What does this mean?
- Using your fitness skills in different and creative ways
- “Testing” your body and what it can accomplish for you (and with you!)
- Learning your current limitations (so you can blow past them!!!)
- Give your training some real-world purpose. Unless you’re training for a specific sport or event, most of us are training for a “Super Life” – so skill progression is a fantastic way to keep the interest and motivation high.
- It’s just awesome fun, trust us!
Why is this important?
- Life is for the LIVING, not simply for what we can do in “controlled” circumstances with fixed variables. Being prepared and able to accomplish all sorts of skills sets us up nicely for what life presents to us.
- Playing with movement, trying new patterns, exploring what your body can do from a wide range of angles and perspectives widens your body’s knowledge of itself
- You body begins to adapt and has this beautiful way of “remembering” what you have taught it to do (just like riding a bike)
- When you transfer your skills, it makes the INTIAL SKILL even stronger!!
Examples and ideas to try
In the gym we might do a lot of overhead pressing with dumbbells or the barbell…. Transferring this skill to learning handstands could be a nice progression.
In the gym we might do lots of ring rows, bent over rows, etc…. Transferring this skill to acquiring strict pull-ups or climbing a rope. We could even take this one step further to acknowledge that this is the same mechanism that pulls you up and out of the pool from the deep end 😉 … see… VERY handy indeed!
In the gym practicing barbell cleans or thrusters…. Transferring this skill to picking up odd objects (like deadbags/deadballs) etc. Learning how to position yourself over a weight and then lift it up safely. The best example of this is when we try to lift a bag of greenwaste/garden clippings into the back of our car. You need to get right overtop of it, position yourself safely and brace, ready to “clean” the weight into the boot.
How do I practice these skills?
- Get creative! Play with your movement, enjoy and explore different ways to move.
- Instead of doing just overhead presses, for example, after each set kick-up and practice your handstands. Superset your strength with some playful skill work.
- Push your limits a little bit – get out of your comfort box and TRY levelling up your skills. If you are too nervous to learn a higher level skill, reach out to a trainer for help (Heather and Hamish are very experienced here! Book in a session!)
- If you tend to stick to the same equipment, the same spot in the gym, the same preparation/warm-up, etc… SHAKE IT UP!!! Change it around, often!
- Set aside 10mins for “PLAY” at the beginning/bridge/end of your training session. Schedule it in like you would any other component of your training – then leave the formalities there and have FUN for 10.
