In Fitness and in Health
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I'm going to preface this with these are my experiences and your mileage may vary
I've been lifting weights for nearly 20 years. Last May, I suspect I tore something in my shoulder
Before anyone jumps in, my form is good and I'm pretty sure that shoulder would've torn regardless if I was lifting or not. In fact, I don't think it tore during the act of lifting weights. My opinion of lifting weights is that if your form is good, you shouldn't get hurt. That being said, injuries occur and I believe they are related to underlying issues. Personally, I would prefer to tear my shoulder in training where I have a spotter than if I was standing on top of a ladder installing a ceiling fan (I mention this because I'm doing this later today). Injuries are injuries, and other than avoiding doing stupid things, I don't try to avoid them. I have no desire to leave a pristine corpse when I die.
All this being said, I had to take a break from lifting. About the same time I hurt myself, this video went viral:
I wound up trying DDP Yoga to rehab my shoulder, and had tremendous success with it. After a week, back pain (from doing something stupid) and neck pain (was in a guillotine hold years ago and the guy wouldn't let go after I tapped out) was mostly gone. After about two months, my shoulder was 100% again. I emailed Diamond Dallas Page letting him know what his workout system did for me and he actually replied. Super nice guy, super down to Earth. I cannot say enough good things about this system because it greatly improved my quality of life
DDP Yoga is essentially Vinyasa yoga mixed with isometrics, calisthenics, pilates and body weight exercises. It is highly effective for getting into shape or recovering from an injury. My wife and son have had a lot of success with this as well.
I started looking into weight training again, and with the guidance of Injunjack and Zhivago, settled on kettlebells. I wasn't too impressed with the kettlebell instructors I've seen in my area (they work in my usual gym), did a lot of research and invested in the Skogg System, mainly because his reviews emphasize that his instruction is excellent and he focuses on having proper form.
He starts off the bat with a very good instructional video of the six basic moves, and some general kettlebell information and safety. There are three different ways to vary intensity of a kettlebell workout: time/tempo, reps and weight
He has two workouts that are time based, one is a round style where you do a single move for thirty seconds, the switch to the other hand. Depending on where you are, you go from one minute to four. That makes for a total of 24 minutes of movement at the highest level. The other time based workout is an interval based training, where you do one move with one hand for thirty seconds, immediately transition to another move, then switch hands. You do anywhere from three sets of this to twelve. It's tough at the highest level
He has two workouts that are more power based, where you can either do all six moves with one hand, with increasing numbers of reps per move, then you switch, or you can do a ladders workout, where you do a number of reps, switch, do the same number of reps, then move onto the next movement without a break. I know, it's confusing. You have to watch the videos.
I'm currently doing Skoggs "Virtual Skogg" system, where he mixes the six basic move with other movements, including plyometric movements and body weight exercises. It's a great workout and is good if you get bored with doing the same basic movements over and over and over again
I really enjoy kettlebells and will most likely never go back to weight lifting. It's fun, I can get my cardio in with my weight training, and it's fast. Being able to work out at home is a huge plus for me. The movements used in kettlebells also translates easily into real life. I easily bring up many bags of groceries up the stairs (I live in a town house). Putting something over head, something that is irregularly shaped, is easy for me now. Nothing is more awkward to push overhead than a round object, and training with that gets your body ready for it in real life. Isolating muscles (such as in weight training) doesn't always translate well into real life where muscles have to work synchronously together. The plyometric aspect translates well too in that lifting a suitcase into the back of a Jeep is usually an explosive movement. Additionally, my stamina is now the best it's ever been. I can't remember when was the last time I was winded
So what do you need? Well, for DDP Yoga, the DVDs and a mat. I like the Aurorae mats, though Manduka seems to be the gold standard
For kettlebells, I have about 48 square feet of rubber matting, that cost me about 50 bucks (you can get them on Amazon, the brand of the mats is Cap Barbell) and kettlebells. I have not gone the way of the competition style bells, one because they're expensive, and two because the regular Cap Barbell kettlebells work fine for me. I even like that they vary in size because I like to train in a way that will allow me to adapt quickly. I started with a 15lb bell to get my form down, then very quickly moved onto 25lbs, then 35lbs, then 45lbs. After four months, I still use those so it's a good investment. If you have overly sweaty hands like me, a sock of chalk helps. Kettleguards are wristbands with plastic inserts that will prevent excessive bruising when you first start. Those are a good investment. Lastly, I use Vibram Fivefingers for footwear when I work out with kettlebells, though plenty of people train barefoot. Regular sneakers are not good for kettlebells, you need to be able to "grab" the ground with your toes. It's really a total body workout
And I never have to leave my house to workout.
I've really gotten into kettlebells now, so with the Virtual Skogg workouts, you need more bells. Ultimately (adding more as funds are available) I will have a 10, two 15s, a 20, two 25s, two 35s, two 45s, two fifties, one sixty, one seventy, and one eighty. I will use all of them regularly (I might even get doubles of the higher weights eventually, not sure). Note, Cap Barbell is an American company so they have their bells in lbs, many companies use the traditional "poods", and measure in half pood increments, which is about 8kg
I'm not the biggest I've ever been (at one point in my life, I had a 405lb bench press, a 455 deadlift, and a 525lb squat), but I feel I'm more "in tune" with my body, and I'm more effective in day to day tasks.
Again, this is my own personal opinions and experiences. Your mileage may vary, and what works for my body type might not work well for your body type or life or interests
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I did.
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Good post Doug. I read it all. Still have to think about it.
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I also find that DDP Yoga complements Skogg in that DDP Yoga focuses a lot on isometrics and slow twitch muscles and Skogg with it's ballistic movements focuses on fast twitch
And to be honest, if I wanted to keep it simple, it would be the two DVD systems, a yoga mat, and a 25lb kettle bell
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(at one point in my life, I had a 405lb bench press, a 455 deadlift, and a 525lb squat)
How did you ever fit into any Iron Heart?! Beast!
Anyway, great post - really caught my eye - I mostly lift weights (and can barely squeeze my chest into XXL shirts ugh!) and have been looking to mix in some alternative exercises to balance out/cut down some - will look into those suggestions - much appreciated!
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(at one point in my life, I had a 405lb bench press, a 455 deadlift, and a 525lb squat)
How did you ever fit into any Iron Heart?! Beast!
I didn't have as much mass or lift as much when I got into IH. I was also taking a shit ton of supplements, which I stopped awhile ago
For awhile, I didn't have a neck…
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joe if youre not into traditional cardio routines try out kickboxing or boxing
i started training muay thai 5 months ago cause regular work out programs werent something i was into and i was always into martial arts just never did them
love it
love it so much i now go to the regular gym as well, at least 4 times a weekI started Muay Thai last year and am totally hooked. I imagine that like anything else it depends on your trainer. I lucked out in that regard. Best workout I've had.
