Principle of Individuality and Specificity

This morning I find myself inspired to talk to you about a couple of principles that are a part of our CFN culture/ethos and how we think of both programming and coaching you. 

The Principal of Individuality states that each individual will respond to exercise differently based on their unique history/experience, genetics, stress/lifestyle (and recovery ability), physiological makeup (muscle fiber type, hormonal profile etc). 

The Principal of Specificity states that if you want to get better at a specific result/adaptation (examples; cardiovascular ability, strength, power, mobility, skill, working on weaknesses) you should train that thing consistently and progressively. 

I am fascinated by these principles. 

I am fascinated by the idea of fitness being the ability to perform work across a broad range of tasks where you find yourself prepared for things unknown and unknowable (the definition of fitness pioneered by CrossFit). 

In these uncertain times, as a father the deep confidence that comes from feeling prepared for the unknown and unknowable is paramount. 

I love writing programs for individuals based on their specific goals, and watching them experience obtain results. I love that because in my own life I have followed some form of individualized program off and on for 2018, originally with the intention of competing in CrossFit but these days with the intention of having a healthy heart and cardiovascular system to live a longer (hopefully!) life. 

We have about 8 members who follow individualized plans at CFN. Some do so via personal training, and some come in during open access to do it on their own. In the next year I hope to do a lot more of this. 

One of the things I have learned over the last few years is that different kinds of fitness serve us in different seasons of life. 

This last month we have had a few returning members who have been in their garages, they came back for the things they won’t do on their own. 

Some of us are the kind of person who will never work out on our own, we love the inspiration and friendly competition that comes with working out in the larger group class. 

Some of us want to get better at certain things, have limited time, and don’t want to do anything other than the thing we are trying to get better at and Individual Design Programming is great for that. 

Some of us want a trainer and won’t workout in a group either due to wanting more guidance during the season of life that we are in or not liking a ton of other people. That’s our ideal personal training client. 

All of these offerings are flavors of the same thing, pathways to improved fitness and preparation for the unknown and the unknowable. 

The Principle of Community says that what separates a community from a large group of people is that you are working towards a common noble purpose/vision together. That purpose is doing hard things so that we can show up as our best selves in our life outside of the gym. 

Community, belonging to something bigger than yourself is an often overlooked part of health. 

When we sweat on the floor whether in a group or on our own, we can be sure that someone sweat there before us (unless you’re in the 5:15 AM) and someone will sweat there after us. 

Someone else will be breathing hard, someone else will get to know themselves a little bit better that day. 

Someone else in our bigger Novato Community will share the inner belief in themselves that comes from working hard work and finding out what they are capable of, and the world is that much better. 

— Coach Michael
CrossFit Novato | Darkhorse Coach