geezermama:
Well, ck1, I guess "theme" was not the best word to describe what I meant. Maybe this is better: With 65, we have the tracks with "no recovery"...chest, tris and bis. With another release, we may have a similar combo sequence in several tracks. Or maybe, the legs are difficult with other tracks being "average." I might be inclined to mix all hardest and "no recovery" tracks for a workout...but I don't really like it as much. I realize everyone is different...that's cool...I guess I've just enjoyed all the releases I've done so far and like to present them "as is."
Next week, I'm going back to 60 in its entirety.
I actually think this can be a good approach, and totally understand what you mean. Until recently, I have always mixed and mashed together tracks from different releases. But there's an instructor at our gym who always teaches releases in full and I'm starting to think she has a good way of approaching it.
The reasons -
First of all, when we first launch a new release, we all say "Oh you shouldn't just start mixing in some of the tracks - the class should experience the release in full." Well in theory, the same thing could apply historically - wouldn't it be nice for newer members to still get to experience old releases in full, how they were designed?
Also, often there are intentional training features built into a release. E.g. super-hard Squat track and easier Lunges. Or common themes or threads. Etc. You miss this if you don't revisit the entire release.
We talk about a musical journey - a release is already written like that. Teaching old releases in full ensures you don't OD on one style of music.
Plus - it's hard being an experienced participant, not knowing what tracks are coming next. What if it's a tougher or easier track and you don't load your bar the right way? You either go too heavy or too light. And while we can try and guide the class as to what this track is like, different things are difficult for different people and what we think about a track being easy/hard might not be what each person in your class thinks. The nice thing about a release in its entirety is experienced members know what's coming next or you can remind them "It's the XYZ back track" and it jogs their memory because it's in the context they were first introduced to it.
A big one for me is that I don't often mix in tracks I don't like. Sad, but true. If someone requests it, sure, of course I mix it in. However, there might be tracks that I don't like, that my class love, and if I never teach them, they miss out unless they remember back far enough to specifically ask for them. Newer members won't know to ask for tracks that would be right up their alley. If you teach old releases in full, you include even those tracks you're not crazy about and maybe the class really love them.
I think there's room for both, obviously, but I do think there is a benefit in, at least sometimes, teaching full releases. I had my "ten release anniversary" for BP (with BP65; I trained on BP55) and I decided to go back to the whole release, and I'm thinking now I may just work my way up through the 50's till BP66 comes out!
Free the body.
The mind will follow.