Dooley Noted: 7/30/2014
I had the honor and privilege of watching StrongFirst candidates perform their snatch tests last weekend.
For a female over 123 pounds, the snatch test requires the candidate snatch a 16 kilo kettlebell 100 times in five minutes.
You can chalk only once.
Every rep must meet strict standards, or it’s a no-count rep.
These guidelines are non-negotiable.
A candidate on my team expressed that she had asthma. Having worked a bevy of asthma patients, I knew the snatch test might be demanding.
The heat of 53 hard-working candidates and the stress of meeting standards could make anyone short of breath.
I was not surprised when this young lady struggled.
I watched as she struggled to get her air. Asthmatics are a special breed of people. They suffocate on a regular basis and can see themselves right out of it.
I sat with her as she struggled to – in a word – survive.
She slowed her exhale and went from danger zone to below the redline. She looked at me cheerfully and stated: “There it is. All I needed was one deep breath.”
One deep breath is all that separates any of us from life or death.
What I learned from that incredible candidate is that she doesn’t let a breathing issue stop her from doing anything she damn well wants in life.
It didn’t stop her from becoming a kettlebell instructor. It won’t stop her from anything else.
Next time you think the way you breathe doesn’t matter, simply take a deep breath. Then take a few quick ones. See if you feel a difference.
Breathing matters. After all, one deep breath is all we need to still be walking this earth. We owe it to ourselves
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley