Just as most of us were getting ‘fired up’ about the impending Sick Care legislation, I penned my last Breakthrough Newsletter/Blog. Some of your responses were amazing.
The following was submitted by none other than Mr. Steve Perillo- Perillo Tours CEO- Mr. Italy Jr. Aside from running Perillo Tours and being an accomplished classical composer/recording artist; Steve also hosts his own talk show.
And while not being an unabashed ‘health nut’ like myself, Steve eats and supplements wisely AND he works out regularly.
He writes the following in response to Russell’s True Health Care Bill:
HERE! HERE! Right on!
Imagine exercise and diet credits! . . . like a ‘good driver’ getting lower insurance rates.
50% of all kids born today will get juvenile diabetes?
Even if that’s a huge exaggeration, 5% of kids getting that would be absurd.
Sorry to say, if you let market forces go wild, with no oversight, this is what we get . . . 150 pound, ten year olds playing video games all day while eating Coco-Puffs, unable to go outside because they need their parents to drive them everywhere. Our ‘junk culture’ is killing our children!
Sorry we’re too stupid to oversee ourselves because now we need laws to force us to behave:
1)Restrict amount of sugar in products
2)No sugar at all in schools
3)Sidewalks and bike-lanes mandatory for all new suburban constructions
4)No school bussing if you live within 1 mile of school
5)Food stamps only good for certain food purchases
6)Stop farm subsidies (corn) that promote tons of cheap, hormone and antibiotic invested beef and poultry.
The corporations don’t care. Just the opposite. They’re incentivized to create customer addictions!
They have multi-million dollar labs that study how to turn consumers into those lab rats . . . pawing the ‘more cocaine button’ until they kill themselves.
And what’s addicting? Fat, salt and carbs. And for some reason those are the cheapest materials to put on the table! (See corn subsidies!)
McDonalds is currently the cheapest way to feed a family of 4 . . . $12! Fruits and vegetables cost way more than that to feed the same family.
We used to be a lean, mean country . . . No mas!
Steve
Like me, Steve has an objective advantage over our lawmakers in Washington. He’s not a lawyer who has been elected to public office. He’s not ‘beholding’ to any self-serving lobby groups.
Don’t shrug off this topic. Think it through and come up with YOUR Personal Wellness Plan. Remember- once your Body is weakened by all the drugs and junk food being pumped into it, YOUR Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Strength is sure to follow.
The so called ‘greatest country in the history of the world’, the country that has sacrificed many thousands of lives to keep our freedom, the land of the free and the home of the brave is SICK. The corrupt money gods are creating wealth for themselves but force-feeding us a steady diet of dead, nutrition-less foods just to fill our bellies.
The ENEMY is within and it ain’t just a bunch of crazed terrorists. In the same way We The People have fought for our Freedom, we must fight for our HEALTH!
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Russell’s True Health Care Bill
Okay,okay,okay (say it really fast like Leo Getz in Lethal Weapon2) help me here. The government is taking over Health Care in the United States.
First of all, there never was Health Care in the United States only Sick Care. And Sick Care is needed and we need a lot of it. ‘Preventative medicine’ is just a buzzword for ‘testing to see if you are Sick yet’.
WE THE PEOPLE have brought this on ourselves through ignorance and laziness. My Mother taught me a long time ago that we have to be proactively in charge of our own health. The early ‘health food nuts’ and ‘fitness crazies’ were Right. But we all have to come to grips with the fact that none of us are getting out of here alive.
We have to realize a few things:
1- The majority of ‘foods’ on the shelf in our grocery stores are g-a-r-b-a-g-e. It’s legal but it shouldn’t be. Most food processing companies are driven by 1 thing and that is Profit (for themselves and you who hold stock). As has been pointed out many times before---- if whatever you are buying has Sugar in any of its forms, White Flour or Chemical Additives, you are setting yourself and your family up for sickness, disease and pre-mature death.
2- Most Doctors DO know their *ss from their elbow- and that’s a good thing. However, 99.9% of the doctors we come across Specialize in something other than nutrition. Yet many dispense nutritional opinions and most of us buy their opinions.
And the Nutritionists I’ve met are too concerned with counting Calories and the Fat content of foods that they miss the boat when it comes to Fresh, Wholesome Foods from a variety of Natural sources. And they do not have a handle on Natural Supplementation. Methinks they ‘compromise’ too much and need to raise the standards and expectations. Nutrition Experts need to get radical and scream out ‘warnings’ to our culture. Also, the food pyramid and its various versions have not worked.
3- Pharmaceutical Companies do not have a moral compass. The researchers might but Drug Companies are driven by 1 thing and that is Profit (for themselves and you who hold stock). They are the best and worst of what big business is all about. They have had a huge hand in crafting our Drug Culture. They have pushed their ‘miracle cures’ on the medical community and on WE THE PEOPLE to a degree that is almost unfathomable.
Some of the stuff works but most are nonsense- the side effects alone are embarrassing.
4- Insurance Companies do not have a moral compass. I believe in free enterprise but Insurance Companies are so unscrupulous they NEED regulation. Insurance Companies are driven by 1 thing and that is Profit (for themselves and you who hold stock).
5- Government has a real hard time acting objectively when it comes to Most issues. Partisan politics has our elected officials voting the Party line. Lobbyists influence all levels of government and are only interested in furthering the interests of those who Pay them.
Someone has proposed that whatever the government gives us in Health (Sick) Insurance, that all elected officials would have to use it as well.
6- Lawyers! They are so intertwined in all of the above that they can make a well person sick. And they would figure out a way that it would be ‘prejudicial and unjust’ to treat someone who abuses their health any differently than someone who makes the effort to take care of themselves.
So this is what I’m going to use to start Russell’s True Health Care Bill. I’m borrowing it from Arthur Dreschler as he wrote in the November 2009 Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Newsletter:
While there are many issues regarding the health of this nation’s citizens, and that of people throughout the world, and change is going on all around us, at least one thing remains true. Progressive resistance exercise is one of the greatest discoveries in human history. It has the ability to heal the sick, strengthen the weak, inspire the downtrodden and transform the body and soul. Its benefits are available to all, without exception. And when such training is combined with sound dietary practices and abstinence from debilitating practices, such as the use of alcohol and drugs, a recipe for a longer and a more vigorous life is created. NOTHING MORE IS NEEDED, BUT NOTHING LESS IS SUFFICIENT.
… Nothing would benefit the health of the nation more quickly and completely, or reduce our health care costs more surely, that the widespread adoption of regular (ideally progressive) exercise, a sound diet and the avoidance of dissipation. Given this we should all redouble our efforts to extol the virtues of exercise and other sound health practices, while at the same time ASSURING THAT WE ARE EACH LIVING EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ESPOUSE.
