Masculine/Feminine & the Revolution of Group Fitness Training

I don't deny the origins of Group Fitness.  Aerobics originated in the 80's with such role models as Jane Fonda.  Lycra leotards and headbands were worn and the instructors often yelled out things like "woo hoo!"  Classes were often called things like "Jazzercise," and "Tone and Stretch" and "Cardio Funk" and 98% of people taking the classes were women!  No wonder aerobics is perceived as feminine!  Unfortunately, as we move into the era of "Group Fitness Training" this image of "Aerobics" has stuck!  Someone who spends all their time in the free weights area still pictures a bunch of girls in the group fitness studio jumping around and dancing dressed in lycra just like the cardio junkie sees the free weights area as full of 'meat heads' who grunt and check out their biceps in the mirror. 

However, the fitness industry has become more educated!  Just as resistance training has evoled from its body building associations and become something more individuals aspire to do because of the much needed strength and metabolic benefits and the functional aspects of the training, group fitness has evolved from its feminine origins.

In a recent New York Times article, fitness program directors were quoted as saying that they know gym members stay longer when they're involved in group classes.  Classes offer a social aspect that individual gym users often don't experience.  There is interaction and connection- it is a shared experience.  Such organizations as Les Mills and Zumba Fitness have taken the fitness world by storm all because they understand that the social benefits of exercise and the 'fun factor' keeps people coming back!  The very essence of Sh'Bam (one of Les Mills latest successes!) according to program director Racael Cohen is "you are out with a group of friends on a  Friday night and simply leading them into a fun time of dance; so infectiously fun (all that sweating and smiling!) and they just can't help joining in".

According to Barry Van Over, vice president of Premier Martial Arts, "Men like the social aspects of a co-ed class, but most will shun a class that risks making them appear anti-masculine'.  Drey Tybus, a New Your City publicist echoes these thoughts; "since the group exercise studio is not "man's territory," neither are the typical movements you find in these classes.  Fumbling around trying to learn stuff is hard and it's not any easier when there's a cute girl next to you who's looking at you with eyes that say, 'Hey dopey, what don't you get here?  When he blows the whistle, you jump!" ("Oh Man" - Carrie Myers Smith).  A lack of self-confidence and physical inferiority are not qualitites we associate with masculininty!

There are some classes that contain movements typically associated with femininity.  Although it is different in some cultures, the Australian male wouldn't be typically associated with some of the hip wiggling and butt shaking that might take place in a Zumba class.  However, this is not typical of Group Fitness anymore!  Less Mills International has been successful because of its different take on Group Fitness.  They have taken typical sporting activities and thurned them into Group Fintess  Programs.  Acoording to Less Mills International founder Phillip Mills in the 1990's "Aerobics, which has bubbled away in a niche through the 80's, became the Group Fitness revolution.  Suddenly you could ride your bike in a social environment with inspiring music and a great instructor to motivate you.  The same thing happened with weight-training, martial arts, yoga, dance classes and a host of other activities."  Les Mills also makes a point of using strong, athletic male role models to promote its programs.  As a result, not only has it brought more males to the Group Fitness studio, it has inspired many to become instructors.  They use words like "Power" and "Strenght" to promote their programs, instructors us set, pre-choreographed aerobics workouts.  They also aim to use "genderless music;" there is a mix of rock and latest music for more general appeal.

Studio classes are no longer called 'Aerobics!' the focus is on group training.  There are classes like Zumba that involve dancing around the aerobics room, but there are so many other options; Thump Boxing, cycle, Tabata circuits, Boot Camp, and even classes promotion core strenght and fucntional training such as Pilates and CxWorx.  Group fitness has replaced the fun and camaraderie that was previously created by traditional sporting activities.  The instructor coaches and motivates the group to success and you achieve your fitness goals in a social way with friends and music that is infectious!  The group, the coach and the music motivates you to a whole new energy level!

Dancing Makes You Smarter

When we think of health and fitness, longevity and quality of life we usually think of training our bodies.  We weight train to boost the metabolism and we choose a class or find an activity that may boost our cardiovascular fitness.  Even when we hear the term "Mind-Body" class we are still thinking of our physical being; we want to be stronger and more flexible.  Seldom would the concept of attending the gym to work our mind even occur to us!

