Exercise, almost by definition is hard. To cause the body to adapt via an increase in strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, or any other facet; a stimulus must be applied. Not only must this stimulus be applied, but to facilitate this improvement it must be of a greater magnitude than previous stimuli.
To this end we must amend our view of exercise, to not just say it is hard, but to add that there must be some degree of increase in stimulus, a removal from familiarity. The question of exercise is thus a complex one. A removal from familiarity invariably partners a removal from the comfort zone, and with this removal, safety is compromised. The question then becomes what magnitude of a previously unapplied stimulus can we justify applying to maximise both results and safety? How do we maximise results without compromising safety?
The answer lies in controlling the environment in which we exercise – coupling an unstable and unfamiliar degree of exercise with a stable and familiar environment. In this way we can manage the risks. Note the aim is to manage the risks, not remove them. Consider the example of learning to touch type. Faster key strokes lead to more mistakes, but also to increased typing speed. The aim, as with exercise, is to balance exercise and outcome. Typing fast without making mistakes, or maximising the benefits of exercise without suffering any negative consequences.
Here lies the crux of the issue. We must determine the smallest possible amount of exercise we need to do to maximise results. If the results are a constant, but the output is variable, it makes sense to do the smallest amount of exercise possible to elicit a response, thus increasing the safety of exercise.
We must learn how to exercise smart, not just hard.
