Workout of the Day
Arena Ready Weightlifting at the Marin Open
This past Sunday four members of the Arena Ready Weightlifting Team competed at the PWA’s 2016 Marin Open in San Rafael, and our athletes put on a great show on the competition platform.
Kate “The Flying Squirrel” set a competition total PR and came just a hair short of the American Open qualifying total, with her final clean & jerk attempt of 79kg/174lbs over her head but just not there to lock out. So close! We know she will conquer this lift soon, and seeing her confidence going into the final attempt was fun to watch.
Gary also set a competition total PR of 178kg/392lbs, which was super impressive considering how much travel and work has impacted his training schedule in recent months. He went 4 for 6 in his attempts, ending with a 77kg/170lbs snatch and 101kg/223lbs clean & jerk.
Coach Hillary looked sharp as always, going 4 for 6 in her attempts - her final clean & jerk attempt of 101kg/223lbs was a PR clean and would have been a PWA Masters Record, but she couldn't quite settle the jerk (although the barbell was overhead and locked out!).
Mike S. finished the day in the final session and snatched 104kg/229lbs and clean & jerked 126kg/278lbs (with a very close attempt at 130kg/287lbs) for a BIG competition total PR. This is likely just the tip of the iceberg for Mike, as we're starting to see some big technical improvements in his lifts (as well as some notable strength gains), which is opening the door for some impressive numbers to come in future meets.
Great work, lifters! So happy to see your training leading to bigger lifts on the game-day platform!
WOD for 09-15-16:
"Be Mine"
With a Partner, For Time:
BUY-IN: 800m Run (TOGETHER)
then, BOTH partners complete...
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
Deadlifts @ 225/155 lbs
Burpee Box Jumps @ 24/20 in
then
BUY-OUT: 800m Run (SPLIT)
Both partners must run together for the 800m buy-in, and the round of 10 deadlifts cannot start until both partners are in the door. Both partners must complete the 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 sequence, with one partner working at a time to complete a full round before the other partner starts their full round (e.g. Partner A performs 10 deadlifts and 10 burpee box jumps, then Partner B performs 10 deadlifts and 10 burpee box jumps). The 800m buy-out can be split in any fashion the team desires, and time is called when a total of 800m has been completed.
(Compare to 02-13-16)
#MiniMighty
As many of you know, Kim CRUSHED IT this past weekend at the 2016 Kill Cliff Granite Games in Minnesota. At the conclusion of 3 days (and 11 grueling events) of competition she placed 7th overall in a talented field of athletes, which included several perennial CrossFit Games Masters competitors. Her weekend highlights included a 6th place event finish in the “surprise” 5K row, a 2nd place event finish in the shuttle run, and a PR-tying snatch following 40 toes-to-bar (woof)!
Kim also showed a ton of grit and the heart of a champion by battling through a few events that challenged the limits of her strength and fitness, and certainly put her way outside of her comfort zone. Many of us in the Arena Ready community were glued to our devices (laptops, phones, tablets) the entire weekend, watching the events unfold and cheering hard for our resident MIGHTY MINI. At one point on Sunday, during one of the weightlifting sessions at the Marin Open in San Rafael, the AR Weightlifting Team gathered around Sarah’s phone to watch the final event on live feed while standing on the sidewalk outside of the meet’s venue. Suffice to say that “The Fittest Optometrist in San Francisco” inspired us, made us proud, and reminded us once again what it means to work hard, to try to be better every day, and to smile while having fun kicking some ass.
We are so incredibly proud of you, Kim, and the community at Arena Ready couldn’t be happier for you as we watch your dedication pay off in droves. I think I speak for everyone when I confidently say that this is just the beginning of so many amazing moments yet to come for you in your pursuit of excellence.
Kim Tom is MIGHTY indeed. And if you didn’t know, now you know.
