There is Nothing Imaginary About It

[Greg Newton]

Occasionally I search around the internet to see what is being said about the kind of exercises we promote here. One of the criticisms or snide potshots I see taken at VRT is that it is lifting "imaginary" weights, as if there was something not real about what was being done. Imaginary weights equalling imaginary muscle and strength is the implication being made.

However, there is nothing imaginary about it. The resistance is real. It is the resistance of the flexor muscles verses the extensors. The tension created is real. The affects of that tension; muscle growth and strength are real. The Imagery of moving a weight is only a mental cue, albeit an important mental cue, since this allows you to focus your muscles through the power of your mind.

For many years I neglected what I instinctively knew to work, because I was afraid to go against the naysayers and the scoffers. "Real men lift real weights," was the refrain I often heard. However, real men, lifting real weights also contributes to deteriorating joints in one's forties and fifties. If one can train and create strength and muscular hypertrophy without tearing the body down, wouldn't that be the better route to go?

Greg Newton

[Andy62]

Greg, Everything that you say is absolutely true. There is another additional benefit. This type of exercise has another dimension to it that other forms of exercise don't offer and that is that it develops develops nerve force or internal strength [ mental and emotional strength in addition to physical ]. As the rate of social and economic change accelerates this type of training will become increasingly popular and already is as is evidenced by other instructors currently trying to enter the field together with the thread of "invincibilty" on this site. It is what worked for me during a period of great change and stress in my own life. Gordon

[MikeNY]

VRT/DVR is real resistance, the same as Isometrics and isometric Powerflexing; the nay sayers always attack and fear to even try. The mind body connection builds a strong body and mind; as the anicent greeks said a healthy body and mind. This type of resistance is what bruce Lee used to develop himself and Kung fu warriors have used for thousands of years. Why the nay sayers ask? Because it works.

[VRT Man]

The hazard of a system of this description is that some, when first hearing about it, take a humorous tangent and remark that this is "pretend" weightlifting, that one is relaxing with eyes closed thinking that they are lifting but not moving, just sitting back and imagining and pretending.

You see, this is ever so common with a person who has not demonstrated it upon themselves, just read about it somewhere, and thinks this is all a crock of s--t.

That's why in the beginning, when I demonstrated it to friends of mine and asked them to do the same, they finally came up with the "a-HAA!" reaction. There is no easy way to describe this unless one is to actually DO it. Once they demonstrate it on their own bodies, there's a flash of understanding. That's the moment of truth one needs to understand this!

Greg, thanks for pointing out the potshots you noticed occasionally on other forums, because yep, I've read 'em too. But supportive people like the ones here bring the truth back around.

Try it, you'll like it!

Greg Mangan

[MikeNY]

Greg anyone that tries VRT can see why it works, it is resistance training. Now the average Wile E. Coyote sitting on a chaise lounge chair and covered with a blanket as he eats twinkies and tries VRT as a mental only exercise can not get it and never will, but they keep trying it as a mental only exercise. VRT is a replacement for weight training with all the benifits and none of the downside.

[Hank_Z]

The hazard of a system of this description is that some, when first hearing about it, take a humorous tangent and remark that this is "pretend" weightlifting, that one is relaxing with eyes closed thinking that they are lifting but not moving, just sitting back and imagining and pretending.

You see, this is ever so common with a person who has not demonstrated it upon themselves, just read about it somewhere, and thinks this is all a crock of s--t.

Greg Mangan

Greg,

I think watching your VRT video would instantly demonstrate that this is not "pretend" exercise. And exercising with the video for just one routine would enable one to experience the workout.

Hank