to complete a task, whether that’s doing a handstand, completing a barbell snatch, swinging a mace 360, running a marathon or Spartan Beast, or beating your Fran time, your commitment is to the journey and the process more than the actual attainment itself.
      2. Develop one baby step and one small skill at a time. Build your foundation, and when it’s time to compete, you will. If you neglect the fundamentals and your foundation, you’re sure to crumble when it comes time to actually do the thing, and all that attachment to the shiny goal will allude you.

Let’s review:

1. Know why you’re doing what you’re doing
   1. Have life-affirmative and clear Movement Ethos
   2. Practice your Movement code one step at a time for 2-4 weeks before moving on to the next.
      1. Be kind to your body.
      2. Be honest with your capabilities in the moment.
      3. Take only what you’ve earned.
      4. Stay tuned into your energy, and know how much you have available.
      5. Stay committed to the process rather than the shiny accomplishment itself.

Check back next week where I’ll dig more into the mental & emotional piece, and how you can apply language work to improve your performance!

Love and Chi,

Robert