By Njoli Brown
I had a couple of moments this Christmas morning and, yes, here I am doing a little writing. Maybe it’s because I know I’m about to go out and eat all kinds of delicious foods and spend some wonderful quality time with friends. All that being said, I know this day will pass and I will be back to my process of building and developing my martial practice.
Now, none of this is to say I’ve been taking a break from my regular training, but my thought has been that a little extra diligence always has to happen during the winter months if I really want to take things to another level. It’s the season where rich foods, nog drinks and all the rest bring us comfort. I speak all this from a place of familiarity because I’m not one of those who was born with the natural gladiator genetics. I have to work hard and consistently to put myself at high gear.
At the same time as winter draws us psychologically into a state of comforted hibernation, it is also the prime opportunity to make huge leaps and bounds. As a general rule, spring ends up being a time of recovery and so, by end of summer, we hopefully reach our prime again. Imagine if we built all the way through winter, and spring and summer were just continuing parts of the evolutionary process.
It may not be the time for your long outdoor runs (depending on where you’re living) but it’s definitely a great time for exploring the wonderful world of body weight training. I’m not going to pretend to be a personal trainer or to be the go to source for advice but I did want to include some resources that I’ve found.
All of this being said, though, do your own research and know that your goals are out in front of you. Winter can be a time for steps back or steps forward. You choose.
Men’s Fitness article on bodyweight exercises…
Just a little starter to remind you that the exercises you need in order to start your practice are well within your grasp and don’t require much, if any, equipment or space.
http://www.mensfitness.com/training/build-muscle/back-to-basics-the-best-bodyweight-exercises
The Complete Book of Abs by Kurt Brungardt
This book, along with The Complete Book of Shoulders and Arms, is a veritable bible of exercises. But alongside that, it sets up a huge glossary of routines for you to scroll through, progressing week by week, month by month. I know most of us don’t have the coin for our own personal trainer but having someone help you to establish a routine and then bouncing it off your doctor or a fitness professional might just be the first steps towards finding your own discipline.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Book-Abs-Expanded/dp/0375751432
Youtube: 44 Best (Beginner) Bodyweight Exercises Ever!
44 tremendously unpretentious bodyweight exercises. Maybe you just feel like your exercise vocabulary is lacking or you just know that you’re more of a visual learner. I found this video online and really enjoyed the fact that there was nothing in this that felt out of reach for the absolute beginner and, at the same time, relevant for adaptation as someone progresses.
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