Yuku free message boards

I suppose I have mentioned this before... I really like a complete break from training every so often. For some folks, this is for a brief period quarterly or so; for others, it may only be needed annually. Some of it is age-related, no doubt.

Too, even more frequent breaks from a particular exercise is a good practice. One gets bored with the same movements anyway. I've got to think one reason the bench press tears up so many shoulders is that it is a lift that so many gym rats never seem to pass up, that is, they'll stop doing everything else and still do bench presses. Crappy shoulders are the end result here I think, not so much that the exercise itself doesn't have some merit for at least occasional attention.

I think breaks from training is one issue we overlook from studying how the old-timers trained. John Grimek would have periods of brief hard work, then at other times, he'd be more at play in training than really much of anything else. The famous story of Steve Reeves showing up at the York Barbell Club just six or so weeks out from the Mr. Universe contest he won (1947?)... looking okay for sure, but slender and way underweight. He obviously hadn't been training much, then whipped himself into shape to the amazement of the York crowd who got to watch him transform himself literally, day-by-day leading up to the contest.

I can think of dozens of such stories... breaks seemed to work well for that era.

The body likes a total rest on occasion, then responds better to training when you return to it.

Cheers! Brad