Last year the New England Journal of Medicine published a study conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.  This was a 21-year study of senior citizens 75 years and older and measured the effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging.  The study wanted to see if "any physical or cognitive recreational activities influenced mental acuity" ("Use it or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter" - Richard Powers).  They studied activities such as reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, playing musical instruments, playing tennis or golf, swimming, cycling, dancing, walking for exercise and housework.  One of the surprises of the study was that almost none of the physical activities appeared to offer any protection against dementia.  There were physical fitness benefits of course, but the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing.  In fact, dancing showed the greatest risk reduction of any activity studied, cognitive or physical!  Activities such as reading offered a 35% reduced risk of dementia and crossword puzzles offered a 47% reduced risk.  Dancing frequently offered a 76% risk reduction.

According to Dr. Joseph Coyle, a Harvard Medical psychiatrist who wrote an accompanying commentary to the study, "The cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which are critical to these activities, are remarkably plastic, and they rewire themselves based upon their use."  In other words it is a matter of 'use it or lose it!'

The reason dancing was so effective for exercising our cognitive process is that it is an activity that challenges our split-second decision making abilities.  It requires us to interpret moves and respond.  Dancing is a kinaesthetic, rational, musical and emotional learning experience.  It encourages us to move in a way that is unfamiliar to us and is constantly presenting us with new sequences so that new neurological pathways are formed.  According to Richard Powers in his article "Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter," "difficult and even frustrating classes are better for you, as they will create a greater need for new neural pathways."

As someone who has danced for almost as many years as I have walked I have never understood why dance programs seem to fade out and become almost a 'specialty' thing at gyms.  They are challenging and involve thinking and work, but for some reason the desire to feel successful straight away plays on our egos and our self-consciousness takes over.  It is a shame that we lose the brave front we all have when we are young; everything is unfamiliar so we persevere and are eager students.  We try lots of sports, attend lots of classes but over time we decide to stay comfortable and we gradually create for ourselves a niche that is filled with a few things we feel define us and these often become fewer and fewer over time.  We often avoid opportunities that may take us into unfamiliar territories or may upset our natural way of doing  or thinking.  For a lot of us dancing is not on our list of desired activities to do  with our day.  We may appear silly, we may leave frustrated by a pattern of movements that initially seem irrational or illogical.  Hay, isn't that part of the fun?!  And you never know!  With perseverance and practice you may become open to the experience.  We exercise our heart to be fitter, our muscles to be stronger, why not exercise our mind?

Discover Your Exercise Personality

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it”. – Bruce Lee.

It is no secret; personality traits directly affect your health and fitness. Numerous studies have proven that people that are prone to stress and anxiety often experience more health issues than individuals that have a positive outlook on life. Often our negativity comes from self-consciousness, feeling a lack of control and feeling over-whelmed by the challenges we face. So many people join gyms with good intentions of reaching their fitness goals but then give up almost as soon as they have signed up! We blame time, finances, and family commitments however, these things affected our lives before the paperwork was signed! I see it all the time; people who are new to gyms running out of clubs because they were confused by an unfamiliar piece of equipment, or they felt completely self-conscious by a class or they were pushed to the max by a trainer and were scarred for life by the brutal physical exertion they felt! Sometimes “the stress of engaging in exercise that is not of our choosing can outweigh its health benefits” (“The Owner’s Manual for the Brain” – Dr Pierce Howard). In 2004 the University of Florida conducted tests on approximately 860 students to see if personality was a factor when it came to individuals sticking to exercise routines (“Personality May Be Key to ‘Psyching’ Oneself Up for Exercise - University of Florida News May 3 2004). According to the research conducted, specific training styles and exercise environments suited different personality types and because the training suited individual emotional needs, it reduced stress levels in different individuals and encouraged them not only to stick to an exercise routine but to enjoy the activity.

Amy Hagan of the University of Florida hypothesized for her doctoral dissertation that “if people’s personalities can predict what conditions are most favourable for them to exercise, then an exercise program can be tailored to fit their personal needs, making it more likely they will stick with a routine” (“Personality May Be Key to ‘Psyching’ Oneself Up for Exercise - University of Florida News May 3 2004). Hagen surveyed undergraduate students in sports and fitness classes at UF’s College of Health and Human Performance about personality, exercise preference and exercise behaviour. Questionnaires were given to approximately 860 students and the researchers used five major personality traits; extraversion, which measures sociability; neuroticism, which gauges emotional stability and refers to the tendency to feel fear, embarrassment, sadness and guilt; openness, one’s receptiveness to new experiences; agreeableness, the inclination to be agreeable and helpful; and conscientiousness, the tendency to be strong-willed and determined. It was discovered not only that different types of activities were suited to different personality types, but that the exercise environment played a significant role.  Also, particular personalities are more willing to adapt to an active lifestyle than others.

