Have you ever taken a physics class?
I'll be honest, physics was never my cup of tea. Bear with me here, because this analogy is incredibly important in terms of how we shape our training worldview.
Open a Physics 101 textbook to Chapter 1 and you'll probably find the header "Scalar vs. Vector."
To keep it simple, a scalar has magnitude only: I'm six foot three. I did 30 minutes of cardio. I curled the 35-pound dumbbells for three sets of ten.
A vector has magnitude and direction: I walked three miles to the west. The running back ran 30 yards toward the end zone. Gravity has a net acceleration toward the Earth.
Training has both, and the direction component matters tremendously when it comes to how we should view our training.
This is where the qualitative aspects really come into play. We can watch somebody back squat a relatively impressive weight with unimpressive form. We can watch the meathead sling weights around with no control. On the flip side, we can watch the Pilates princess use pristine form with minimal intensity.
It isn't just what we're doing. We could get into the nuance of exercise selection and choosing the right tool for the right job. Even more important than that: how are we executing what we're doing?
What is the quality of movement? What is the quality of effort? Both will play a tremendous role in directing the stimulus we are trying to create.
Are we fixated on tracking volume? What does that volume consist of? How are we executing that volume of work? Equally important, what is the intensity of that volume?
All of these things will have a massive effect on the actual outcome and, ultimately, how we choose exercises and prescribe volume and intensity for an individual to maximize their results.
Want this applied to your own training? See Online Coaching.
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