Making GMB Elements more Challenging

[@tomkirbygreen]

Seriously, this video is pure gold. Don’t know who’s idea it was but kudos. It reminds me of watching a film with a director’s commentary. This video deepens and informs one’s understanding of the material. This might just be one of your best KZbin posts this year. Thank you, thank you!

[@gmbfit]

hahaha, thanks :) The 'director's cut' of Elements coming to blu-ray soon.

[@mariethornton3123]

I agree ... great video..

[@Grottosays]

I’ve been doing Elements for 3 years. I did the program 5 times in a row and now do 15 - 20 minute elements 3-5 times a week plus my other workouts. I love elements tabatas

[@gmbfit]

I can't ask for any stronger endorsement than that!

[@paul85y32]

just completed the first run through of the elements program and cannot recommend it enough. This format of workout would be a brilliant addition to the existing program. Every 3-5 sessions would be ideal.

[@pensfan718766]

Elements is sublime. Gone through it twice and I picked up so much more the second time through, every movement is more accessible and easier to do. It's brilliant and it works. 45 minutes of Elements is no joke, even 30 minutes can be tough. 15 minutes gives results too. Just have to show up and do the work. Thanks GMB! 💯

[@gmbfit]

Right on! It's definitely something you can work in any number of circumstances.

[@regrebnoil]

I want to second the comment right below this. I appreciate this so much. Having gone through Elements, the old and new version several times, I always find that I learn and get better, but in watching this I see that my practice can be deepened even more: "How you do anything is how you do everything." Words to live by.

[@gmbfit]

Right on - really glad you've been continuing to explore. Hope this gives you enough for the next few cycles :)

[@MrTraceym1]

I left elements/gmb for awhile and have been learning intensely about TVA/pelvic floor and I now i understand elements and look forward to trying it again along with IS as now i understand what to engage

[@gmbfit]

Right on

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

I am trying to convince my mom to start doing elements. So many thanks from your biggest fan!

[@gmbfit]

haha yes!

[@egeertem2275]

Well we can have a long discussion to decide on who the biggest fan is 😂

[@terryeichler351]

These subtle points are so important to incorporate while doing Elements. I started going for strength and endurance and now am becoming aware of control and mindfulness. Thank You, Ryan.

[@gmbfit]

Totally. Bringing awareness and intention into the practice is key.

[@egeertem2275]

I am in my second round of Elements, now focusing on opening my hips more. It is a great program, it covers many aspects of strength, mobility, and control and you can focus on or dial up which ever you need most. This video is amazing. Ryan, we know you are working on a “program” right now. But I seriously believe a program or a promotional release of this concept. Meaning Elements advanced will be appreciated. I don’t know how people will react to Elements level II, they might jump in and buy that where they need Elements, but you can release an Elements advanced for existing Elements customers. A program like this one where you go thorough all elements but leveling up as you did in this video. Thanks for everything. And your jokes are the best :)))

[@ryanhurst3068]

Really glad that you like it! (And my jokes. Haha!) Who knows, we might have a next level Elements one of these days. :)

[@Deweythesecond]

MATE! This video actually got me to pick up Elements again. On some of the sessions, I'd get bored as I'm trying to do the same move for 7.5 minutes. I was too regimental and rigid, but this video has shown me how I can play with each move. I would love it if I'd seen this a year ago when I started. Really enjoyed my session today because of this video. Thank you!

[@gmbfit]

Perfect! Love seeing that :)

[@hobsignrho]

Thanks for the long upload! I've just the mid 30s and all joints and limbs suddenly seem rusty. I do follow GMB and try to learn what I can, but the past year and a half has been mostly sedentary. This will help get started from 0 again.

[@gmbfit]

Elements is literally made for that.

[@PlayfulTraining]

I'm loving Elements so far! This video is a very helpful point of reference!

[@chadleath7916]

Really appreciate this video. I completed elements first and I’m almost done with Integral Strength. My plan is to return to Elements to see how much more slowly and controlled I can do those sessions. This video did an excellent job of showing how build intensity based on how the body is responding that day. Can’t say enough about how much my physical and mental well being have improved just by sticking with a 30 minute session every other day since April. Cheers!

[@gmbfit]

Chad, I love reading this. Thanks for doing the work and sticking with it :) Elements definitely rewards repeat visits.

