The press-up garden

Image by MikeGoad from Pixabay

I think we all know the press-up is going to be on every physical exam we ever take.

Revise for the exam and we do eccentric press-ups, incline press-ups, kneeling press-ups all kinds of funky-looking press-ups.

More often than we should we take a D in press up class just so we can do more.

But, here’s the thing. What if we didn’t focus on the exam paper, the end goal. And just learned to love the process instead. Would we still make progress?

I say we would. But, I don’t want you to take my word for it. Instead, I’ve built you a press-up garden to play in with the help of my friends from Parkour EDU.

I’m not affiliated. I’m not going to make any money. I just thought it would be fun.

You might too. Of course, you could just revise hard for the exam and get a “C” but was that really the point?

1. Cat Cow
2. Front plank
3. In place crab walk
4. Quadrupedal walk (forward)
5. Quadrupedal walk (backwards)
6. Forward crab walk
7. Backward crab walk
8. In place quadrupedal walk
9. In place crab walk (on your bum)
10. Table top push up

Coaching notes:

The body is sensory.

Teach the kids to breathe first. Then teach the kids to breathe in each of these different positions while static. Each drill has the hands in different positions and each will present different challenges, especially to those whose breathwork needs improvement.

For the breath aficionados. Teach the necessary. Then the possible to achieve the impossible.

Necessary

1. Learn nasal breathing.
2. Resting tongue position
3. Control Pause

Possible

1. The Stack
2. Full exhale

Impossible

1. Deep abdominal control on inhaling