For some reason as we get older we neglect to keep our bodies in working condition. This can stem from inactivity, work-related injury, having kids, or whatever it is you’ve found is your limiting factor. Aging promotes weight gain, weight retention, loss of muscle elasticity and strength, and weaker joints and bones. These ailments can sideline an individual from heavy weight training; however, there are two things (besides walking) one should almost always be able to do with their bodies (or some variation of it!).
1. Push-up
I understand we as a species don’t sleep on the ground anymore and the last time you came close to the floor was tying your shoes. Yes, there are those who work with their hands and bodies all day and get up and down. But the majority of people in the United States don’t really need to. What’s on the floor? Why would you need to be on it?
Anything you do from the floor goes against gravity. Your bodyweight is also part of this equation. You should physically have the strength to be able to push your weight off the ground. I can’t think of many excuses why one can’t do this; there’s time and floor… everywhere. It’s just a matter of doing it.
2. Body-weight Squat
We did not evolve on this planet to sit at a desk for 40 years and die. During this time I’m sure many find it challenging to just squat their own weight. Now, I don’t mean you have to be able to do a “textbook squat.” I mean you should have the strength and flexibility in your core, legs, and hips, to be able to control your body through space as you move your weight back and forth and up and down.
Taking this one step further, we should also be able to do a “3rd world squat.” Check out the images above to see what this looks like. This position was given this name since the images one would see of this position are people who’ve been photographed at home in extreme poverty.
It’s pretty ridiculous that this has to be called a “3rd world squat,” like it’s only something people do when they have nothing. It implies that the only people who do this on a regular basis are people who aren’t rich. It also implies that this movement is “beneath us” in the U.S. We actually needed to phrase it “3rd world squat” because if we didn’t, people in our country wouldn’t be able to picture what it looks like.
It’s amazing how many adults rely on things that are high to sit on so the trunk never gets challenged: car seats, chairs, toilets, stools, etc. We’ve created items that make us physically inferior. Our society is so rich and advanced that it’s evolutionarily accepted for our bodies to become Jell-o with bones that shuffle us from space to space just long enough to do an activity that allows us to live. In summary: we sit for 40 hours a week to earn enough money to let us not sit.
THINK ABOUT IT: Has it ever occurred to you how ridiculous certain amenities are? We have motorized scooters supposedly for people with disabilities but are actually used by people who’ve allowed themselves to succumb to inactivity. We have “claws” that help people reach high places so they don’t have to step on a stool and grab it. We have toilets that are so high you don’t have to squat down to sit on them (watch out for hemorrhoids!). We have escalators so you don’t have to walk up steps.
We’ve molded our society in such a way it’s inefficient to be efficient. Think on it.
1. Push-up
I understand we as a species don’t sleep on the ground anymore and the last time you came close to the floor was tying your shoes. Yes, there are those who work with their hands and bodies all day and get up and down. But the majority of people in the United States don’t really need to. What’s on the floor? Why would you need to be on it?
Anything you do from the floor goes against gravity. Your bodyweight is also part of this equation. You should physically have the strength to be able to push your weight off the ground. I can’t think of many excuses why one can’t do this; there’s time and floor… everywhere. It’s just a matter of doing it.
2. Body-weight Squat
We did not evolve on this planet to sit at a desk for 40 years and die. During this time I’m sure many find it challenging to just squat their own weight. Now, I don’t mean you have to be able to do a “textbook squat.” I mean you should have the strength and flexibility in your core, legs, and hips, to be able to control your body through space as you move your weight back and forth and up and down.
Taking this one step further, we should also be able to do a “3rd world squat.” Check out the images above to see what this looks like. This position was given this name since the images one would see of this position are people who’ve been photographed at home in extreme poverty.
It’s pretty ridiculous that this has to be called a “3rd world squat,” like it’s only something people do when they have nothing. It implies that the only people who do this on a regular basis are people who aren’t rich. It also implies that this movement is “beneath us” in the U.S. We actually needed to phrase it “3rd world squat” because if we didn’t, people in our country wouldn’t be able to picture what it looks like.
It’s amazing how many adults rely on things that are high to sit on so the trunk never gets challenged: car seats, chairs, toilets, stools, etc. We’ve created items that make us physically inferior. Our society is so rich and advanced that it’s evolutionarily accepted for our bodies to become Jell-o with bones that shuffle us from space to space just long enough to do an activity that allows us to live. In summary: we sit for 40 hours a week to earn enough money to let us not sit.
THINK ABOUT IT: Has it ever occurred to you how ridiculous certain amenities are? We have motorized scooters supposedly for people with disabilities but are actually used by people who’ve allowed themselves to succumb to inactivity. We have “claws” that help people reach high places so they don’t have to step on a stool and grab it. We have toilets that are so high you don’t have to squat down to sit on them (watch out for hemorrhoids!). We have escalators so you don’t have to walk up steps.
We’ve molded our society in such a way it’s inefficient to be efficient. Think on it.