[@adnanbosnian5051]

Very good. These flow movements really make my blood, lymph, everything moving. I take a big dump after. Overall makes you feel real good.

[@bmlewis3345]

Thanks Ryan as this was extremely validating since I just finished elements and it kicked my 53 couch potato body in such a good way I started again today and videoed my assessment as I want to see the improvement this time. Happy 50th, keep on improving and keep up the great work! Respect.

[@gmbfit]

If it's hard, you're doing it right! Training is supposed to be hard :) Keep on doing what you're doing.

[@nikolaychebishev6387]

Thanks for sharing the alternative movements. As you said, not everyone can repeat fully the examples. The kneeling lunge took me a while until I start feeling a real stretch.

[@tomkirbygreen]

Love the meta commentary!

[@ryanhurst3068]

Thanks Tom!

[@seandunne6005]

Awesome. Just picked up Elements again. Always return to it during moments of confusion. This is a great idea and most helpful. As someone else said, would be great option in the app to have this.

[@JesseDeShazo]

Ryan watching Ryan watching Ryan. #Ryanception 😂🎉 I love Elements and love this as a way to showcase it and Praxis!

[@gmbfit]

hahaha just what the worlds needs... 🤣

[@roseagain2]

thanks!

[@chiara.75]

I'm in love with that twisting bear to monkey combo 😍 I love bodyweight workout, I love floor work, it's accessible to every level without complications 😊thanks to you, your detailed explanation is gold, Ryan 🙏☀️🪷

[@jollyjapesinnorfolkandsuff2625]

Hello, would you recommend abstaining from Elements if I have high blood pressure? Thank you in advance!

[@gmbfit]

Not necessarily. It would be a matter of going slow and working at a pace that is good for you. Which everyone should be doing anyways. :)

[@jollyjapesinnorfolkandsuff2625]

@@gmbfit Aw thank you for your advice :-)

[@yoni23able]

Ryan, perhaps you would consider putting this in the program somehow. I'm just over halfway through elements, and this video has changed how I am tackling the program, so its value to me is obvious. Without stumbling across this, I don't think Elements would have been as valuable to me.

[@gmbfit]

This is literally directly from the program. It's a session from right around the midpoint. The thing that makes it hard or easy, valuable or not, is 100% the way you approach the practice.

[@yoni23able]

@@gmbfit I mean your commentary on it and further detail. That's the nuance. Obviously what you are commenting on is from the program. This is my second pass through it. I bet this is straight talking Andy replying.

[@christinasmith9032]

I am considering Elements and am wondering if the tutorials suggest some of the progressions/variations.

[@gmbfit]

Yes, we have those in Elements.

[@youtubesucks5131]

I'm struggling with getting into it because it looks boring. I can't see myself jumping like a frog or doing that bear crawl for 45 minutes, especially while sucking at it and no fun of the movement. The website says it's like 6 days a week for 40 minutes and 4 exercises.. I don't know, either there's not enough info or I'm misunderstanding it but I know I wouldn't last a week. I also don't get if it's for entire fitness beginners or just element beginners. I want to learn handstand and stuff like this, no idea if this helps or if it's more for unfit desk warriors? Not sure if I should invest in this or yoga or calisthenics program. It would be great if the website was clearer about all of this. Not trying to rant, just confused if this is for me or not. Might try the free test offered on the website

[@gmbfit]

It's for all levels, because it's adjustable. And the schedule is flexible too - do it as few or many times as you like. Assuming it's boring without trying it sounds like a cop out more than anything. And yeah, you're absolutely gonna suck at it in the beginning, but that's life. You can't just instantly do everything easily. Doing things you suck at is how you get stronger. What are you seeing on the website that's unclear? I'd love to fix that, so be specific.

[@geoffreynelson8012]

"Sweatin' like Mike Tyson trying to read" 😂

[@rainere130]

Nice 👍. Fun fact is our dog also likes the frog stretch. Seems to be good for animals too 😂.

