Blog 27 – All Levels All The Time(s).
Hello my friends,
PDX Strength is making a few changes to our regularly scheduled programming. One of the bigger changes being that our group strength classes are moving to an “all level” classification. (You read that correctly. ALL LEVELS. ALL THE TIME!!! *theme music drops, laser show*)… While we’ve always offered a plethora of what we traditionally termed “all levels classes” (Bootcamp, KB Club, HIIT, Butt and Gut, Swöle), times are sporadic (albeit strategic) and maybe not always available in everyone’s schedule. Additionally, we have always held a “PDX 101 or equivalent” prerequisite for group strength; mostly as a safety, skill building, and learning opportunity for folks that are new to the use of a barbell, Olympic lifting, and high skill gymnastics movements like a rope climbs and handstands.
This is happening for multiple reasons, but the main one being that PDX Strength started as an inclusive space for folks to come lift heavy shit, and we want to continue to be that – for the folks that continue to support us and for the folks that are just entering our space for the first time. Other reasons include all things affected by the pandemic and the phased re-opening strategies/schedules, but since we agreed that I won’t waste any more space in the blog to have you drink from the fire hose of chaos, that’s all I’ll say about that.
So what does this all mean? Honestly? Not that much. Mostly that the written format of a typical work out might change (For you regular GSCers, don’t freak out. You haven’t even heard how it will change yet…) to movements that would be more familiar to an all-levels regular (if you’ve been to my KB Club on Thursdays, you have a general idea of the direction we are going.) Here’s the kicker for you regular GSCers (currently hyperventilating into a brown paper bag), the Gainz Train will still have room for you too.
Nigel already does a great job trying to write out the intention of the workouts, which he will continue to do. But, there will just be a little flip to what is written on the board and a new concept that we introduce – modifying to a higher skill movement. We are already familiar with how to modify to lower skill movements; this is literally the opposite. Some examples:
PREVIOUSLY, we might have written overhead squats, which we would modify to front squat if there was an issue with the skill of an OH movement.
NOW, we might say front squat, and allow folks who want a higher skilled movement modify to an OH squat.
PREVIOUSLY, we might have written “30 barbell snatches for time (95#/65#)”
NOW, we might say “30 ground to OH for time (Review Nigel’s notes on intention to determine loading.)”
By communicating the workouts a little differently, we are not trying to take anything away. We are moving to a more inclusive communication around our workouts (and fitness), and keeping the choice for members to work at the skill level that they feel is most appropriate. Additionally, and my favorite part, this flip will allow coaches to coach more. More inclusive programming actually means that we are likely to make less modifications overall, meaning that coaches will have more time to specifically coach members through movement… or talk about the important stuff, like favorite ice cream flavors.
We expect some conversation about this as it’s rolled out, so please don’t hesitate to ask your coaches if you have any questions,
– Coach D