Reflections of an Integral "Crossfit" Strength Practice

Greetings to Rob and Integral Strength, apologies for my absence.

Thought Id share a short reflection of what I have been engaging with over the past six months related to Integal Strength.

The base of my physical practice has been through the influence of Crossfit (crossfit.com)  and its philosophy of training “constantly varied, high intensity, with functional movements”.  I have transitioned away from a focus of traditional body building, to incorporating gymnastics, olympic lifting and other forms of monostructural training.  For those not familiar with the Crossfit movement check-out the site and even if you dont resonate with this style of training, at least respect the depth of the information within this community.

The workouts are short - usually less than twenty minutes and sometimes less than 5 - although on occasions I do increase the duration to challenge strength and endurance from a different dimension.  The intensity is very high, and requires deep, deep concentration, focus and efficient co-ordinated technique.  To engage in the practice (or to use a term often used by Rob the “dance with the weights”) I need an extended period of meditative time beforehand and a great deal of post reflective time to emerge from the intensity and normalise my consciousness. 

Often this style of trainning doesnt always lend itself to same engagement/reflection mini-cycles as in Strength for Life - but its effectiveness in developing deep states through the intensity is very powerful.

I also find myself focused on the weight lifting and gymnastics techniques I have been learning, spending time observing myself in differnt ranges of motion and body reactions to different movements and pressures.  Its no different to a yoga asana - in fact id even go far as to say it is an extension of yoga not just an association.

So this is me for now and my practice - as always feel free to ask any questions and post reflections of your own in terms of how you are individually engaging in this practice.

Strength and Spirit 

Damon

PS The picture below is me training at The Cell (thecellfitness.com.au) during a recent trip back to Australia in July, with a good friend of mine Rod on the sled providing resistance to my efforts.