I enjoy going to the circus or roaming local carnivals watching people do bizarre, daring, unsafe, crazy and meaningless stunts as much as the next person. Carnivals and circuses are where you would expect to see these kinds of performances since they are forms of physical entertainment that are formally billed as stunts or outlandish physical demonstrations.
Where I don’t like to see this circus behavior is in the gym or incorporated within a fitness program as these types of stunts, extreme feats of strength, endurance or body contortioning have little carryover value to your quality of life and can be downright dangerous if one tries to mimic these behaviors.
In other words, the distinguishing line between circus stunts and fitness workouts, exercises and programs is becoming blurred.
So why does it seem that more and more gym owners and trainers are irresponsibly acting more like P.T. Barnum running an over hyped circus in their facilities instead of promoting sane, effective and sustainable training programs?
I see many circus-like stunts, movements, classes and programs being passed off as beneficial training out there luring people in based on nothing more than hype and disingenuous marketing. These circus-like programs often target the low information exerciser and general public desperate to rush into some type of flashy, gimmicky fitness routine often to their regret and dissatisfaction.
Please beware of all the irresponsible media nimrods desperately looking for the next “cool” exercise or group class to promote to the public that is usually high on glitz and shock value yet low on substance and meaningful benefit.
Signs That A Fitness Program Belongs In The Circus
Classes, Programs And Movements Are Based On Pointless Expenditures of Energy
Often characterized by jumping and flailing around with no rhyme or reason usually accomplishing no meaningful benefits except for marginal caloric burn. Clowns do this in the circus, but at least they are expected to run around and take bumps in a chaotic manner getting laughs as they mindlessly expend their energy for entertainment value. However, it is just downright sad when you witness a fitness class adopting circus-like qualities.
Beware that overzealous trainer who puts no thought into a training session and just cranks up the booming music as they feign over- excitement and direct participants into a mish mash of disjointed meaningless movements with no thoughtful regressions or progressions to accommodate different skill levels. These poorly programmed sessions are ultimately devoid of any direct transference to your everyday activities and quality of life.
Dancing Around With Weights In Some Unexplainable, Irresponsible Fitness Context
Usually the brainchild of a bored, desperate or inept fitness instructor or Hollywood- type fitness phony looking to gin up their sales and gain attention at the expense of sound fitness programming and technique.
Any Physical Activity That Seems Like An Attempt To Qualify For The Guinness Book Of Records
Programs and classes that have you doing extreme stunts of endurance of insane amounts of repetitions to failure that lend themselves to over training or doing crazy contortioning moves.
Productive fitness training should lend itself to building you up, not tearing you down at the expense of constantly draining your vital central nervous system energy which is a road you do not want to go down as your body will ultimately rebel against constant overload and leave you riddled with ailments.
Odd Moves On Stability Balls That Are Just Accidents Waiting To Happen
Enough Said – Don’t do this! While there are meaningful ways to incorporate a stability ball into your training, don’t do unsafe things with it that makes it no more than an accessory to a fitness crime.
Any Program That You Cannot Justify Why You Are Participating In Besides That It Looks Cool
Don’t be a fool for cool – put some thought into choosing a solid and sustainable training program!
I am just pointing out some general circus-like exercises that don’t belong in the fitness realm, but I have also witnessed questionable classes and practices involving wobble boards, trampolines, box jumping and doing routines with springs on your feet.
Unfortunately, a lot of the exercises, programs and fitness classes that are advocated and passed off to a public voracious for fitness variety and the next trendy thing are better suited for entertainment value under a carnival tent rather than achieving sustainable fitness value.
Do Exercises You Enjoy, But Don’t Assign Value to Movements And Programs Where None Exist
Please be aware that there is very often a distinct difference between the exercises, activities and programs that you are attracted to and like to participate in and whether those exercises and activities are actually beneficial for you.
I know – it’s a tough balancing act. You need to choose a program you like and stick with that also legitimately progresses you to your fitness goals or you really are wasting your time unless you really do want to join the circus.
While I respect a trainee’s choice of physical activity, just be aware that those exercise activities you may like to do are often at odds with whether these exercise movements are actually productive and best for driving you to your fitness goals.