I know I left out the rest of My Son- the Experiment :( & Cardio as well… next time?
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
First of all, there never was Health Care in the United States only Sick Care. And Sick Care is needed and we need a lot of it. ‘Preventative medicine’ is just a buzzword for ‘testing to see if you are Sick yet’.
WE THE PEOPLE have brought this on ourselves through ignorance and laziness. My Mother taught me a long time ago that we have to be proactively in charge of our own health. The early ‘health food nuts’ and ‘fitness crazies’ were Right. But we all have to come to grips with the fact that none of us are getting out of here alive.
We have to realize a few things:
1- The majority of ‘foods’ on the shelf in our grocery stores are g-a-r-b-a-g-e. It’s legal but it shouldn’t be. Most food processing companies are driven by 1 thing and that is Profit (for themselves and you who hold stock). As has been pointed out many times before---- if whatever you are buying has Sugar in any of its forms, White Flour or Chemical Additives, you are setting yourself and your family up for sickness, disease and pre-mature death.
2- Most Doctors DO know their *ss from their elbow- and that’s a good thing. However, 99.9% of the doctors we come across Specialize in something other than nutrition. Yet many dispense nutritional opinions and most of us buy their opinions.
And the Nutritionists I’ve met are too concerned with counting Calories and the Fat content of foods that they miss the boat when it comes to Fresh, Wholesome Foods from a variety of Natural sources. And they do not have a handle on Natural Supplementation. Methinks they ‘compromise’ too much and need to raise the standards and expectations. Nutrition Experts need to get radical and scream out ‘warnings’ to our culture. Also, the food pyramid and its various versions have not worked.
3- Pharmaceutical Companies do not have a moral compass. The researchers might but Drug Companies are driven by 1 thing and that is Profit (for themselves and you who hold stock). They are the best and worst of what big business is all about. They have had a huge hand in crafting our Drug Culture. They have pushed their ‘miracle cures’ on the medical community and on WE THE PEOPLE to a degree that is almost unfathomable.
Some of the stuff works but most are nonsense- the side effects alone are embarrassing.
4- Insurance Companies do not have a moral compass. I believe in free enterprise but Insurance Companies are so unscrupulous they NEED regulation. Insurance Companies are driven by 1 thing and that is Profit (for themselves and you who hold stock).
5- Government has a real hard time acting objectively when it comes to Most issues. Partisan politics has our elected officials voting the Party line. Lobbyists influence all levels of government and are only interested in furthering the interests of those who Pay them.
Someone has proposed that whatever the government gives us in Health (Sick) Insurance, that all elected officials would have to use it as well.
6- Lawyers! They are so intertwined in all of the above that they can make a well person sick. And they would figure out a way that it would be ‘prejudicial and unjust’ to treat someone who abuses their health any differently than someone who makes the effort to take care of themselves.
So this is what I’m going to use to start Russell’s True Health Care Bill. I’m borrowing it from Arthur Dreschler as he wrote in the November 2009 Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Newsletter:
While there are many issues regarding the health of this nation’s citizens, and that of people throughout the world, and change is going on all around us, at least one thing remains true. Progressive resistance exercise is one of the greatest discoveries in human history. It has the ability to heal the sick, strengthen the weak, inspire the downtrodden and transform the body and soul. Its benefits are available to all, without exception. And when such training is combined with sound dietary practices and abstinence from debilitating practices, such as the use of alcohol and drugs, a recipe for a longer and a more vigorous life is created. NOTHING MORE IS NEEDED, BUT NOTHING LESS IS SUFFICIENT.
… Nothing would benefit the health of the nation more quickly and completely, or reduce our health care costs more surely, that the widespread adoption of regular (ideally progressive) exercise, a sound diet and the avoidance of dissipation. Given this we should all redouble our efforts to extol the virtues of exercise and other sound health practices, while at the same time ASSURING THAT WE ARE EACH LIVING EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ESPOUSE.
I know I left out the rest of My Son- the Experiment :( & Cardio as well… next time?
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My Son- the Experiment
Hopefully, we all want the best for our children. The ‘best’ can interpreted many different ways. What you think is the ‘best’ for your child might not be what I consider ‘best’.
And as parents we bring our own values, experiences and prejudices to the table which can really help a kid or really screw one up.
When it comes to sports, I have had more opportunities than most to mess up my kid’s athletic careers. As an ex-athlete as many dads and moms are, I had the perspective that I was eminently qualified to coach and teach my children EVERYTHING there is to know. Of course everyone that ever played a game, listens to sport’s talk radio, watches ESPN and has attended a sport’s safety course feels that they are just as qualified.
Over the years, I have had many opportunities to work with my kids in sports. While ALL of my intentions have been good, sometimes the results have not (I know that probably surprises you- :D).
My 3 oldest have had the chance to experience many different levels of sport- College Basketball, HS- Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field. We’ve had Captains and County Champions and 1st Team All-Whatevers. But I always felt that I had let my kid’s down when it came to the ‘best’ possible way to PREPARE.
To me, Preparation is key because it’s something you can control and something, once you learn it, that can be applied to many areas of life. Preparation can be a problem though since most kids just want to play and are not mature enough to even grasp the concept of Prepping. And even if they are willing to Prepare, what system will you give them?
You cannot rely on the coaches. Most (the vast majority) are game strategists only. Some are able to inspire- which is a huge bonus.
Now if the coaches actually told you that they REALLY do not know the best way to prepare physically, you would save a whole lot of time and frustration. But they give your kids workouts or tell them to run or send them to a gym or a weight room.
And we parents get all bent out of shape when our kids do not perform to a level anywhere near their potential. Many of us blame the coaches or even the kids themselves for this ‘failure’.
But it’s NOT the coach’s fault. And it’s NOT your child’s fault. (With all things being equal, in that your child truly WANTS to succeed) It’s YOUR fault if they fail. I mean I truly believe that ANY kid who wants to earn a varsity letter can- just maybe not in a particular sport.
This brings me to my Experiment- my youngest son. I was running out of my own kids to train. Russ ‘Buddy’ Jones was my last chance. And he was and is a Challenge- in so many ways. But sharing in his Victories has been awesome.
My son loves baseball. I mean he really loves it. He loves playing it, watching it, umping it and talking about it. From birth he was destined to play for the Yankees- Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jeter, and Jones.
He loves the feel of a bat in his hands. He’d practice his swings everywhere- on the field, in the driveway, in the living room, in his bedroom. Always tweaking and adjusting his stroke or his stance.
