Explore
Gaia Soulmates
down  About This Group
Integral Strength

Integral Strength is THE forum for learning and sharing how strength training can be leveraged as one of the most potent and powerful forms of integral practice.

This pod is committed to bringing the full depth of strength training into the spotlight! Here’s just a few topics this pod will be exploring:

- The Evolution of...(more)
down  About This Room
Share your wisdom with others or get the support you're looking for.
down  Room Activity
No Recent Activity
down  Group Grapevine
More...
 Advertising keeps Gaia free! Interested in sponsoring us?
Resultset_previousprevious thread
threaded | unthreaded | newest first


  Haelan : Kosmopolitan

To the Gym or Not to the Gym...

Haelan said Aug 15, 2008, 10:57 PM:
 

Hi Y'all,

I'm your typical introvert and get claustrophobic in tight crowded spaces (most gyms). After trying numerous times to “overcome” my self-consciousness, I think that public gyms are just not for me. I have a really hard time focusing on working out with people around me, and find it a distraction that drains me of the precious energy i have.

That is the reason that I really enjoyed what I learned from reading “Strength for Life” by Shawn Phillips. He puts a total spin on lifting weights, and viewing strength training as a moving meditation with spiritual benefits was such a total paradigm shift for me. I am going to save up so that I can purchase a Powerblock Home Gym next month and start my 12 week program. I'm so excited to have finally found an exercise program with a philosophy that I feel fits me perfectly. I will post my progress in the months to come. I'm taking a vacation back home to Hawaii to see family and friends in DEC so I want to look good when I go!

Blessings,
Hae
  Rob : Philosopher of Strength

Re: To the Gym or Not to the Gym...

Rob said Aug 20, 2008, 10:53 AM:
 

Thanks Haelan, 


So glad Strength For Life fit you so well… It's deeper cut at strength training was so needed eh? 

Keep us posted on how things unfold with you getting set up at home. 

As for the Gym, there is a hidden gem in many Gym's unsupportive, distracting and often times draining environments. 

The hidden gem is that they're not supportive. 

When you get your deeper groove cut at home, give the gym a try as it's good to train amidst adversity. Often times it's important to cut that groove first with a supportive environment, establish a clear intention, refine your focus. Deepen your practice before you start experimenting with adversity surrounding just about every step in a gym.

I think this is an important part of the path though. Returning to the environment that's not supportive fosters a greater authorship for your practice. You gain more control over how you need to show up, how you need to perform, and how you need to connect with yourself and your environment. 

Doing so helps refine a dependence upon our external circumstances being a particular way. When we surrender into the traditional gym environment we're challenged to bring a higher level of mastery to ourselves and our practice. We learn to establish new boundaries, learn to regulate and negotiate an inner complexity that captures and animates more of our fullness and expresses more of our essential freedom. 

I just wanted to share that perspective with you, let me know if it doesn't make sense or if you have other questions. I've also got some commentary on this subject here if you're interested…. 


Good luck with the Strength for Life program and getting set up with the powerblocks at home. 

Peace, 
~Rob
  Haelan : Kosmopolitan

Re: To the Gym or Not to the Gym...

Haelan said Aug 22, 2008, 5:11 PM:
 

Hey Rob,

I understand what you said and I agree as well. I think at first learning FIT would be best done at home and in private, and, like you said, once I've learned the principles behind the Strength for Life practice I can step it up a notch by training in a more challenging environment. I really like that idea.

Btw, I know you were writing a book about Strength Training. How's that coming along?

Thanks for the words of encouragement and have a good one, bro.

Blessings,
Hae
  Rob : Philosopher of Strength

Re: To the Gym or Not to the Gym...

Rob said Aug 23, 2008, 9:58 AM:
 

Right on, 


Glad the idea of a supportive environment up front resonated. 

I'm still writing away although the next few months will be challenging as I'll be starting teaching next week. That always takes away from my writing time… 

The book is coming along fantastically. At least that's my bias ;-) 

I just got done with Chapter 11 and I started chapter 12. Chapter's 10-11 were perhaps the most challenging in terms of creating a new theory of engagement, testing it in my own practice and then writing something that's readable (i hope…). 11 took me the past 3 months! 

Anyway, the writing is going really well, I think it will be a valuable asset for the emerging edge in strength training as well as in other body based practices. 

Looking forward to sharing more here on the Pod as well as getting this book done so I can make both my contributions and mistakes for us all to move this discipline forward. 

Big Love,
~Rob
  Haelan : Kosmopolitan

Re: To the Gym or Not to the Gym...

Haelan said Aug 23, 2008, 7:05 PM:
 

That's awesome Rob.

Please keep me updated. I am definetly looking forward to picking up a copy. Good luck with finishing up the book.

Peace,
Haelan
  psychesungirl : Sun Healing Mind Bender

Re: To the Gym or Not to the Gym...

psychesungirl said Sep 21, 2008, 12:13 PM:
 

Please keep my posted as well about the book. and more of your great ideas.