I recently read a book about the evolution of our breathing, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor. Nestor attributes many of the respiratory and other physical ailments common today, to how the human mouth became smaller, teeth became crooked, and airways became obstructed. He validates this theory on how the skull has changed over time. It’s a combination of what we eat and how we eat it. “Our ancestors chewed for hours a day, every day. And because they chewed so much, their mouths, teeth, throats, and faces grew to be wide and strong and pronounced”, states Nestor. He shares how he goes on this expedition into limestone quarries in Paris where he examines skeletons thousands of years old. It’s through our evolution of farming and cooking of our food that this change in the development of the skull and how we breathe. It’s easy to state that if we were forced to consume the foods we ate thousands of years ago with our current facial structure, that it would give us discomfort?
What about how we currently move and lift things? As we have evolved to sleep on mattresses, sit in cushy chairs, and drive our cars, we have changed our bodies, but I’m not sure all for the better. The body is a great machine and can make amazing adaptations. When you use your hands for physical labor, your body will adapt by making your hands more callous. This allows you to handle things using your hands without tearing the skin. The same applies for movement. Dr. Andreo Spina, of Functional Anatomy, created a protocol of moving your limbs through full ranges of motion in what he has titled controlled articular rotations, or CARs, to re-establish joint health. We perform these drills at the studio and members are always surprised how challenging making circles with your arms or feet can be. The challenge comes from trying to achieve joint differentiation, where you don’t have to compensate by using the surrounding muscles.
If you haven’t picked something heavy off the floor in a long time, it’s more than likely that it will cause you some discomfort when you attempt to do it. There’s a reason why moving companies have become popular over the years. Just the thought of carrying boxes off a truck for eight to ten hours is enough to evoke pain in some people.
So how do we slow down this decline? Strength training. This probably isn’t earth shattering news for you, but the way you approach it may. Whether you are working towards improving strength, mobility, or body composition, there should be a level of some discomfort. When challenging the body’s mobility, it’s common for people to experience shaking. It’s a response from the nervous system. Just peek into any beginners Yoga class and you’re guaranteed to see shaking. This is when having a coach is truly beneficial, because it’s common for your body to move towards the path of least resistance. A coach can correct your form when you start to get off course. We are all wired to avoid work and discomfort. I believe we must understand that there is going to be some discomfort along the way. When was the last time you walked a few miles to the river to wash clothes against the rocks? We must accept this compromise as life has evolved and become easier.
Picking something off the ground with a neutral spine may be hard. Squatting to a depth where your thighs are parallel to the floor can be tough. Walking two hundred feet while holding heavy kettlebells can produce some discomfort. Due to the lack of physical demand placed upon our bodies daily, we need to do these drills. Our bodies need it. Next time you’re in the gym, keep this in mind. This is discomfort, not pain, and you need to learn how to handle a little discomfort in your life.
I’ll see you at the studio.