TRAINING TIP: MAKE YOUR OWN ATMOSPHERE from Catalyst Athletics

I remember hearing at some point David Lee Roth (AKA Diamond Dave, original singer of Van Halen) saying people are always out prowling around saying, “Where’s the action?” and his saying in response, “Man, you ARE the action!”

Atmosphere and environment are big elements of successful lifting, but you can’t expect to just stumble upon them in some secret location. You ARE the atmosphere and YOU make the environment what it is. If you train alone, this is very obvious. If you train in a group, take the initiative and create the atmosphere – set the example for others to follow to create the ideal training environment. Don’t wait around for it to magically appear – it never will.

Atmosphere can be influenced in part by the physical environment – for example, a clean, well-lit, spacious gym feels much different than a small, cramped, dirty, windowless basement gym – but it’s the people inside it who truly create the atmosphere. That basement gym can be as depressing as you let it be, or it can be full of energy. Likewise, that big, airy gym can be nice, but if it’s filled with unenthusiastic, boring people, it’s going to be depressing.

Act the way you want your training partners to act. Display the energy and attitude you want to see in the gym. If nothing is being actively enforced and reinforced, you will change the atmosphere into what you want.

Warmup
Speed Ladder

3 Sets
5 Pull-ups
10 Goblet Squats
5 Down dog Push-ups
10 Kettlebell Swings

Lift
Levels 2-4

5 – 3 – 1+
Squat (80-85-90%)

5 – 3 – 1+
Strict Press (80-85-90%)

AMRAP on the final set of each lift — aim for three or more reps to surpass your old 1RM. 

Levels 0/1

5 x 8
Double Kettlebell Squat

5 x 8
Kettlebell  Press (single arm 8 R/L)

Sets across for both movements.