This cabbage has no relation to the post; I just like it.

I really should read faster.  However, I can’t go back in time and finish a book in time to write about it now, so I’ll have to write about attitude.

There is an awful lot of writing out there about transforming life by transforming thinking.  Some people think of it as more literal than others, suggesting that we can imagine ourselves into wealth, complete with fast car and attractive partner.  Others take the view that all we have control over is our own reactions, so we might as well get in control of those and make the best of things.  There is some validity here (may not extend to the wealth/car/partner stuff, but what do I know?).

The danger, in my view, is that we lose sight of the actual world as we spend so much time in the mental world.  I have no problem with positive attitudes.  But sometimes, there are actual actions we can take to fix stuff so we don’t have to adopt a positive attitude to a negative situation.  This would be the body part of the mind-body connection. 

Or, as Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”

Synergy!

Because I do both personal training and Pilates instruction, people ask me which is better.  The answer, of course, is “It depends.”

Some people like one or the other better.  And yes, this is a perfectly valid reason to choose one or the other.  One person’s hip hop is another person’s car alarm, and someone else’s symphony is another’s idea of nightmare.

Weight training, especially the way I prefer to do it, incorporating intervals, generally gets the heart rate up more.  It focuses more on building muscle mass and usually involves more sweat.

Pilates allows more time for focus on the quality of movement, on alignment, and on flexibility.  At the end of a session, most people feel longer and more supple.  It is great for relaxing the mind, improving posture, and training balance.  I also find it useful as a bridge back into weight training for those who have been injured since it teaches good form.

“Both” is also a great choice.  Combining weight training and Pilates can create a synergy in the body, making us strong, lean, and flexible.

Spare Change?

Speaking for myself, I hate change.  I like knowing what to expect.  I like routine.  However, change is going to happen no matter how I feel about it.  The good news is that bodies thrive on change.

That’s one reason I post a new workout every week.  Our muscles respond to novelty by growing and changing.  We build new pathways by trying different movements.  Also, none of us wants to get stuck doing burpees every week.

Even if we have a particular workout we love, we need to make sure we are mixing it up a little, bumping up the weight or adding a cardio interval.  Yes, it means we have to think about what we are doing, but that just means we get to train the brain with the body.  All good.

Try it.  Try one new thing next workout.  It might be fabulous.  And if it’s awful, try something else the next time around.