Different types of physical pursuits require a person do develop his/herself in different ways. The key here is, whenever you are in the studio, in the pool, on the track, etc… have a goal that realistically accounts for what exactly are you building your self towards. In terms of the body, dance performers train for long muscles, clear alignment organization, awareness of core, and strong lower limb strength. The current trend of featuring inversions in choreography has caused dancers to think about their training in new ways. Not only do dancers now need to train upper body strength, but also develop a comfortability of the sensation of being upside down. Other athletes have different structural needs. Swimmers for example build powerful musculature structures at the shoulders to pull themselves through the water, but muscle is a denser body tissue, so they need to be careful that their training doesn’t end up weight them down. Wrestlers are especially aware of these types of compromises in building for their specific weight category. Runners train for endurance and long, lean musculature.

These goals define our bodies, and ultimately our sense of self as a result. When you look in the mirror and recognize that image as YOU, know that what you see and how you feel is a result of all the ways you have “trained” to become YOU in this moment. There is an aspect of our paths of development that is chosen subjectively, that is, based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.* This is what I refer to as “subjective function.” The type of physical function that is chosen by YOU, so the next time you go to the gym or the studio, or the winter slopes, remind yourself of the functional you you are building toward.