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Minimalist fitness is based on the radical notion that the simplest things we can do are usually the most important.
For example eating, one of the simplest things that we do, is primarily responsible for our body composition AND how we feel. In fitness it is the most important thing we do. I often explain to clients that 70% of fitness results are derived from what you eat, 20% from how you move (or “workout,” a term I’m generally not fond of), and 10% are derived from your quality and quantity of sleep.
Let's get even simpler. What is simpler than eating? Breathing comes to mind. Deep breathing exercises give a huge Return On time Investment, helping to regulate emotion and mood, pump lymphatic fluid through the body, and generally reduce stress while making life feel like its worth living. If I could recommend one movement skill to anyone it would be: learn how to breathe well.
What’s simpler than breathing? Perhaps sleeping? Another one of the most important things to get right for your overall health and well being. In longevity studies they consistently find that sleeping 8 hours per night is one of the greatest predictors of a long life.
The problem is most of us aren’t organized in these areas. We sleep when we can, eat what and when we’re able, and usually forget to breathe while doing it all. Let us start by getting organized in the fundamentals, and building skill and strength on a stable foundation of lifestyle habits.
Let's talk about exercise. When we apply our “less is more philosophy” to movement (note that exercise is “just one small planet in the UNIVERSE of movement,” as Ido Portal likes to say) we will find ourselves spending most of our time doing squats, handstands, and practicing our gait (that means running and walking for us lay-people).
From there, having mastered our fundamentals, we begin to build complexity. Adding weights, adding range of motion, adding degrees of skill. All of which leap to a new quantum level when approached from the context of PLAY.
Let’s pause for a second to review our Minimalist Fitness lifestyle so far:
With organization and intention:
Master the above steps and you’ll be amazed as to how many other pieces of your life fall into place. I'm guessing you will probably patronize the medical establishment significantly less.
There are two important elements we haven’t explored yet: 1) Primal companionship and 2) Tribal connection. Primal companionship means having close friends and intimates who you share touch, trust, limbic resonance, and emotional intimacy with. Tribal connection means belonging to a larger community. Combine these with the aforementioned elements and you are on your way to paradise (if not already there).
Minimalist Fitness is a project that seeks to cultivate these elements in the world at large. I believe that living a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle is one of the most fundamental acts of leadership we can engage in as human beings. If we all lead each other toward health and well being, perhaps we will save the planet.
Bold claim right? Here’s how it works: I believe that the main forces of environmental destruction are driven by people whose basic needs as human beings are not being met- out of a sense of desperation they drive onward believing that they can be happy and fulfilled once they have a swollen bank account, the right accolades, and all the right things.
I believe Human beings can be happy- happiness defined specifically as Eudaimonia, or flourishing of the human spirit- here and now once they get intentional about the habitat they create for themselves.
Here’s the challenge: we’ve learned to survive in an unhealthy society, and as a result we’ve learned to create unhealthy habitats for ourselves. That’s what Minimalist Fitness is for- supporting people in creating a eudaimonic (and hopefully euphoric) habitats.
So far we have touched briefly on methods, and gone into detail on intention. Let’s return to methods.
The methods of Minimalist Fitness are carefully selected based on a clear set of values:
Efficacy, Elegance, Connection, and Consciousness. These values are translated into the way we eat, the way we live, and the way we train ourselves for strength and movement.
The focus of Minimalist Fitness is on Calisthenics, which translated from Greek “Kalos Sthenos,” which literally means “Beautiful Strength.” Modalities of Calisthenics include Yoga, Martial Arts, dance, gymnastics, and functional bodyweight training. Just to keep it interesting we like to add some high-ROI weight training movements, and other “toys.”
Let’s pause for a moment to hear how the famous philosopher Seneca approaches fitness:
There are short and simple exercises which will tire the body without undue delay and save what needs especially close accounting for, time. There is running, swinging weights about and jumping... Pick out any of these for ease and straightforwardness. But whatever you do, return from body to mind very soon. Exercise it day and night.
-Seneca, 4 B.C.- A.D. 65
It sounds like if Seneca were alive today he might be the first in line for Minimalist Fitness.
How about you?
By now you should have an idea of what The Minimalist Fitness project is. I hope you choose to participate! Send me an email, sign up for a class, or just start getting organized in your lifestyle. The world needs it!
Minimalist fitness is based on the radical notion that the simplest things we can do are usually the most important.
