According to one of the world’s leading strength coaches, it’s possible to get stronger while working out less, and it’s through the same method he once used to train elite military units like the US Navy SEALs, Marines, and Army Special Forces.
Fitness expert Pavel Tsatsouline, often credited with bringing Soviet strength training techniques to the West, explained the concept in a recent episode of the Huberman Lab podcast with neuroscientist Andrew Huberman. The approach, known as “greasing the groove“, focuses on training your nervous system rather than exhausting your muscles. Here’s how it works.
The workout that strengthens your body by training your brain
“Greasing the groove” is not about lifting heavier weights or spending more hours at the gym. Instead, it’s about practicing movements more frequently, but in shorter, easier sessions. The goal is to train your nervous system to perform more efficiently.
Tsatsouline compares it to studying a language. Instead of cramming before a test, you review a few words several times a day. Over time, your brain forms stronger connections, and the skill becomes second nature. The same applies to strength training: every time you perform a movement, your brain and muscles communicate. Repeat it enough, and the connection becomes faster and stronger, like “greasing” the neural pathway.
This approach has been used by elite forces like the Navy SEALs because it builds strength and endurance without burning out the body. You might perform a few pull-ups every couple of hours throughout the day, or practice squats several times daily with plenty of rest in between. The focus is on consistency and precision.
Tsatsouline says this method helps people get stronger without the fatigue or soreness typical of traditional training. Over time, the repeated, low-intensity work improves neural efficiency, allowing you to lift more weight or do more reps without needing longer or harder workouts.
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman praised the concept for its impact on both physical and mental performance, calling it “like water in a desert” for people stuck in rigid workout routines. Once you understand how the nervous system learns, he explained, you stop thinking in sets and reps and start thinking in skills and signals.
More ways to build strength efficiently
Even if you’re not ready to fully switch to the “grease the groove” method, Tsatsouline’s approach highlights an important principle: smarter, not harder, training gets results. Here are a few strategies that complement this method:
- Keep your muscles active throughout the day. Incorporate mini sets of bodyweight exercises—push-ups, squats, or planks—between tasks or breaks.
- Focus on form, not fatigue. Each rep should be clean and controlled to strengthen your movement pattern.
- Avoid training to failure. Stop before your muscles are completely exhausted to keep the nervous system sharp.
- Stay consistent. Frequent, low-effort practice sessions yield better results over time than occasional intense workouts.
- Rest and recover. Even light training requires recovery for your muscles and nervous system to adapt.
Tsatsouline’s philosophy challenges the idea that more is always better. By focusing on the brain-muscle connection, he shows that you can build real, lasting strength in less time and without feeling worn down.