And if he couldn’t play baseball, he would grab the kid next door to play wiffle ball in our front yard. They played from spring until the 1st snow every year for at least 10 years. They only stopped last year when my son was 18. The grass will still not grow around home plate and the pitcher’s mound.
Buddy played on baseball teams during the spring, summer and fall. But he swung his bat just about every day of the year. He wasn’t always the most teachable kid and I never wanted to push a sport on him so he taught himself a lot.
Since he was one of those kids who physically matured late, he was never looked upon as ‘athletic’ (whatever that means). This meant that he was never picked for the ‘elite’ teams. But he hung in there and was blasting home runs out of the big ball parks by the time he was 13.
But the ‘politics’ of local baseball was starting to wear on him and many times the ‘fun’ was taken out of the game. When he was a sophomore in high school he got cut from the JV team and I started to believe that maybe he was just not good enough. He took it hard but continued to play on whatever teams he could hook on with.
So I took my son to see an old friend who at one time was the head scout for the Chicago White Sox- Major League Baseball. On the side, he asked me, ‘Do these stupid )&)(*&%%$!#@ high school coaches know who this kid’s father is?’ I assured him that no one where I lived knew anything about me in sports- especially from back in the old days.
He put my son through almost 3 hours of drills in every aspect of baseball. He conferred with his assistant and then walked over to. ‘You’re kid’s getting screwed’, he whispered. I think we all have some doubt when it comes to objectively evaluating our own children-and not just in sports.
Driving home my thoughts went from anger toward those who treated my son poorly to frustration since I think I was kind of hoping that the evaluation would be poor and we could all move on with our lives.
What would you do? I know children around the world face much more severe issues than being cut from a baseball team but those kids don’t live in my house. We talked, we counseled, we prayed, we changed schools.
Well let’s put it this way, we didn’t change schools just because of baseball but that greatly contributed to the decision. Crazy to some but looking back it worked out pretty good. Although NOT in baseball- his new school had a very good team. As a junior, my son batted 2nd and played the outfield on the jayvee squad. As a senior, he had a shot to play the outfield on varsity or possibly be the Designated Hitter.
BUT after all these years of Baseball practice and games and loving the game, he chose not to go out for the team. AFTER ALL that he had gone through, he decided to NOT play. I could not believe my ears.
PAUSE- I have to stop here- finish next time :D. AND I will get to ‘cardio’ as well.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Copyright, the Power Workshop Inc., 2005
And as parents we bring our own values, experiences and prejudices to the table which can really help a kid or really screw one up.
When it comes to sports, I have had more opportunities than most to mess up my kid’s athletic careers. As an ex-athlete as many dads and moms are, I had the perspective that I was eminently qualified to coach and teach my children EVERYTHING there is to know. Of course everyone that ever played a game, listens to sport’s talk radio, watches ESPN and has attended a sport’s safety course feels that they are just as qualified.
Over the years, I have had many opportunities to work with my kids in sports. While ALL of my intentions have been good, sometimes the results have not (I know that probably surprises you- :D).
My 3 oldest have had the chance to experience many different levels of sport- College Basketball, HS- Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field. We’ve had Captains and County Champions and 1st Team All-Whatevers. But I always felt that I had let my kid’s down when it came to the ‘best’ possible way to PREPARE.
To me, Preparation is key because it’s something you can control and something, once you learn it, that can be applied to many areas of life. Preparation can be a problem though since most kids just want to play and are not mature enough to even grasp the concept of Prepping. And even if they are willing to Prepare, what system will you give them?
You cannot rely on the coaches. Most (the vast majority) are game strategists only. Some are able to inspire- which is a huge bonus.
Now if the coaches actually told you that they REALLY do not know the best way to prepare physically, you would save a whole lot of time and frustration. But they give your kids workouts or tell them to run or send them to a gym or a weight room.
And we parents get all bent out of shape when our kids do not perform to a level anywhere near their potential. Many of us blame the coaches or even the kids themselves for this ‘failure’.
But it’s NOT the coach’s fault. And it’s NOT your child’s fault. (With all things being equal, in that your child truly WANTS to succeed) It’s YOUR fault if they fail. I mean I truly believe that ANY kid who wants to earn a varsity letter can- just maybe not in a particular sport.
This brings me to my Experiment- my youngest son. I was running out of my own kids to train. Russ ‘Buddy’ Jones was my last chance. And he was and is a Challenge- in so many ways. But sharing in his Victories has been awesome.
My son loves baseball. I mean he really loves it. He loves playing it, watching it, umping it and talking about it. From birth he was destined to play for the Yankees- Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jeter, and Jones.
He loves the feel of a bat in his hands. He’d practice his swings everywhere- on the field, in the driveway, in the living room, in his bedroom. Always tweaking and adjusting his stroke or his stance.
And if he couldn’t play baseball, he would grab the kid next door to play wiffle ball in our front yard. They played from spring until the 1st snow every year for at least 10 years. They only stopped last year when my son was 18. The grass will still not grow around home plate and the pitcher’s mound.
Buddy played on baseball teams during the spring, summer and fall. But he swung his bat just about every day of the year. He wasn’t always the most teachable kid and I never wanted to push a sport on him so he taught himself a lot.
Since he was one of those kids who physically matured late, he was never looked upon as ‘athletic’ (whatever that means). This meant that he was never picked for the ‘elite’ teams. But he hung in there and was blasting home runs out of the big ball parks by the time he was 13.
But the ‘politics’ of local baseball was starting to wear on him and many times the ‘fun’ was taken out of the game. When he was a sophomore in high school he got cut from the JV team and I started to believe that maybe he was just not good enough. He took it hard but continued to play on whatever teams he could hook on with.
So I took my son to see an old friend who at one time was the head scout for the Chicago White Sox- Major League Baseball. On the side, he asked me, ‘Do these stupid )&)(*&%%$!#@ high school coaches know who this kid’s father is?’ I assured him that no one where I lived knew anything about me in sports- especially from back in the old days.
He put my son through almost 3 hours of drills in every aspect of baseball. He conferred with his assistant and then walked over to. ‘You’re kid’s getting screwed’, he whispered. I think we all have some doubt when it comes to objectively evaluating our own children-and not just in sports.
Driving home my thoughts went from anger toward those who treated my son poorly to frustration since I think I was kind of hoping that the evaluation would be poor and we could all move on with our lives.
What would you do? I know children around the world face much more severe issues than being cut from a baseball team but those kids don’t live in my house. We talked, we counseled, we prayed, we changed schools.
