What kind of “strong” are you?
Strength is relative.
Distance runners talk a lot about feeling “strong” in the last mile of a race.
While weightlifters laugh. ‘You call that strength, huh?’
All the while I’ve referred to people I practice yoga alongside as having a “strong” practice.
But wouldn’t precisely label some of them as being strong.
There’s plenty of grey in that word: strong.
Off top we have mental strength, physical strength, strength of character, maximal strength, absolute strength, explosive strength, strength endurance, tensile strength…
They are all great. Few of them corollary.
You can do yoga flawlessly for an hour but can’t run a mile or bench the bar- still strong.
You can run a closing 6 minute mile in a 5k but can’t deadlift to save your life- still strong.
You can deadlift a truck but the thought of 2 hours of hot yoga makes you cry- still strong.
I’d say it’s healthier to have broad strength, rather than specific. Changing your stimulus, exercises or type of exercise fosters continued growth and increased mental engagement.
Besides, you never know what’s coming your way. Are you going to have to lift a fallen tree and save the day, withstand stress and negativity, or run for your life. Might as well train for all probabilities.
I’d also say that being “weak” by any measure is something to be excited about. There’s room for improvement. This is coming from a natural distance runner who failed at yoga until he became an instructor (2000+ classes taught), and who could hardly bench the bar until he put up more than his bodyweight.
Your “weakness” is just an opportunity.
So get to the weight room, the road, the mat, the library, the therapist’s office. It’s all strength work, it’s all valuable, and it’s all good baby baby!
