Following a recent post about an athlete who has exercised daily for over 2700 consecutive days, several questions arose regarding exercise frequency. This athlete, at age 46, is in tremendous physical condition, possessing a rare mix of strength, flexibility, and agility.
It is important to clarify that the intention behind sharing such stories is not to encourage everyone to copy the same routine. It is certainly not suggested that one must train every day of their life. Instead, when witnessing an athlete with such dedication, it is wise to fall back on Bruce Lee’s classic advice.
The true value behind such a story is witnessing how the athlete embraces movement. The body is designed to move; we were not intended to be sedentary creatures. This athlete is not running herself into the ground. Instead, she does what she enjoys, embracing her body’s natural tendency to move and remaining active by balancing intensity. She adjusts her workload according to feel and listens to the feedback that her body provides. There are hard days, light days, and others that land somewhere in between.
The Importance of Movement
Clearly, it is not necessary to exercise each day. It is, however, useful to be reminded of the human body’s potential for movement. It is also nice to see someone who enjoys their work. Far too many people have been fooled into believing that exercise is only useful when you are beating yourself into the ground. This athlete proves otherwise. It is highly doubtful that anyone would remain so consistent without true passion for movement.
Finding Your Ideal Training Frequency
As for finding your ideal training frequency, there isn’t a definitive answer that can be applied to the masses. As discussed previously, answers regarding frequency depend on several factors such as volume and intensity.
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Personally, one may not pay attention to days on and off. Enjoying training means striving to move each day. Approaching every day as a new day, where decisions are made based on the present, not the past, is key. If feeling run down, back off. If feeling fresh and strong, push yourself accordingly. Always be willing to make adjustments if and when necessary.
Here's a simple table to illustrate how you might adjust your training based on how you feel:
| How You Feel | Training Approach |
|---|---|
| Run Down | Back off, light activity |
| Fresh and Strong | Push harder |
Embracing Movement and Enjoyment
Exercise and movement should not be loathed. You will naturally perform more often (and better) when doing something you enjoy. For example, someone who loves training would much rather lift than sit in front of the television. They also enjoy the outdoors. If feeling run down, they’d rather take a brisk walk outside instead of sitting idle on the couch. The combination of light movement and fresh air will often recharge batteries more than any recliner.
6 day training routine for the solo martial artist
Once again, though, it is important to make individual decisions based on how you feel. Find what works for you.
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