Newsletter #26 - Z-health, helping with movement
Hello Friends
The last newsletter introduced everyone to Z health, and I received so many requests to hear more about it. I just finished my level 1 certification and will be going back to Denver to take the level 2 course (I phase) in June. Some thoughts to share about level 1: I have been using the skills taught in Level 1 with all my clients most have seen a difference in their movements.
Please consider the following quote "The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result" If you aren’t happy with your current physical condition on mobility, commit to doing something different and change.
Z –Health is a different approach to improving the way you move and perhaps some of the dysfunctions you have built up over the years with improper movements. Z health combined with the FMS mobility training and RKC Hard Style strength training will help you achieve your strength and movement goals.
Z-Health is a cutting-edge exercise system that helps people improve their health, alleviate their pain, and maximize their athletic performance.
Z-Health focuses on the whole-body approach with training principles that have the goal of re-educating the nervous system for maximally efficient movement patterns. Z-Health is very precise, uses a low number of repetitions, and emphasizes the perfection of movement skills. As a result, the program will help you improve joint lubrication and function AND will teach you how to eliminate poor movement patterns that may have developed over time.
Why does Z-Health focus primarily on the nervous system?
The nervous system manages your entire body. If you would like to make changes in pain, range of motion, strength, coordination, speed, agility, or any other physical attribute, the fastest path to getting there is to adjust your nervous system.
The nervous system has three vitally important characteristics:
- It is the governing system of the body. In other words, it runs the whole show.
- It is the most stable system of the body. Research has proven that the nervous system can continue to learn and adapt at ANY age, which means you can improve your body at ANY point in your life by focusing on the nervous system.
- It is the fastest system of the body. Your nerves communicate throughout the body at lightning-fast speed. What is wonderful about this is if you impact the nervous system correctly, you can make nearly instantaneous changes in the body.
How does Z-Health "target" the nervous system?
Z-Health targets the nervous system through very specific joint range of motion exercises called Dynamic Joint Mobility drills or DJM. When performed correctly, DJMs offer a powerful pathway to making your nervous system function much more efficiently.
Why does Z-Health focus on the joints and not some other part of the body?
Specific joint movements are one of the best ways to communicate with the nervous system. The reason for this is that the joints have a very high concentration of nerve endings surrounding them that provide direct feedback to your nervous system.
This feedback tells your body where it is in space, how fast it is moving and what movements are safe. By re-training and “waking up” these nerve endings through specific joint mobility drills, you can help your body get out of pain and learn how to perform at your true genetic potential.
Why should I care about my joints if they don't hurt?
Just because you are not in pain does not mean your joints are functioning properly. In Z-Health our simple rule is that if a joint is not functioning properly the muscles that attach to that joint will not function optimally.
In practical terms, this means that if you have "low-grade" or non-painful joint problems they are still impacting on your performance by creating muscle weakness or poor coordination. This relates to what researchers in the nervous system call the arthrokinetic reflex system of the body: reflexes that are initiated by joint motion.
From a neurological perspective, trying to train with less than optimal joint function is like driving with your brakes on. You can do it, but the ride will be choppy and you are guaranteed to have problems sooner rather than later.
Eat Well, Live Well, Stay Strong!
All previous newsletters plus photos and other interesting links can be found on my web site www.maximizefitness.com
David White
david@maximizefitness.com
Please let me know if there is anyone else that may benefit from future E-mails I would be glad to add him or her to the list.
Any questions regarding training or this newsletter please E-mail the above address or call
213-760-3144