Well let’s put it this way, we didn’t change schools just because of baseball but that greatly contributed to the decision. Crazy to some but looking back it worked out pretty good. Although NOT in baseball- his new school had a very good team. As a junior, my son batted 2nd and played the outfield on the jayvee squad. As a senior, he had a shot to play the outfield on varsity or possibly be the Designated Hitter.
BUT after all these years of Baseball practice and games and loving the game, he chose not to go out for the team. AFTER ALL that he had gone through, he decided to NOT play. I could not believe my ears.
PAUSE- I have to stop here- finish next time :D. AND I will get to ‘cardio’ as well.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Copyright, the Power Workshop Inc., 2005
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Raphael
Yesterday I spoke and broke a few things at a Powerlifting meet in Dover, NJ. It wasn’t a particularly huge event- except for the competitors that is.
I’ve never competed in one of these events but the whole concept is pretty basic. How much weight can you lift?
3 chances at 3 lifts- the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift. According to weight class and gender, whoever lifts the highest total wins.
What I love about these meets is that EVERYONE wins. But not like the nonsense in kid’s sports today where they don’t keep score and everyone in the league comes home with a HUGE trophy at the end of the season (that policy makes more Wieners than Winners).
You see everyone wins at a Powerlifting meet but not everyone gets a trophy. Everyone wins because of 2 reasons. The lifters get a chance to give 100% effort and they get a chance to set a Personal Best. THAT is very rare in sports and rare in life.
In most sports, athletes must compete at less than 100% because we all start to fail after 10-20 seconds. Anything longer than that you have to pace yourself- which is okay but the absolute RUSH when you have to explode at your maximum is incredible.
And anytime you get to establish a Personal Best is fantastic. No one is banished to the loser’s bracket or eliminated from the competition. There are no playoffs or even tryouts. Just show up, give it everything you’ve got, hear the cheers of encouragement and go home happy.
So I gave my talk and did some feats in between events. The audience was great and they seemed to appreciate my effort. Most came up later to thank me including a happy looking kid named Raphael.
Raphael was tall and muscular. You could tell that he didn’t have a whole lot of competition experience but he was really giving a strong effort. His smile lit up the room.
I asked him where he was from and his story started to unfold. He was 25 years old. His parents had brought him to the United States from Poland when he was 8. They lived in Jersey City and then Bayonne for a while before settling in Parsippany, NJ. He had an older brother and a younger sister.
But then the ‘happy’ story changed. Raphael had gotten in with the wrong crowd in high school and had been strung out on drugs until about 7 months ago. He ended up in a place in Morristown called the Market Street Mission. There he lived with about 60 other men whose lives were in chaos. It sounds like a live-in 12-step program.
Raphael told me it’s been a really tough stretch but he has stayed ‘clean’ the entire time. The folks there have guided him in his thought processes and his spiritual life.
Along the way, he was introduced to our old friend Pastor Pete. A couple of years ago, Pastor Pete had scrounged around and put together a GYM for the guys at the Mission. Then he taught them how to train their bodies and he encouraged them to ‘compete’ because he knew how important it is for all of us to be strong Physically as well as strong Mentally and Spiritually.
Like the 3 legged stool, we cannot ignore any part of our being- especially when we are facing some of the biggest challenges of our lives.
It sounded to me like Raphael was ‘getting it’. I’m not sure if he captured a trophy yesterday but he did set a Personal Best. AND he’s due to EARN his release from the Mission just before Christmas- filled with a new found Dream and Hope for the future. If you’re a prayin’ person, send one up for this kid. Thanks.
Next time we begin our talk about Cardio (unless I get distracted :)).
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
I’ve never competed in one of these events but the whole concept is pretty basic. How much weight can you lift?
3 chances at 3 lifts- the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift. According to weight class and gender, whoever lifts the highest total wins.
What I love about these meets is that EVERYONE wins. But not like the nonsense in kid’s sports today where they don’t keep score and everyone in the league comes home with a HUGE trophy at the end of the season (that policy makes more Wieners than Winners).
You see everyone wins at a Powerlifting meet but not everyone gets a trophy. Everyone wins because of 2 reasons. The lifters get a chance to give 100% effort and they get a chance to set a Personal Best. THAT is very rare in sports and rare in life.
In most sports, athletes must compete at less than 100% because we all start to fail after 10-20 seconds. Anything longer than that you have to pace yourself- which is okay but the absolute RUSH when you have to explode at your maximum is incredible.
And anytime you get to establish a Personal Best is fantastic. No one is banished to the loser’s bracket or eliminated from the competition. There are no playoffs or even tryouts. Just show up, give it everything you’ve got, hear the cheers of encouragement and go home happy.
So I gave my talk and did some feats in between events. The audience was great and they seemed to appreciate my effort. Most came up later to thank me including a happy looking kid named Raphael.
Raphael was tall and muscular. You could tell that he didn’t have a whole lot of competition experience but he was really giving a strong effort. His smile lit up the room.
I asked him where he was from and his story started to unfold. He was 25 years old. His parents had brought him to the United States from Poland when he was 8. They lived in Jersey City and then Bayonne for a while before settling in Parsippany, NJ. He had an older brother and a younger sister.
But then the ‘happy’ story changed. Raphael had gotten in with the wrong crowd in high school and had been strung out on drugs until about 7 months ago. He ended up in a place in Morristown called the Market Street Mission. There he lived with about 60 other men whose lives were in chaos. It sounds like a live-in 12-step program.
Raphael told me it’s been a really tough stretch but he has stayed ‘clean’ the entire time. The folks there have guided him in his thought processes and his spiritual life.
Along the way, he was introduced to our old friend Pastor Pete. A couple of years ago, Pastor Pete had scrounged around and put together a GYM for the guys at the Mission. Then he taught them how to train their bodies and he encouraged them to ‘compete’ because he knew how important it is for all of us to be strong Physically as well as strong Mentally and Spiritually.
Like the 3 legged stool, we cannot ignore any part of our being- especially when we are facing some of the biggest challenges of our lives.
It sounded to me like Raphael was ‘getting it’. I’m not sure if he captured a trophy yesterday but he did set a Personal Best. AND he’s due to EARN his release from the Mission just before Christmas- filled with a new found Dream and Hope for the future. If you’re a prayin’ person, send one up for this kid. Thanks.
Next time we begin our talk about Cardio (unless I get distracted :)).
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Stretching Controversy?
Hi. A few folks had questions. Please note that when I offer insights it’s with the hope of helping you IMPROVE your life… Most of us have ‘Sacred Cows’ in our life (something exempt from criticism or questioning). When someone raises a question about our Cow, we can tend to get very defensive.
And when we get defensive, sometimes we are unable to see things clearly. So if Stretching is sacred to you and it’s working for you and your performance is improving in your sport or in your life in general, then by all means keep doing what you are doing.
