If you read my blog often you will know that this past weekend I went to an introduction to Z-Health seminar called "The Essential Secrets of Elite Performance".
I went into the weekend only having a slight idea what this system is all about which I thought was simply a bunch of joint mobility drills to improve your health and performance.
I was somewhat correct in that joint mobility exercises are a big part of the system, especially in R-Phase, which is level I, but what I found out to my delight was that it is so much more.
To back up a bit, this past weekend seminar included 1 day each of the first three levels of Z-Health (R, I & S-Phase). The weekend was a combination of lecture and practical work. The practical work consisted of Dr. Cobb coaching us in one big group then we would split off into smaller groups of around 8-10 people with 2-4 Z-Health trainers taking us through the drills just taught. Lots of hands on work, especially from the instructors. It was not uncommon to have someone come up from behind and give you tactile feedback in various ways.
I also got a great manual with written explanation on the theory but also pictures and descriptions of all the drills. Along with the manual we also got a 1/2 foam roller to be used with some of the foot mobilization drills, eye charts for testing and training and a customized ball which is used to train hand, eye coordination.
The R-Phase certification is 6 days long while I and S phase are 4 days each. So you can see that what we covered was just an overview of each phase.
BUT and I mean a big BUT, I came away with tons of practical information that I can apply right away to myself and my victims. The course was more then just a big tease of the Z-Health system. I think all the participants came away with many very practical drills, tests and knowledge.
Some of the things I learned:
- Mechanoreceptors move 150x faster then Nocireceptors. Mechanoreceptors sense movement while Nocireceptors sense noxious or painful stimulus.
- Vision is at the top of the food chain when it comes to improving your performance.
- My eyes suck and need more training (we learned specific tests and training exercises for the eyes). These were the most exhausting exercises of the whole weekend.
- I need more tall spine.
- Dysfunction in one joint can cause muscle weakness in a muscle which is not even close to the dysfunctional joint.
- The nervous system is affected by gravity.
- Quality, quality, quality is vitally important to getting the right training affect from any movement drill. (I knew this already from my education with the CHEK Institute & the RKC as well as others but it is just too important not to reiterate).
- Pain is not allowed in this training system. You never train into pain and I mean NEVER. The reason is related to the first point. If you train into pain then you are simply activating more Nocireceptors and this can perpetuate the pain cycle.
- Left ankle tilts improves my right shoulder flexion ROM.
- Dr. Cobb is a fellow drummer like myself ... nothing wrong with that!
There is so much more but I will leave it at that.
I came into the weekend intrigued by the Z-Health system. By the last day of the seminar I was intrigued enough to sign up for the first 3 levels (R, I & S Phase).
I will be taking the R-Phase this November in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Oh yeah, one more thing about Z-Health and this relates more to their business model. Once you sign up for a course, you can retake it as many times as you want for FREE!!!!! Dr. Cobb and his staff realize that the information can be pretty heavy and encourage everyone to retake the courses several times.
This is something I wished was offered in many of the other higher level courses I have taken, many of which I was paying around $2500-3000 US dollars for a 3-5 day course plus travel and accommodation.
I am sure I will take full advantage of this offer and take the different phases probably 2-3 times over the next few years.
What is Z-Health?
"Z-Health® is a cutting-edge exercise system that helps people improve their health, alleviate their pain, and maximize their athletic performance.
Most training systems focus on muscles via resistance training and flexibility exercises or on the heart and lungs through aerobic-work. Z-Health is much more evolved. Z-Health focuses on the nervous system: the ultra-high speed network that controls muscles, heart, AND lungs.
Created by Dr. Eric Cobb, Z-Health’s nervous system-based exercise program explains how to ..."
Be Well,
Michael Reid
www.michaelreid.ca
www.waterpolotraining.net
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