Slow It Down, Hoss…

Categories: Blog Aug 26, 2015

I was driving to the pool yesterday with my 4-year old son in the backseat (yes, in his car seat). As I backed out of the driveway and into the cul-de-sac, he said, “Wow, Dad, you’re fast.” And then he made some more comments on my driving speed. This of course is funny to me, because I drive an older model 4Runner and it is anything but fast. And, it’s very easy in this truck anyway, to drive under the speed limit. He’s just used to his Mom’s car which is bigger and smoother, rather than the “tightness” and the stiffer ride of my truck, which makes it feel like you’re going fast. 

Funny thing is, I used to be a “speed demon” when driving. (Being a dad has slowed me down - that whole “responsibility” thing.) And, it’s no secret - I’m full-tilt on many other things in life too - especially when it comes to anything strength training. I got so banged up back in my late 20s and early 30s, it took me literally almost a decade to recover. Intelligent, I know. 

One of the keys to my “success” was learning how to dial it back. Well, let’s face it, there was a point in time when there was very little that I could do that I actually wanted to do. So I did things that I sucked at, but were challenging and still beneficial. Which, for a period, was primarily gymnastics style, anterior-chain dominant, bodyweight training. 

One of the other keys was to use the RESET regressions. 

For example, I like to crawl loaded. It feels good. And it combats a lot of the sitting I do. But sometimes, if you’re feeling stressed out, or haven’t slept, your body might not appreciate loaded resets. Or even some of the Big 5. So what do you do? 

Regression work. And you make it feel easy - and relaxing. That's the key - easy and borderline relaxing. So when you're done, you feel almost limp, like a wet noodle. (That's a tell-tale sign of stress relief.)

Some cases in point:

Crawling => Bird dogs

Segmental rolling => Egg rolls

Diaphragmatic breathing => Diaphragmatic breathing lying on your back with your knees pulled up

Choosing a regression allows you to slow things down, which is often critical when you’re flying around at warp speed or you’ve been training heavy for a long time and your body is [over]stressed as a result. The regressions can calm your nervous system and relax your entire body. This allows you to function better on all levels, not just a movement level. 

What are some signs you need to slow down?

Stiffness, soreness, muscle tightness, sleep problems, and general crankiness are good indicators. Another sign is that the Big 5 don't seem to be making the same differences that they normally do. When these indicators pop up, it's time to slow it down - maybe for a day, maybe more, until you feel limber, loose, and relatively stress-free.

Want to learn more about the RESET regressions? Check out the new “Pressing RESET” workshops here.

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