WOD FOR 09-14-16:
Strict Press (Week 2):
***Using 95% of your 1RM from 08-30-16 as your "base"...
70% x 3
80% x 3
90% x 3+ (e.g. Max Effort: as many reps as you can safely make)
***FOR EXAMPLE: if you lifted 120 lbs as your 1RM on 08-30-16 you would use 95% of that (114 lbs) as your "base":
70% of 114 lbs = 80 lbs x 3 reps
80% of 114 lbs = 91 lbs x 3 reps
90% of 114 lbs = 103 lbs x 3+ reps (e.g. Max Effort: as many reps as you can safely make)
-then-
Back Squat:
1-3-1-5-1-7
This Back Squat session is similar to ones we have done in the past, with the goal being three heavy singles, each followed by a “down set” of multiple (and ascending) repetitions. The athlete should build to their first single with 3-4 warm-up sets, and then once the first single is taken there should be no “in-between” or “test” sets during the SIX total work sets. Since this type of session requires the athlete to “go by feel” some will inevitably ask for advice on loading - here is a rough idea of what a typical progression might look like for someone who squats approximately 250 lbs as a 1RM (keeping in mind that athletes will vary!):
Empty Bar + Three to Four Warm-up Sets, then…
1 @ 225 lbs
3 @ 205 lbs
1 @ 235 lbs
5 @ 200 lbs
1 @ 240 lbs
7 @ 195 lbs
Keep your rest strict at approx 1:30 - 2:00 between sets. There is no “rule” about the singles going up or down in weight, and the same goes for the sets of 3, 5, and 7 (they can go slightly up, go slightly down, or stay the same) - it all depends on the individual athlete and how they feel today. Take what’s there today, come back tomorrow.
So Much Awesome
Kim front and center with some of the other fittest 50-54 year-old Masters Athletes in the country. SO MUCH AWESOME!
WOD for 09-13-16:
4 Rounds For Max Reps:
Row for Calories
Box Jumps @ 24/20 in
Hang Power Snatches @ 95/65 lbs
Wall Balls @ 20/14 lbs to 10/9 ft
This is 0:40 (forty seconds) of work per movement, with 0:20 of rest/transition time between movements. There is 1:20 rest between rounds. Score is total repetitions across all four rounds.
-then-
Tabata:
Hollow Rocks
The Tabata interval is 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 8 rounds (4 total minutes). Score by your lowest round.
(Compare ot 07-25-16)
Kim Kicks Butt; AR Weightlifters & Margaret Do Too!
What an amazing weekend of Arena Ready achievements, headlined (of course) by the one and only Kim Tom CRUSHING IT at the 2016 Granite Games! Additionally, the Arena Ready Weightlifting Team was impressive on Sunday at the PWA Marin Open, and Margaret showed a bunch of folks what's up on her speedy Alcatraz Swim.
Photos, thoughts, and other musings to come in the next few days - but alas, we are just getting home from 12 hours of coaching four back-to-back weightlifting sessions, so the WOD and a preview will have to do.
We hope everyone had a great weekend.
WOD for 09-12-16:
Thruster:
3-3-3-3-3
Climbing. If possible, add to your top set from 08-25-15.
-then-
"Jackie"
For Time:
1000m Row
50 Thrusters @ 45 lbs
30 Pull-ups
(Compare to 12-29-14, 07-31-14, and 05-10-13)
Kim's Granite Games Day 1, AR at The Marin Open, and Lift Up Autism
Kim's Day 1 at The Granite Games
Kim is STRAIGHT UP CRUSHING IT after Day 1 at the 2016 Kill Cliff Granite Games. In THIRD place overall after three events - including a 6th place event finish on the "surprise" 5K row, and a 3rd place event finish on the rope climb/deadlift/bar burpee - Kim is showing many of the top athletes in the country what most of us already knew. Who woulda' bet on a Mini to finish so high on a strictly rowing event? Anyone who knows Kim, that's who.
Click here for more info on Days 2 & 3 of the competition (Sat & Sun), including how to watch the event stream LIVE from Minnesota. GO KIM GO!
Arena Ready Weightlifting at the Marin Open (Sunday)
Reminder that four of our Team AR Weightlifting athletes will compete on Sunday at the PWA's 2016 Marin Open in San Rafael. Click here for more info on the competition, including meet location and session start times for Squirrel, Gary, Mike, and Coach Hillary. Good luck, lifters!
