guest post by Lori Crock

I have been thinking about that a lot lately because my idea of strength has been turned upside down recently.

I thought physical strength was how much weight one could lift, period.

Working out with Jeff Turner taught me that there is much more to it — moving well is achieved through a careful progression of supervised movements — which over time increase strength.

This new understanding of strength and movement led me to MovNat – moving naturally — and a 5-day trip to experience this movement teaching in the woods of West Virginia.

My key take-away from MovNat was what was holding me back from getting stronger was my lack of mental strength. That was a hard lesson for me because I am a former swimming athlete and I think of myself as a pretty tough chick.

But I realized that I lacked a focus, a deliberateness and what the MovNat team called a mindfulness … all necessary to progress with physical movement that helps one grow stronger.

Before the MovNat trip, I was focused on getting it done, doing more in the gym every time, doing it quickly and doing it with things that were easy and comfortable — even though Jeff was always teaching new moves, guiding and making sure I didn’t do too much too fast.

Now, I have a real understanding of strength.

Strength is the freedom to fully enjoy life. That’s right. It’s that simple.

Building strength for me is moving and enjoying activities that help me relax, refresh and renew.

Running around outdoors, climbing trees, swinging on beams, moving fast sometimes, playing on playgrounds, lifting heavy things in the gym and outdoors, balancing and jumping off logs in my own backyard — without pain, injury and fear is what I personally desire and need to feel good and get stronger. I have been able to do this recently and it feels incredible.

The surprising thing about a little strength is how much it improves other areas of your life.

This strength, achieved through careful, playful movement in the gym and outdoors, simply makes me happier. I  worry less because I am focused on feeling good and meeting some personal goals. I have confidence to try new things both physical and mental. I am eating Paleo (a lifestyle, not a diet) which includes a balance of natural foods from the earth.

I am trying to listen to my body to really learn and understand what it needs to function well — and when it needs the fuel rather than eating based on emotion, time or what our culture says I need.

The best part of this new understanding of strength is that is came with a dose of patience.

Patience is new for me too. I am now okay with patiently progressing. I am learning that pulling up on a branch enough times will eventually make me strong enough to pull myself up to sit on that branch.

I started out swinging a 25 lb. Kettlebell in training with Jeff many months ago and I am now swinging 50. I am thrilled with that … and hoping that patient progression in the area of strength carries over into other areas of my life. I have seen signs of it, but it will take some time for me to know for sure … and I am okay with that too.

What is your idea of strength and how do you live it?