Falk’s approach to exercise is fundamentally different from any other. This issue is the basis, the foundation, of the approach. This is movement, everyday human movement. Movement means the way we perform physical activities, the way we sit and stand, and most importantly, the way we walk.
Movement is the most revealing diagnostic tool.
This means that both our strong and weak points come out in our movement. Stress may show itself in a tight neck. A walk favoring one side impairs the back as well as the legs. Someone may constantly hold the arms and shoulders high, causing shoulder and neck stress, as well as stress for the heart. The point is that, to a trained eye, potential health problems like these are evident in one’s everyday movement.
We all have weaknesses.
By weakness, I mean sooner or later something will go wrong and cause difficulties in health. For one individual it may be the back. For someone else it may be headaches, fatigue, or pains in the side. But, fundamentally, our activity level, our energy level, and our joy of life will be limited in some physical way. Those limits, in fact are developing now, although we may not be aware of them.
A person with strong biceps but a weak shoulder does not have a strong arm. A person with strong legs but a weak heart cannot run very well. The point is, simply, our entire system is ultimately limited by our weakest parts.
Importantly, if a muscle or joint is weak from years of neglect, the exercises that one does to improve the situation may never really really bring the situation even close to what it should be. But at least the exercises and the effort to change the movement will help prevent the situation from getting worse, where it could lead to even greater problems.
To a trained eye, observing one’s walk will reveal a huge number of problems. A tense shoulder, for example, may be evidenced by a tight arm swing or little arm swing. A weak shoulder may result in uneven shoulders or a slight tilt of the neck. A walk with cross-lateral torque may be visible in a dip on one side after one foot has landed. All of these apparently innocent anomalies may be leading to more serious problems later one–for example, neck pain, bursitis, or heart problems. Even now they will inhibit one’s life in subtle but important ways–for example, more stress, more fatigue, or less use of the body.
Weakness is thus revealed in everyday movement.
The above point is a giant one.
It means that a huge number of health problems, both current and potential, are exhibited in our movement today. A heart problem, for instance, is usually noticed only when a person is older and starts having difficulties. Bernie Falk believes that many potential health problems are evident now, in the movement patterns one is using everyday. If you know that you might be preventing serious problems by doing certain exercises now, might you indeed want to try? If it made sense?
Selection of Exercises:
Disclaimer:
I am not a qualified physician. As with all exercise programs, when using these routines and examples shown, you need to use common sense. To reduce and avoid injury, you may want to check with your doctor before beginning any fitness program. By performing these exercises, you are performing them at your own risk. Theoryofexercise.com will not be responsible or liable for any injury or harm you sustain as a result of this information shared on this website.
