Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Let The Outdoors Be Your Friend
It's a whole other connection to your body when you train outdoors. Now granted some of you (like me) live in a state where all 4 seasons occur and in the winter time, it can get pretty damn cold. This is where you learn to adapt and value the awareness of the various conditions that give to the weather. I love to train outside especially in the summer time, it does get super-hot sometimes but that's how you learn your awareness, unless you're working outside, don't be out training in the hundred degree weather for three hours unless you have a shit load of water and breathe with efficiency. The feeling of fresh air sinking into your body that reconnects your roots of those that came before you and the value of getting that Vitamin D which I will get into a bit here.
To really get the connection of exercising outdoors is to do it on nice green grass. The feeling of the earth on your feet when you walk on nice, soft and loving grass. Not a lot of people have that luxury and I understand especially those in California right now where practically brown is the new green so do what's possible, do it on the beach if you want if that's your next option. Grass however gives you that sense of love and connection with the earth and I'm not talking that astro-turf or whatever that stuff is, find real grass even lay in it for a few minutes and your mood begins to change and you don't know why. When I go to parks that have grass, I move in any way I can and let my whole body get the feeling of it and I have a deeper connection than I would if I trained indoors.
Now onto the Vitamin D. The best place to get it is in the sun where it shines on your body, giving you a radiant glow of energy, hormone increase and nourishing the skin. Some people can't take the sun too well like those with pale skin and that's understandable so find vitamins or supplements that give powerful vitamin D complexities. When you're balancing your hormones (not including pregnant women, they can't control that it's just not possible) you're giving your body a gift of building natural strength, metabolism, bone strength, your joints and it helps with recovery. What you eat is important and it's awesome to keep up with your fruits and veggies but eat according to your needs because not everyone can eat the same amount of food and drink the same amount of liquids. I'm a big man over 250 lb. and I can eat quite a bit so if I'm out of my own balance and certain people don't realize that, I become someone I don't want to be so I need to nourish my body the way it's meant for me. Granted fasting is a great way to let the body repair itself and have a great deal of hormones bouncing out of you because you're setting them free; however, you must learn the balance of fasting because if you go too long without being aware of it your body will turn on you so a good 24-36hr fast once a week is great if you want to drop weight but keep up with your liquids.
This is a sensitive subject when it comes being burnt from the sun when you've been in it too long and it's too hot out. I'll go on record and say yes I don't use sunscreen for a lot of reasons and one being it doesn't really do that well for you and the chemicals in that crap can make you burn even worse (sounds like a contradiction). When I was in Lake Tahoe earlier this month, I'd go down to the lake, lay my towel and my shirt & shoes on the dock, climb a few rocks, jump in the water and just swim for as long as I can. Yes I did get a little burnt but only in a couple places as oppose to the whole damn body. I learned valuable lessons when my whole body would be burnt from head to toe so I had to be aware of what my body was getting so instinctively I stayed in the water and this helped a lot. But what if you're outside training without being in water, well; you pour a little water on you from time to time, not a bucket or anything and where very light colored clothing like sky blue shirts or white shorts for example because for the most part, black clothing gives the sun a chance to tell you "don't mess with nature dumbass" and you'll feel it. Some people can handle the sun wearing black clothing but others not so much. Don't get so burnt you start to peel skin, it's not fun, it hurts like hell and you can barely move your body. Be aware of how you use the sun and have it work for you, not against you because the sun does give life but it can also make it a living hell if you're not careful.
Happy Thor's Day everyone. Be safe, have fun and be awesome.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Travel Training
I love to travel when I have the chance, sometimes for an
extended period of time over a few weeks. If you're into fitness or learning
and doing certain things it’s important to remember that when you travel, you
may not have the same luxury in a different town or state so don't be limiting
yourself. Many people believe that to get in shape you need to be in a gym and
hitting the iron or the machines but believe it or not it’s not always that
possible to do so. I have a friend that travels constantly and needs to be in
shape for what he does but he uses his imagination and realistic approach that
gives him the tools to travel in awesome shape no matter where he is. Don't
limit yourself.
