Never heard of such a thing?  I use it to describe the ways in which I exercise.  I’m kinda ADD and much of my workouts are short and intense - Fire.

I like using circuits involving tools like sandbags, resistance bands, and bodyweight training.  I like to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time, instead of doing 90-120 minute exercise sessions.

If you want to burn some fat, turn up the flame – get your heart rate up while working your muscles against some type of resistance.  Use exercises that involve multiple muscles and joints, without resting very long between movements.

This type of training can elevate your metabolism for several hours afterwards, burning plenty of calories in the process.  There has been quite a bit of research in recent years to back this up, as well as the “in the trenches” results achieved by several fat loss gurus.

But this type of intense training may cause you to “burn out” if done all the time, without taking some time to do some less intense activity/training.  It might also lead to some joint inflammation and overuse injuries, if not done properly.

This is where the Ice training comes into play.  I like to mix up my intense days with easier days, where I may focus on joint mobility movements or take a walk or hike.  Something to give your mind a little break, as well as your body.

The joint mobility movements that I do are like a “Westernized” version of Tai Chi that can include isolated movements of the joints or whole body movements.  The main difference is that this can be done in as little as 10-15 minutes – longer, if you want.

This activity incorporates a mind-body connection where you really focus on how your body is feeling while moving.  This can help you deal with stress and anxiety, which I am prone to.

I’ve been doing this since 2003 and notice a big difference in my posture and an increased efficiency in my everyday movements.  It helps with coordination and can be useful in regaining mobility after an injury.

Being somewhat ADD, I also appreciate the fact that it can be done in a fairly short amount of time.  I frequently incorporate it into my warmup to lubricate my joints and get my body ready for further exercise.

So the Fire and Ice Training philosophy kinda mimics my own personality – intense and easy going at the same time.  Bottom line, many physical problems are movement related – not enough or too much (overuse injuries).

We all need some balance in our lives and this includes periods of intense activity and less intense.

Get moving!

Brian

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