The Skill of Working Out.

I don’t believe I need to sell anyone the value and the benefits of Functional Fitness and CrossFit.

However, an overlooked piece of training in this format, is that is not just the “workout” that we derive the benefits from.

Rather, it is, The Skill of Working Out – the process of learning technique and how to move our body in optimal and efficient ways. 

The Skill of Working Out involves spending class after class working on depth in our squat, whereby eventually we reach a point where we, instead of kneeling, find it far easier to squat for the lower shelves at Woolworths. 

The Skill of Working Out is sitting on a rower, and understanding how controlling our breath allows us to be far more efficient, giving us the ability to maintain our output for longer periods of time. 

Or, The Skill of Working Out is learning to feel our butts light up when we do a walking lunge.

Regardless, when we show up to an MCT class of a morning, or crowd around the board amidst a bunch of rowdy CrossFitters at 5:15pm, we understand that a huge piece of the class is learning and practicing the skills; honing our gymnastics, kettlebell swing or snatch technique. 

Similarly, when Coach tells us, as we stare down the whiteboard inked with 63 back squats, 45 hang power cleans and 36 shoulder to overhead, that it is a good idea to scale back the weight, what Coach is really asking us to do, is to practice the Skill of Working Out.

Coach doesn’t say this so we get less of a workout, or feel cheated because we didn’t go Rx even though we jumped out of bed that day feeling like we would crush it. 

It is to practice the lifts, to practice the technique. To learn how to move our bodies in optimal and efficient ways. To set a healthy foundation for strength to be built upon. 

Put simply: 

Practice the workout and you get the workout, but, potentially miss out on the skill.

However, practice the skill and you get an incredible workout plus an expanding skillset. 

Because when we commit to practicing the movements and the WOD – The Skill of Working Out – rather than just doing it; we begin to experience the true value that this form of training derives.

So, which one are you doing? 

Serge Houhlias

serge.houhlias@gmail.com

https://houhligan.wordpress.com