"Luke" and Lift Up Autism at Arena Ready (Saturday)
The cause of Autism Awareness is very close to my (Rob) heart. We plan on doing the WOD "Luke" on Saturday as a part of our normal class WOD, and in solidarity with other CrossFit affiliates and CrossFitters around the world.
You may find more details about "Lift Up Autism" and their fundraising efforts by clicking here - and here's an excerpt from their website:
Josh Everett, TrainHeroic, and the CrossFit™ community rallied together in spectacular fashion to support the Autism community in a worldwide workout event called LiftUpLuke in October of 2013.
This"competition for a cause" specifically sought to support early diagnosis and treatment of Autism, raise funds for the Autism Tree Project Foundation in San Diego, and most importantly, turn a global spotlight on the measured and severe impact of Autism on families and individuals around the world.
If you like you may donate to the cause by first clicking here - then click on the GREEN "Tickets" button, and scroll through the various donation options. Here is a video of the CrossFit HQ Seminar Staff doing the workout back in 2013 (Sarah was there as part of HQ doing the WOD):
I'll share some thoughts about how Autism has impacted our family in the coming week. Meantime, come on in Saturday morning and get after it with us!
WOD for 09-10-16:
On a Running Clock, With a Partner...
A) From 0:00 - 5:00
Partner A Completes - "Luke"
AMRAP 5 Minutes:
4 Power Cleans 155/105 lbs
24 Double Unders
10 Pull-ups
(Partner B may help count, judge, and cheer for Partner A)
B) From 5:00 - 8:00
Rest
C) From 8:00 - 13:00
Partner B Completes - "Luke"
AMRAP 5 Minutes:
4 Power Cleans 155/105 lbs
24 Double Unders
10 Pull-ups
(Partner A may help count, judge, and cheer for Partner B)
D) From 13:00 - 16:00
Rest
E) From 16:00 - 28:00
Partners A & B Complete - 12 Minutes For MAX CALORIES Rowed:
1000m Run (TOGETHER)
60 Deadlifts @ 155/105 lbs (SPLIT)
100 Wall Balls @ 20/14 lbs to 10/9 ft (SPLIT)
Max Calories on Rower (SPLIT)
Partners run together and both complete 1000m. Deadlifts, wall balls, and row calories are shared and may be split in any fashion (does not have to be equal). The faster runner can start the deadlifts as soon as she has completed the run, and does NOT have to wait until the slower runner completes the run - however, the wall balls and row cannot start until the preceding movement's reps are finished. Use the same barbell loading as used for "Luke."
Record three scores for today:
1) Rounds + reps for Partner A on "Luke"
2) Rounds + reps forPartner B on "Luke"
3) The team's total calories rowed
(Compare "Luke" to 10-19-13)
Arena Ready Weightlifting at The 2016 Marin Open
Four members of the Arena Ready weightlifting team will be taking the competition platform on Sunday, September 11th, at the PWA's 2016 Marin Open in San Rafael. If you're around this weekend and would like to watch some big lifts and cheer on our athletes - Kate "The Flying Squirrel", Gary, Mike S., and Coach Hillary - then coordinate transportation with other AR members through the private Arena Ready Facebook group, and come on by Marin Heavy Athletics (AKA West Bay CrossFit)!
Meet location and scheduled session start times are listed below - good luck, lifters!
Location:
Marin Heavy Athletics (West Bay CrossFit)
1295 2nd Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Session Start Times:
Squirrel - 9:00am
Gary - 11:30am
Hillary - 2:00pm
Mike - 4:00pm
WOD for 09-09-16:
Every 2 Minutes For 5 Rounds (10 Minutes):
1 Power Clean + 3 Push Presses
Climbing
-then-
"Betty"
5 Rounds For Time:
12 Push Presses @ 135/95 lbs (no rack)
20 Box Jumps @ 24/20 in
This workout calls for push presses, so pay attention not to re-bend at the knees or hips (AKA "jerk") when receiving the barbell overhead. Not possible? Go lighter.