Do your homework and due diligence before jumping into a fitness program. Ask questions, understand the benefits and learn to tune out the hype and ridiculous promises. Don’t rush to failure, but plan for your fitness success and then take action.
Perform Movements That Pay You The Greatest Physical Dividends
Take a look at a list and demonstration of essential movements that you may want to include in your fitness program for reference. I have never seen anybody not significantly improve their fitness and quality of life when they meaningfully incorporate these essential movements into their training. While I use kettlebells and sandbags for visual demonstrations of some of these movements, the real value is in the movements themselves regardless of the tools or implements you use to practice and stay connected to these moves.
As long as you practice these powerfully transformative movements with sound technique and thoughtful programming, you will get an incredible fitness value for your precious time invested.
Why Are You Training And Is It Working?
Do yourself a favor and know why you are training in a particular program and if the benefits justify your participation.
I can tell you exactly why I or those under my guidance perform the exercises I incorporate in a training program along with the expected benefits and thoughtful programming necessary for sustainable and meaningful progress while still keeping things exciting and fresh- thus keeping motivation high.
I meet with people fresh out of circus-like exercise programs as described above and on some level they know they need a legitimate fitness upgrade by the time they get in front of me, but sometimes they adamantly hold onto that circus mentality.
I listen intently as to what they are trying to achieve and what fitness they are currently doing and the types of activities they are attracted to. I will then often listen to how their trampoline bootcamp class, bosu ball class, girls gone wild jump around class, barbell dance class or super stretch contortionist class has gotten them into “great” shape. I will eventually ask them to do a few simple movements as an uncomplicated fitness assessment.
I find that an alarming number of these people who have immersed themselves in circus-type fitness programs are riddled with ailment layered after ailment, cannot hold a basic plank position, have range of motion/stability/balance issues, muscular imbalances and can barely get up and down from the floor if at all. I wouldn’t call that being in “great shape” by anybody’s definition.
I spend most of my time undoing a trainee’s poor movement habits usually learned from circus-type training programs. I then systematically layer a solid foundation of strength, movement and conditioning upon them that will greatly improve their quality of life. This fitness foundation serves them well throughout their life allowing them to sustainably achieve their desired body composition as long as they stay connected to and meaningfully practice what they learn.
Practicing sound and meaningful fitness methods while remaining a vigilant student of physical culture is what I enjoy and still get excited about. I by no means pretend to know everything about health and fitness, but I do know what fitness methods are irresponsible and pointless.
Call me old fashioned, but I believe exploring different fitness methods and programming is great, but for the most part we do not need to reinvent the fitness wheel constantly as it pertains to tried and true exercises that have stood the test of time all for the sake of mindless variety and circus tomfoolery.
It’s Your Choice – Fitness Training Or Circus Training
I highly recommend that you avoid exercise activities that are nothing more than ridiculous expenditures of energy that lend themselves to injury, over training, are not sustainable and waste your time and money while providing little fitness value .
By all means, choose a fitness program or activity that you are attracted to, but make sure you understand what it can do for you. Even more important make sure you are aware of what a particular fitness program or activity won’t help you achieve.
Above all, strive to be objective when choosing a fitness program. Don’t get caught up in the sexy hype of a fitness method or program peddled by fitness phonies who are nothing more than dishonest carnival barkers who assign value to fitness programs, methods or classes where none exist.
While there are many ways to reach your fitness goals, my minimum bottom line and litmus test standards are that these methods have to be meaningful, sustainable, produce results and strive to make you injury resistant not injury prone.
If your training program is lacking in any of these bare minimum qualities, you may want to seriously question why you are participating in a particular program. I will always keep an open mind regarding new inroads pertaining to new exercises, fitness tools and programming, but circus stunts, mindless feats and outlandish physical demonstrations do not belong in one’s training program unless of course you are a paid circus or carnival entertainer willing to accept risk to life, limb and longevity.
Leave the circus stunt workouts where they belong – under the big top performed by professional entertainers – not in your fitness program.
Stay Well! Take Action! Be Consistent! Train and Eat Smart! Get Rid of the Drains and Pains in Your Life! Value your loved ones and friends and get out and have some active, safe fun!
Mark Mellohusky
I Eat T-Bone Steaks, Lift Kettlebell Weights And Keep the Circus Out Of My Training!
Seven Stars Fitness