Extroverts: According to the research extroverted people tended to crave “active and high-intensity workout sessions” (“What’s Your Exercise Personality’ – Eatbetteramerica.com). It was also discovered that these people preferred listening to music while exercising and were more motivated when in a social environment. The Group Fitness arena is ideal for these thrill-seekers! Classes such as Spin, Body Attack, Body Step, Jam, Sh’bam and so on are music driven programs that offer high intensity moves in a highly social environment. In these programs, the social/fun-factor is as equally important to the workout as the physical exertion. It was also found that these individuals are prone to exercising fairly often. According to Hagan “These excitement-craving people love lots of activity and want to go, go, go” (“Personality May Be Key to ‘Psyching’ Oneself Up for Exercise - University of Florida News May 3 2004).

Neurotics: These people are least likely to exercise and, ironically, they’re most in need of it because exercise reduces anxiety and depression. Neurotic people tend to prefer exercising indoors or in a private environment. Neurotics who tend to be anxiety-provoked and stressed-out people responded better to low-intensity/endurance training such as distance running. Repetitive, rhythmic exercises such as running, swimming or cycling tended to suit these individuals possibly because the rhythm exerts a “tranquillizing effect on the brain stem and nervous system in a manner similar to rocking a baby” ("Scientists have a Good Feeling about Exercise” – Carol Krucoff). These individuals become stressed by crowds and are more suited to private training studios or training at non-peak times. Many of these individuals enjoy a home gym set up or, when training with a trainer, will do so in an un-populated studio or space.

Open Minded/Introverts: These people were found to like a variety of activities and like exercising to music. However, this group was found to consider training “me” time and, therefore, was often not suited to the group fitness arena. These individuals are often found in the cardio area of a gym most likely listening to their ipods and partaking in activities such as running, cycling or walking which are activities they can do on their own. This group of individuals find groups of people draining and prefer to consider exercise their “time-out” for the day. Despite the group environment, programs such as yoga and pilates have been proven to have an appeal to these individuals as they offer the benefit of rejuvenation and relaxation.

Agreeable People: These individuals seem to prefer to exercise in the morning to get it over with. Agreeable people are compliant and friendly and have a tendency to help others and acquiesce to requests. These individuals exercise because they have to and train better with a work out buddy or trainer who can offer direction to keep them on track.

Conscientious People: These people are highly motivated and disciplined and will often schedule their fitness plan. According to Hagan, conscientious people “want to take charge of their own exercise routine to make sure it will get done” (“Exercise Tips for Extroverted, Introverted and Neurotic Personality Traits” – Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen). Conscientious People like high-intensity training but prefer to take charge of their own workouts rather than follow an instructor. If these individuals choose to train with a trainer they need to find a like-minded individual to train them or will opt to consult with a trainer to develop a structured routine that can be executed when it is convenient, and then check-in every month so the trainer can re-evaluate progress (“What’s Your Exercise Personality?” – Eatbetteramerica.com).  If they were to enter the Group Fitness arena, no frills programs such as Pump, cycle or Tabata would appeal as they are strong powerful programs all about getting in, doing the hard work and going!

We develop our emotional brain from a very early age; as babies we learn to laugh and cry. As we grow up we become subjected to a variety of experiences that shape us into who we are. Emotions hold strong with us when we are in certain environments due to our memories, and if an environment provokes negative associations, we become distressed and unhappy. However, the benefits of exercise are far too great to let environment or emotions stop us. Many fitness professionals and partakers give advice on what we should be doing. If this has failed for you in the past, perhaps ask yourself if the activity you participated in suited your needs? This is not just in terms of your fitness goals but what you required emotionally and environmentally. Often the best choices in life come from self-reflection on who we are and what is important to us. Perhaps if we stayed true to ourselves and our emotional needs, our training would not only assist our physical fitness, it would become a pleasurable thing that is a necessity for our wellbeing.

The New Year’s Resolution Achieved

“All wishes can be fulfilled by pledging” – The Manu Smriti

The end of the year is a busy time when we frantically try and cram in as much as possible; we tie up loose ends at work, try and catch up with as many family and friends as possible, we shop, eat and run around as though December 31st is the deadline to wind up all aspects of our life for the year!  Then January 1st chimes in… and suddenly, we breathe!  We finally have a moment to reflect on our year and what we want to change in this new ‘fresh start’ year.  Many people make New Year’s resolutions and most of these are geared toward self-improvement.  With this in mind, it is no surprise that fitness is often high on the priority list of when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.  However, studies have shown that approximately 20% of people are successful at seeing their resolutions through and some of the biggest failures are found in fitness resolutions (“Make Your New Year Fitness Plan Stick” - Lynn Bode CFT).  We often choose resolutions that we think we should adhere to rather than something realistic and achievable, so we make an empty promise to ourselves that we know we won’t see through.  What a waste of an opportunity!  New Year’s resolutions offer hope and prove that people have a belief in their ability to create positive changes for themselves.  The difference between our resolutions and other decisions we make to bring about changes in our life is that other goals we set for ourselves and achieve have taken concise planning, an action plan for when we get off track and landmarks so we can measure our progress.  If the New Year inspires a resolution and brings about optimism and motivation, why not create an action plan to guarantee success???

