Germany, December 2023 - Backbending
Documentation against self-deception
You deceive yourself if you don't practise intensively.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the gym again. The machines in the recommended circuit stand in a circle so you can see what the others are doing. I didn't see any effort in the faces of my fellow exercisers. I'd be interested to know how many kilos my colleagues are lifting. If someone is really pushing their limits, then you can see it. You only have to google Arnold Schwarzenegger. Every cell is strained when he lifts weights. You can see that. You can really feel it. My competitors look like they're resting when they pull on the weights.
But I wasn't a bit better. I was satisfied with the default setting that was measured a few weeks ago. I also knew that I could do better. When I realized this, I increased the weights by 1 kg in the second round. That didn't really exhaust me either. Next time I will add a kilo in the first round and 2 kg in the second round. I should be able to lift 20 kg, regardless of which muscles I use. You train the big muscles like legs, back, abdomen, arms, chest etc. anyway ...... Last night in bed I was still thinking that I would have to lift my own body weight if I wanted to do a pull-up even once in my life. That's a lot more than 20 kg.
You have to make an effort if you want to achieve something.
This morning I was rewarded. My scales showed me that the percentage of muscle had gone up, and that the fine-grained bulge had gone down. That's the reward for regular, strenuous training. Hallelujah. I am happy. I am getting stronger.
I know that I also cheated myself out of success for years because I didn't know any better.
It starts with a sloppy chaturanga dandasana and continues with holding the asanas too short. I didn't know any better and the teachers obviously didn't either. I was never corrected. Self-study is a must.
What can you do about self-deception?
1. You can document your training. It's easy to record the frequency with an app. You can only get out as much as you put in. My trainer said that many of her clients only want to train once a week. That's not enough. Three times a week is where the fun starts.
2. Pictures help. The feeling is often different from the reality.
3. It helps to write down what you have learned and then ask yourself whether you are actually doing it. I know that the asanas need to be held for longer than just 5 breaths if you want to have a lasting stretching effect. I'm going to start setting the timer again when I practise urdhva dhanurasana. One minute of urdhva dhanurasana must be manageable. The more often you practise this, the easier it becomes.
4. Always trying to find the limits is useful. As long as your body can still lift the weights, you have not yet reached the limit of your own capabilities.
5. Keep studying, asking questions, observing like-minded people. This can help to avoid mistakes. Learning never stops.
Don't just try and do it. Practice intensively. Live intensively. Be present. Do your best.