The case for isloating movements

Why should you care about “optimal movement?”

Many people are both secretly and openly frustrated with the inability to see change in their bodies. Part of the reason that even the most devoted “gym rat” can plateau is that they are relying on the same old movement patters used since birth. Faulty muscle recruitment patterns can “skip” the muscles they really want to develop and instead; by using the path of least resistance, develop other muscles which may not be as important.

Performing challenging new exercises with good form is like skiing. When done by an expert, both new exercises and skiing can seem graceful and harmonious. When done by a beginner both are awkward and slow.

Learning to ski is one of the most humiliating activities an adult can take part in. After all, an adult has been walking for a long time. She knows where her feet are, how to move one foot in front of the other to get somewhere. But her old movement won’t do anymore, as soon as she straps skis on her feet it’s like learning to walk all over again. She stumbles to the chair lift, slipping and falling before even getting onto the mountain. She may get her skis crossed, slip and fall again and again before lumbering back to her feet and flopping right back down face first into the powder.

Even the best instructor seems at first to be of no help. The ease with which the instructor performs the actions she says are simple (but that the student secretly believes are impossible) is almost insulting. How can you remember everything the instructor says to remember? Bend your knees. Look downhill. Keep your weight on the downhill ski. Keep your back straight but nevertheless lean forward. The commentary seems endless – how can you think about all that and still ski!?!?

The point about skiing; of course, is that to be a great skier you cannot focus on each individual movement of every part of your body. The acts should blend naturally and gracefully as you simply make your way down the hill – avoiding other skiers and following a smooth line. You must learn to forget the separate acts in order to perform all of them, or any of them in unison! But in order to perform the separate acts in unison you must first learn them individually! Only when you take command of each individual movement are you ready to put them all together. This is exactly the case with mastering new exercise techniques. You need to isolate muscles first, give them time to develop and then begin to move your whole body in a more efficient and functionally sound manner.

When you are done with your lessons; and have become a proficient skier, the skill of skiing will have been attained. Your new skill; however, will be of little use unless you are in your ski boots. But you are always in your body! With the right exercise program you can become not only a better skier; but a better golfer, soccer player, or any other sport for that matter! You will have attained a balanced body and knowledge of how to use it. By so doing you will be less prone to injury, and seem to have more energy because you have become more efficient with every move of your body.