origin stories - Arv' Musings

Unravelling the Reasons Behind My Passion for Teaching and Fitness Coaching

Why couldn't we have had better teachers? What goes into recreating my grad school experience? Why couldn't I have learned physical education? These are a family of questions that I've wondered about for a long time.

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!

habits

There's a cost to everything, including passion. Especially passion.

There is a cost to everything we do. Knowing the cost is important. Knowing our values and our end game, equally so. And then, we can start working on ensuring that we aren't fucking ourselves up while narrowmindedly going towards a goal that does NOT encompass all of us.

diet

Linear Progression, a Burrito, and How You Can Learn to Eat Less

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.

origin stories

where I fell in love with fitness

I still call "my gym" even though I haven't trained there since 2010, is closing its doors permanently this weekend. It is the place where I fell in love with fitness and where my journey towards founding The Quad began. Without SFCF, I would not be here today, doing what I am doing.

origin stories

a dog bit me in the ass

When I was about 5 years old and visiting my paternal grandparents, I got bit by a dog. In my butt. I remember the raw panic when I saw the dog chase me, me turning around to run and then .... ouch.

coaching

on failing Starting Strength (and why it was amazing)

I went in to learn and getting a certification would've been a bonus. While it was still a huge hit to the ego when I realised I failed, I quickly realised I knew diddly-squat to have an ego in this and had amongst the best weekends I've ever had.

coaching

on a day when something clicked

It was exhilarating and I felt like I was dreaming. I wanted to pinch myself because this was night and day! It just felt magical.

origin stories

on 9 years of The Quad

Raj and I ran our first-ever class at The Quad on Sep 19, 2011. The 9 years since have been a period of personal growth, of figuring things out, of trying to stick to our guns and doing things our way, of making silly mistakes.

diet

on eating heart-healthy cereals

Eating wings for breakfast, washing that down with a few beers, gargantuan portion sizes, a burrito that weighed as much as my head - what else was gonna happen?

coaching

missing the point

I deconstructed the game of school as score enough marks to stay out of trouble, at home and at school. I was one of those kids who would study reasonably last minute and get 90. Trying to compete for the 1st rank involved real, serious work.

Getting Started

barefoot running

we went and got our gait analysed. The people at the store would make us walk and run, and then tell us our type, and we'd go check out shoes of that type. Did your ankle roll inwards or outwards, and what did your knee do - okay go look at these types of shoes.

coaching

Short

As a kid, I was obviously called short all the time. Coz kids are stupid and mean, and well, that's how it is. Obviously, it used to bother me a lot. From searching on the internet for "how to grow taller" to being angry or lashing out, or coming up with mean retorts - I did them all and more.

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

show up

being stubborn enough to not give up

As I look back at my fitness journey and write about it, I realise that I've done something significant - I've been stubborn to keep showing up and to not give up. Showing up and not quitting, are two out of the three of Coach Dan John's success formula.

diet

Making breakfast for the first time

I went to grad school for Interaction Design at Indiana University, Bloomington. First-time I was living away from my home, and having to figure a bunch of things out that

origin stories

Small beginnings

My Resistance was I would day dream. I will start with this...n 1 month I will start running... in 3 months run 10k. And not actually do it

crossfit

Are you guys warmed up?

Back in late 2008 or early 2009, I joined San Francisco CrossFit (after I thoroughly embarrassed myself at the other CrossFit). The first 3 sessions were about getting beginners introduced