Posted by alexandra_k on July 18, 2013, at 6:21:17
> Stressed? Overwhelmed? Take it out on the iron.
> There's a special kind of "spiritual cleansing" that occurs during intense sets. Seek it out.
> Crush your demons.
> When I was a kid, the gym was the place I could go to get away from feeling like I was a worthless failure. I could be in charge and decide whether or not I succeeded. It was my place to build and grow, mentally and physically. Much like other young kids who come from similar situations, I built walls around me. My walls were built of cast iron and steel.
> there's something that happens during those very intense sets. It doesn't matter if it's a PR set, a Max Effort set, a strip set, or a high-rep set, as long as it's one that you know will be a challenge. You know you need to find a way to up your game, step out of yourself, focus, and see what you're really made of. Because once the bar is loaded and your set comes around, you find this place that I really can't explain. From the time you approach the bar to the time the set is over, there's nothing.
> The fight you had with your girlfriend that day? Gone. Your finals? Gone. Your work issues? Gone. Your bills? Gone. The *ssh*l* across the gym? Gone. The bullies? Gone. The hurt? Gone.
> The mental pain is now replaced with physical pain, but this is pain that you crave, because the load you've been carrying all your life is now resting on your back. And you have the power to smash it.
> I call this "nothing" The Void, but it isn't really nothing - it's everything. When I look back over 30 years of training, my big take-away is that training is my therapy. This is why I do what I do, both the positives and even the stupid sh*t. This is why I'm so passionate about passing on what I know.
> The void is the only time that I'm truly free - free from the b*llsh*t that other people and life has thrown at me. It's all gone, just me and the weight. And that's where I find my peace.
> The void has changed my life. Maybe it could change yours?
Dave Tate:
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=5713159_____
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXJejQADQT8
I... Just want to stand up.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1047390
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20130309/msgs/1047390.html