 

The practice of making resolutions can be tracked back to 4,000 years ago with the Babylonians.  Their New Year commenced in March to coincide with the “spring planting of crops” (“Personal Growth—New Year Resolutions: A Matter of Resolve” - Anupama Bhattacharya).  The Babylonians believed that “what a person does on the first day of the New Year will affect him or her throughout the year” (“Personal Growth—New Year Resolutions: A Matter of Resolve” - Anupama Bhattacharya).  Today’s take on resolutions doesn’t quite have the same superstitious connotations as the Babylonians, however, most resolutions are inspired from a reflection on the year before and a belief that the mere pledge to change will wipe clean a magical slate as the new year chimes in so we can start  over again.  If only life were that easy!  Unfortunately for most of us, unless you really did go about tying up loose ends and creating closure for certain life scenarios during the festive/catch-up/wrap up season, the problems we may have had with fitness, or work, or family often stay with us moving into the new year.  The lack of success some people have with resolutions often comes from the fact that they think uttering the resolution aloud will have the same effect as a magic wand!  However, when we look at other achievements in our lives, these have often come about due to actions, hard work and planning.

 

Many Personal Trainers use the SMART model when it comes to setting goals for clients; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound goals.  A vague resolution like “I want to get fit” may inspire someone enough to join a gym, but with the word ‘fitness’ having so many variables and meanings associated with it, what’s the plan from here?  Most people who aspire to be fitter in the New Year do so because they indulge during the festive season, so their resolve to be ‘fitter’ is actually a wish to be leaner.  Setting a specific goal weight often helps people map out an action plan on how they can achieve this.  This goal must been realistic; if your goal is to lose 15kg and the average person loses 1-2 kilos per week, if you set yourself a 2 week time frame to achieve this in, you are dooming yourself to failure!  The main reason that so many of us give up on our New Year’s resolutions is that we set ourselves goals that are unobtainable.  A 12 week goal would be more reasonable and achievable in this scenario.

 

There should be some system to track and measure your progress; whether it is as old-fashioned as the scales, recording body measurements or a clothes size.  Measuring progress not only documents that everything is going in the right direction, it keeps you accountable and motivated when it comes to your goal.  Measuring progress of fitness doesn’t always have to be about aesthetics (as motivating as those changes are!), the measurement may be a progression with the training itself such as lifting heavier weights, the ability to do more repetitions at an exercise or increasing the distance or speed on your run.  A food diary is another measurement of progress; it documents improved habits and is an accountability tool if you stray from personal goals.

 

Goals should be attainable; a 4ft broadly-built female can’t strut up to a personal trainer, point to a photograph of Megan Gale and say “I want to look like this!” and someone who has never run to the letterbox in their life can’t expect to initiate their running training with a marathon and be amazing.  Reality tells us that, firstly, we must work with what we are born with and, secondly, we should set small achievable goals in order to draw us closer to bigger ones.  You may aspire to run a marathon; but why not start with 1-2km… gradually increase this distance to 10km… then build your speed and become more time efficient… then increase the distance to 15km… and so on…  It is good and optimistic to set your sights high, but perhaps breaking down these goals will offer a greater chance at success.

 

Goals should also be relevant to you and hold a certain resonance with your current lifestyle.  The trouble with New Year’s resolutions is that most changes we choose to make are based on what we think we should do and not what we really want for ourselves.  We may say that we want to give up drinking or smoking because we’ve heard they are ’bad for our health’ but then may be the biggest socialites on the planet who expose ourselves to these temptations 4-5 days  of the week.  Then we fall off the wagon within moments of pledging our resolution because we actually enjoy our current behaviour.  If we are going to commit to our resolution and want to bring about change, our goal should inspire us and come from an honest place.  I have had several personal training clients who have been inspired to work on their fitness due to a personal health scare or one involving a family member.   It is like an epiphany!  A loved one manages to turn their life around because the doctor prescribed them exercise and suddenly they are inspired to do right by themselves, or the pin finally dropped in regard to their own health and suddenly workout isn’t a luxury, it is a health necessity!