(Compare to 10-19-15, 04-16-15, 11-03-14, and 04-23-14)
Kim at The 2016 Kill Cliff Granite Games
Kim "The Fittest Optometrist in San Francisco" heads to Minnesota shortly and will be competing at the 2016 Kill Cliff Granite Games this Friday through Sunday (September 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the Women's Masters 50-54 division. You can watch all of her events LIVE on FloElite (click here for details), and can view the competition schedule, including venue information & time ranges for Kim's workouts/division, by clicking here on the Granite Games website.
Kim will take the floor with some of the fittest athletes from around the world, and we are so excited for her to experience this elite level of competition. Proud is a huge understatement when it comes to our resident #MiniMighty and all of the hard work and dedication that's required for her to perform at this high level.
Safe travels, Kim, and GO CRUSH IT LIKE WE KNOW YOU WILL!
Megan sporting her Kim Tom "Eye Chart" shirt to show her #MiniMighty support!
WOD for 09-08-16:
Power Snatch + 2 Overhead Squats:
5 Sets of (1+2)
Climbing as technique allows
-then-
For Time:
9-7-5
Muscle-ups
Barbell Front Rack Lunges @ 115/75 lbs
The lunges are "per side" - for example, the round of 9 is equal to 9 lunges on the right and 9 lunges on the left (for 18 lunges total), completed by alternating legs.
Best Wishes, Natalie!
Well, it happened again. We implemented an Arena Ready Moratorium (click here to read about it) some time ago when we heard the news - then the De Paris Duo moved, then Randy & Amie moved, it was Bye-Bye Becca, and now this (although we knew it was coming). If you hadn't already gathered, Natalie is actually "Grace" (and Laika is actually "Isabel") in the email included in the Moratorium post, and sadly our morning class crew (and Arena ready as a whole) said farewell to Natalie last Friday. She left us with a kind note that made us all grateful for the time she spent at AR:
As evidenced by Esterina's photo from this morning, today was my last day at Arena Ready :(. Before I joined AR, I thought it was weird and lame when people were overly enthusiastic about their CrossFit gyms. Now I'm the worst offender of them all (as Laika can attest based on my sales pitch a few months ago :) ). I can't thank all of you wonderful people enough for the skills, friends, and memories I've gained over the past year. I'm already thinking of excuses to come up to the city on Saturdays over the upcoming year (excuse #1 being spoiling Lindsey & Gordon's baby). In the meantime, stay the same, never change, and please don't let Rob play random "Upbeat Country Hits!!!" playlists on Country Wednesday.
We wish you all the best, Natalie, and hope that we see you soon (and often) when you come visit all your friends in San Francisco. Take care and go kick some ass - we know you will.
Some of the Friday morning crew sending Natalie off in functional fitness style.
And now for the workout you'll all (y'all?... all y'all?... Natalie?) be doing to the inspiring tune of UPBEAT COUNTRY HITS on Wednesday...
WOD for 09-07-16:
Strict Press:
***Using 95% of your 1RM from 08-30-16 as your "base"...
65% x 5
75% x 5
85% x 5+ (e.g. Max Effort: as many reps as you can safely make)
***FOR EXAMPLE: if you lifted 120 lbs as your 1RM on 08-30-16 you would use 95% of that (114 lbs) as your base:
65% of 114 lbs = 74 lbs x 5 reps
75% of 114 lbs = 86 lbs x 5 reps
85% of 114 lbs = 97 lbs x 5+ reps (e.g. Max Effort: as many reps as you can safely make)
Yes, we know this will feel very light and fairly easy. No, we don't want you to add weight to make it feel harder. Enjoy these easier days and the heavier weights will eventually get here - just go with it, get the sets done, and move on to the squats. Don't add more than you're supposed to do. For most this is likely the bar, then maybe one more warm-up set before the first set of 5 at 65% - quick, easy, and eventually (over time) very effective.
-then-
Alternating Every 90 Seconds For 6 Rounds (18 Total Minutes):
90-Second Interval 1: 3 Back Squats, climbing
90-Second Interval 2: 100m Double KB Farmer Walk, pick load
Western Conference Finals: SF Fire Fall to the PHX Rise, 19-14
What a great turnout for our Labor Day WOD "The Seven" on Monday! Thanks to everyone for being such awesome athletes and encouraging members - it was fun to see and hear folks cheering each other on to finish and/or keep moving when things got tough.
