Bruce Lee's infamous quote "Be like water my friend" was a
philosophical statement intending to convey the need in martial arts to
blend with a moment not to think but act. I have always loved this
quote and try to apply it to all aspects of my life. The ability to
adapt to your surroundings (as water does to a glass or bowl) is an
essential life skill. Water is both powerful and tranquil, creates
change and yet can remain still. Water has the ability to make patient
gradual change overtime as well as sweeping change in a moment.
I find this idea can be applied very naturally to health and fitness. There are both radical and methodical changes one can make to their lives (e.g., quitting smoking today would make a major impact to improving your health while starting a workout program would over time reshape your body). Moreover, the idea of adapting to your surroundings has meaning as well. I often hear individuals say they are unable to exercise because they missed a class, someone was on the treadmill, or they had to work late. Be like water my friend; adapt to life as it happens, take life's bumps as an opportunity to try something new. The change to your body my have more of an impact then what you are used to and more importantly you may discover something that you enjoy.
I also like the idea that water can be both powerful and still. Exercise should be equally balanced. Running long distances everyday or powerlifting max weights every workout will not provide the balance your body needs for life. You may become strong in one area, but you will be weak in others. Balance your workouts focusing on power, stamina, control, and coordination. Be like water.
When you look at the greatest change water has made on the planet it is rarely in sweeping surges. As with fad diets, these fast brilliant changes make a quick impact but more often than not recede back, and with the natural course of life, return to their previous state. No, more often it is a slow methodical action overtime, such as a flowing river that makes the greatest change. For landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon, to form water flowed for centuries, carving change a little at a time, but staying true to a path. Once the change was made in this way only a deliberate effort to undue it could ever erase such an impact. So often in life, when we want change, we want it now, and we are willing to go to great lengths to reach it. Unnatural behavior is unsustainable as are the changes that occur. Excessive exercise, crash diets, weight-loss pills, and starvation are not sustainable. A steady natural path, like a river that has drawn its course, will overtime make changes are balanced and thus sustainable; changes that only a deliberate effort to undue could possibly erase. Be like water my friend, make change; Live Fit, Be Fit...
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I find this idea can be applied very naturally to health and fitness. There are both radical and methodical changes one can make to their lives (e.g., quitting smoking today would make a major impact to improving your health while starting a workout program would over time reshape your body). Moreover, the idea of adapting to your surroundings has meaning as well. I often hear individuals say they are unable to exercise because they missed a class, someone was on the treadmill, or they had to work late. Be like water my friend; adapt to life as it happens, take life's bumps as an opportunity to try something new. The change to your body my have more of an impact then what you are used to and more importantly you may discover something that you enjoy.
I also like the idea that water can be both powerful and still. Exercise should be equally balanced. Running long distances everyday or powerlifting max weights every workout will not provide the balance your body needs for life. You may become strong in one area, but you will be weak in others. Balance your workouts focusing on power, stamina, control, and coordination. Be like water.
When you look at the greatest change water has made on the planet it is rarely in sweeping surges. As with fad diets, these fast brilliant changes make a quick impact but more often than not recede back, and with the natural course of life, return to their previous state. No, more often it is a slow methodical action overtime, such as a flowing river that makes the greatest change. For landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon, to form water flowed for centuries, carving change a little at a time, but staying true to a path. Once the change was made in this way only a deliberate effort to undue it could ever erase such an impact. So often in life, when we want change, we want it now, and we are willing to go to great lengths to reach it. Unnatural behavior is unsustainable as are the changes that occur. Excessive exercise, crash diets, weight-loss pills, and starvation are not sustainable. A steady natural path, like a river that has drawn its course, will overtime make changes are balanced and thus sustainable; changes that only a deliberate effort to undue could possibly erase. Be like water my friend, make change; Live Fit, Be Fit...
