Here we go. I’ve been dragging my feet on starting a blog for some time now. It’s not that I don’t enjoy writing/typing, it’s me being hesitant to take on the responsibility of putting out valuable content regularly. I am now ready for the commitment. Primal Strength New York has been open for about 3 years now. Needless to say, there are a lot of balls in the air when you are owning and running a business. But everyone has excuses, so it’s time to get this party started.
The Sedentary Shift: A Modern Dilemma
What drives me to do what I do is the state of our species at the moment. We conquered the world by being the best movers in the jungle and yet, many of us are now stuck in a seated position for 60-80% of our week. It’s crazy when you think about it. We have created this world where we can do almost everything while seated. I’m 36 years old now, and the changes in just the few decades that I’ve been around are astounding. When I was a child we used to walk everywhere. Riding my bicycle an hour to get somewhere was no big deal. These days, not so much. Moving is fading in popularity all too quickly. It is sad.
From Pudgy Kid to Kung Fu Enthusiast
So why am I so passionate about movement? I guess it has to do with my path to get where I am now. I spent my childhood as a pudgy, nonathletic kid. Pillsbury dough boy, butterball, etc. Much of who we are today is 100% reactionary to our experiences growing up, and who I am now is certainly, a response to what I didn’t like about myself as an adolescent. Anyway, when I was 20 years old I found Kung fu. It lit me up in a way that nothing ever had before. I dove in head first, and full steam ahead.
I lived immersed in a world of movement without really paying attention to the movement aspects of the art form that I was practicing. Spending as much time and energy teaching people how to move as I did teaches you a lot. There is a lot more to this part of my story, but I will save that for a later date.
Discovering the Power of Kettlebells
In 2008 kettlebells came into my life. Through learning how to use these round hunks of metal I realized that what I had thought was a love of kung fu was a love of movement. Kung fu was just my first taste of it. The kettlebell was merely another tool to help me learn how to use my body more effectively. From that realization came a hunger to see what else was out there. I learned about the barbell, dumbbells, Indian clubs, sandbags, and good old-school calisthenics. Each tool added to my repertoire and grew my passion for movement.
Movement: The Key to Achieving Your Goals
In my humble opinion, movement is the missing link for most people today. It seems to be the best-kept secret, and yet it doesn’t matter what your goals are, moving better will help you get there. Do you want to lose some body fat? Move better, move more, and clean up your diet. Do you want to get stronger? Move better, then lift some heavy stuff. Do you want to build muscle? Move better, lift heavy stuff, eat a lot, and sleep a lot as well. Do you want to have a higher-functioning brain? Yes, move better. There is plenty of science demonstrating that your brain functions better in a movement-rich environment.
Introducing The Primal Movement
So here is my introduction to The Primal Movement. Bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of blogging. I have a lot to say. Sometimes it is hard to get started, and other times it is hard to stop. I’ll try to keep the grammatical errors to a minimum. I make no promises with effect/effect, though. I just never know which one is appropriate.
Something to think about. For the next week or 2 pay attention to how often you sit, and how you feel after getting up after a prolonged sitting spell. Do your hips feel “sticky?” Are you a bit slow to get moving? Does your back feel stiff? What do you think happens after years and years of this?