**You can encourage creativity by using different fitness tools and combinations of movements that feel physically and mentally freeing, while still conditioning and challenging the body and the mind.
Stir the Imagination, Stimulate the Brain, and Reach into the Soul with Play
In Stuart Brown, M.D.’s book Play, he describes play “as important as diet and exercise to health.”
I agree.
So how do we incorporate play into our busy lives?
Our physical lives are the the perfect arena to explore play in a spirit of fitness freedom.
But we should already be thriving and enjoying our physical training–the everyday work should still feel fun.
Adding occasional play components can rev up our skill set in a new way and still be compatible with our current training methods.
For example, bottoms up kettlebell carries are challenging, but feel like play to me, and I like to find new ways to challenge myself with them. In the video below, I am balancing and moving mindfully with a kettlebell in the bottoms up position.
Often play starts out one way, and morphs into another way once our imagination kicks in.
Play is in the eye of the beholder and only limited by the imagination.
This opens the door to learning, creativity, improvisation and advanced skill development as individuals explore movements and lifts in a relaxed and exploratory environment.
I like to practice a climbing technique that I refer to as a jungle-up, and that often leads to practicing other hanging/pulling techniques on our suspended pullup bars. The jungle-ups condition the body for all types of bodyweight movements.
How Do Students Respond?
Some students enjoy the change … the freedom, the laughter, the ability to set their own limits and to try something new.
Others may tell you they prefer more structure with the reps, sets, and specific goals, but those are probably the students who will gain the most from fitness freedom.
How Often to Incorporate Play into Small Group Classes?
Play works well as an occasional warm-up component, a finisher, between sets, or as the main element of a lighter training day.
It can also be ideal for special occasion classes (holidays, open houses, family and friends events, special workshops, hump day, etc.)
You might decide to include a play component in Saturday classes when people are not rushing off to work and they have a more relaxed mindset. Or, you could add it as a recovery tool at the end of each round of a strength circuit
Play Examples for Small Group Kettlebell Classes
The Kettlebell Ameoba… often we are standing in one spot while we swing, clean, press, snatch, etc. Getting outside and moving as a group while we handle a kettlebell can feel playful while providing some great conditioning.
