We have a new webpage and our blog is a part of that now!
To continue following Playfully Fit and our blog, go to:
www.playfullyfit.com
Will miss posting here for sentimental reasons! :-)
Thank you blogger for a wonderful run!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Gym Phobia
If it's been a while since you've been to the gym, you might find that you've become a little more hesitant to walk in the door. You're not alone.
Before I go further, let me say that I use the term "gym" loosely. Your "gym" could be outdoors, a climbing gym, a yoga studio, a martial arts dojo, a circus school, a fitness center or anywhere else where you exercise on a regular basis.
It starts with a missed training session, a skipped class or a cancelled workout with a friend. Something came up. You were under the weather, work got too busy, you had a social obligation that couldn't be changed. And then the next day...well...what's one more day of skipping the gym? The third day, "Hey, this is getting pretty comfortable. I like sleeping in (or coming home early)." More difficult yet is when travel interrupts your workout schedule - especially if you don't keep up some sort of exercise routine while you're on the road.
I'm not talking about when we miss our workouts because something major has happened in our lives. Those things can't be avoided. We adjust and adapt as best we can. What I'm referring to are those episodes when we simply experience a slow attrition. Our willingness to get in that gym door and start our workout simply fades. And before we know it, we've stopped going to the gym and can't imagine how we will ever get back to it.
The idea of going back to our regular workouts, training sessions, classes becomes a bit daunting. Further avoidance builds distance, anxiety and worry that we won't be able to keep up, will embarrass ourselves in front of others, or have to "start all over again." Staying home and not working out becomes its own self-fulfilling prophecy and helps reinforce the reasons we develop for not getting back into our workouts.
The good news is that avoidance of this nature - where our rational mind knows that there is really no actual danger - evaporate quickly in the face of decisive positive action. I.e. if I go to the gym, walk in the door, put on my workout clothes and start to move, my physical actions will help to change my thoughts, and the fear I was feeling will lessen and eventually evaporate.
The other great thing is that many of us have experienced at one point or another a desire to avoid something that is actually good for us. This usually happens when the thing that is good for us also makes us emotionally or physically uncomfortable. We know how to help each other through these challenges. Tell your friends what's happening and ask for their support!
No easy solutions here, but a desire on my part to see more people who start off with great dedication to their workouts stick with the plan and continue moving forward. Bumps in the road are inevitable. The trick is to recognize them as such and not let them stop you. Just look at them as little opportunities to reinforce your commitment to your own wellbeing.
Before I go further, let me say that I use the term "gym" loosely. Your "gym" could be outdoors, a climbing gym, a yoga studio, a martial arts dojo, a circus school, a fitness center or anywhere else where you exercise on a regular basis.
It starts with a missed training session, a skipped class or a cancelled workout with a friend. Something came up. You were under the weather, work got too busy, you had a social obligation that couldn't be changed. And then the next day...well...what's one more day of skipping the gym? The third day, "Hey, this is getting pretty comfortable. I like sleeping in (or coming home early)." More difficult yet is when travel interrupts your workout schedule - especially if you don't keep up some sort of exercise routine while you're on the road.
I'm not talking about when we miss our workouts because something major has happened in our lives. Those things can't be avoided. We adjust and adapt as best we can. What I'm referring to are those episodes when we simply experience a slow attrition. Our willingness to get in that gym door and start our workout simply fades. And before we know it, we've stopped going to the gym and can't imagine how we will ever get back to it.
The idea of going back to our regular workouts, training sessions, classes becomes a bit daunting. Further avoidance builds distance, anxiety and worry that we won't be able to keep up, will embarrass ourselves in front of others, or have to "start all over again." Staying home and not working out becomes its own self-fulfilling prophecy and helps reinforce the reasons we develop for not getting back into our workouts.
The good news is that avoidance of this nature - where our rational mind knows that there is really no actual danger - evaporate quickly in the face of decisive positive action. I.e. if I go to the gym, walk in the door, put on my workout clothes and start to move, my physical actions will help to change my thoughts, and the fear I was feeling will lessen and eventually evaporate.
The other great thing is that many of us have experienced at one point or another a desire to avoid something that is actually good for us. This usually happens when the thing that is good for us also makes us emotionally or physically uncomfortable. We know how to help each other through these challenges. Tell your friends what's happening and ask for their support!
No easy solutions here, but a desire on my part to see more people who start off with great dedication to their workouts stick with the plan and continue moving forward. Bumps in the road are inevitable. The trick is to recognize them as such and not let them stop you. Just look at them as little opportunities to reinforce your commitment to your own wellbeing.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Laura's Laws of Leadership - Plus One of My Own
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| Laura Goodin - photo: Michael Salerno |
Laura has been a friend of mine for almost 20 years. In addition to her current leadership roles as producer, director and mom, Laura has taught self-defense and martial arts to people of all ages and spent over a decade as an emergency-management professional, leading, training, and managing a corps of paid and volunteer media officers and participating in the development of state- and national-level emergency-management policy.
1. Feed 'em. Whatever that means.
You have to "feed" your team what will give them sustenance, energy and encouragement as a whole while also "feeding" each person's unique motivational needs. You need to know your team members and provide the best support you can to help them be successful. One of the greatest tools I have begun to use in this regard is Process Communication or PCM. For more on this, visit my friends at Next Element Consulting.
Laura pointed out that "feed 'em" also often literally means "Give them something to eat." It's amazing how clearly that will communicate to your people that you care about their welfare. I can attest to the impact of such a seemingly simple gesture. Years ago when I was working at an outdoor adventure school, we were unpacking in the cold rain from a large expedition. Our manager came out of his warm, dry office, started up a portable stove, and made hot chocolate for us all. This simple gesture not only strengthened the loyalty I already felt; it also gained him about 4 more hours work from each one of us.
2. Make their success more important than your own.
I think this is perhaps the most important leadership rule I know. As a leader, my goal is and always has been to help my participants, team members and clients shine! It is not important that I am out ahead getting the spotlight - unless that is necessary for a particular purpose. What is most important is that each person on my team is doing what they do best and challenging themselves to grow in areas where they need further development.
3. Lead by example (this one's from me).
If you want your team to excel, show them how to do it. You may not be performing the same functions as others on your team (that's why you have a team!), but you must show the same energy, spirit, enthusiasm, talent and commitment to what you are doing.
You also have to model good self-care. Working on a high-functioning team is exhilerating but also tiring. Model good work-life balance and encourage your team-mates to take care of themselves. Practice what you preach, as they say. Especially in the fitness industry, we need to walk our talk!
I have been fortunate to have worked with a number of fabulous leaders over the years. I have been "well-fed" both literally and figuratively! I hope to use that sustenance to create something beautiful for a brand new team!
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