How can such a simple device be mysterious?
I often wonder that while idly people-watching.
If six people use the pulldown, you’ll see six different ways of doing it.
On the occasions I use it, my thinking is to mimic the motion of a real pull-up or chin. That means pulling down so as to tap the upper chest or lower neck region, keeping the spine in a relaxed upright position with the chest pointed up.
Yet I see many folks pulling the bar all over the damn place. I’ve seen some pulling it down right in front to the naval, turning it into a half pushdown for the triceps.
My personal theory is that these form-oddities are due to sedentary folks having no familiarity with their own bodies.
If they had ever done a pullup, they’d have a better feel for the motion. (Many people cannot do an unassisted pullup, either.)
We all “know” how to move, but sitting down and laying around all the time turns a body into an amnesiac.
Things get tight, stiff, and “use it or lose it” kicks in.
In my proprietary system, movement comes first. Then you can get into your nerd-talk about metabolic health, muscle-building, and mechanics.
But you have to move first.
Clearly I am not talking about gross physical motion.
I’m talking about an attitude that puts you in your body.
Being in the habit of moving yourself around.
Newton’s laws of motion say that a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
A body at rest tends to stay at rest, unless acted upon by an outside force.
What does a list of exercises, sets, and reps mean to a person who is not familiar with the most basic ways their body can move?
I’m talking about basic skills that kids pick up when they run, jump, skip, roll, tumble, and ambulate when kids used to play outside.
Movement is as foundational a habit as knowing how to eat a diet that isn’t processed sugar-fat.
Many folks ain’t got it.
They might ought to have it before taking any serious steps toward a serious revamp of exercise and diet.
And if you want help getting all this straight, you might want to get my daily tips:
Matt Perryman