2 things you might want to consider.
Out in the wild when the animals have to chase prey, do they stop and stretch and get ready to go? Do they have to warm up and prepare the muscles to go and get dinner? Or is it because of the way they USE their muscles that they are prepared to go all the time? Humans are Capable of that very same thing.
AND with all the Stretching going on, why is it that the #1 injury in the entire WORLD is soft tissue injury?
Warm ups should be of the same Character and Intensity of the activity you are about to perform. We train our Athletes to warm up with activities that are of very high velocity and the loads are massive. It’s really not a warm up, it’s true work. And that’s what prepares us for what comes next.
When people get into a character of moving that is within a ‘comfort zone’—much less than 100% intensity—they’re able to avoid injuries but Human Performance suffers. If your performance is NOT improving, maybe it’s time to evaluate how you’re going about doing things.
I referred to my expert & friend- Jay Schroeder (Evosport, ARPwave, UltraFit). Here's a question and Jay's response which I felt was pretty indicative of the questions being raised…
re: Stretch out?
~Ok I'll bite. How is stretching bad for you?
Here's my personal scenario. I wrestled from 6yrs old to college, lifted and trained and feel I know my body well. I have a slight scoliosis due to the fact my one leg is longer than the other. So I have had my share of back "issues". Nothing severe but I was prone to injury if I lifted wrong. In addition, I also never stretched much and have particularly tight hamstrings. In fact touching my toes was impossible and the closest I could ever come was my shins. I mean tight! I just figured I was built that way.
Roll the clock forward and about a year ago I started running and lifting again (heart healthy). After about 6 months I hurt my back, bad. Like never before. I mean I couldn't walk. I went to a Dr. and the MRI showed 2 compressed vertebrae, one ruptured.
I went thru a Spinal Decompression process over 10 weeks that worked wonders! And here's the punch line. The biggest part of the rehab was to stretch. I stretched like never before. Now I touch my toes every day, I have better range of motion and feel stronger than ever. I know that my back is healed and will continue the stretching regime for the rest of my life.
So back to my question, how is this bad for me?
Thanks, Bill
Bill,
To begin with I am glad that you have been able to improve your quality of life. Muscles contract to shorten [concentrically], and to lengthen [eccentrically]. It is impossible to stretch muscle as it only contracts. What does occur when someone performs or assumes a stretching position is that connective tissue is stretched. This certainly can allow one to see and feel a difference when executing a task such as touching ones toes.
Unfortunately the way that humans are designed to display this range of motion is to have muscles concentrically contract and muscles opposite to eccentrically contract. This insures that the muscles absorb this load [force], not areas such as vertebrae, bones, connective tissue etc. You see when you were executing your training plan, the muscles you were using to execute the actions were inappropriate. This in balance of quadriceps to hamstring in your case leads to the overpowered muscle [hamstring] remaining in a constant state of concentric contraction, which then leads to other muscles, typically in the back area, to also stay in a concentrically contracted state, leading to this force being distributed to the vertebrae and connective tissue.
Now the human is amazing and can create a way to complete the desired action utilizing inappropriate muscles. This again was mainly due to muscles on one side overpowering the muscles opposite. Lets look at curling a bar, from the bottom position the biceps begin to contract concentrically, not only does this occur, but at the same moment in time for the same length of time, at the same force, and velocity the triceps must eccentrically contract. If this doesn't occur then the load must be displaced elsewhere, elbow, wrist, shoulder connective tissue in each area. This should not happen as our connective tissue is a last resort of protection; our muscles are designed for this task.
To summarize, no one would argue that humans, by stretching, can create increased range of motion, due to the laxity created by stretching the connective tissue. Unfortunately this is not the way we are designed to work, to allow one to perform in their later years the same as the younger years, and to avoid treatments [therapy] surgeries, such as yours and all the other related connective tissue exercises. This is the true task to accomplish when one is training. There is much research on stretching and the elderly that indicates that stretching leads to the more serious problems associated with hips, backs and knees.
I would recommend to you that you research stretching, and strength training and access how best to employ it to affect your life. I hope for your continued success, no matter what your choices may be.
Speed and Strength Always, Jay
There you have it gang. Next up is ‘Cardio’. Let me know if you want to discuss how we train.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Copyright, the Power Workshop Inc., 2005
**The contents of this Breakthrough-Newsletter are not to be considered as medical advice. Always consult a physician before beginning or changing any fitness program.**
And when we get defensive, sometimes we are unable to see things clearly. So if Stretching is sacred to you and it’s working for you and your performance is improving in your sport or in your life in general, then by all means keep doing what you are doing.
2 things you might want to consider.
Out in the wild when the animals have to chase prey, do they stop and stretch and get ready to go? Do they have to warm up and prepare the muscles to go and get dinner? Or is it because of the way they USE their muscles that they are prepared to go all the time? Humans are Capable of that very same thing.
AND with all the Stretching going on, why is it that the #1 injury in the entire WORLD is soft tissue injury?
Warm ups should be of the same Character and Intensity of the activity you are about to perform. We train our Athletes to warm up with activities that are of very high velocity and the loads are massive. It’s really not a warm up, it’s true work. And that’s what prepares us for what comes next.
When people get into a character of moving that is within a ‘comfort zone’—much less than 100% intensity—they’re able to avoid injuries but Human Performance suffers. If your performance is NOT improving, maybe it’s time to evaluate how you’re going about doing things.
I referred to my expert & friend- Jay Schroeder (Evosport, ARPwave, UltraFit). Here's a question and Jay's response which I felt was pretty indicative of the questions being raised…
re: Stretch out?
~Ok I'll bite. How is stretching bad for you?
Here's my personal scenario. I wrestled from 6yrs old to college, lifted and trained and feel I know my body well. I have a slight scoliosis due to the fact my one leg is longer than the other. So I have had my share of back "issues". Nothing severe but I was prone to injury if I lifted wrong. In addition, I also never stretched much and have particularly tight hamstrings. In fact touching my toes was impossible and the closest I could ever come was my shins. I mean tight! I just figured I was built that way.
Roll the clock forward and about a year ago I started running and lifting again (heart healthy). After about 6 months I hurt my back, bad. Like never before. I mean I couldn't walk. I went to a Dr. and the MRI showed 2 compressed vertebrae, one ruptured.
I went thru a Spinal Decompression process over 10 weeks that worked wonders! And here's the punch line. The biggest part of the rehab was to stretch. I stretched like never before. Now I touch my toes every day, I have better range of motion and feel stronger than ever. I know that my back is healed and will continue the stretching regime for the rest of my life.
