In strength training, there’s something called “Post activation potentiation” – it’s a theory that the contractile history of a muscle influences the performance of subsequent muscle contractions.
For example – heavy squats, followed by vertical jumps.
In a way, we are also contrasting the load neurally. Heavy to light. After “heavy,” the “light” feels easy.
I’ve seen contrasting also used in the music and film industry. A quiet church scene, shifting to a loud traffic scene. It’s powerful, effective and used sparingly.
I use a contrast method in a few other ways:
- Retreats. We experience the quiet, the conversation, the connection. We are then able to contrast this with how we were living prior. This gives us valuable insight to take away
- Breathing work and meditation – fast tempo breath work contrasts with longer exhale work.
- Training efforts – in triathlon, when people would train at a similar intensity all the time, they called it a “grey zone.” Not too fast, not too slow. Now, I use contrast method – training is sometimes very hard, but often very soft and easy.
Contrasting is a great way to experience the opposite. Become aware of the polarities and that they work together. While neither side is right or wrong, it allows an appreciation of the full spectrum and can add depth to our relationships and way of living.
