I gave a presentation
today to an audience who know me more as a person and less as a trainer. To
help them understand what Left Coast Fitness is all about (and therefore how I
work), I wrote a "statement of philosophy" which I've expanded a bit
here.
True fitness is as simple
(though not necessarily as easy) as A,B,C
- Awareness of
how one's body moves, how it goes through the day. I work with my clients to
understand the ways their bodies have adapted to their life's physical
needs and challenges, ingrained body dynamics, sports-specific patterns,
and the accommodations made to address injuries, muscular imbalances,
etc.
-
Balance in diet, exercise,
rest and relaxation is crucial to fitness and well-being. You can't out-train a bad
diet; you can't build significant muscle without the right amount and type
of nutritious food; you can't repair and therefore build your body without
sufficient rest; you can't be complete without time to live beyond the gym
or workout room.
-
Commitment to doing those
things for oneself which promote a full and capable life. Too often people define
goals for themselves which are fear based: working out to avoid an image
in the mirror they find distasteful, trying to deny the days and years
that the calendar shows them have gone by. Working towards a goal is
sustainable; working towards something that provides capability or comfort
is sustainable; ensuring that you are - to the best of your abilities -
growing and thriving in whatever form that may take - that is
sustainable. I know many seniors well into their 70s and 80s who
might not necessarily be training for the Olympics but they're living as
fully as they can to enjoy life and all it offers. In fact, they love life
and accept all its challenges. I have had clients with severe physical
challenges who were far more capable than others who were barely, shall we
call it "cosmetically challenged". Don't get me wrong, I
love working with athletes and pushing them hard but I also love it when a
client tells me she managed to walk up and down the many flights of stairs
required to go to a show with her friends instead of sitting dejectedly at
home and bemoaning "physical limitations".
So, in what became a very large nutshell, that's what Left Coast Fitness is
about: Awareness, Balance, and Commitment.
Have a great day and be well.
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