What inspires you to exercise? Do you get up and move because you enjoy doing so or are you a reluctant participant who gets going only after being prodded? Do you join a gym or start a program in January, only to quit or let your goals fade away as the month progresses?
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If you join a gym and then let your goal lose steam by February you are definitely not alone. I was dismayed but not shocked to read that the combined price tag for unused gym memberships runs $397 million each year. That’s a lot of money. There are a lot of people who sign up, pay the monthly fee, and… ghost their gym. Yikes! And of course, January is the month for this because the New Year/New You drumbeat (not to mention your pants being tighter after a holiday season spent indulging) makes for an irresistible siren song, doesn’t it?
Do you really want to contribute to the $397 million per year in unused gym memberships, though? There are a lot of ways to become and remain healthy, but signing up for the gym and never going is not one of them.
I recently wrote about getting started with a health coach and that, of course, is a great option. Another is to find the right personal trainer for you and your goals. But do you start now, or do you really want to wait until January (or the next blue moon, or after your birthday, or…)? There’s a reason why the cliché about the journey of a thousand miles starting with the first step resonates. It’s true. We all have to start somewhere, and part of the issue is knowing when to start and how to begin.
For many people, it’s the first step that’s the toughest. At Two Hearts Wellness, I no longer offer personal training, despite maintaining my trainer certification. Instead, I discuss fitness programming with patients if they are interested in strength training or other forms of exercise and I help my patients to decide how working with a trainer might complement what they are doing with me via Chinese medicine. I’m also glad to refer out to specific personal trainers if the patient isn’t sure where to begin.
When you’re my patient and you want to make some fairly substantial changes in your life? Well. Having pretty much grown up within gym culture and being a long-term certified personal trainer myself, I can seamlessly integrate my treatment goals for you with those that you and your trainer set. It can be a lot of fun doing that sort of planning, and it’s a true joy to see how well you do as you progress.
And that’s pretty much the inspiration for this blog post, really: I love to see my patients with an excellent trainer if they genuinely want to begin a fitness program. To that end, I also asked a trainer in my referral network to share thoughts on starting a new program and here’s what she said:
“Starting something new can be wildly intimidating, especially when it involves changing long practiced habits around fitness & nutrition. The thing to remember is that improving your health & fitness is a gradual & long-term project—one you can ease into at ANY age. I meet my clients exactly where they are & we build from there. It’s never too soon or too late to start transforming your limitations into strengths.”
Sandy George of 2LBZ Fitness Project
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Have I convinced you yet? I hope so…and the next question, then, is where to begin. Finding the perfect trainer for you can be a bit of a challenge, true, but it’s worth the effort (Sandy offers online training, btw). Before you begin looking, though, here are some of the questions you can ask yourself:
1. Why do you want to get healthy? What’s your motivation? A person with a chronic health condition (and that’s a big swath of the population when 40% of adults in the US have a chronic health condition and 60% have more than one ongoing health problem) has their reasons for working with a personal trainer. Someone who wants to lose the holiday weight and go to their high school reunion looking fabulous has others. We all have our motivations, so what is yours?
2. What is standing between you and your goals right now? Generally, the answer to this question is either money (although you actually can save by working with a health coach or trainer), lack of time, or lack of confidence. Maybe you not only are unsure of your goals but you’re also convinced that you’ll never achieve them anyway, so why even try? If so, the right trainer or a coach really and truly can be a life-changer for you.
3. What about your history? Have you tried before and been unsuccessful? What is your historic weak point, or your area that always has tripped you up every time you try? This is so personal to each and every one of us, but again…your trainer or coach–not to mention your acupuncturist–is the one who will be there for you as you build your confidence and efficacy. It can be tough to know where to start and how to keep the momentum going. Especially if you have tried and faltered in the past, the work you do with the right trainer or coach, especially if it dovetails with your Chinese medicine treatment, can mean all the difference. Success is possible for you!
Your answers to these questions will point you to either an acupuncturist, a health coach, and/or a personal trainer but either way?
The point is to begin.
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Paula Bruno, Ph.D., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, an AOBTA-CP traditional Chinese bodywork therapist, and a wellness educator and health coach. She maintains an active and growing practice at her Austin, TX office. Dr. Bruno is also available for distance appointments for wellness consultation or coaching.
In her first career, she was a Spanish professor.
Dr. Bruno’s specialties as a Chinese medicine practitioner include: • Musculoskeletal health (acute or chronic pain relief; Ehlers Danlos syndrome & hypermobility support) • Digestive support, gut health, and weight loss • Aesthetic treatment, including scar revision • Men’s health • General preventative care and immune support for all persons.
She is the author of Chinese Medicine and the Management of Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: A Practitioner’s Guide. Dr. Bruno also maintains a second website, holistichealthandheds.com, with resources and information curated specifically for people with hEDS and HSD.
When you are ready to discover what traditional medicine plus a vibrant and engaged approach to holistic health can do for you, either contact Dr. Bruno or book an appointment online.
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Note: Material on this web site site is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease, illness, or ailment. A Chinese medicine practitioner in Texas identifies syndrome patterns but does not diagnose illness. Material on this web site does not purport to identify syndrome patterns.
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Two Hearts Wellness does not accept paid advertising on this website
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Two Hearts Wellness 