Hail to the Dinosaurs!
One quick update, and then we'll talk
training -- and specifically, how strength
training improves your brain power and your
nervous system!
UPDATE:
My audio seminar on the mental aspects
of strength training has been rescheduled
to next Tuesday at 7:00 EST. Carl Lanore
is having a tech issue, and we needed to
reschedule. If you signed up and cannot
make it, contact Carl Lanore ASAP.
Sorry about having to reschedule, and I
hope it's not an inconvenience for anyone!
TRAINING TALK:
A recent research study looked at the effect
of meditation on the physical structure of
the brain -- and the results were pretty
amazing.
After just one month -- a total of 11 hours
of meditation -- the scientists found:
(1) That nerve fibers (known as "white matter")
in the brain were becoming denser, and
(2) That myelin (a protective substance
surrounding the nerve fibers) was expanding.
In other words, the nerve fibers were "bulking
up" -- just the way your muscles bulk up
when you train them.
And these changes were occurring in the
anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain --
which is a part of the brain that helps regulate
behaviour and mood. Which may explain why the
subjects in the study reported improvements
in mood and a reduction in feelings of
anxiety, depression, anger, etc. -- and
why their levels of cortisol (a stress
hormone) dropped during the four week study.
So, am I suggesting that you try 20 minutes
of meditation every day, and see what happens?
Well, you certainly can. I'm going to try it.
It certainly can't hurt. (And if you're pressed
for time, do it when you do your flexibility and
mobility drills -- or when you do your cardio.)
But here's the key point for Dinosaurs.
I've been talking to you quite a bit about
the mental aspects of strength training --
about training with deep focus and intense
concentration -- about stepping out of the
day to day world and into "the inner universe"
(Bill Pearl's phrase) when you train -- and
about practicing concentration exercises,
visualization, and deep breathing before,
during and after your workouts.
And I've said that those things will increase
the strength of your nervous system -- and
strengthen the mind-muscle connection -- and
improve the functioning of the motor pathways
in your body.
This new research suggests that I'm right.
And here's a related thought.
If 20 minutes of quiet meditation can make
such a huge difference after just one month,
think about what an hour of "in the zone"
strength training can do for you.
I'm sure it's at least as effective as
meditation -- and perhaps even more so, because
you're actively seeking to improve the mind-
muscle link.
And maybe that's the most important benefit
of Dino style strength training.
Concentration. Focus. Visualization. Deep
breathing. The mind-muscle link. Quality
training. Championship thinking.
They're all tied together -- they all work
together -- and when you integrate them into
your training, you can achieve anything.
As always, thanks for reading and have a great
day. If you train today, make it a good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Here's the link for the audio seminar where
I'll be teaching you how to improve your power
of concentration -- and how to use the power
of your mind to rocket your training to the
next level:
http://www.superhumanradio.com/seminarbookings/index.php/component/content/article/4/11-seven-keys-to-concentration-dinosaur-mindpower
P.S. 2. I cover concentration, visualization and
other elements of mental mastery in Dinosaur
Training, Dinosaur Bodyweight Training and
Strength, Muscle and Power:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_training.html
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_bodyweight.html
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
P.S. 3. My other books and courses are right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 4. Thought for the Day: "Building your body
also builds your mind. How's that for a bonus?"
-- Brooks Kubik
