VRT/ISO take Will-Power!

[R.ticle One]

Hey guys,

Yesterday I was doing some Isometric exercises and experimenting with what I imagine are VRT-ish workouts too (haven't got Greg's system, and John's book is coming, but I think I've got some idea right now), and I realized that exercising this way takes will-power!

I mean, it takes will-power to go to the gym and pick up a heavy barbell, too. What I'm talking about though, is the kind of will-power needed to create that weight through the resistance of your own muscles against one another, or even out of "thin air", a la, your imagination, and to do it, rep after rep.

That barbell's going to weigh the same, no matter if you feel like lifting it or not. It takes something different to provide it yourself, regardless of if you feel like providing it for your workout or not.

This isn't some grand epiphany, just a thought I had last night that I wanted to post.

Cheers,

Raphael

[mts]

That's very true. Even now, sometimes my mind give up before my muscles. When I used to lift weights there was some mental "boost" to push yourself when you knew you'd lifed x weight before and you KNOW you can do it. Working the muscles with the mind is a whole other ball game.

[Andy62]

That's very true and that is why they are beyond the reach of some people. They build the mind as well as the body and that results in NERVE FORCE.

[R.ticle One]

That's very true and that is why they are beyond the reach of some people. They build the mind as well as the body and that results in NERVE FORCE.

True...though at the same time, the practicality of it should put it within the reach of people. I mean, from the most basic standpoint of not needing an investment in equipment or a gym membership. When I first considered working out to develop my physique, I thought the only thing out there was weight-training. I once visited a gym - they gave me two free trial days.

I didn't really like the machines, and they advised me to stay away from the racks of free weights. I realized, also, that I'd much rather exercise in my own space, away from countless other people and music I didn't care for. That of course led to the problem of "where am I going to put all the different weights/I can't afford all these weights or adjustable dumbbells and benches!"

I made do with the odd bits I had laying around, lifted heavy rocks..."discovered" bodyweight training (that is, pushups, pullups, and chinups, which is all I realized at the time), and then gravitated to even more joint-friendly isometrics. I find it very liberating to train with little to nothing more than my own body!

That's why I think it *can* be accessible for people - if, of course as you said, they are willing to push themselves in another way.

R.

[Andy62]

I think this method of training is something whose time has come. It has really had a job done on it by the equipment manufacturers who have aggressively promoted the use of equipment. With the advent of the internet, the increase in knowledge of equipment caused injuries and the current economic challenges many factors point to the benefits of DVR/VRT, isometrics and isometric power flexing. It also builds more useful and enduring types of internal and external strength than equipment and develops mental and emotional strength. It is the complete life long training system.

[gruntbrain]

Bennyb's bolt bending is a display of willpower. He's fighting pain & there's no faking of effort. Of course, as he suggests such efforts have an injury risk.

[Andy62]

It would be hard to find an activity that is more isometric than bending. The best weighlifters in the world were not able to equal the bending feats of Alexander Zass, The Mighty Atom ,and other similarly trained athletes.