This morning I woke up to a warm fire crackling around me. Turbo Fire, to be precise. While the showcase room at the J.W. Marriott did have a panoply of video-generated fire on multiple screens (you have to check out this room!), the real fire came from Chalene Johnson. She led us through a high-intensity bout of cardiovascular training (better than coffee any day) and reminded us how inspirational it is to combine music with movement and motivation.
When the sound system stalled, Johnson personified the improvisational nature of the business and quickly went to plan b and plan c before pausing between drills to say “It’s just like a real class, right?” Of course the crowd knew what she meant and had buckets of sympathy. Everyone had been in her place before. The camaraderie was palpable.
Every time I have the pleasure of taking one of Johnson’s classes it ignites my outer fire. I feel more alive, tap into my fun zone and I take that spark with me to the rest of the world. This ability to start a fire beneath anyone you meet is so rare and so valuable.
On my way to the next class I overheard a very interesting phone conversation in which a woman was trying her best to describe the ViPR. She had just taken an introductory class and was obviously excited about the piece of equipment. It does so many things and is backed by some pretty cool science so it was fun to hear her try to describe it. “It has handles and it’s a tube, but it’s kind of rubber and you can throw it.” I doubt the person on the other end of the line truly grasped the concept. His or her best bet is to come to the conference and try it out!
Speaking of trying out new things, just when you thought you knew how to mobilize and stabilize everything (which is a dangerous assumption, actually), you are reminded you don’t know jack -- or that the research has changed. This was the reality that settled around me as I popped in Eric Beard’s session “Save Your Back: Get Your Butt in Gear.” I thought I knew my way around a foam roller, but was happily proven wrong as I learned how to go deeper with rotation and cross-fiber action. Ahhh … my hips are back in town.
Muscle fibers are fascinating and if you’re looking for a new way to cue transverse abdominus activation, I’ve got a good one for you. This tidbit comes from Cathleen Murakami’s brilliant session “Two-Point Touch for Cuing and Alignment.” Murakami believes in working in, not working out, and says she likes to introduce clients to their “inner Spanx.” If you don’t know what Spanx is, perhaps you remember the shiny spandex from the 1980s? It’s essentially the same. She uses this as a metaphor for pulling the interior of the body in, redesigning the structure.
Obviously I like this visual. If you’re able to find your inner Spanx, you’re less likely to need outer Spanx. Regardless, don’t ever let that fire go out.
IDEA World Fitness Convention Notable Quote:
"Teaching is an art. Some are born with the talent but it can definitely be developed. All it takes is someone who is passionate about a subject and wants to share that passionl."
--Cathleen Murakami
Comments
On Aug 16, 2011
SInce you are local, please connect with me when you want to work your "Inner Spanx" @ the studio.....just let me know what color you'd like ;-)