Are You Resistant to Strength?

First thing is a few minutes on the bike to warm my body up while I sip on a little warm Sumatra blend. Love that stuff.

Well, this morning I'm reading Shambhala : The Sacred Path of the Warrior, from Trungpa,   I received the following insight. Not from anything directly stated in the book but simply an enhanced awareness from a deeper perspective.

Here's some of that perspective...

It's very common for people to resist strength training. When I say resist I mean everything from have a visceral reaction at the thought of it to be "bored" by it. Most common is simply the "I don't get it," or "it's just not my thing," reactions. Not too offensive but just not into it.

I've known for a long time that people resist the feeling, the intensity, the pain, as some call it. But today I could see a deeper level of this resistance as it tends to manifest.

I believe that some people (and this may be a significant some) simply can not tolerate coming face to face with experiencing just how damned uncooperative their body (or bodies, as the case may be) truly is.

Let's say that you just happen to be one of the many unfortunate sufferers (e.g. your human) who have some fantasy about your effectiveness and control in the world - and you take this fantasy into your training. You sit down, 8 lb dumbbells in hand and proceed to lift, press or curl them in some direction.

The very first experience you're going to come face to face with, if you're even slightly new to this form of exercise, is an awkward feeling of not quite knowing what you're doing. It won't feel so good nor bad but it will feel odd, awkward and somewhat unstable. Not fun...

Definitely not what the fantasy in your mind had planned.

In some small way, it could be a bit like facing your own mortality over and over, rep and rep... not too fun should you be working hard to avoid that. Never mind that this would be a "healthy" practice that will allow you to live longer, this awkwardness would soon be replaced by another level of awkwardness - a sobering reality, an authentic face-to-face encounter with your Self. Most difficult and challenging even for the internally strong.

Now, take this same subject and put them on the yoga mat. No certainty but I believe there'd be a much higher chance they'd connect and engage. Why...well, sure there's a plethora of reasons but how about a few theories...

For one thing, in most yoga there's a group or social pressure. We'll stay with anything long enough not to look like the one who walked. Then you've got a teacher - a guide, which is great. They're going to tell you what and how - serving as a focal point. Support for your body-mind, sure but also a place to focus and slow your chatter which might otherwise derail you.

Then there's the compassion, should you be struggling, falling short, etc... most teachers are quick to encourage and offer guidance for you to be compassionate - much more than what most of us can muster for ourselves. Nice.

Yet, as great as all this is, the structure remains external in my scenario. We're getting guidance, placing focus, receiving support all from a source "out there." 

A similar thing can occur in strength training with a trainer but likely not at the same level. For the most part, strength training done as an integrated practice requires a level of self-resourcing - an inner drive that is both difficult and powerfully life altering. It's both a full-on confrontation with Self and a letting go, over and over - rep after rep. Set after set.

I have compassion for those who choose to walk away or have literally shrunk away into some personal hidden fear, rather than face this direct, confronting experience. Why do it? Really... but then again, why meditate, why wake-up, why do any of it?

That's a good question...Why?

What's your answer?