Creating Strength

How do we go about the process of creating strength? If strength is defined as the ability to express internal force externally through body control (i.e. handstand), manipulation of an object (i.e. lifting), or interaction with our environment (i.e. climbing)? 

Is it an inherent trait or something that is developed over time? Is it accomplished through the development of tissue size & density? A neurological adaptation? The perseverance of will over adversity?

It is, of course, all of these things, and more.

What it is not, however, is developed through singular means: there is no one best method or tool to develop strength. It is wholly task dependent, and even more crucially defined by the viewer. Strength is in the eye of the beholder: what we perceive to be an act of strength becomes our definition of strong.

As such, strength is contextual, and so become our training methods. A powerlifter values the Big Three (squat, bench, and deadlift), and cares much less about the ability to contort into positions that do not matter to their sport. A gymnast is best served by spending their time training upper body stability and flexibility over hours spent squatting under a barbell. 

Specialization demands attention, and thus, sacrifices must be made elsewhere. Even generalists prioritize certain movement patterns and methods - there is not enough time in the day to train every aspect of strength and movement. 

But there are enough common threads that run through it all that we might build a general definition of strength. Once we dig deeper than tools, movement patterns, reps, and sets, we begin to see the similarities: time under tension, body control, repetition, practice, awareness, attention to detail. All of these things are common amongst those committed to learning and understanding any movement pursuit, from strength sports to dance, running, yoga, rock climbing…as varied as our possible definitions of strength are the disciplines built on these principles.

By focusing on these commonalities, we can create resiliency, capacity, and adaptability - strength that can be applied in many ways. 

What we need for that is a lens. Something through which we can examine movement, and use it in a way that reflects our values, instead of arbitrarily adhering to the rules of someone else’s game.

We look for those threads running across all movement disciplines and arts, not creating a program or method comprised of specific movements, reps, or sets, but instead a series of concepts that can be applied to any modality to whatever end you see fit.

From there user feedback dictates direction: what are you trying to accomplish? How can we modify the exercise to fit your goal? Your needs and limitations? The experience of the person engaging in the movement is crucial to the process: without engagement, reflection, and awareness on the part of the mover, there is no base upon which to build a definition of strength.

This is the primary thing we ask of our clients: come through our doors with an open mind, ready to break apart exercises, think about the why behind it all, and experiment with us. This is where we can build something really special - something beyond slogging through reps and sets because we think we’re supposed to - something that creates an environment where we can consider our bodies and movement in a way we rarely can in the contemporary world.