Four Phases

Phase 1: Stability and Mobility Training

Phase 2: Movement Training

Phase 3: Load Training

Phase 4: Performance Training

These are the initial phases in functional movement and resistance training.  The names themselves are pretty self explanatory but as I read about them I began to thinking about how these four phases can also represent more than just your basic "we're going to work out today" mentality.  These could easily be translated into other life skills and situations as well.

For instance, in relationships.  I am going to be leaning in on the mostly romantic type (dating in particular) but we could probably break this down for other types of relationships as well.

Phase 1: Stability and Mobility Training. In personal training, this is when the trainer checks out where a client is in their posture, how well they move and if they are physically able to stay stable during certain types of movements.  This is when the exercise is at it's easiest - and an idea begins to form as to how in or out of shape a client is.  Just looking at someone can never give you a full assessment.

In dating, this is the two dates or first two times you meet or hang out with someone.  Usually this occurs in a restaurant or bar setting - movies are a bad idea because you can't see or talk to one another.  Personally, I wouldn't want my trainer training me in the dark. We get to see what they look like, we get to see their body language, we get to see if they are initially stable (or someone we want to even bother getting to know even the slightest bit better).  We get a feel for where they are in their life - and see if it matches where we are even a little bit.  Or if it just won't work.  (Though "it just won't work" shouldn't be something your trainer should ever say to you in the overall.)  Or, possibly, this could be when you decide if this is someone who makes your heart flutter enough to be willing to overlook the already glaring issues.  In short, if someone has scoliosis, exercise ain't going to straighten out their back but there are still other obvious benefits to exercise.

Phase 2: Movement Training: This is the phase where basic movements are perfected.  Five types of movement in particular.  Bend-and-lift movements, single-leg movements, pushing movements, pulling movements and rotational (spiral) movements.

In dating, this starts to occur after I would say the first two dates but somewhere in the first couple weeks of a relationship.  This is when we decide we do want to know this person better - for sure.  Even if it's just in the bedroom or if it's out in the world - we want to see how they move.  We want to see how they bend and lift.  Do they bend from the back or from the knees?  Is their lifting manner soft or hard?  How do they handle themselves in relaton to you?  Are they polite or are they gruff?  We want to see what their single-leg movements are like.  Do they appear to want to walk in front of you, in back of you or side by side?  We want to see their pushing movements.  Do they really, really want to see you again - or do they barely open the door at all.  Or do they wait for the wind to swing the door open when someone else (you) opens it.  In other words, do they dig you?  We want to see their pulling movements.  Do they pull back at certain triggers, do they want to take it slow or want to take it fast?  Do they seem unafraid - even in the slightest - to want to pull you toward them.  Or, do they seem a bit timid about this?  We want to see their rotational movements.  Are they someone who spins their wheels - are they someone who seems to live in repeated patterns (according to their stories, mentalities, etc.).  In short, are they someone going (or staying) where you want to be?

Phase 3: Load Training: This is when weights are usually added in personal training.  And from there you progress with the weights and really get serious workouts in.

Now, I could go all sexual with this whole thing but I'm choosing not to.  So - this is when you really start to go somewhere.  The relationship starts building and you begin to rely on each other - if for nothing else than regular company.  (Though if it's love - I would hope it wouldn't just be about having a mere companion for that Saturday afternoon movie.)  This goes on for a while.  For some, this could easily go on forever.  You start out small - at five pounds (agreeing on who handles paying for dinner each time you go out - sometimes it will be one person, sometimes the other, sometimes it'll be dutch OR one respective partner will always be footing the bill - this is between you two after all) then you move to ten pounds (who's place is better to stay at according to what's going on - or just plain ol' better to stay at - let's say... the one who does NOT live with mom and dad).  Then you move on from there... until... of course... you either enter into a partnership at the living together level or you get married.  (Hey - while I personally believe in marriage - not everyone does nor can everyone get married.)  Though, as stated earlier, for some... parts of this phase will always exist in the partnership or marriage levels.  This phase is all about learning to work together - as you mount on a little more stress at a time.  (Not all stress is bad stress, after all.)

Phase 4: Performance Training: This is the phase that goes the distance.  Literally.  If you are going into competition, this is the phase you will have to enter into in order to do well.  Many, if not most, of the people who work out will ever even come close to this phase.  Because, frankly, many, if not most, do not want to.

This is the biggie.  This phase is the equivalent of tests of the relationship, major life stresses, children and money.  This is the make or break of many relationships.  Many relationships will not make it all the way to phase 4, more often than not... and that's ok.  We don't all want to marry everyone we date - or even live with - right?  After going through phases one through three, this is the one that can really, truly see how well you do together.  No relationship is roses all the time.  But the seeds for those roses should always be there - even if they're tucked in the ground.  Not every athlete who has trained will even rank in the end.  Not every relationship survives this phase - which is often a very sad situation - officially married or not.  Just as it is that not every world champion will also get Olympic gold - the important part is that they did not back down - they tried.  Which is not to say that no world champions get Olympic gold - plenty do.  And for those who make it into phase 4 and their relationship keeps on ticking - well - that is something that should be celebrated in the closing ceremony of life.