Day 3 - The other Eccentric

Did you know, that there are at least 7 definitions for the word eccentric? One of which is related close to home. There's apparently an "eccentric" in the fitness world - An eccentric contraction of a muscle causes it to actively lengthen.

You learn something new everyday.

I stumbled upon this little nugget of information when I related to Jacq, a statement that a friend of mine made about starting pilates lessons. My friend was adamant that she had to slim down first before starting pilates lessons because pilates would supposedly cause her to build up muscle, to “bulk up” so to speak. And if she were to start pilates lessons without significantly slimming down, she would end up looking fatter or bigger because the “bulky” muscles beneath the fat would create the impression of a larger… .

That made some sense… enough for me to pose the question to Jacq. After all, I would be walking down the aisle in 23 days and the last thing I wanted, was to look like a body builder in my gown. No offence to body builders, of course.

When I asked, Jacq smiled a patient smile and launched into, what must be her millionth explanation to a statement regarded as myth in the fitness world.

She said – Imagine doing a bicep curl with a dumbbell in your hands. When you activate your muscles, lifting your hands toward your chest, this is known as a concentric contraction. The opposite movement – when you bring your hands back down to the starting position, is known as an eccentric contraction. Where the concentric movement squeezes and contracts the bicep, the eccentric movement lengthens, and stretches it. “Bulky” muscles, occur because people tend to favour the concentric phases of exercises while neglecting the eccentric phases.

Pilates focuses on both the concentric and eccentric phases of movement, building lean muscle and encourages the lengthening instead of building bulk.

Any more questions or can we start the lesson?