ArvTraining

Pondering a Redo: My Unanticipated Results and Unrealised Targets in Fitness

If you could do something over, what and how would you go about it? If I could have a do-over for my fitness journey, how would I go about it?

ArvTraining

From a dream to reality: My 7-year journey to becoming India's first StrongFirst Elite Instructor

Today, I stand here, as India's first StrongFirst Elite Instructor, a testament to the fact that no obstacle is too big when your determination is stronger. I think I may even go as far as to say, I'm proud of myself - for staying the course, and for seeing it through.

ArvTraining

How to multiply your current fitness level

By working on complementary aspects of your fitness, by identifying gaps in your general fitness - you can multiply your current fitness level. Let's find out how!

ArvTraining

Two reasons to NOT strength train

Strength training, over the long term, will reduce the chances of injuries happening. And you want to put on muscle. Yes, really!

ArvTraining

Brain fog and slow days

It is easy to skip a workout. It is easy to say "I don't feel like it today" and vegetate. But when we get into the habit of showing up to the gym and doing something - as little as a set or two, we make a huge change.

ArvTraining

3 months of the Indian Clubs and how that has helped my KB work

I've been practicing them for about 3-4 months only. But I am an expert in kettlebells and in movement. During these few months of practice, I realised the complementary nature of the club to my kettlebell practice.

ArvTraining

Should you work out indoors or outdoors?

It's not for everyone but for those of us who enjoy getting out, who will take the pebble along with the smooth path, the grime and grind.

ArvTraining

barefoot running in winter

Most of my initial learnings were from watching my body, and occasionally from doing idiotic things. But just by listening to my body, and shutting my brain (which knew nothing about fitness) I was able to navigate.

ArvTraining

the critic and the other guy

is he being objective and precise about his observation? No. It is his judgment on how he thinks you did. Not impartial. Depends on what side of the bed he woke up on today.

ArvTraining

on impatience and trying to create efficiency

This was the time when I felt like a kid in a candy store. Suddenly, an entire universe was accessible to me.

ArvTraining

fixing your posture with 3 alternatives to the pushup

You sit all day. You are hunched over. These are given. Wouldn't it be awesome if you could do a movement that gets you stronger AND improves your posture? As well as improves your breathing, your core too.

ArvTraining

find the thing you are avoiding doing

It is easy to do more of the same. Instead, the biggest changes come from doing those small things we are avoiding or constantly pushing away. What's yours? Here's mine.

ArvTraining

don't think, feeeeel!

Finally, one day, Adrian just smiled when I asked my inevitable question after he explained the workout. And told me some of the most important words I needed to hear - "Arv, turn that brain of yours off".

ArvTraining

on finding your wolf

Like the wolf, there are certain habits that have far-reaching consequences in our lives. In Charles Duhigg's wonderful book, The Power of Habit, he talks about these as keystone habits. These habits cascade into the rest of our lives, well beyond what we compute as the output.

ArvTraining

on crawling

I love the crawl. It is one of the Big 5 Resets from Original Strength, and we've used it significantly in the last 5 years at The Quad as well. But me liking the crawl is not a good enough reason for you to do it.

training is my sandbox for life

on one rep at a time

There are many lessons that I did not learn, or completely missed the point on. Either they were too abstract for me, or I was not ready for it, or I did not have enough wisdom and/or context to understand them. Viewing them though the lens of strength training clarifies much larger lessons.

ArvTraining

on coaching myself

When you are your own client, you either have an idiot for a coach or a client. Sometimes both.

ArvTraining

on shoulder packing

The complexity is because we have two shoulders, and I don't mean left and right. There are two different joints.

ArvTraining

enjoy it

Most of all, it is important to enjoy the task. If I am not enjoying it, it means something's wrong. And I am going to stop doing this soon. Whatever it is. Even if it is a sport that I love playing.

ArvTraining

forgetting how to run

The next morning, as part of my rehab, the same thing happened. I just stood. Paralysed. Unsure about how to run.

ArvTraining

nudging and waving

It definitely need not be the only thing we measure for those all 3. All I am arguing for is that this be the top of your list, or at least near there. The WHR of 0.5 is a keystone species, if that makes sense at all.

ArvTraining

the spill-over effect

In kettlebell exercises, like in boxing, there are no wrists. That means you never allow your wrist to stray away from neutral because it can cause a huge power leak

running

Failing at 500 metres

Each week, we ran 4 times. Two times during the week at a massive park (100+ acres. The word park means something else eh!) near Mountain View filled with amazing trails. A fun, easy (eventually) run of about 5 miles, to accumulate volume. ... Every weekend, Team Asha, would organize the long run

crossfit

Brute Force

I was weak. I had a better-than-a-year-ago levels of conditioning, which had moved from zero to running a half-marathon at 10 minute mile pace. It is an average number, absolutely

ArvTraining

If only there was a fat loss pill

You pop that pill, and you are (eventually) at whatever weight or body fat percentage you want to be at. And you never had to worry about not eating junk ever again. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.- Arthur C Clarke’