So back to my question, how is this bad for me?
Thanks, Bill
Bill,
To begin with I am glad that you have been able to improve your quality of life. Muscles contract to shorten [concentrically], and to lengthen [eccentrically]. It is impossible to stretch muscle as it only contracts. What does occur when someone performs or assumes a stretching position is that connective tissue is stretched. This certainly can allow one to see and feel a difference when executing a task such as touching ones toes.
Unfortunately the way that humans are designed to display this range of motion is to have muscles concentrically contract and muscles opposite to eccentrically contract. This insures that the muscles absorb this load [force], not areas such as vertebrae, bones, connective tissue etc. You see when you were executing your training plan, the muscles you were using to execute the actions were inappropriate. This in balance of quadriceps to hamstring in your case leads to the overpowered muscle [hamstring] remaining in a constant state of concentric contraction, which then leads to other muscles, typically in the back area, to also stay in a concentrically contracted state, leading to this force being distributed to the vertebrae and connective tissue.
Now the human is amazing and can create a way to complete the desired action utilizing inappropriate muscles. This again was mainly due to muscles on one side overpowering the muscles opposite. Lets look at curling a bar, from the bottom position the biceps begin to contract concentrically, not only does this occur, but at the same moment in time for the same length of time, at the same force, and velocity the triceps must eccentrically contract. If this doesn't occur then the load must be displaced elsewhere, elbow, wrist, shoulder connective tissue in each area. This should not happen as our connective tissue is a last resort of protection; our muscles are designed for this task.
To summarize, no one would argue that humans, by stretching, can create increased range of motion, due to the laxity created by stretching the connective tissue. Unfortunately this is not the way we are designed to work, to allow one to perform in their later years the same as the younger years, and to avoid treatments [therapy] surgeries, such as yours and all the other related connective tissue exercises. This is the true task to accomplish when one is training. There is much research on stretching and the elderly that indicates that stretching leads to the more serious problems associated with hips, backs and knees.
I would recommend to you that you research stretching, and strength training and access how best to employ it to affect your life. I hope for your continued success, no matter what your choices may be.
Speed and Strength Always, Jay
There you have it gang. Next up is ‘Cardio’. Let me know if you want to discuss how we train.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Copyright, the Power Workshop Inc., 2005
**The contents of this Breakthrough-Newsletter are not to be considered as medical advice. Always consult a physician before beginning or changing any fitness program.**
Stretch out?
Did you hear about the Animal Cracker recall? All the SEALS were broken. (Thanks Krissy Jones :D).
Hope all is well with you. I suppose that I had better come up with some answers. The last Breakthrough Newsletter generated some questions.
Aside from writing, speaking and performing, I have been in the ‘fitness business’ since 1984- 25 years. I have always attempted to stay ‘up’ on current research in exercise science as well as trends.
And I’ve also read extensively on the subject. And I’ve applied much of what I’ve learned into my own training which has taken me from Triathlons to performing feats of strength. In fact, I’ve been coached by the modern-day Grand Master of Strongmen- Dennis Rogers.
And I’ve been injured many times and had to seek out answers to get healed. And many times the answers were not easy to come by.
Then 3 years ago I crossed paths with 2 gentlemen- Denis Thompson and Jay Schroeder. And after visiting with them and hearing what they had to say and seeing the results of their work, I wished that I had met them 25 years ago. Actually, I wish I had met them when I was 14 years old.
Their knowledge of how the human body PERFORMS is remarkable. The most difficult task for me is trying in un-learn the vast amount of useless information I had been served since the my beginnings in the ‘fitness industry’.
So consider this. Wherever you are right now, make a muscle (flex your bicep). Squeeze it hard.
Okay, now relax. Muscles only can do 1 of 2 things. They can either contract or relax. That’s it. Muscles DO NOT stretch.
So if Stretching is part of your routine and Muscles do not stretch, what exactly are you stretching? Well your bones are not going to stretch, so the only things left are your Ligaments and Tendons. And what is the job of Ligaments and Tendons? To anchor your muscles and stabilize your Joints. So Stretching as we have come to know it, actually De-Stabilizes your Joints and SETS YOU UP FOR INJURY. Hmmm….
Maybe then, we should be learning how to turn muscles on and off at the right time. This would allow us to relax our muscles more completely. We will be able to move through a full range of motion freely and efficiently- without risking injury by stretching the heck out our ligaments (ps- ligaments are supposed to be tight).
Next time we’ll address Cardio and I’ll tell you how my son ran a mile 39 seconds faster than his previous lifetime best- after he had not run AT ALL for over 3 months.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Copyright, the Power Workshop Inc., 2005
Hope all is well with you. I suppose that I had better come up with some answers. The last Breakthrough Newsletter generated some questions.
Aside from writing, speaking and performing, I have been in the ‘fitness business’ since 1984- 25 years. I have always attempted to stay ‘up’ on current research in exercise science as well as trends.
And I’ve also read extensively on the subject. And I’ve applied much of what I’ve learned into my own training which has taken me from Triathlons to performing feats of strength. In fact, I’ve been coached by the modern-day Grand Master of Strongmen- Dennis Rogers.
And I’ve been injured many times and had to seek out answers to get healed. And many times the answers were not easy to come by.
Then 3 years ago I crossed paths with 2 gentlemen- Denis Thompson and Jay Schroeder. And after visiting with them and hearing what they had to say and seeing the results of their work, I wished that I had met them 25 years ago. Actually, I wish I had met them when I was 14 years old.
Their knowledge of how the human body PERFORMS is remarkable. The most difficult task for me is trying in un-learn the vast amount of useless information I had been served since the my beginnings in the ‘fitness industry’.
So consider this. Wherever you are right now, make a muscle (flex your bicep). Squeeze it hard.
Okay, now relax. Muscles only can do 1 of 2 things. They can either contract or relax. That’s it. Muscles DO NOT stretch.
So if Stretching is part of your routine and Muscles do not stretch, what exactly are you stretching? Well your bones are not going to stretch, so the only things left are your Ligaments and Tendons. And what is the job of Ligaments and Tendons? To anchor your muscles and stabilize your Joints. So Stretching as we have come to know it, actually De-Stabilizes your Joints and SETS YOU UP FOR INJURY. Hmmm….
Maybe then, we should be learning how to turn muscles on and off at the right time. This would allow us to relax our muscles more completely. We will be able to move through a full range of motion freely and efficiently- without risking injury by stretching the heck out our ligaments (ps- ligaments are supposed to be tight).
Next time we’ll address Cardio and I’ll tell you how my son ran a mile 39 seconds faster than his previous lifetime best- after he had not run AT ALL for over 3 months.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Copyright, the Power Workshop Inc., 2005
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Gotta WORK the CARDIO!!!
