"Welcome to our blog where we dive into the fascinating world of conditioning! In this article, we'll explore why conditioning is vital not just for athletes but for individuals from all walks of life. Moreover, we'll debunk the common misconception that conditioning and fitness are one and the same.
School is in session!!
What is Conditioning?
Conditioning refers to the systematic process of enhancing physical and mental capabilities and strengthening our bodies and minds through targeted exercises and training programs. It focuses on improving stamina, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical and mental efficiency in varying environments. Being familiar with the specific environment reduces stress because the brain knows what to expect
Location
Temperature
Noise
Clothing
Surface
Time of day/night "Whether you're a Boxer, MMA fighter, track and field athlete, footballer or avid gym goer, Each sport/activity challenges energy production in different ways based on the power output (sympathetically driven) and work to rest ratios. Every adaptive response in the body is about meeting the demands of the environment while maintaining homeostasis so energy can be maintained.
Whether you're a student, a working professional, or a busy parent, improving your conditioning level helps you excel in your daily activities. From tackling demanding work projects to keeping up with household chores, better conditioning increases your productivity, helps manage fatigue and recovery and helps you continue performing under the effects of fatigue. One of the most important conditioning skills is learning how to effectively manage energy by consciously controlling pace and power output
This skill needs to be developed through heart rate training focusing on building awareness and control of energy expenditure (HR) and recovery. Each sport/environment can be broken down into three different components in terms of energy requirements:
Rate of energy production
Duration of energy production
Work to rest ratio
These variables define the unique environment the body faces as it must generate power to meet the needs of the sport. Dynamic energy control and managing the stress response is a skill set and a hugely important element of conditioning
Mental Aspect (Focus and Awareness)
Focus is your ability to keep your mind on a task
Awareness is your ability to know what's happening around you, to you and inside you so that you can judge if you are on or off course towards your goals so that you can adjust accordingly.
Why focus and awareness are important to conditioning?
Because they will lead to better workouts as well as recovery and sleep, nutrition etc. What you are aware of you can do something about, what you are unaware of will control you.
Simply put, If you don't have the skills of present moment focus and self-awareness you won't be able to consistently perform at your best, you will get distracted and will not achieve your goals.
The Difference between Conditioning and Fitness:
Despite their interconnectedness, conditioning and fitness are two distinct concepts.
- Fitness: Fitness primarily focuses on the overall health and wellness of an individual. It encompasses factors like body composition, cardiovascular health, flexibility, and strength.
- Conditioning: Conditioning, on the other hand, is a subset of fitness and revolves around preparing our bodies and minds for specific tasks or activities. It involves training to excel in specific sports, to perform demanding physical tasks, or to participate in particular events. So, it is indeed possible to have a great level of fitness but still have poor conditioning
Conditioning Techniques for Non-Athletes:
While athletes have specific conditioning programs and more advanced techniques, non-athletes can also greatly benefit from various conditioning techniques tailored to their lifestyles. Some effective methods include:
- Circuit training: Combines strength and cardiovascular exercises to improve overall strength, better movement, increased power and energy system adaptation
- High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Quick bursts of intense activity followed by recovery periods for optimal conditioning of the anaerobic/aerobic energy systems and improved heart rate recovery over time.
- Functional training: Focuses on movements that mimic everyday tasks to improve overall fitness and conditioning of the movements you perform on a daily basis, focusing on execution of lifts, posture and technique or balance.
This isn't what we'd called sport specific conditioning but we can still asses how well you can perform daily tasks and if you're able to improve on the energy demands of these tasks which is in effect the actual theory of conditioning.
Conclusion
Conditioning is not exclusive to athletes; it holds immense value for everyone seeking to enhance their physical and mental capabilities and overall health.
By debunking the myth that conditioning and fitness are identical, we've hopefully shed some light on their unique roles.
So, whether you're an elite athlete, fitness enthusiast, busy professional, student or a retiree, incorporating conditioning exercises into your routine will undoubtedly contribute to your overall well-being and help you to perform at your very best under the most demanding of circumstances.
For more information on how you can improve your conditioning (from a certified conditioning coach) or where to begin, get in touch and let us help you incorporate some conditioning techniques into your daily routine.
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