THE BODY
KNOWS NOTHING
OF MUSCLES
ONLY THAT OF
MOVEMENT...
It is the premise of Rodney Mitchell Personal Training that the end-goal of any conditioning or training program is to improve the functional abilities of the client. If this is achieved, the client will be better able to perform functional tasks, whether that be in a work, sport or an everyday situation, and less likely to suffer musculoskeletal degeneration and injury. Physical function can be thought of as goal-directed movement. As Martin (2002), states “function is the link between the physical actions we call movement and the environmental context in which they take place"
AESTHETICS
OVER
FUNCTION?
The historical development of resistance training has focused on aesthetics over function. This is a floored philosophy based on the assumption that “as long as you look good you must be doing yourself some good”. However, it is clearly the case that in fact health and fitness are not one in the same. In fact, inappropriate training is potentially more damaging than relative inactivity.
THE WAY FORWARD
MOVEMENT
& INTEGRATION
Rodney Mitchell Personal Training is about producing optimal movement to ensure effective function and the attainment of health, fitness and performance goals. While recognising the value society and individuals as social beings place on aesthetics and therefore the need to deliver such physical enhancement, the focus of Rodney Mitchell Personal Training is on providing conditioning and preparation for functionally directed movement. Consequently, all exercises given are based on an appreciation of human movement and the environment in which we function.