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My usually IS type workout consists of a few things. Basic static pushes and pulls on some bungie's from several positions and several stretching/breathing exercises. After that I'll move on to some more active things that combine the two. Typically it's normal for the tops of the shoulders, upper chest and traps to kick in to support the body when pushing (or to try to do the push). It's obviously a goal to continue conditioning that out of the body, which I feel I'm continuing to progress at. Lately I've noticed a change in both my arms and legs when doing these things.
For the arms, I've started to notice a tension under the arms and in the armpits running down my side. I'm hesitant to use the word tension, because that makes it sound more like typical shoulder activation, but it doesn't feel that way at all. It has the opposite effect that normal shoulder muscle usage seems to have. That is, I don't feel it lifting and pushing me back. It's more of a connected, driving me down sensation.
I've also noticed something similar in the legs/hips/middle. This is a tricky area to relax and still support yourself well. I think in this area it's normal for everything there (quads, glutes, lower back, lower abs) to activate and support you against a force of some sort. What i've noticed in this area is a lessoning of muscular tension on the inside and outside of the legs. The tops of the quads still seem to be working, but I definitely feel more relaxed in those areas that I previously recall.
I'm going to see if I can find something that discusses the flow of ki and see if the above mentioned areas overlap.
08-12-2011 07:38 AM 