Fitness programmes usually contain exercises such as sit-ups, stomach curls or some sort of jumping activity. That is what you would expect, right? But have you ever stopped to consider if these sort of exercises are the best way to get fit? Or that they are even good for you? Do they really help with your sport, lose weight, stay supple or keep in shape? We have come to accept the exercise is the only way to train if we are serious about our health, fitness and performance.

I would like to suggest there is another way, and a far better way for you to get what you want from a fitness plan. What is this way? Well what about playing a sport? When you were younger did you go down the park with a few mates and just kick a ball around? Just think how much exercise you got from doing that. Calculate how many calories were used up in one hour of playing a game of footie. And don't forget the cardio-vascular benefits.

But, more importantly, just how much more fun is playing a game than doing exercises? When did fitness begin to mean exercise in place of sport? Just how many more types of exercise do we really need to learn? Surely there are only so many different types of exercise our body's can perform!

Are your fitness programmes
limiting your performance?

One of my main interests is the state athletes call The Zone. People describe putting in the performance of their life as one of the easiest, effortless things they have done. Everything just comes together, their body feels light, their mind clear and the whole experience is one of pure joy.

If the sensations experienced in The Zone are what it feels like for every part of our body to be working at its optimum, then our fitness programmes should surely work to replicate this. Many of today’s popular methods in my view do not encourage what I think of as total body integration. Muscle isolation training, core strengthening and postural exercises are some of the main culprits that ignore some of the basic principles of human movement and therefore likely to obstruct your path to true fitness.

Does your body benefit from performing specialist exercises that work individual muscles? It sure wasn't designed to work in this way.

You may argue that traditional fitness programmes have exercises that are specifically designed to build strength in your core, thigh muscles or your upper back.

But lets stop and consider this-

do you ever use your body in your sport or everyday activities that look anything like these exercises?

Do you perform a movement like a stomach crunch at work or on the playing field? Probably not!

I believe that traditional exercises can set up performance-limiting habits that will adversely affect your movement. We develop these habits unknowingly until our movement is compromised to the point it will damage out fitness. If your body is not moving as well as it should then your chances of getting a sports injury are increased.

Do you know if your movement is efficient? How would you know? well you could the following two tests and see for yourself. The first will check your understanding of your body, the second will test you biomechanics.

Try these... Test One: Body Awareness Test Test Two: Biomechanics efficiency

How did it go? I was horrified when back in the early 1990s I attempted something similar. I had been playing competitive sport for over 15 years including karate, running and swimming but my body knowledge was poor. It was not surprising I was getting injured! My movement habits had deteriorated due to fitness programmes based on poor movement and I hadn't even noticed.

Habits are difficult to even recognise, let alone change. Have a go at this fitness test and see for yourself (just the first part - you've already done the second one).

Fitness programmes on ebook

If you have found that you didn't do to well with my tests, don't worry! I have worked with sports people of all abilities, both professional and amateur, and found a high proportion also failed these tests. How you think your body is put together will affect how you move. How you move will determine your ability and what you get from your fitness programmes.

I have taught The Alexander Technique to sports people for the last 10 years and learnt some very interesting facts. The most surprising is that many (including myself once) do not know the basics of movement! This is vital if we are to perform at our best and stay in shape. I have designed two fitness programmes in ebook format designed to help you to identify performance-limiting habits and how to relearn the skills necessary to correct them.

If you are interested in developing your sporting skills or improving your fitness you will find them indispensable. Take a look at my fitness programmes and why not give them a go. I do offer a 90 day money back guarantee if you feel they have not helped.

I am based in the UK so if you would like a one to one session or a group workshop at your sports club or workplace please contact me using the link below.

Want to ask a question? My view of what fitness means and how it can be attained is different to the conventional approach. If there is anything on this page that you would like to follow up please feel free to contact me

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