Hey everyone, Clayton here. I've been using this wellness portal's workout tracking features to log my calisthenics progress. My current goal is to drastically improve my pull-up numbers. I can consistently do 3 sets of 12 pull-ups, and just tested my max at 17 reps. Not bad, but I want to get to the point where I can bang out 3 sets of 20+ pull-ups without too much struggle. I'm currently doing a high-frequency routine 5 days a week focused on pull-ups, push-ups, and squats. Push-ups and squats are steadily improving, but pull-ups have always been my weakness. For those who've reached 30+ pull-ups, what's your secret? Should I stick with high frequency unweighted training, or mix in weighted pull-ups? Any tips on form or programming? I used to do weighted pull-ups with 15kg but found recovery challenging. Really appreciate any advice from the pull-up pros out there! Trying to take my upper body strength to the next level.
Unexpected profound experience during meditation - seeking insights
Hey everyone, I'm fairly new to meditation and recently had an incredibly profound experience that I'm hoping to get some insights on.
For context, I've been going through a rough patch lately and turned to meditation and self-help resources to try and get back on track. I've mostly been using guided meditations and binaural beats, with the goal of deeply relaxing and calming my mind.
During a recent 45 minute session, I experienced something totally unexpected. Afterwards, I felt an incredible lightness in my body and mind that lasted for hours. I felt deeply connected to everything around me - the ground, trees, wind. My thoughts were minimal and flowed easily. I had a sense of total clarity and presence that was honestly a bit disorienting.
When I went to see my family later, I felt like I had to pretend to be 'normal' because I was on such a different wavelength. It slowly faded over several hours until I felt grounded again.
I'm both excited and confused by this experience. Did I accidentally tap into some advanced meditative state? I'd love to hear if others have had similar experiences or have any insights into what might have happened. I'm still processing it all and trying to understand. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!
Struggling with advanced pistol squats - tips for progressing?
Hey everyone, I've hit a plateau with my leg strength training and could use some advice. I've been following a bodyweight fitness routine for a while now and have worked up to doing 3 sets of 8 intermediate pistol squats. However, I'm really struggling to progress to the advanced variation. I can barely manage 1-2 reps of advanced pistol squats before my legs give out completely. Does anyone have suggestions for bridging this gap? Are there any good assisted variations or form tips that could help me slowly build up to full advanced pistol squats? I'm determined to keep making progress but feeling a bit stuck. Thanks in advance for any insights!
