Working towards failure

Throughout my research towards my physiology and anatomy exam as part of my yoga instructor course, I came across a training principle I couldn't let go of.

Working towards failure.

Of course this was written about our muscles.

The concept is as follow;

When training there is the FITT principle we follow to ensure that we are pushing our body to improve and not remain stagnate.

Frequency (how often we train per week)

Intensity (low, moderate, high)

Time (how long for)

Type (what training are you doing?- cardio, weights,

endurance...)

Concepts of progressive overload, reversibility were also introduced. This is the idea that we need to keep improving and doing more each week in order to add stress to the muscle to improve and grow. Without this PROGRESSIVE overload (done in a healthy safe manner) we can maintain the same or loose muscle mass/strength/endurance/fibres that we have gained. This is reversibility.

Max is a way of working out how far we can push ourselves. This is a way of monitoring our heart rate (220-AGE) as being the highest we can reach [again this is only an estimate and is not spoken about in detail here] when training. It also can measure weight and endurance training by a use of scales, sight or heart rate monitoring, talking test and others.

Endurance- working 15-25 reps of 40-60%

Strength- working 5-8 reps of 75-85%

once at the end of these we should work towards failure. Not being able to continue. Whether endurance or strength. This stop in the muscle maximises the repair and muscle fibre production.

Working towards failure.

Why is this just seen as strength in the gym? We congratulate ourselves when we have 'tired' ourselves out. Proud that we ache a bit the next day as we feel the work we did.

Take this internally.

NO i am not saying work until you burn out, or have a break down. Just as in the FITT principle we need rest days we need pause and recovery time.

But what about our goals? Lets not see 'failure' as a weakness now. We try something it doesn't work. Ok I have learnt from that and now will readjust just like my physical body does. We need to train our mind to recover- to feel the pride when we are feeling low and sad that something hasn't worked. Take this and use it to fuel. What have I learnt. How could i go at this from another angle.

DO YOUR WORK. Whether is for a business, a personal goal, overcoming a trauma. AND DO IT WELL. You wouldn't go to the gym and do exercises you are not sure on, or lift too heavy for knowing you could damage yourself. Same mentally. Do your work in line with you right now.

When talking to that therapist has left you feeling open the next day, you are recovering. Finding new pathways, ways to heal. See this as a strength a beginning. If one therapist or method isnt working, after having tried, [failure] try another route as we adjust how we train.

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There is an ancient proverb in India about the 4 rooms of our house. Each day we need to sit in every room. allow the room to air out, and keep connection to our home.

The rooms are our; spiritual, mental, physical and social places.

We train endurance, strength, cardio and motor skills. We find a programme that works for each.

Lets train our spiritual, mental, physical and social. Lets push to the point we feel we cannot go. That means we are working.

How long can you meditate for? How long can you sit with your breath? How long can you be without your phone?

Can you take a breath before reacting to a situation? How you sorted out that 'issue' in your mind and body? Are you taking care of yourself?

Are you leaving the house? Putting good food into you? How are you staying active? Where is your you time going?

Have you reached out to someone today? Spread some love?

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Its the little steps that bring us to failure. And it is the failure and only failure that will bring us our results.

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Thank you:)

Travel the world and spread magic where you walk.