I often hear the question, “Can I do this type of workout on my own?”
Yes, you can lift weights slowly by yourself. I recommend that you get the book Body by Science by Doug McGuff, M.D. & John Little.
When you’re on your own, you don’t need an appointment, a state-of-art facility, or an experienced instructor. You don’t need to workout in a private, climate-controlled, distraction-free environment. You don’t need to use the best equipment. You don’t even need to join a gym; you can move slowly with inexpensive dumbbells or cartons filled with water. To get started, you can use your body weight on playground equipment at a park – for free!
In my experience however, most of us benefit from proper guidance, as well as the environment, equipment, and structure of Smarter Exercise. I know what works for our clients and for me, personally. No matter how busy I am, I know I can realistically fit a twenty-minute appointment into my regular weekly schedule. I know for myself that I am far more likely to show-up for my workouts if they’re in my calendar. I also know that I am far more likely to show-up for my workouts if I am responsible to meet another human being there.
I don’t have to worry about what to do; I know my instructor will have prepared a great workout for me (I know this because I know how their devious little minds work). I know that they will extract from me the most I am willing to give on any particular day. I know I will workout with strict form and better technique if an instructor is supervising my workout. I will consistently work harder with an instructor watching me than I will on my own. And most importantly – I know my instructor will not sacrifice my safety in order to provide a great workout. After all, it’s just routine exercise, shouldn’t it be safe?
by Thom Tombs