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Relax!
Everyone who reads this blog regularly knows about the importance of relaxing when you're away from the gym. A good meal, a nice night's sleep, eliminating root causes of stress from your life, etc. all go a long way toward turning the work you do in the gym into palpable gains in fitness.
But what about relaxing while you're hitting the WOD?
This recent article by the oft uneven NY Times actually struck a chord with me. The writer, along with the coaches cited in the piece, suggests that relaxing while being engaged in physical activity (or sport, if you prefer) is the real key toward attaining elite performance.
Read it and post your thoughts to comments. Agree? Disagree? Don't know? Don't care?
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Staying relaxed was the name of the game when I was marathoning. The PRs happened when upper body (mind, eyes, jaw, neck, shoulders, wrists) was calm and just coming along for the ride. The same concept seems to work for the rowing WODs - find the rhythm and release the tension.
I think it holds true... the time I hit sub 3 minute Fran was the most relaxed I had ever been. Being relaxed helped me breathe and not worry throughout the workout. Of course I stopped relaxing on my last set of pullups when I had to do them in singles.
I need to figure that one out. I have a tough time turning off my brain.
I found a video of CFO’s resident outdoorsman Daniel hunting a tiger. I’m no expert but his technique might need some work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUVt2d2AMM
Agreed. I got my highest FGB score when I was totally relaxed and not preoccupied with my score.
I agree with your characterization of the Times as "oft uneven." You say in your summary above that "relaxing while being engaged in physical activity (or sport, if you prefer) is the real key toward attaining elite performance." I don't know that your summary accurately describes the article's point. I think that the author makes the argument that being properly relaxed can help you perform your best, but it's not the real key to elite performance. The key to elite athletic performance is being an elite athlete.
For example, I can relax all I want, but I'm still not going to squat 350 lbs for a set of 5. Nor am I going to do Fran in 3 minutes by engaging in Zen meditation. However, being relaxed might help me attain a PR.
relax? is that a neologism? i am afraid i don't know what relax means....
MJJ,
Daniel's technique is much improved here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CNgwZgoKFc
Watching Jason Khalphia (butchered his last name), he seemed pretty mellow.
Personally, I'm only good at one sport, skiing, and when I'm killing it, there is a calmness that comes from skill, technique, efficiency that is pretty sweet. (this serves as a personal shout-out).
So without reading the article, I agree.
I'll see you in the trees the next powder day we get Brad.
I heart the trees....
Bad Brad, It sure is nice having you back at crossfit, be careful and take care of yourself this time around. Btw, I really dig the motorcycle outfit, way to stay protected!!!!!
I hear this kind of thing in Bikram all the time. Keep your face relaxed, pull your shining happy face into your knees, push, push, beyond your comfort zone, beyond your flexiblity...relax into the posture. It can feel like conflicting messages, but remarkably, when I try to relax, I can push farther. It's odd. There's a nice feedback loop between exertion and calmness for me with yoga...and occasionally but not as often with CrossFit.