11A - Fit and Well Article for March 16th, 2003

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Back From Brazil!

Well, loyal readers, Trish and I just returned from an interesting and productive trip through Brazil (Trish’s homeland). As usual, we used the opportunity to meet and learn from others involved in the fitness field.

There are so many stories to tell, but I don’t want to digress here (Trish is laughing in the background claiming I ALWAYS digress)! Anyway, a most interesting and stimulating experience was our opportunity to compare notes and perspectives with one of the most renowned and progressive equestrian trainers and nutritional consultants in Brazil (and the world!). His name is Alexandre Augusto de Oliveira Gobesso, Ph.D. He is affiliated with Veterinarian of Zootecnia of University of São Paulo – Brazil, and plans to do post-doctorate work in Texas next year. He often visits the United States to act as consultant for very important racing and stud horses.

So what does human health and wellness got to do with horses? Read on fellow students of the fitness cosmos….

So let’s ask the musical question, "does someone need to be an equistriphile (for the city folk amongst us, that’s "horsie lover") to find a correlation between training horses and training humans? Absolutely NOT! The following is an excerpt of part of a treatise that Dr. Gobesso wrote for us for publication here in Maryland. I think you will find it interesting, and hauntingly familiar (if you’ve had the good horse sense to read this column on a weekly basis).

Dr. Gobesso writes:

"It IS possible to set up a parallel between the factors that contribute for the success of a sports horse, an athlete, and ANY person interested in leading a healthy life and improving their level of fitness and health.

"Just like people, horses need to be worked adequately during their physical training, and they also need a specific healthy diet to avoid harm to their digestion and support superior performance…

"But the real key to success is the pleasure that the horse experiences when performing with effort against the competition This is what some people define as the "pleasure of competing", and some others "the need to win".

"It is necessary to identify and respect the fragile limit between the desire to win, and the sheer pleasure to perform. It is the trainer's ambition to win that often compromises the development of the athletic horse or causes irreversible damage, especially if various physiological aspects of exercise and physical conditioning are ignored.

"Therefore, it is the sensivity of the horse trainer that is CRITICAL in the successful development and conditioning! The trainer must define, step by step, the various phases of the training, not only to avoid injury, but even more importantly, to keep the athlete feeling the internal satisfaction of performing the training program.

"There is no doubt that the athletic horse that competes with pleasure performs much better than the one who are forced to compete. There are many cases where horses with correct bio-type and superior genetics don't obtain outstanding results. This is largely because they were pushed too strongly, and therefore lost the pleasure of competing, or they weren't correctly introduced to the healthy competitive spirit.

"Consequently the trainer's role is fundamental for the success of the athletic horse. On a day to day basis, the trainer MUST be completely sensitive to the energy, health, and even mood of the horse. That means that on some days the horse needs to be forbidden to perform the scheduled training...

"My conversations with David and Trish Oshman were tremendously inspiring and interesting. I took great pleasure in sharing my experience and expertise with two people so enthusiastic, passionate, and dedicated to the science and art of fitness."

Well, there you have it! The "Oshman Approach" is NOT limited to Maryland… it is Universal!

So if you have good horse sense (sorry Tom… I just can’t stop!)… here are three main points to remember:

Next week, we will be discussing two critical arenas of fitness. "Sport Specific" Exercises and "Life-Style Specific" Workouts. You NEED this information… don’t miss it. And keep playing!

On a personal note (like this column ISN’T personal!), we want all our readers and friends to know that Trish is PREGNANT! (That’s what we get for horsing around too much…OUCH!). Follow our column in the following weeks and months, and we will report FIRST HAND (and hoof) how exercise, nutrition, and pregnancy work together.

11B - BOXES:

Essential Elements of Success in a Training Program

The Fitness Sequence

    1. We develop an AWARENESS of our bodies, their importance as a vessel of life, AND as a joyous element of life. We see the need to become responsible, and subsequently CONNECTED to our bodies.
    2. We finally admit our RESPONSIBILITY for the care and maintenance of our bodies. Excuses disappear, and we start making tangible plans to develop, and grow, fully respecting but not limited by our genetics and limitations.
    3. We initiate ACTION! We walk, move, lift, sweat (or glow!), grunt, and generally begin honoring and enjoying our physical movements and abilities. We learn, and practice, not only exercise, but right nutrition, and kind thoughts. This means eating right, reducing stress when necessary, prioritizing, becoming more and more honest and genuine, and learning acceptance without denial.
    4. We become role-models to others…. Family, friends, and strangers alike. This in itself is a gift of great value. And our improved attitude and passion for life keeps us around longer, and better.
    5. We finally learn it is all about Play and Joy! And we confess, "Gee, I guess Trish and David weren’t that far off after all!!!!". Or NOT!!!

David Oshman, M.Ed., is a Multi-Certified Personal Trainer, Author and Wellness Lecturer. Trish Oshman is a Certified Personal Trainer. Both are with Merritt Athletic Club in Annapolis. Their website: http://Fitness-Life.com. E Mail: OSHMAN@FITNESS-LIFE.COM.