20 May, 2012

P90X Day 23: Core Synergistics

Core Synergistics is new. Or at least, new in the sense that I haven't done it before. It's kind of a mishmash of cardio, strength, and ab exercises all focused on the core. And man, is it hard. Is it the hardest workout yet? I don't know. Maybe. Each workout is hard in its own way. And for each workout, there are a few exercises that cause you to groan when you see that they are coming up next.

Today's workout is no exception. This is definitely not a workout I'm looking forward to doing again. Fortunately, I don't have to do it again until...Wednesday?? I thought this was a rest and recovery week. Tomorrow is Kenpo X. What's restful about that?

One of the amazing things this particular workout shows you is how you can still get a workout even with very light weights. 5-10 pound weights are enough (at least for me) in most of the exercises here. You do a lot of reps with floor-to-ceiling type stuff with mixed curls and presses. No proble for the first 5-10 reps. By the time you get to 20 though, you're asking yourself just how many you're supposed to do. And the last 5 are downright painfull.

What else is in this package? Well, three new push ups for those of you that can't get enough push ups. And lunges, side lifts, and a couple ab exercises that look pretty easy at first until you find out that you'll be holding the position for 30 seconds or more.

Form is everything in this workout. Actually, I'm starting to learn that's true for just about all the exercises. If you don't do the exercise exactly right, you don't get the benefits. Even if you're just off by a little bit, it dramatically affects the befpnefits you receive. So something I have to keep reminding myself of, if the exercise doesn't seem that hard, watch the video closer and see what I'm doing wrong. For most of the exercises on most of the workouts, there's not all that much you can do wrong. A pull up is still a pull up. But, there are always some where that's not true. A lunge isn't a lunge if you don't go low enough, or if your knee is too far forward, etc. All of the exercises in Core Synergistics are of the latter variety.

Tomorrow Kenpo X. Stay tuned.

No comments:

Post a Comment