As those of you who were at the gym on Monday saw, Sarah is back (woohoo!) from her month away which was spent playing in the 2016 GRID/NPGL season for the San Francisco Fire. Sadly the Fire lost to a very talented Phoenix Rise team on Saturday night in the Western Conference Final by a score of 19-14. Things looked a little rough early on in the match, but the Fire fought back in the final four races (8 through 11) to make things much closer than they once seemed. But alas, some injuries and mis-steps proved too much to overcome and the Rise had surmounted a lead that was immune to a comeback (for the full match recap from the NPGL click here). The Rise will now move on to play the Boston Iron in the 2016 NPGL Final on Wednesday evening for the right to hoist the "Pinnacle Trophy." The SF Fire's matches (and many of the GRID matches from this season) will be re-broadcast on television starting later this month, and we will update the blog with dates and air times once they become available (it's fun to be able to watch your coach on television, so get ready to set your DVRs!).
If you were one of the many who were closely watching the GRID matches live, and are sad that the watchable competitive exercise is drawing to a close, fear not! Kim heads out to the 2016 Kill Cliff Granite Games in a few days to throw down with some of the fittest athletes in the world - and we'll post information on how to stream Kim's events, as well as all of the other divisions which includes former and current CrossFit Games champions, Masters Games champions, and other high level competitive exercisers. Cheer on Kim and feed the fix for watching fitness!
WOD for 09-06-16:
Hang Power Clean:
12 Minutes to Establish a Heavy Triple
-then-
For Time:
500m Row
1000m Run
50 AbMat Sit-ups
100 Double Unders
50 Hang Power Cleans @ 135/95 lbs
(Compare to 09-08-15)
Labor Day: The Seven
What has become the tradition on Labor Day at Arena Ready continues this year - the hero WOD known as "The Seven."
As mentioned previously, classes on Monday will be run at 9:00am and 10:15am, with a Gladiators session at 11:30am. Since these holiday WODs usually draw a big, enthusiastic group please MAKE SURE TO CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION ASAP IF YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT MAKE IT. Don't be that person who late cancels or no shows to a full class, potentially leaving others out of a workout (yes, we can see who cancels at the last minute... and yes, we can see if you're double-booked for a class, so please don't do that). We understand that life happens and that sometimes you cannot predict what might get in the way of making it to the gym... we're simply asking that you be considerate toward your fellow athletes (thankfully that's generally not an issue around these parts, but a little reminder in anticipation of a busy holiday WOD can't hurt).
If you want to workout and are on the waitlist then COME IN and we will make it work! As long as everyone plays nice, scales appropriately, and is mindful of their classmates it should be a great (and challenging) workout.
And just so everyone knows the background on this WOD, and who we are honoring when we do it, here is the explanation courtesy of CrossFit.com:
A suicide bomber killed seven CIA officers and one Jordanian officer at a remote base in southeastern Afghanistan on December 30, 2009 after posing as a potential informant reporting on Al Qaeda. Seven new stars will be etched onto the memorial wall at the CIA where every star represents grieving friends, family and colleagues dedicated to fight against the enemy, forever in their name.
Killed in the attack were CIA officers Jennifer Lynne Matthews, 45; Scott Michael Roberson, 39; Harold E. Brown Jr., 37; Darren LaBonte, 35; Elizabeth Hanson, 30; and security contractors Jeremy Jason Wise, 35, and Dane Clark Paresi, 46.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
WOD for 09-05-16:
"The Seven"
7 Rounds For Time:
7 Handstand Push-ups
7 Thrusters @ 135/95 lbs
7 Knees-to-Elbows
7 Deadlifts @ 245/175 lbs
7 Burpees
7 Kettlebell Swings @ 70/53 lbs
7 Pull-ups
(Compare to 09-07-15 and 10-17-14; Gladiators also compare to 04-12-14)
Western Conference Final: SF Fire vs PHX Rise - Saturday 6pm PT
It's GO TIME and the 2016 NPGL playoffs are here - the San Francisco Fire will once again do battle with the Phoenix Rise (for the third year in a row) in the Western Conference Final. The winner will take on the Boston Iron who served two-time defending GRID champions, the DC Brawlers, their first-ever loss in franchise history on Friday night in the Eastern Conference Final.
