I place a premium on continuing education.  Because I'm a strong believer that if you're not getting better, you're getting worse.  There's also nothing as frustrating as living the same year over and over and over again - which was me when I had a "marketing" job.

To prevent that from happening ever again, I keep track of the amount I spend each year on continuing ed.  The goal is to surpass that number the following year, and I've always succeeded in doing that.

As a result, I'll often look back to my programs from 6-12 months ago, do my best Gordon Ramsey voice, and say, "What in the bloody hell was I thinking?"

Last week I caught my first cold of 2016.  I know, first world problem, right?  But in typical introvert fashion, it made me reflect.

To be clear, I wasn't reflecting in a melodramatic, Nancy Kerrigan "Why me?" sort of way. Instead, I wondered why I've only been sick once in 10 months, while others will tell me how they're constantly getting sick.  I also remember hearing that "having 4 or more colds a year is normal."

Yeah, about that.

In my pursuit of a bigger deadlift, I've made just about every mistake you can make. Improper programming, the X's and O's of technique, even messing with my previous night's eating schedule.  Yes, I'm what you might call "superstitious."

But the biggest and most consistent mistake I've made - and continue to make - is going too fast on the beginning of a deadlift.  It's ruined many of my own lifts, and worse, it continues to ruin other people's attempts too. So while I'm quick to recognize and correct this mistake, know that I don't pretend to live in a glass house.

But going too fast doesn't just apply to deadlifts - it applies to every strong movement. And when people go too fast, they're generally trying to compensate for something.  

I think half of what I do every day is to help people relax.  That's not what you may expect to hear.  But whether it's breathing in a corner, slowing someone down on a drill or exercise, or just trying to be a calming presence, I've realized that most people need to work on this important skill.

That's because movement, strength, and power all require a dichotomy of tension and relaxation.  It's something I didn't fully appreciate when I was younger, because I used to tell people to "Squeeze. Err'thang."  But the secret to good movement - and being more athletic - is the ability to get tight and then relax.  It's a balance that martial artists have been preaching for centuries.

While I could write this post about any movement, the kettlebell swing is where this balance is most noticeable.  A great swing is made up of power and patience - or tension and relaxation. If you fall to either side of the spectrum, your swing won't look very good. That said, most people understand the idea of getting power behind their swings. But they don't understand the idea of relaxation and patience.

As a newly-minted personal trainer, I was always very concerned about what my clients were thinking. Are they having a good time?  Are they entertained?  Am I progressing them fast enough?

Fast forward to today and I'm still concerned about my clients, but in different ways.  I care much less about novelty, especially if they are still mastering the basics (and to some degree, aren't we all?).  As such, I often hear a variant of this phrase: "We tend to do the same things over and over and over again."

As I usually respond, "Yeah. That's the point."

After all, I wouldn't describe myself as an exciting guy.  I like my Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor in Paradise on Monday nights, deadlifts on Wednesdays, and Chipotle on Fridays. (*The risk of foodborne illness from Chipotle is probably the most excitement I have in my life.)