Warning: Undefined array key "inject_bottom_color" in /home/0excusesfitness/public_html/wp-content/plugins/newsletter-leads/plugin.php on line 143
Warning: Undefined array key "inject_bottom_color" in /home/0excusesfitness/public_html/wp-content/plugins/newsletter-leads/plugin.php on line 159
Warning: Undefined array key "" in /home/0excusesfitness/public_html/wp-content/plugins/newsletter-leads/plugin.php on line 159
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/0excusesfitness/public_html/wp-content/plugins/newsletter-leads/plugin.php on line 160
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/0excusesfitness/public_html/wp-content/plugins/newsletter-leads/plugin.php on line 161
Dear Reader,
Many years I showed up for work at THAT job – and greeted my colleague, the then “operations manager” at the company.
We shook hands, and he made a comment about “how fit I was looking”.
“Thanks”, I responded, while giving him the ole Gorilla Grip, and him responding with a meatier “paw shake” as it were.
And then he said it.
He grabbed my upper arm, and looked at me.
“But you’re loose. Your muscles are loose”.
“Ok, so …” I queried, not sure what he was on about.
“When I used to play cricket (this guy was Indian, and the company was in India as you know), I had TIGHT muscles! My triceps and indeed entire arm was tight the entire day regardless of whether I tried”.
Now, let it be noted that at the time of speaking, this guy had a ponderous, massive belly which wouldn’t have looked out of place on a whale. Fat literally exploding from all areas of his body, and so forth and yet the comment.
I’m not EVEN going to get into the pot calling the kettle black. I’m not even sure that is an apt comparison, given the kettle wasn’t even unfit at the time!
When it comes to fitness, most people these days have this idea that our muscles need to be “tight and tense” all day long.
You see all these bodybuilders and gym rats walking about in “real life” (outside the gym) preening, posing, and generally keeping their muscles as “tense” as they can for show.
Astoundingly enough, this look does squat all in terms of any real strength – – and even more surprisingly, THIS is what most people have bought into as the standard.
So an obese guy telling a fit guy that his muscles are “loose” and so don’t fit the standard. Hmm…..
Remember this – walking around “tense” all day long is not only bad for the body – it gives off a BAD vibe as well.
You come across as stressed and aggressive, and the unconscious vibe you’re transmitting is that you’re attempting to “solve all problems by means of aggression” – and the world – and the Universe – responds in kind.
Look at animals in the wild.
Mr.Tiger – or Sir Monkey – or even the “gentle giant” with a trunk doesn’t attempt to flex muscles all day.
They’re loose – limber – flexible – and relaxed for the most of the day – but when it comes time to get the job done?
Boy, I don’t know about you, but a tiger can reach top speeds of 60km/hr within less than 3 seconds or so – catch prey outweighing it by several hundred kilos – and return with it in it’s jaw – all while on the run. That’s some major league flexibility and strength I’d say!
Now why am I telling you all this?
Simply to tell you this – that you’ll do much, much better if your muscles are loose and relaxed during the day as opposed to stiff and tense (the bodybuilder look).
Not only that, you’ll FEEL a lot better too – and it’ll show in your relationships with other people.
Being relaxed – in an advanced state of relaxation is KEY to overcoming any sort of difficult situation as well. If you look at all the great achievers in life – or sport – or any arena of life, you’ll see that they’re not “tense” in crunch situations.
They’re relaxed – and FOCUSED – and ready to get the job DONE!
When I tense my upper arms, the muscles are as “rigid” as steel bands – as they should be.
But for most of the day, they’re not that way – and neither am I that way.
As Claude Bristol noted in “T.N.T. – It Rocks the Earth” (a great little book that preceded The Magic of Believing) – –
Become at ease, meditate, go into the great silence, continue to meditate, and your problems will fade away into nothingness.
‘Tis true indeed, and although the average skeptic might scoff at the mere suggestion of what I mentioned above – I have this to tell you – TRY it!
On a side note, I’ve been doing some advanced meditations over the last few days, and the results have been off the charts – with NO change in what I’m doing otherwise in my life. Take that for starters!
Anyway, fitness wise, always remember that you’ll do a lot better when your muscles and body are RELAXED – as opposed to stiff and tense!
You’ll do far better when you “drop” into the squat as opposed to slowly lowering yourself as you would during barbell squats, and your thighs will have the “pliable yet powerful” look to them, ready to EXPLODE at a minute’s notice.
If you’re doing pull-ups, RELAX your upper body before doing ’em, and keep the saying “Your breath is your power” in mind when you’re doing ’em.
In fact that above tip is so important I included it in the recently released “FAQ” on pull-ups – – which is yours gratis with a “Pull-ups – from DUD to STUD within a matter of WEEKS! “purchase.
And so forth.
Always remember that relaxation is the key to more achievement in life – as well as connecting with your subconscious, which is where all achievement (or failure) really originates.
More on this later! For now, if you workout today – make it a great, great one – and make sure to BREATHE correctly while you do so!
Best,
Rahul Mookerjee
P.S. – I devote an entire Chapter on deep breathing in 0 Excuses Fitness, and rightfully so. If what I had to say above interests you even in the slightest (and judging by the click through rates it DOES) – well – take the plunge now, my friend. The world waits for no-one. Get a jump start on your health and fitness levels TODAY by ordering the best fitness System there is on the planet – – https://0excusesfitness.com/0excusesfitnessystem/
Sign up for the 0 Excuses Fitness newsletter.
Thanks for signing up. Remember to confirm your subscription via the link you get in your email.