The Health Lift

Bryon reminded me that the Deadlift used to be called “The Health Lift”.  Isn’t that fantastic?  Did you know bodybuilders and strong men used to eat raw eggs, drink raw heavy cream and eat raw beef instead of taking steroids?  Those were the good old days.  The squat and deadlift are the two movements that many people are terrified of and are sure cannot be safe for them.  People say things like “I wouldn’t ever want to deadlift heavy and I heard it isn’t safe to squat below parallel.”  Good grief.  I hope you never need a job doing real labor like farming or construction and I hope you never want to rest somewhere that didn’t provide you with a chair!  The problem with all of us now is that we have forgotten how to properly move and do physical work with our bodies.  Our bodies are only partly useful.  I love this description from Rob Wilson:

“When it comes to human movement, nothing is more basic than the squat and the deadlift. These movements are as fundamental as walking. In daily life we all sit and stand, and pick things up. Squat and deadlift training is nothing more than the application of biomechanics to ensure these most primal of human movements are painless and efficient. No two movements have more power to enhance your health and vitality when practiced regularly. Both of these exercises have intrinsic “biomotor” qualities that transfer over to virtually everything we do. Biomotor literally means “life movement”. These movements were not created by any trainer, coach, or exercise specialist. They are part and parcel to every human being. Increase longevity, enhance healing through the neuroendocrine response, booster athleticism, maintain functional independence for the elderly, prevent and rehabilitate a whole host of biomechanical disorders. If these benefits appeal to you, squat and deadlift.”  -Rob WIlson, http://bodymemory.com/article_movement.html

You can rest assured that your CrossFit Affiliate will provide you with continual, endless opportunities to perform the Health Lift.  To your health!