Outside the Box Training

“A huge reason training gives lackluster unsustainable results is simply that 90% of people are training for the wrong goal” - Jason Root

Stepping Outside the Box: Embracing Ancestral Training

Hey everyone! Thanks for joining me today. I’m excited to dive into a topic that’s close to my heart: "outside the box" training.

Closely related topics are 'functional training' and 'ancestral' training. All are not definitive in content but descriptive of principles and paradigms to hold.

Living in Boxes

In our modern lives, we are constantly moving from one box to another. Think about it:

• You wake up in your room box.

• Move to your house box.

• Get into your car box, parked in the garage box.

• Drive to your work box, which might contain a smaller office or cubicle box.

• After work, you might head to the gym box.

This constant shifting from one box to another influences our physical training in ways we might not even realize. But our bodies weren’t designed to live in boxes. Just 100 or 200 years ago, our ancestors interacted directly with nature. They climbed, crawled, ran, lifted, and swam in the great outdoors.

The Problem with the Gym Box

We often think of the gym as a place to counteract our sedentary, box-filled lives. However, it’s important to question whether the gym itself is just another box that might contribute to what I call "negative training." Traditional gym equipment like machines and weights are efficient tools, but do they really replicate the natural movements our bodies evolved to perform?

Embracing Ancestral Training

Ancestral training focuses on movements our ancestors performed to survive and thrive. Here’s how you can integrate these principles into your fitness routine:

• Gymnastics and Calisthenics: These activities promote full-body strength and flexibility, much like the varied movements our ancestors made.

• Athleticism: Engage in sports that involve running, jumping, throwing, and catching. These mimic natural human activities.

• Lifting Inefficient Objects: Instead of only lifting barbells, which are efficient but unnatural, try lifting awkward objects that better simulate real-life tasks (hint: NOT available at most gyms!)

Restorative Training

To support these activities, we need to ensure our bodies are free from physical barriers caused by overtraining or undertraining. Restorative training helps us recover and prepare for more natural movements. And GUESS WHAT! They provide stimuli closely comparable to the outside:

• Hot and Cold Therapy: Utilize temperature variations to promote recovery.

• Altitude and Heat Therapy: Train in different environments to adapt your body.

• Vibration Therapy: Use vibration to stimulate muscles and promote healing.

• Red light Therapy

• ElectroMagnetic Therapy: PEMF and other such devices.

Intentional Outdoor Training

While you can practice ancestral training movements in some gyms, it’s most effective when done outdoors. Activities in parks, on trails, or in your backyard can make your training more natural and enjoyable. The key is to be intentional about incorporating movements that our bodies were designed for.

Secondary concerns and benefits are the exposure to natural light and the earth's electromagnetic field.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining me today. I hope this introduction to this concept has inspired you to step outside your gym box and explore more natural ways to train. Stay tuned for more lessons, and until next time, keep moving naturally!

Click Here for the RootHealth 'Outside the Box' Class Booking Schedule!