Movement Snacks: Is your weighted vest really making you stronger?
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Hey Reader, Many years ago, when I was new to teaching yoga, I believed that yoga was all I needed to get stronger. After all, I was holding my entire body up in various poses, sometimes balancing on one leg and sometimes balancing on just my hands. At the time, I was in my early twenties. I was also a runner, logging at least 3 runs every week, if not more. I did hours of yoga everyday. I thought I was strong. The truth is that running is great for getting your heart rate up, but it's less effective for building muscle. And yoga can only take you so far when it comes to building strength. That doesn't mean that these 2 movement practices are bad or that I wasn't strong in my twenties. But I am stronger now for a few reasons. This leads me to my movement snack for the week. Strength training is the most reliable way to build strength by increasing muscle and increasing bone density. The question worth asking is: what kind of strength training? How often do I need to lift weights? Can I get stronger by wearing a weighted vest around the house? Can I use the 3lb weights I've had for years to get stronger? Why can't yoga actually increase my strength when I see lots of yoga teachers who look ripped? I'm going to answer all of these questions in my upcoming workshop, How to Get Stronger. The workshop is this Friday, February 20th at 11am ET. It's just 30 minutes long and there will be plenty of time for questions after I share some of the basics about what you need to do if you want to get stronger -- which I believe is super important if you are nearing perimenopause or currently in the thick of it (like I am). And if you're already post-menopausal, good news: strength training is super important for you, too! This workshop is by donation, meaning you pay what you can with a starting price at $5. The workshop will be recorded if you are unable to attend live. You can save your spot here. In the meantime, you can check out some of the strength training classes currently available on my YouTube channel on this playlist here. All are less than 20 minutes long, so they're a great way to ease into strength training or add strength training into your current schedule! P.S. If you're a MOVE member, this is part of your membership so no need to sign up! That's it from me for now. Thanks for being a part of my community this year. I am so grateful for you. Warmly, Naomi Want to stay in touch during the week? Here are a 2 easy ways: Follow me on Instagram, where I share movement inspiration 3x a week as acts of resistance, connection, and strength. Follow me on substack, where I write about the intersection of movement, motherhood, and the culture that we are all moving through. Or better yet, subscribe so you have immediate access to regular essays, including my most recent substack. I wrote about Usha Vance's pregnancy and why she is being used as an avatar for conservative women. You can read it here. There are many ways to support my writing on substack, which focuses on women's health and motherhood during perimenopause through an anti-diet and pro-science lens: 😍 Become a free subscriber I also had an article published on the Fit Bottomed Girls platform about women over 50 redefining athleticism. There are women hiking the AT, participating in triathlons, and even competing in the Olympics. They are inspiring and incredible. You can read the article here. |