Movement has no rules

Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

"Should I do strength training or cardio?"

"Should I focus on mobility or hypertrophy?"

"Should I do free weights or machines?"

These are all what a philosopher might call 'false dichotomies'; statements that assume that one thing is mutually exclusive of another.

If there's one thing that most people get wrong about training, it's the assumption that there are lots of rules. This typically results in you believing that you are faced with an imaginary 'either/or' decision about a great many things.

This is likely the result of what Chip Conrad refers to as the 'fitness industrial complex', or the commodification of movement.

Chip Conrad

Products are not rules

Ideas are easier to sell to people when they are packaged into distinct schools (i.e, CrossFit, bodybuilding, yoga, running, powerlifting). It's even easier to sell if you can take that school of movement, and package a clear brand/method within it. For example in 'functional fitness' you have CrossFit, F54, Hyrox, Functional Patterns, Ido Portal etc. This creates an illusion that these are all real separate things, that can't be combined under the heading of 'movement/exercise'.

However, we shouldn't forget that all sports and products are completely arbitrary constructs. While they may aim to measure some vague idea of strength, fitness, power etc. they all also impose limitations on your ability to be a generally competent athlete. The best powerlifters suck at running, the best marathon runners aren't very strong, etc.

Carve your own path

In reality, most people would benefit from including more 'and' than 'or' in their training. Do strength training AND cardio. Focus on mobility AND hypertrophy. Do free weights AND machines. All of these things are just tools that have their own distinct benefits. The amount you do and prioritise each, should depend on your own goals.

Unless you are planning on competing in a sport, you are free to have your own definition of what is athletic. Ignoring this, is depriving yourself of the real joy of training.

Create your own movement philosophy.