[@gmbfit]

haha, that's awesome

[@ms4720]

This is a great video, thanks for it. I think about elements as a framework more than a training program. First you follow along then you can make it more challenging and tailored to your or my individual needs. It is similar to the 5 elements in xingyi (Chinese martial art) in that it gives you a lense to evaluate thing you might want to do/explore in a framework of movement theory. It would be helpful to me to have a written explanation of the theory involved to better understand the framework and how to customize it, this is a lot of work so it is more of a wish than a request. Being myself neither bear, frog, monkey, or crab but mostly four eyed couch potato by previous training one of my major challenges is when trying to grow the movement along an axis of difficulty, range of motion or strength etc, I literally have no clue really what to do OR what questions to ask myself to prompt myself into a good answer. It would be helpful if there was scaling guidance available for the individual movements, I think you have a video like that for bent arm baby frogger to bent arm handstand. More of these pathways forward would be very helpful from the point of progress and also from the point of educationing myself in how to think about movement. Strength, balance, spatial awareness, and coordination are some of the axises I see to improve myself on, and I have the same problem here that 8 year olds have staring at the desert cart of eyes vs stomach, and guidance would be helpful to help not have a stomach ache. Ah well the reward for good work is the request for more and better of the same, life is constant that way

[@gmbfit]

The scaling guidance really is as simple as "Do as well as you can do to follow the instructions, takes breaks as needed, and keep going." If you keep doing that, you will be making progress at your level. You should never have to think consciously about scaling a movement up or down.

[@ms4720]

@@gmbfit I don't know what the next step is is the problem I have. I was hoping for lists like in the overcoming gravity book.

[@gmbfit]

@@ms4720 If you want something in OG, then that's great - look in OG. Reference books and programs are two very different classes of products. As for the next step, I highly recommend starting to think of Elements as a program again instead of as a framework where you are supposed to think and decide for yourself what to do. Just follow the program and do exactly what it says. And if you have trouble or need help, email us - that's why we always send emails that say "ask us if you need help."

[@egeertem2275]

@@gmbfit Is it possible to shed some light to this comment? In this video, I think Ryan recommends upscaling a movement purposefully if you feel you can. For example using bent arm bear while the program shows bear walk in the push segment. Am I misunderstanding?

[@egeertem2275]

I think I understand now the nuance. This video is not upscaling but make the same move more challenging and more beautiful.

[@ourclarioncall]

Is this channel Pilates? Gymnastics? Callisthenics? Weight training ? I’m getting confused by all these and don’t fully understand their similarities or overlapping . I’m doing a beginners Pilates course and I read that Pilates uses some callisthenics In it .

[@gmbfit]

It's none of those things. It's just exercise; doesn't matter what brand label you slap on it. Do good stuff and get stronger.

[@ourclarioncall]

@@gmbfit thanks for the reply. My question wasn’t very well articulated, in fact I’m not sure I know what my question is lol. So what are the benefits of doing the exercises here on gmb? For example … you mention getting stronger . Sounds good to me. Greetings from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@gmbfit]

hahaha, well, that clears it up ;) OK, so what are the benefits? Yes, strength. Controlled strength in all directions and ranges of motion. Skill, agility, and coordination. A winning smile and razor sharp sense of humor.

[@ourclarioncall]

@@gmbfit fantastic, thankyou 👍

[@ourclarioncall]

@@gmbfit fantastic, thankyou 👍

[@marcelloantoniodreier4795]

My main Challenge is always my wrists when doing the GMB Programs. Always have to quit bc most movements are very much on the wrists.... =(

[@darlingbec]

Yeah. I have a ganglion cyst which makes weight bearing on the wrists really difficult.

[@gmbfit]

Start with shorter, more frequent sessions. Take breaks. If your wrists are sore, don't press it. Learn to adjust the hand placement to create a shallower wrist angle. Learn to place your hands more gently. Quitting and continuing to have weak wrists is an option, but I don't recommend it.

[@johnkreuser4834]

Same here. I do the wrist warmup all the time too. For me, there it's just not natural about putting that much pressure on the wrists so I only do 15 minute increments. Otherwise, a good program.

[@gmbfit]

It's very natural. It's just not habitual (yet) for you. We absolutely recommend 15-minute sessions for everyone in the beginning stages.

[@balazsbrankovics2996]

I also had issues with my wrists. I took a break and did GMB's wrist video for about a week (and 3 times cardio to fill the gap). When my wrists were okay, I went back with always doing the wrist circles, wrist extension and kneeling wrist pushups (start with the wall or on your knees with almost no weight on them). I still do daily morning wrist work. (I had a history of storing tension there.)

[@randolphpinkle4482]

Elements isn't too easy. I finished the entire program. It just felt pointless.

[@everythingbutthegym6130]

That's interesting, why did you feel that way?