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So, what do I hear from my Trainer?


Etruscan Art 520-510 B.C  Terracotta and Pigment by Epiktetos – The Athletic Trainer

The forked stick held by this man identifies him as an athletic trainer.               Trainer rvmp

The ancient author Epictetus (A.D. 55-135) vividly describes the role of a trainer in an athlete’s path to victory:

[Athlete:] I wish to win an Olympic victory.

[Trainer:] (If so), you have to submit to discipline, follow a strict diet, give up sweet-cakes, train under compulsion at a fixed hour, in heat or in cold; you must not drink cold water, nor wine just whenever you feel like it; you must have turned yourself over to your trainer precisely as you would to a physician. Then when the contest comes on you, you have to dig in beside your opponent, sometimes dislocate your wrist, sprain your ankle, swallow quantities of sand, take a scrourging; yes, and then sometimes get beaten along with all that.

Common knowledge to the Spartan Running Girl, Marathon Man, Phidippides of yesteryears and today.  (Courtesy of Wall Panel with an Athletic Trainer housed at the Getty Villa Malibu)

This is certainly no new fad, certainly to not to the athlete. Trainers have been telling us to “be quiet and get to work or you would not be in my gym”, for a very long time. (520-510 B.C)

This phenomenon is new, however, to 21st century people who:

  • Sit in cars for what seems to be an eternity to go sit at computers all day.
  • Sit in the same cars to go home and sit at another computer, or be entranced with television and video games..
  • Inactivity is further compounded by the choice to eat mindlessly while doing these “activities.”

Take a break. Move, Sweat!

  • “Champion” your effort to return to better health with no complaints. The consequences of inactivity are not pleasant.
  • Dealing with physical challenges? Move to the best of your ability!
  • Work best by engaging family, friends or joining a group of people who are facing the same physical challenge? Do that! There is power in numbers.
  • Do what’s right for you. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist.

Submit to discipline, healthy diet, new hours, unfavorable weather, tepid water and lack of sweet-cakes or “donies” as they are called in our house! Train for the Good Life of Health to the best of your ability.

fame-sparta-running-girlMarathonMan


 

 

Ball Work

2013/02/22 2:34 PM / Leave a comment


A suggested low impact full body workout for the person with good balance can include a weighted fitness ball of 2- 20 pounds or a large fitness exercise ball. The preference is yours. This balance training exercise will challenge you with either type of ball. Make sure to work both the uphill and downhill slopes of the SANDDUNE™.

To begin, start tossing a small ball hand to hand, while padding or jogging is a good way to begin orienting your balance to this workout. Remember to pick a focus point; this will help you keep up your sense of balance as you train to improve your coordination and strength. Next, do side stretches holding the ball over your head, followed by gentle forward bending stretches for the back and hamstrings finishing with arching and leaning back to open up the front of the body.  You will want to have a wall or barre (something supportive) near you for these exercises.  Use of the ball with forward or back bends is based on how you feel about using the ball with these movements. Adding hips circles will get the knees and hip joints warmed up.

As a workout, try Figure 8 movements (small or large figure 8) or full body circles alternating directions with completion of each revolution. Do these while slowly padding, again taking care to do an equal amount of time on the uphill and downhill slopes. For example, make it a count of 5-20 circles on both slopes. Try circling a small ball around your core as you pad or jog. As you become more balanced and stronger, try passing the small ball under your leg for 1-2 minutes. This will challenge and strengthen your balance.