At EDGE Holistic Fitness, we understand and appreciate our clients’ earnest desires to improve health, fitness, and body composition. In order to facilitate physical strength, it is prudent to first cultivate psychological strength. Therefore, listed below are a few critical facets of our fitness philosophy that we use to help coach our clients along their journey.
Instead of promoting the false notion that “fitness is easy”, we begin with a candid discussion on the causal mechanisms that influence fitness and fatness. While it is not an easy pill to swallow, the truth is that metabolic stress is a requisite stimulus that induces growth. The greater the stress, the greater the results.
However, while physical stress is objective, mental stress is subjective. As such, we coach our clients to develop mental fortitude; reinforcing positive affect and intrinsic satisfaction associated with intense physical exertion. And the results are astounding! By giving our clients permission to embrace the inextricable challenges that they must face, they actually learn to enjoy the process!
In this manner, our clients develop not only physical strength, but a perceptible tenacity and conviction that empowers them to achieve and maintain their fitness goals, long-term.
While the journey of fitness may seem daunting, we have some words of encouragement! Of all of the endeavors in life, the pursuit of fitness is actually the most fair. Allow me to explain…
In order to achieve success in life, we must apply ourselves. In many endeavors (school, work, relationships) it is commonly held that the harder we work, the better the outcome. However, in reality, diligence can go unnoticed or unappreciated. Unfortunately, success is often contingent upon recognition/approval from another person (e.g. your boss), despite our best efforts.
Yet, fitness is different – there is no middle-man to contend with, no one to ask for a raise or promotion… You put the work in and the results inevitably follow. Period.
There are two fundamental types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is wanting to do something for the pure pleasure and satisfaction of doing it. Extrinsic motivation is wanting to do something for the rewards that it can bring.
Our mission is to inspire our clients to get the best of both worlds, with an emphasis on cultivating intrinsic satisfaction in the journey, and not just the destination. When the performance of exercise becomes the objective – in and of itself – you will be unstoppable.
Although motivation can be empowering, do not depend on it. Our feelings and emotional state are constantly changing. If we were to only do things when we felt good and ready to do them, the world as we know it would fall apart… The key to success is simply doing what we must despite how we feel. Although we may not be motivated to exercise, if we want the results (or to reap the intrinsic satisfaction) we must do it regardless. This is why momentum is more useful.
Newton’s 1st Law of Motion, inertia, states that: an object at rest stays at rest until acted upon by a significant force; and, an object in motion tends to stay in motion until acted upon by a force in an opposing direction.
The law of inertia conceptually applies to fitness – the more frequently and consistently you train, the more inertia (or “training momentum”) you develop. With time and dedication, momentum provides the impetus to train – out of sheer habit and routine – beyond aversion or lazy disposition you may be feeling. And like physical objects, once training momentum develops, its hard to stop.
Packed more valuable and DOABLE health information into one hour than most books do.