Old School Revisited!

Today we are seeing a not-too-distant mirror into the past regarding the exercise mindset, which is a good thing. Back in the hey day of the 1940s and 50s of what was then called the Golden era of Physical Culture, fitness legends such as John Grimek, Jack Lalanne, Steve Reeves, Pudgy Stockton, Terry Robinson, et al, not only looked strong; they actually were strong. There was no Nautilus or Cybex equipment, no Smith or Leg Press machines to get in the way of having a truly good workout, and reaping the benefits of such. Although the cutting edge exercises of that era were not called “functional exercises”, that is exactly what they would be called by today’s standards. Those exercises or movements that were popular back then, albeit to a small following (being fit was thought of as an oddity back then), involved groups of muscles that worked in concert with each other. As a result, they had some carry over, or correlation to every day activities. Of course, some were not; many of those exercises performed back then were highly evolved, and only a select few individuals were capable of accomplishing them, but those physical culturists had nothing to distract them from having an awesome workout: no exercise machines, televisions, Ipods or computers in the fitness center. Life was simpler then.

Contrast that with the exercises that became popular with the birth of the marketable exercise machine. Starting around the late 1970s, the exercise machine era slowly took root. By the early 1980s, the machine era took off. Iron Barbells, Kettle bells and dumbbells, Gymnast rings and medicine balls were replaced with all very attractive strength machines that seemed more user friendly to the less “hard core” exercisers. Unfortunately, knowledge base on what would be best for the active body was not growing at a pace equal to the engineering of these contraptions. Bodies suffered as a result. Why?

1. Strength machines do not engage the core; exercises on machines therefore become extremity dominant movements
2. The deep, intrinsic muscles (i.e., along the spine) are not challenged; they become weakened (muscle amnesia) from non use, and as a result, the inert structures (i.e., ligaments) are left to bare the brunt during an emergency situation.
3. There is no inter-muscular coordination development; only intramuscular coordination development (i.e., isolating the prime movers, without challenging the stabilizers and neutralizers).
4. Regressed workouts (i.e., Strength Machines) do not challenge our righting (balance on normal surface) and tilting (balance on slippery surface) reflexes, preventing us from being at our optimum for functioning in emergency situations.

But used sparingly, strength machine use has its place in productive exercise routines. Now that our knowledge base has caught up to strength machine engineering, many of us have come to realize the machine’s benefits when combined with the more functional fitness activities. The body adapts rather quickly to the same activities done over several weeks, and even a span of only a few weeks for more advanced individuals. By rotating the use of strength machines for a number of weeks, followed by the use of more functional exercises, greater strength and athleticism can be attained.

There are still a few of the fitness legends who started it all, alive and well. On any given morning, 93 year old Terry Robinson can be seen swimming at the Sports Club LA, in Brentwood California, before engaging in strength training. The same goes for 94 year old Jack Lalanne in Morro Bay, California. We finally understand what they are doing and why they are doing it. What we thought of as odd in the 1940s and 50s, is common place now. Fifty years later, history is starting to repeat itself.

Do you need help with your exercise program. Would you like to implement this concept into your own routine? If so, I am here to help and would like to set up a time to meet with you to discuss your goals and objectives. Contact me at ben.a.barrett@pfizer.com

Ben Barrett