Electro-stimulation
works and is a method recognized by the medical world.
It
is now an integral part of physiotherapy and pain management protocols. It has
been a technique used by physical therapists for many years.
Electrostimulation
is not a miraculous technique, it respects how your body works.
The
principle of electrostimulation is very simple and precisely reproduces the
processes that occur when our brain orders muscles to contract.
When we decide
to contract a muscle, our brain sends a signal in the form of an electric
current that travels at high speed along the nerve fibers up to the muscle
which reacts by contracting.
In
the case of electrostimulation, excitation occurs directly on the motor nerve
using electrical pulses perfectly controlled to guarantee effectiveness, safety
and comfort in use.
In fact, muscles cannot tell the difference between a
voluntary contraction (triggered by the brain) and an electrically induced
contraction: the work done is exactly the same. It's natural!
Competition in life
makes you a better person, it is what the American society, and the world
thrives best on. If you are trying to better yourself than it is most likely
because you are trying to be the best YOU. It's time we stop giving out
participation medals, and seeking goals that are difficult to obtain.
Eagerness to not fall
behind: Are you going to suck at first, of course. You can't learn how to play
chess first try. But if you do everything you can to get yourself "up to
par", you will grow much faster in your gym. No one wants to look like an
idiot, and this drive to make yourself "one of the guys" will force rapid
improvement.
CrossFit gyms always
have Others to Push You: Take it from someone who owns a CrossFit gym. I push
myself as hard as I can so that I will have the top-score, but I am thrilled if
someone can beat me. I will demand it out of my students. I don't want it to be
easy for me to be beaten, but that's the point. Anything that's hard is worth
having, right? Members at CrossFit gyms are just like that. They want to push
themselves past the next person, but if someone passes them, they want to get a
better time to keep pushing themselves and the others in the gym.
Competition in the
CrossFit gym, makes you better at life: Think about your days back in high
school, where you wanted to be the best quarterback or wrestler or jeez, tuba
player. We live in a competitive society, and this is ingrained into our social
consciousness. It's time you embrace this. Find someone who is a little bit
better than you in the gym... or life... and try to make your time (abilities)
better than theirs. This won't be easy, because they will be improving to, but
if you have benchmarks and goals, than obtaining them is so sweet!
CrossFit gyms give you
a Better Knowledge of What the Body is Capable Of: Look around the gym, do you
think there is any way YOU will be capable of pulling off the feats you see
from the others during the day's CrossFit WOD. Guess what, when they walked in
on Day 1, they look just like you! Their CrossFit technique was terrible, trust
me! I own a CrossFit gym, and while some learn faster than others, everyone
looks like a goof on day 1. No one is judging you, because they looked like you
their first day.
CrossFit is Healthy and
not unsafe: Not only will you be competitive in the gym, thus making you more
physically fit. But those around you will be transforming the physical
appearance, and their mental attitudes. You will see them going through the
transformation and you will do whatever you can to transform with them. It's a
team atmosphere, and everyone is their to health. You'll improve your mental
health by having more friends, releasing natural endorphins and pushing
yourself past limits you only dreamed of. You will improve your physical health
because you will be increasing your strength and stamina, and will be
surrounded by a crowd who eat right with the paleo diet.
CrossFit competition is
Fun: It just is! For all the reasons listed above. If you took state in high
school, it was probably one of the greatest moment of your life, and if you
didn't take state, but strived towards that goal, than you know that it was A)
Fun to chase that goal and B) Made you a better person. Don't coddle yourself,
embrace how fun the CrossFit lifestyle can be, and push yourself like you
didn't know possible.
Not wanting to lose to
a CrossFit girl: CrossFit girls are awesome! They are tough, competitive and
just plain "one-of-the-guys". The chances of you losing to a girl
your first time in the gym is likely. Don't worry, they are used to this and
won't make you feel inadequate. Your goal will now be to push yourself to at
least their level and beyond. If you can catch them, they will respect you for
it. Plus, CrossFit girls are so hot!
Philip Gephardt is a
professional fighter and owner/founder of Factum CrossFit and MMA in Utah. Phil
was a nationally ranked wrestler before switching sports and focusing on a
professional mixed martial arts career turned gym owner.
To see more of his
musings by visiting the Factum CrossFit and MMA blog