You can watch Coach Sarah and the SF Fire versus the PHX Rise LIVE on Saturday at 6pm PT on GRID TV. The match will also be re-broadcast on NBC Sports Network this fall (click here for more details).
What does the "Gridmaster" predict? Well, here you go...
Overview
Last year in the Western Conference Final, San Francisco was plagued by some injuries, a stomach virus and general fatigue. Phoenix, on the other hand, was executing at the top of their game. This match sets up a rematch of the 2015 conference final, but we should see a much tighter Fire. The Rise will be looking for an undefeated season, and San Francisco is hoping to take back what Danny Nichols took from them in the regular-season showdown in Race 11. It’s on.
Key players
The Fire’s Sarah Hopping-Estrella has been a standout all season. She will be a strong presence in this Denali format in much of the match, moving heavy weight throughout. On the other end of the spectrum, Courtney Walker will figure heavily in Jack and Jill, who along with Eric Cardona, will do a fair amount of skilled excellence with bar-muscle-up roll-overs. One of the Echoes, which close with 40 hang cleans, will be a face-off of the best closers in the league.
For Phoenix, Laura Poling was built for the Denali Echoes. Her task will be hang cleaning 145 lb for multiple reps, which for her is easy. Similarly, few athletes cycle a barbell in Quadrant 4 like Jessica Phillips and between her, Poling and Jamie Hagiya, they make a strong wall of defense against the Fire women.
For the men, San Francisco’s Cam Pernich, Ian Daniel and Ger Sasser will face off against Phoenix’s Danny Nichols, Blaine McConnell and Craig Kenny in Quadrant 4 and at various other places in the match. The Phoenix men showed why they are winners in the previous match against San Francisco, winning two of three men-only races, and with the dumbbell burpee box jump-overs, the Rise’s Nichols invented the speed on this move and will be hard to beat here. If Nichols positions Marcus Filly and McConnell to work through the chest-to-bar pull-ups quickly, the Phoenix men will be an stoppable force on the final cleans.
Keep an eye out for the Fire’s Cardona on Jack and Jill.
Race to watch
The Mirror, with its 40 front squats at 175 lb/285 lb is relatively heavier for the men than it is for the women. Ergo, the women don’t really factor as much as the men do. In other words, the teams will only be as fast as their slowest men. Both teams have won the Mirror twice against other teams. Head-to-head, San Francisco won against Phoenix. With Ian Daniel, Cam Pernich, Buddy Hitchcock and Jamie Lee, you have a solid lineup against Nichols, Kenny, McConnell and Filly. The slight edge may go to San Francisco on the strength of Daniels and Pernich in Quadrants 3 and 4.
The Men’s Echoes should be a wild ride through the dumbbell burpees-over-box. Nichols showed how this was done in the 2015 running of this match and he and McConnell will be extremely solid on this element. Similarly, the Rise women, lead by Poling and Phillips, should dominate these, as well. If this is the case, the generalists like Hagiya, Loeffler and Filly, will get through the chest-to-bar pull-ups setting up the cleans. It’s very possible that Phoenix could sweep races 3-6.
Jack and Jill tends to lean toward the Fire. With Cardona and Walker, they make a solid body-weight focus duo. Phoenix, however, may unleash Braden Rubey here. Rubey has not gotten the press and the notice that Cardona has but he is actually a powerful body-weight specialist who happens to be firing on all cylinders at the moment. He and Calhoun could give the Cardona/Walker pair a run for their money. While the edge goes to San Francisco, I am not counting Phoenix out to take this.
As we did with DC and Boston, let’s imagine a scenario where the match is close (and I suspect this one will be). Let’s imagine that it comes down to the Relay.
Where might one team take an advantage?...
(Click here for the full article and match prediction)
REMINDER about our Labor Day class schedule (click here for details).
