By Mike Dayton

There is no question that age slows one down. Aches and pains add up, and recuperation isn’t what it used to be. I surprise myself how strong I remain, particularly in my upper body and back. I guess it’s the pay off for so many years of good training, clean eating and stretching. While the feats produced their share of injuries, none were life threatening and my recuperation great back then.

I’m curious, however, what types training us Golden Years Lifters are avoiding? I don’t run exept inside the gym, I keep impact low on my knees and ankles. I still stretch daily and perform the tensing exercises. Over head lifts are slightly limited, but I work traps, tris and bis about the same. I’ve had to trim back on my bench, and I’ve traded in the freeweight squat for the leg press machines.

How are you!

Mike Dayton

Chi Mind Control: 30 Years and Strong

by Mike Dayton, 1976 Mr. America and 1980s Outrageous Strongman

There aren’t a lot of things that have survived 30 years and keep on giving. Consider vinyl records, cassette tapes and cars. The fact that my course Chi Mind Control continues to be enjoyed in its dated and Xeroxed format is amazing! I’m almost afraid to update/upgrade it, but I suppose that will be coming.

When I wrote it in the 1970s I was a little wild. As a second child to an older brother with a genius IQ, it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out why I focused on the body rather than the brain. I could also display phenomenal strength—my hands and my traps were, and I guess still are–legendary. Freakish even.

I broke police handcuffs, bent quarters, held back race cars, snapped baseball bats and survived the hangman’s noose. I can’t say that the Chi exercises were 100% responsible for my remarkable strength and survival, but I had practiced isometric tension exercises from as young as 11, reading about them in Hoffman’s magazines.

(Yes, I’ve heard all the scuttlebutt that those articles were just cover for some of the first use of anabolics, but in my mind, the exercises were causing records to be broken. I believed.)

And therein lies the secret to my strength: I’ve always believed the mind creates all exceptional performance, particularly physical feats of incredible strength. My martial arts training helped me understand the role of the mind in creating phenomenal physical strength and skill.

The practicality of Chi Mind Control today lies in the fact that the human body—while miraculous—is essentially low tech. Controlling emotions and using mental imagery remain the most powerful tools we have to harness and ultimately unleash strength and power. My course continues to provide you the tools to hit 500 on the bench, ace that school exam, win the race and put your life back on track—as my many students have learned, the lessons keep giving and giving. You will find yourself, for the rest of your life, channeling your Chi.

I hope you will use this blog to share Chi stories, as we each continue on our journey to maximize our potential.

As my sister and my online friends, increase my online knowledge I will be increasing my web presence and blog sophistication.

My thanks and appreciation to all of you who have used my accomplishments to increase your own. You guys are all the best!

Mike