This is a concept which I feel very strongly about as both a Physical Therapist, a parent, and a recreational sports enthusiast. On the Train for Life side of the equation, the meaning is obvious. Whatever you want to do in life, training for it will help you perform it better, minimize injury, and facilitate greater enjoyment of whatever that thing is. The important piece here is how broad reaching that concept is. Of course you can train for a sport, or for general cardiovascular health, but what about the small or simple things, like picking up your children, getting dressed everyday or transporting luggage at the airport. These tasks are easily recognized as life, but less often thought of as something you could or should train for. However, it is these every day activities that are the common ways that people get injured and depending on how difficult someone finds these common daily activities, will determine how likely they are to complete them. So, for all the PT’s out there I implore you to think about it. Think about what you do everyday, and what you want to be able to keep doing as you age. What is likely to cause you injury, what things are you likely to give up at some point because it's become too difficult. Make changes before the problems start. Plan ahead by building the habits, strength, and skills that you will need to keep living the way you’d like to live in the future.
Now for the more obscure half of the equation, let life train you. This idea really has two major components. The first being that everything you do in life, your body is adapting to. Getting stronger, more coordinated, and simply getting better at doing that thing. But the devil is in the details here. What might seem obvious to an athlete when training for their sport, practicing the correct form or technique is it will ensure the greatest performance or success. But this can't be applied to everyday life too. If every time you pick-up a heavy bag of groceries you intentionally use good form, you will not only be less likely to get hurt, but you will actually get stronger in the right ways to make you more likely to use good form when performing a similar task. Certainly a small impact when taken in isolation, but extrapolate that to everything you do everyday and the impact becomes profound.
This brings us to the second component of letting life train you. The idea that your body is stimulated to adapt to better meet the demands of every physical thing you do which in turn will improve your ability to perform similar tasks. This is the part I really love because it encourages a certain sense of purpose or motivation to engaging in physical activity that is difficult or undesirable, as well as activities that are inherently enjoyable. It’s a two way street in the best of ways. Carrying your kids in a backpack on a long grueling hike will in turn build up your leg strength so you can ski or surf better. Trudging up a mountain on a splitboard will in turn help you develop the strength and stamina to feel energetic and unburdened when going out to play with your kids after a long workday. Silly examples, but you get the point.
Applying this way of thinking lets you optimize your daily activities by choosing things that not only provide enjoyment but also health and performance benefits. Furthermore, it can cast a ray of optimism onto many of the mundane tasks you would typically go about mindlessly or begrudgingly and transform them into something more purposeful and fun. So, run up that driveway, do curls with those groceries, carry your kids every chance you get, and of course keep pursuing those recreational sports you love because they will all keep you living happier and healthier, living longer and better.
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