WOD for 09-03-16:
On a Running Clock...
A) At The 0:00 Mark
With a Partner For Time:
800m Run TOGETHER
30 Squat Clean & Jerks @ 165/115 lbs
600m Run TOGETHER
20 Squat Clean & Jerks @ 185/125 lbs
400m Run TOGETHER
10 Squat Clean & Jerks @ 205/135 lbs
Partners run together, but squat clean & jerk reps are shared and can be split in any fashion (with one partner working at a time; does not have to be equally partitioned). C&J reps cannot start until both athletes have completed the preceding run.
B) At The 25:00 Mark
Weighted Plank Hold:
3 x 0:45 (Rest 1:00 Between Sets)
If possible add to 08-30-16, 08-09-16, 07-22-16, and 07-12-16.
Camp Sparkle Reminder and "Complaining and the Brain"
Camp Sparkle: Labor Day Weekend
Attention Parents! Camp Sparkle is on for Saturday (Sep 3rd) during the 8am and 9am classes, AND on Monday (Sep 5th) during the 9am Labor Day class. Click here for more details including how to reserve a spot (and request to be added if you're not already in the private Arena Ready Facebook group!).
"Complaining and the Brain - How 'Bad Karma' is Created"
The other day I was joking about whining and complaining with some of our athletes as they prepared for Wednesday's "Mini Fortitude" sweatfest. Although we were having fun with the topic I think most of the group agreed that complaining is contagious and can affect one's own perception of their surroundings (and their fate, as it were... certainly on Wednesday, haha). Recently there's been several articles floating around on the subject, some even delving into the notion that complaining can essentially re-wire the way your brain works. One such article titled "Complaining and the Brain - How 'Bad Karma' is Created" talks about how this sort of negativity can impact one's well being in more ways than one. Click here for the full article - here's an excerpt:
It is intuitive that a negative attitude and constant complaining are bad for us – but can it really affect our brain? It turns out that there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that negativity can alter our perception of life by changing the connection of the neurons in our brain. This would then result in increased stress levels, which is linked to chronic diseases and mental health problems.
A common perception of complaining, or “venting”, is that people feel better after getting their emotions out. Contrary to popular belief, however, studies have shown that expressing negativity can be bad for the mood of both the complainer and the listener, and here we briefly discuss a few findings on how negativity can impact our well-being.
Do negative thoughts affect the wiring of synapses in our brains?
The synapses in our brain are separated by spaces known as synaptic clefts. When we think, synapses “fire” and send signals across these clefts to other synapses. This forms a bridge by which signals and information and transferred. The exciting thing here is that upon each trigger of an electrical charge, the synapses involved are actually brought closer in proximity to each other. This increases the likelihood that the correct synapses will share the appropriate link and fire together. Consequently, it becomes easier for that particular thought to be triggered.
What all this means is that thinking about something initially makes it easier to think about it again in the future. As such, if a person is constantly unhappy, it makes it more likely that he or she will continue to have negative thoughts if nothing is done about it. On the bright side, though, this also suggests that if we make a conscious effort to think positive thoughts, the positive feedback cycle helps us to become a more optimistic personality as well.
By repeating pessimistic thought processes, synapses that represent these negative inclinations gradually grow closer. Given that the thought that is most likely to surface is the one which can form a bridge between synapses in the shortest period of time, it is unsurprising then that in this case a pessimist would be more likely to remain the way he or she was...
-Viatcheslav Wlassoff, PhD (BrainBlogger.com)
REMINDER about our Labor Day class schedule (click here for details).
WOD for 09-02-16:
Every 2 Minutes For 6 Rounds (12 Minutes):
2 Overhead Squats
Start light and then climb to a top set as technique allows.
REST 2 MINUTES, THEN...
Every 2 Minutes For 6 Rounds (12 Minutes):
3 Back Squats
Start light/moderate and then climb to a top set as technique allows.
-then-
AMRAP 6 Minutes:
20 Push-ups
20 Box Jumps @ 24/20 in
20 Overhead Walking Lunges w/Plate @ 45/35 lbs