For example eating, one of the simplest things that we do, is primarily responsible for our body composition AND how we feel. In fitness it is the most important thing we do. I often explain to clients that 70% of fitness results are derived from what you eat, 20% from how you move (or “workout,” a term I’m generally not fond of), and 10% are derived from your quality and quantity of sleep.
Let's get even simpler. What is simpler than eating? Breathing comes to mind. Deep breathing exercises give a huge Return On time Investment, helping to regulate emotion and mood, pump lymphatic fluid through the body, and generally reduce stress while making life feel like its worth living. If I could recommend one movement skill to anyone it would be: learn how to breathe well.
What’s simpler than breathing? Perhaps sleeping? Another one of the most important things to get right for your overall health and well being. In longevity studies they consistently find that sleeping 8 hours per night is one of the greatest predictors of a long life.
The problem is most of us aren’t organized in these areas. We sleep when we can, eat what and when we’re able, and usually forget to breathe while doing it all. Let us start by getting organized in the fundamentals, and building skill and strength on a stable foundation of lifestyle habits.
Let's talk about exercise. When we apply our “less is more philosophy” to movement (note that exercise is “just one small planet in the UNIVERSE of movement,” as Ido Portal likes to say) we will find ourselves spending most of our time doing squats, handstands, and practicing our gait (that means running and walking for us lay-people).
From there, having mastered our fundamentals, we begin to build complexity. Adding weights, adding range of motion, adding degrees of skill. All of which leap to a new quantum level when approached from the context of PLAY.
Let’s pause for a second to review our Minimalist Fitness lifestyle so far:
With organization and intention:
- Eat food that nourishes the body without depleting it.
- Breathe fully, continuously, and without restriction (practice makes permanent, so take the time necessary to practice well)
- Create regular and abundant sleep patterns
- Move frequently, vigorously, and well.
Master the above steps and you’ll be amazed as to how many other pieces of your life fall into place. I'm guessing you will probably patronize the medical establishment significantly less.
There are two important elements we haven’t explored yet: 1) Primal companionship and 2) Tribal connection. Primal companionship means having close friends and intimates who you share touch, trust, limbic resonance, and emotional intimacy with. Tribal connection means belonging to a larger community. Combine these with the aforementioned elements and you are on your way to paradise (if not already there).
Minimalist Fitness is a project that seeks to cultivate these elements in the world at large. I believe that living a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle is one of the most fundamental acts of leadership we can engage in as human beings. If we all lead each other toward health and well being, perhaps we will save the planet.
Bold claim right? Here’s how it works: I believe that the main forces of environmental destruction are driven by people whose basic needs as human beings are not being met- out of a sense of desperation they drive onward believing that they can be happy and fulfilled once they have a swollen bank account, the right accolades, and all the right things.
I believe Human beings can be happy- happiness defined specifically as Eudaimonia, or flourishing of the human spirit- here and now once they get intentional about the habitat they create for themselves.
Here’s the challenge: we’ve learned to survive in an unhealthy society, and as a result we’ve learned to create unhealthy habitats for ourselves. That’s what Minimalist Fitness is for- supporting people in creating a eudaimonic (and hopefully euphoric) habitats.
So far we have touched briefly on methods, and gone into detail on intention. Let’s return to methods.
The methods of Minimalist Fitness are carefully selected based on a clear set of values:
Efficacy, Elegance, Connection, and Consciousness. These values are translated into the way we eat, the way we live, and the way we train ourselves for strength and movement.
The focus of Minimalist Fitness is on Calisthenics, which translated from Greek “Kalos Sthenos,” which literally means “Beautiful Strength.” Modalities of Calisthenics include Yoga, Martial Arts, dance, gymnastics, and functional bodyweight training. Just to keep it interesting we like to add some high-ROI weight training movements, and other “toys.”
Let’s pause for a moment to hear how the famous philosopher Seneca approaches fitness:
There are short and simple exercises which will tire the body without undue delay and save what needs especially close accounting for, time. There is running, swinging weights about and jumping... Pick out any of these for ease and straightforwardness. But whatever you do, return from body to mind very soon. Exercise it day and night.
-Seneca, 4 B.C.- A.D. 65
It sounds like if Seneca were alive today he might be the first in line for Minimalist Fitness.
How about you?
By now you should have an idea of what The Minimalist Fitness project is. I hope you choose to participate! Send me an email, sign up for a class, or just start getting organized in your lifestyle. The world needs it!