Juggling was my sole source of income for six years. As such, the number of times that I did the act ran into the thousands. Under long contracts, one does not have the luxury of taking a day off when it "doesn't feel good". You work when the show wants you to. Injury is a major factor in any juggler's career (either performing, sport or recreation). Since I was constantly performing, and needed to be rested for the show, I was unable to devote any of my energy to anything other than a maintenance training schedule. Having a rigorous weight lifting session just before doing a delicate juggling act did not work well for me! The obstacle was to just keep going, not even worrying about improving. I gradually developed repeated stress injuries in my wrist, shoulders and lower back. I made it through the contracts, but by the time I finished, I had lost much of the muscle mass that cushioned my joints. I had plenty of strength to do the act that I was performing, but everything else was shot.

After a year off, I have spent the past five months weight training again, two or three times a week. The reason isn't to provide strength, but to provide padding. The muscle tissue helps to keep those joints together and cushion the strain of juggling training/performing. Not to mention, if one wants to go up on stage, it always helps to look healthy and fit.

- Steve

PS. Shoulder bounces with a ball are a hell of a lot easier if you have something other than a pointy shoulder bone to bounce off of!