Dooley Noted: 3/1/2016
This weekend, I was very busy teaching an amazing group of NKT enthusiasts.
I was also the host, so I was on double duty.
My fitness program takes no excuses for being “busy,” so I knew I had a tough front squat and press workout to complete.
But I was worried I was too tired, too spent.
Then, in the middle of squat warmups, I had a sneezing fit.
As it went on and on, I felt my abdomen engage to its utmost power.
I knew it was a deus ex machina.
I was reminded of the necessary abdominal tension required on a front squat, to free up hip movement and power.
After all, if the hip has no stable abdominal platform, then it may tighten to create stability for itself.
And asking it to create missing abdominal stability AND move my squat weight may be a tall order.
That order may result in hip pain or injury.
I tried to mimic that feeling of tension on the sneeze to every push out of the squat hole and every press out of the rack position.
Not only did my hips feel open and powerful, but I started banging out PRs on my press.
You don’t need 1,000 crunches to feel your abdominal power.
You need a good sneezing fit.
And if you don’t herniate structures while you sneeze, odds are you have a pretty strong abdomen.
Sneezing can make mucus travel 30 feet in front of you, sometimes clocking 100 mph.
Your car probably hasn’t even seen that speed in a while – but your abs can get there as soon as the demand appears.
You have that power in you at any given moment.
Learn to access it consciously – and not just involuntarily through sneezing.
Chances are you’re holding back more power than you think.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