As we all KNOW, 3 main areas of Exercise need to be addressed in order to attain FITNESS. For the last umpteen years, we have been bombarded with article after article of experts decrying the need for us to ‘do’ Strength, Cardio and Flexibility Work.
But what if the ‘experts’ are wrong? What if the endless hours sweating on the treadmill or the elliptical or stair climber are not only a waste of time BUT actually BAD for your long term health and ability to perform?
AND what if Stretching is BAD for your joints?
AND what if the way we lift weights actually re-enforces improper movement patterns that set us up for injury?
Is it hard for you to imagine the above possibilities? Remember how egg yolks were considered to be so dangerous for about 20 years and then all of a sudden researchers discovered that God had not made a mistake and that egg yolks are actually good for you??
So is it in the Realm of Possibility that just Maybe we have been duped into believing in a system of exercise that is not as advertised? And is it possible that ‘financial gain’ is the main factor that drives the Fitness Industry?
Pull up a chair my friend and tell me ALL of your physical problems even though you workout at least 3 times a week. Maybe your Old injuries are not the problem as much as the way YOU TRAIN NOW!!!!
Next time I’ll give you some answers :).
BUT RIGHT NOW check out this video http://www.powerworkshop.org/strength.html . Last year at the ripe old age of 55, I performed a Feat of Strength in front of the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen that has NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE in the history of the world. No lie. AND NO CARDIO!
If you haven’t seen our newest website, take a look over at http://www.arpwavenj.com/.
Monday, August 31, 2009
1st Time Ever
For now I want you to check out this video- http://www.powerworkshop.org/strength.html. Last year at the ripe old age of 55, I performed a Feat of Strength in front of the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen that has NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE in the history of the world. No lie.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Polish FarmGirl- Hotter Than A $2 Pistol
Most guys have a picture in their head of their Dream Girl- an airbrushed Playmate, a Super Model, the latest movie Starlet or maybe a mesmerizing Crooner. As we all know, what we have in our Head does not always work out as we had planned.
30 years ago this weekend, I was on a camping trip in upstate New York. Although the actual details are sometimes disputed, the fact remains that I met my Dream Girl. Unfortunately, since I was a bit ‘under the weather’ at the time, I didn’t know I had met HER.
And she was a Polish FarmGirl and, oh wow, she was HOTTER THAN A $2 PISTOL!!!!
We were married just about 1 year to the day and we’ve lived in wedded bliss for the last 29 years- AND we’ve NEVER HAD A FIGHT (at least none that we can remember :D).
Now remember guys this was way before internet dating so you couldn’t just go to your favorite matchmaker website and punch in— Wanted Polish FarmGirl—must be willing to re-locate to New Jersey, USA. In fact, I didn’t even know that I was looking for a Polish FarmGirl but it turns out that I was.
The wedding at a Polish RC Church featured a grumpy Polish priest and us riding away in my Great-Grandmother’s 1956 Dodge Coronet (it featured a Red Ram V-8, Push Button Automatic, a Chromed out Tube AM Radio and SLIPPERY SEATS).
The procession was led by my Best Man and another friend on Harleys- chopped of course. We had a 12 hour outdoor reception under a big tent. We had a Polka Band and a Bluegrass Band as well as 2 sit down meals.
It lasted so long that one of my wife’s uncles got drunk, walked home, passed out for 7 hours, came back and got drunk AGAIN. We were the last to leave the reception and when we got to the motel, I found out that I had given away all of the rooms we had booked- including ours. We drove to a friends house and slept in their living room.
Everything went great until on our honeymoon when I casually announced to my new bride that I really believed that I was UNEMPLOYABLE. She wondered why it had taken until AFTER the wedding for me to let her in on my secret.
So the Polish FarmGirl has had to deal with my somewhat erratic career path- Truck Driver, School Teacher, Bar Owner, Amway Distributor, Computer Salesman, Personal Trainer, Strongman, Motivational Speaker, Author, ARPist.
The years have been an exciting roller coaster ride. She loves to dance and garden. Yeah, FarmGirls are multi-talented and mine is no exception.
Our kids never cease to amaze- just last week Jayne Lin graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. We looked at each other teary eyed as she walked across the stage and we wondered aloud, ‘Where did she get the brains from?’. Krissy and Buddy are equally talented in their own right.
While we have hovered financially around the poverty line for most of our marriage, I couldn’t be any wealthier in things that matter most.
Okay, okay I’ll cut this BUT know that there are some fantastic messages found in this story- if you look for them. God is Good.
And the Polish FarmGirl is STILL ‘Hotter Than A $2 Pistol’ (she says it’s because my eyesight is going but it’s way more than just what my eyes can see).
Oh and what did Lin get for her Mothers Day/Anniversary Gift? The GATE took over 20 years to build :D
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mother's Day Surprise
So I was born on Mother’s Day 1953. Over the years my actual birthday has fallen on Mom’s Day but even when it doesn’t, my mother always recounts ‘the day I was born’.
As we were getting ready for her visit yesterday, I was chuckling to myself knowing that all in attendance would hear about that very special ‘Gift’ (me), she received on Mother’s Day 56 years ago. Stories about sneaking my Grandparents in through a side door and where I received my name, etc.
I don’t know why but I was kind of ‘giddy’ as I sat down next to Mom for brunch anticipating the recounting of my birth. What came out of her mouth really surprised me. It had nothing to do with the day I was born. It went something like this:
‘You know Dad and I have been having some work done around our house by the local handyman. His name is Jimmy and he remembers Russell growing up in Secaucus.
Jimmy told us a story yesterday about how him and his friends were hanging out down the Park. A bunch of bullies had come by and were picking on Jim and his friends- cussin them out and shoving them around.
A that point Russell arrived and BEAT UP THE BULLIES. Jimmy and his friends were very thankful and he would never forget how Russell had saved them.’
There followed an awkward silence around the Mother’s Day brunch table. I glanced around the table to see the reaction of my children as well as my wife. My mother-in-law was silent as was my sister-in-law. My daughter’s fiancé didn’t know what to make of it. And my father had some sort of proud grin on his face (either that or he was really enjoying the quiche).
Then all I could blurt out in my Mom’s direction was ‘WHAT?’
Mom looked around and said, ‘No, this was not a bad thing. It was a good thing. Russell was the Defender of the Weak. He was like that as a kid’.
The silence passed and my kids just looked at each other like- ‘hmmm… something else we learned about Pop today’.
Funnier yet is that I really don’t remember it ever happening.
We all have opportunities every day to be ‘Defenders of the Weak’ or we can be bullies. I’m not encouraging physical violence BUT there are many ways to STAND for what’s right.
Something else to think about—my dog, Rev told me this the other day. ‘The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.’
If you haven’t seen our newest website, take a look over at http://www.arpwavenj.com/.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend in Christ,
Russell Jones
As we were getting ready for her visit yesterday, I was chuckling to myself knowing that all in attendance would hear about that very special ‘Gift’ (me), she received on Mother’s Day 56 years ago. Stories about sneaking my Grandparents in through a side door and where I received my name, etc.
I don’t know why but I was kind of ‘giddy’ as I sat down next to Mom for brunch anticipating the recounting of my birth. What came out of her mouth really surprised me. It had nothing to do with the day I was born. It went something like this:
‘You know Dad and I have been having some work done around our house by the local handyman. His name is Jimmy and he remembers Russell growing up in Secaucus.
Jimmy told us a story yesterday about how him and his friends were hanging out down the Park. A bunch of bullies had come by and were picking on Jim and his friends- cussin them out and shoving them around.
A that point Russell arrived and BEAT UP THE BULLIES. Jimmy and his friends were very thankful and he would never forget how Russell had saved them.’
There followed an awkward silence around the Mother’s Day brunch table. I glanced around the table to see the reaction of my children as well as my wife. My mother-in-law was silent as was my sister-in-law. My daughter’s fiancé didn’t know what to make of it. And my father had some sort of proud grin on his face (either that or he was really enjoying the quiche).
Then all I could blurt out in my Mom’s direction was ‘WHAT?’
Mom looked around and said, ‘No, this was not a bad thing. It was a good thing. Russell was the Defender of the Weak. He was like that as a kid’.
The silence passed and my kids just looked at each other like- ‘hmmm… something else we learned about Pop today’.
Funnier yet is that I really don’t remember it ever happening.
We all have opportunities every day to be ‘Defenders of the Weak’ or we can be bullies. I’m not encouraging physical violence BUT there are many ways to STAND for what’s right.
Something else to think about—my dog, Rev told me this the other day. ‘The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.’
If you haven’t seen our newest website, take a look over at http://www.arpwavenj.com/.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend in Christ,
Russell Jones
Monday, May 4, 2009
What’s YOUR Position?
Just got back and there is a ‘whole heap’ of new stuff in the pipeline. The Breakthrough Newsletter will now morph into the Breakthrough Blog and then back again. Methinks the Blog Platform will make things more interactive. Training questions or injury re-hab queries or comments on other topics we explore can be ‘fleshed out’ better on this Blog site and you will be able to see how others are thinking.
As we Breakthrough new ground, I’ll also do a few ‘look backs’ to past Classics that inspired many emails. As I approach the big 5-6 in a few weeks, it gets clearer everyday how much we all need 2 things on a regular basis.
A regular source of Encouragement is key in order to keep hope alive. And a place that ‘cuts through the nonsense’ so that we can get on with Life in a healthy, productive way.
So again I pose the question “What’s YOUR Position?’. After all these many years of exercising and performing as a strongman, it’s apparent that most of us are clueless as to Position and why it’s not only Important but VITAL.
Position is square 1 when it comes to having your body function in the most efficient and healthy way possible. Poor position equals poor function. Poor position yields innumerable musculo-skeletal and neurological problems in YOUR future.
If one of your folks or a teacher was always reminding you about your Posture when you were a kid… they were right. Back in the old days, kids would be encouraged to stand with a book balanced on their heads in to improve posture. Most of us ‘slouchers’ thought it was nonsense but it was a good step in the right direction.
Here’s a Position Test you can try. Get in front of a mirror and stand at attention (just like they do in the army :)). The heels of your feet should be hip-width apart with toes angled out at 30 degrees. Elongate your spine using the psoas muscle. Keep your chest spread and shoulders down. Head in a neutral position- mid-ear should line up with mid- deltoid. Arms should be relaxed and no extra movement is allowed- no scratching, twitching or fidgeting.
5 minutes breathing in and out through the nose. Think you can do it? Once you make the slightest move, you have to start the clock over again. Treat it like a workout because Mastering this is MORE IMPORTANT than Treadmill time or running or working on the abs or pumping up the beach muscles or taking a class.
It’s been well said, ‘Things which matter most, must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.’ The Good Book says: ‘Your body is your temple.’ If the Creator respects it that much… you should too- by eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, and using it for His highest purposes!
If you haven’t seen our newest website, take a look over at http://www.arpwavenj.com/.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
As we Breakthrough new ground, I’ll also do a few ‘look backs’ to past Classics that inspired many emails. As I approach the big 5-6 in a few weeks, it gets clearer everyday how much we all need 2 things on a regular basis.
A regular source of Encouragement is key in order to keep hope alive. And a place that ‘cuts through the nonsense’ so that we can get on with Life in a healthy, productive way.
So again I pose the question “What’s YOUR Position?’. After all these many years of exercising and performing as a strongman, it’s apparent that most of us are clueless as to Position and why it’s not only Important but VITAL.
Position is square 1 when it comes to having your body function in the most efficient and healthy way possible. Poor position equals poor function. Poor position yields innumerable musculo-skeletal and neurological problems in YOUR future.
If one of your folks or a teacher was always reminding you about your Posture when you were a kid… they were right. Back in the old days, kids would be encouraged to stand with a book balanced on their heads in to improve posture. Most of us ‘slouchers’ thought it was nonsense but it was a good step in the right direction.
Here’s a Position Test you can try. Get in front of a mirror and stand at attention (just like they do in the army :)). The heels of your feet should be hip-width apart with toes angled out at 30 degrees. Elongate your spine using the psoas muscle. Keep your chest spread and shoulders down. Head in a neutral position- mid-ear should line up with mid- deltoid. Arms should be relaxed and no extra movement is allowed- no scratching, twitching or fidgeting.
5 minutes breathing in and out through the nose. Think you can do it? Once you make the slightest move, you have to start the clock over again. Treat it like a workout because Mastering this is MORE IMPORTANT than Treadmill time or running or working on the abs or pumping up the beach muscles or taking a class.
It’s been well said, ‘Things which matter most, must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.’ The Good Book says: ‘Your body is your temple.’ If the Creator respects it that much… you should too- by eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, and using it for His highest purposes!
If you haven’t seen our newest website, take a look over at http://www.arpwavenj.com/.
As my friend David DeNotaris always says, “Make it a Great Day”...bye4now...
Your friend (iC),
Russell Jones
PS- Please visit us at the http://www.powerworkshop.org/ and http://www.arpwavenj.com/ to see what’s new.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
