Improving Flexibility With a Sunday Morning “Freestyle”
Today I wanna talk about recovery, improving flexibility, and becoming more resilient. I'll also address how much time you should be spending here.
While following a strategic approach to improving flexibility and boosting recovery is important... I also feel there are days when you should move and see where YOUR body wants to go for the day.
A few Sunday's ago I was restless and decided to head into the gym in the wee hours of the morning for a "movement snack". Currently I'm 3 weeks deep in a strict pressing program.
It's the first time I've trained my press with purpose in years. It's the first time I've trained my press with purpose in years.
So far, I'm feeling GREAT, the press is coming along and most - it's all getting done in less than a couple of hours per week.
I lift kinda "heavy" 3 days per week, the other 4 days (roughly 60%) center around recovery.
And NOT adding more endurance, HIIT, sprinting, or whatever.
The result?
Performance is at an all time high.
Endurance is through the roof.
And ZERO problems rolling round-after-round + staying after and drilling for another 20-30 minutes.
It's amazing!
Looking back, I know this is THE ONE THING I've done right and has been the "secret" to my success.
I've been able to train hard (both on and off the mat) for 19+ years and WITHOUT breaking my body and wishing I could move "like I once did" in my 20's.
How's this been possible?
By...
... Focusing 60% of my effortsaround recovery!
And NOT seeking to test my limits. From what I've seen, If you test your limits, you WILL find them my friend - but at what cost?
Don't get me wrong, I'm training HARD but - I ONLY spend 40% of my efforts here.
Sunday's recovery was a little different.
Different in the fact - I didn't stick to a particular strategy in my recovery. I set a timer for 20 minutes and moved where my body wanted to go.
From the looks of it - my body craved sensory rich movements like:
- Front rolling
- Back rolling
- Inverted rolling
- "T-Spine" work to
- Hands free movements
This's what my "free days" have looked for over a decade - 60% of my efforts around RECOVERY.
It's time-efficient.
My body loves it, and...
... it allows me to harmonize everything currently going on in my life.
While still being able to get in my "ME TIME" and make sure I'm where I need to be as a man.
So I can be the best man, husband and father my family is depending on.
We all know - there's NO SUCH THING as "balance".
But, you can harmonize the things in your life.
you can go hard AF in your biz/career, train smart, and still have time to do what brings you peace, joy, and happiness.
(For me, it's Jiu-Jitsu)
This harmonizing DOES need strategy - but it's 100% possible.
So man, if any of this resonates with you...
... if you've been struggling to stay (or get back) in shape and harmonize everything you've got going on...
and would like to learn the strategy I've been successful at using this strategy for over a decade
... and how I'm teaching it to a gang of other busy men like yourself.
Drop a comment and let me know what's comin' up for you and how I can help.
Stay STRONG!
Hec G.