If you’re reading this chances are you are a fan of fitness and wellness. So you probably work out or play a sport. Do you train your mind, though? A physically fit body is great, but the body is only one aspect of true health and fitness. You’ve got to focus on the mind, too.
I saw Todd Durkin speak at CanFitPro’s FitEast in 2016 and he reminded us that we need to “Get Your Mind Right”. This guy runs his own fitness studio and trains some seriously high-profile athletes and he understands the power of a healthy mind. You’ve heard me talk of Jill Payne before and her mastery of energy management. I’ve learned from her that it’s within your control to shift how you feel.You can be injured and still feel amazing because it happens in the mind!
I’ve been reading (lots) and I’m almost finished You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. It’s taking me awhile because I keep stopping to reflect on these life-changing statements and to share those with others. I actually paused my reading to write this post because her chapter on “Doing vs. Spewing” inspired this idea that as health and wellness professionals, we play a critical role in helping clients achieve optimal fitness and we’d be negligent if we ignored the role of a fit mind in the fitness journey.
Critical? YES! Most people join a gym or sign up for a class because they know they need to make a change. They show up, get sweaty and leave with achy muscles, but many never come back. WHY? That focus on getting a toned body isn’t enough. The physical stuff is hard, but the mental stuff is harder. It’s uncomfortable in a way many people aren’t used to.
How can we help clients get their minds right, especially when we don’t all have handy access to Todd Durkin or Jill Payne?
- Educate yourself: read books and attend seminars and learn from the experts
- Get YOUR mind fit: you can’t help someone with their mindset if you’re is off-track. Practice what you preach!
- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable: check your judgements of others and of yourself; determine what your limiting beliefs are and work to get rid of them
- Build a network: connect with local and online experts you can refer your clients to
- Be prepared to let some clients go: some clients’ mindsets may not jive with yours and they’d be better served by a different professional: that’s ok.
A few books/experts I recommend checking out are:
Todd Durkin, Jill Payne, Mel Robbins, Gabrielle Bernstein
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, The Inner Runner by Dr.Jason Karp,
The Cool Impossible by Eric Orton
Please share your favourites!
Mindset Events 