The Magic is in the Mix.
Over more than 15 years of refining my fitness philosophy, the three pillars I continually return to are training, practice and play.
Though it seems simple, it has taken me a lifetime to refine this philosophy. It started with my mom sending me “outside to play” whenever I was being a pest—and the gradual realization that whatever is happening in my body impacts my mental state. Fast forward twenty years later, and that lived experience was compounded with mentorship from athletic leaders like Karin Gurtner of the Art of Motion Academy. She may not have coined the phrase, but her constant reminder—The Magic is in the Mix—planted the seed for further reflection on how our physical state mirrors everything else in our lives.
At the Anatomy Trains in Motion workshop I attended with Karin, she repeatedly emphasized that you can’t invest in just one thing and expect everything else to work. For example, great lacrosse players don’t level up just by playing more lacrosse. For optimal performance, we need to look at how we sleep, eat, manage stress and cross-train across different physical disciplines. And when something isn’t working, sometimes we have to peel back multiple layers to get to the source of the problem.
Something that’s helped me is to literally list out the factors in each of my three categories, so that when I feel “off,” I can more easily reflect on where things might be going wrong. For you, this list might look slightly different, but as a working example:
Training | Addressing science and technique
Ask yourself: Am I getting enough diversity in how I train?
Strength
Power
Speed
Multi-Directional Movement
Endurance
Mobility
Recovery
Practice | Developing discipline and instincts
Ask yourself: Where are my habits helping or hurting?
Breathing / Meditation
Nutrition
Sleep
Mental Health / Mindset
Relationships / Community
Spirituality
Career / Education
Finances
Physical Self-Care
Play | Prioritizing fun and spontaneity
Ask yourself: Where do I find joy and flow in my pursuits?
Team Sports
Recreational Games
Art / Creativity
Adventure / Travel
All of these categories fall along a spectrum of consistency and variety. With sleep, keeping the same bedtime and sleeping a consistent number of hours is proven to be the best solution for energy and well-being. Yet with nutrition, we know that eating seasonally, with a wide range of protein sources and colorful fruits and vegetables is better than sticking to the same diet, week after week. For relationships, things get more complex—some of us might thrive with just a couple close friends, while others crave opportunities to meet new people on a regular basis.
Ultimately, it comes down to paying attention to your inputs and understanding what works for you. Every person is different, and every body is different. But taking stock of these influences is something we all can benefit from—and ensuring we take an open-minded, varied approach to our fitness is a part of that journey.
If you feel like your progress has plateaued, I’d love to dig into some of the factors that may be creating unexpected hurdles. Reach out with your questions or for a chat about how you can become a higher-performing Evergreen athlete!
MOUNTAIN LAX
Building on my work with Evergreen High School lacrosse, I’m excited to be joining the roster of Mountain Lacrosse coaches this fall. If you’re a 2031 Boys Mountain Laxer, I’ll be running a special speed and strength program on Thursday evenings this fall.
Registration closes September 5th.
FUEL WITH FLAVOR
FATTOUSH SALAD
In the summer, I’m all about simple meals that don’t require the stove or the cooktop. This fresh, bold fattoush salad reminds me of one of my favorite little restaurants in Queens, NY. Once you’ve made it, you’ll find yourself mixing and matching new ingredients. We like to up the protein by adding some grilled chicken. Red peppers, feta and olives can also be a great addition. For the pita chips, we just toss whole pitas in the toaster and crumble them over the top. (My sister-in-law is also a fattoush fiend, and she simply breaks up some store-bought pita chips.) Tweak to your taste buds and enjoy!
LEVEL UP WITH THORNE SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements have become an important support in my own athletic performance, but determining the quality of these products can be challenging. Thorne is a third-party verified brand I return to regularly, and I'm excited to be able to offer 20% off a first purchase to everyone. Email me directly for the discount, and you can also check out their products through my affiliate link.
For those who are new to the world of supplements, simply bring it up at our next session, and I’m happy to share my experience!