Is Yoda the Best Personal Trainer Ever?

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What Yoda teaches us about training?  I am more of a Star Trek fan, but that is for a different conversation.  Lucus basically ripped off a lot of eastern philosophy at a sophomore level and used Yoda as a device to communicate them… well that is another conversation as well.   But when Yoda trains Luke, he has some good points.

“Size matters not, … Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?”

 This goes both ways.  First, if your size is “too big,” this is not an accurate judgment of your fitness.  Your goals are more important.  Judging your fitness on size alone does not give you an accurate representation of your strength, cardio capacity or general health.  A personal trainer does not judge you just by your size.

On the other hand, I am on the opposite end of the spectrum.  It is so difficult being a smaller framed guy and going to the gym full of huge guys benching 300lbs.  But I remind myself that for my frame, I am still remarkably strong and can accomplish things that much larger people cannot.  Many women are the same, small sized, but with great strength.

“Control, control, you must learn control!”  Strength is nothing without control.  Your mind controls your body.  Don’t just exercise to lose weight or get stronger, work out to control your body.  I do balance and agility exercise with weights.  I attempt to balance strength and control.

“Grave danger you are in. Impatient you are.”  It is dangerous to approach your fitness goals with impatience.  Not only could you injure yourself, but also you could also peak too soon and then burn out.  Patience has immediate rewards.  Let your work become habit.  Let the path be its own reward.  Your body with benefit by and by and you will discover new things about yourself.

“Much to learn you still have.”  I have received a personal training certification, but I realized I don’t know everything.  I will always be learning.  I learn form friends, clients and other trainers.  Always be open to learning just be safe about it.  I attempt to adopt what is positive and ignore other information.

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”  Don’t let fear talk you out of doing something.  I started taking a zumba class now and again.  I am horrible in the class.  But I am not afraid of what people think.  I am getting a good workout and having a good time.  So what if I am the only guy in the class?  Do something you are afraid to do, you wont be angry with yourself for letting opportunities pass you up. Do something different.  Don’t be afraid of failure.  You learn a lot by failing.

“Do or do not, there is no try.”  Well this may be a little too black and white.  I might not be able to bench the X-wing, but I can start a journey towards a goal.  Don’t talk yourself out of things.  With the right attitude you will be surprised what you can accomplish.  DO things.  Even if you fail.