Expand your
horizons. If you can't get to a gym or your hotel doesn't have what you need,
do things a little differently. Instead of focusing on what you need to lift
when you travel, think of moving your body around, do push-ups and squats in
your hotel room, hold certain postures, travel with a chest expander that works
your upper body like crazy yet easy to travel with.
Here’s a
little tidbit for you; when I was 25 I went to Disneyland
with someone in my family. When we were there we went on rides and stuff but we
also we went out on our own at times, I was going to do The World Of Tomorrow
where in order to get in you stand and the ground rotated to get to the
entrance, I decided on a whim to do a free standing Handstand while the thing
was rotating and I actually held it for quite a bit. It was awesome and that
was the only exercise of the day that was it. When you travel, be creative and
have fun, don't rush things.
If you're
going to travel with something to workout with, travel light. It’s not easy
carrying a dumbbell or a kettlebell in your bag so why not cables like the
Chest Expander or the PowR Walk Pro; they're easy to carry around and they’re
there when you need them. I like to travel with some cables and an Isometric
Belt that I have that’s about 14ft long and practice my isometric training. One
of the best ways to train is to do it in nature. About every summer my dad’s
family goes to South Lake Tahoe
for about a couple weeks and get a couple cabins, go to the beach and chill
out. When I go, that’s the perfect opportunity to do some great swimming, lift
heavy rocks, crawl, balance and climb on the rocks as well. Training in nature
is just different, exciting, and spontaneous and you never know what you're
getting into.
I emphasize
this with great intent that no matter where you go whether it’s in a big city
or the Fiji Islands , utilize your imagination and
use the environment to get an awesome workout in. I get more out of creating
something than trying to find something that can be too far away or whatever.
When you learn to channel your mind and being aware of your surroundings, you
can create any type of workout you want. I've been in some crappy places and
even some gorgeous and beautiful places too and still found how to train
without an excuse. If you want to stay in shape bad enough you will find a way
to do it. Create opportunities and take advantage of them. A gym is just a gym
but why not use the world as your gym.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Getting Back To Nature
The most beautiful things in life happen in Nature. We get
so caught up with our lives that we forget that nature brings a real
connection, wild, crazy and simplicity to what we need to have in our life.
It’s the roots of the earth that give its biggest love. Now I know I sound like
a Hippie but far from it, I like connecting myself to nature (mostly in
training) and it feels awesome.
Just
imagine being free and open, moving however you want wherever you want. If you
can find a way, you can climb, run, chase, crawl, push, pull, lift, carry
things and just have a blast. Nature can be very beneficial to your health and
well being but at the same time, you have to be careful with nature, it can
bite you in the ass if you don’t keep yourself at bay in certain times.
At times,
Nature will prevent you from being outside so do what you can to make it count.
When the time is right, get your ass out there and make the best of it because
we never know how long we’ll be alive so at best, get yourself healthy and
strong as best as you can with plenty of awesome food, sleep and good old
fashion fun (training). Being indoors isn't all bad but its not always good
either. Keep in touch with nature when you can, its all worth it once you learn
find it.
Life can
get complicated sometimes but the more complicated you make it; the more it’s
going to haunt you. Live, Love and Laugh. It’s that simple, live with a
purpose, love those around you and the things you love doing and laugh your ass
off as much as you can because life is too damn short to feel sad the majority
of the time. Nature can make you feel good, be alive and more accelerating than
you can ever imagine, listen to the sounds of nature, even if its on a CD and
you live in a metropolis like New York, LA or Detroit for examples it still
gives you that mindset of where you want to be, the real thing is the best but
if you can find a way to make due, go for it.
Being
consistent is tough but it has its rewards. Keep yourself happy as you train,
even in nature, you want to be happy and pushing forward with what you want to
achieve. In nature, move like a wild animal, run with the wind, breathe into
the wilderness and breathe deeply. Stay consistent and good things will happen,
progress and bring in life to what you do. It’s all about what comes natural to
you.
Be sure to check out my friend Logan's House Sale he's holding. Still have 4 days to get the best deals.
Be sure to check out my friend Logan's House Sale he's holding. Still have 4 days to get the best deals.
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