 

Time lines can create a sense of urgency; they keep us in line and make us strive harder for what we want when we want it.  Any student will tell you about sleepless nights spent just trying to finish an assignment by a deadline to ensure good results.  When we give ourselves a time-frame to achieve fitness goals we tend to see them through more successfully.  Successful Biggest Loser/Transformation Challenge contestants can vouch for this; the first 8 weeks are dedicated to lifestyle changes– training and physical exertion, diet changes and breaking bad habits... then suddenly the end date is in sight!  Training increases, the diet becomes even stricter and on that last weigh in day, the sauna sessions increase.  It is astounding the lengths we will go to when we have an end point in sight.

 

New Year’s resolutions have often been given a bad rap; a less than 20% success rate and many accounts of failure usually because we set ourselves goals we can’t achieve and don’t necessarily want to achieve.  But what is wrong with desiring a fresh start for ourselves?  The optimism and self-belief that we can make positive changes for ourselves should be encouraged!  The resolution itself may be broad and a little beyond our reach, but that isn’t to say we can’t take the idea, break it down into small achievable goals and see our resolutions through.

 

Toughen Up! (Learning Psychological Hardiness)

“You can’t always influence what others may say or do to you but you can influence how you react and respond to it.” (Unknown)

Most of us at some stage will claim to have experienced set-backs or knocks and blows that have spun us off our life’s path that we have felt was so clearly and unquestionably ours. Life can teach us some harsh lessons! However, why is it that some individuals become so shaken by the experience that they become mere shells of their former self while others thrive at the challenge and come back at life stronger and more determined? It seems that the latter individuals have a number of personality traits that protect them from the effects of stress; psychologists call this “the stress-hardy personality” (“Stress Hardiness” – www.stresscourse.tripod.com). The stress-hardy personality consists of commitment, control and challenge and not only aids individuals with stress management, this state of better mental health can inspire better physical health and can actually make you live longer.

The modern understanding of mental-toughness or hardiness comes from research conducted by Salvatore Maddi, a professor of psychology at UC I Irvine (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”). This study which commenced in 1975 for a 12-year period was to evaluate the psychological well-being of managers in the Illinois Bell Telephone Company. The study took an unexpected turn six years later when the government deregulated the telephone industry and half the employees were laid off (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”). For two-thirds of this group the transition was traumatic! Many were unable to cope with the stress; they died of heart attacks and strokes, engaged in violence, got divorced and suffered from poor mental health. However, the other third didn’t fall apart. Their lives actually improved; their health got better, their careers soared and their relationships blossomed. What made these people different? According to Maddi, it was the characteristic of “hardiness” (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”). Hardy people have the ability to treat each crisis as an opportunity; it “gives you the courage and motivation to do the hard work of growing and developing rather than denying and avoiding” (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”).

Stress-hardy people seem to possess 3 distinctive traits; commitment, control and challenge” (“Stress Hardiness” – www.stresscourse.tripod.com). Commitment means having a purpose to life. Our involvement in family, work, community, social, friends, religious faith, ourselves etc. gives us meaning to our lives and can inspire and motivate our efforts. When we commit to something it gives us a sense of importance and goodness- we become a part of a bigger picture. When we are passionate about aspects of our lives- whether it be what we have set out to do with our careers or family or special interests- despite upsets or challenges, we often hold up because we have in perspective why these things are important to us and this knowledge is deeper than anything that might throw us off course.

Studies have shown that how much control we perceive we have over any stressor will influence how difficult the stressor will be for us to cope with (“Stress Hardiness” – www.stresscourse.tripod.com). There are two types of control; Internal and external. Internal locus of control people are aware that they cannot influence all the external events that go on in their lives but they do have a deep sense that they have a choice in how they react to what goes on around them. They believe that, although they cannot totally influence the situation, they do have some influence how they react to the event. External locus of control people believe that what happens is due to fate or destiny and that they will not be able to influence it. These people miss out on career advancement or a potential romantic relationship because it ‘wasn’t meant to be!’ This can alleviate stress as it inspires the belief that there are greater forces at work here and when the timing is right and the universe is aligned, all will be well again and opportunities will arise.

Challenge is about how we perceive the events that occur in our lives; seeing our difficulties as a challenge rather than as a threat and accepting that the only thing in our life that is constant is change (“Stress Hardiness” – www.stresscourse.tripod.com). Stress-hardy people see change as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than a threat that triggers a fight or flight response. That one third of Illinois Bell Telephone Company who got laid off didn’t dwell on their misfortune; they saw it as an opportunity to try bigger and brighter things and as a result, their new careers soared! Sometimes drastic change reminds us of what is really important to us and sets us on our passion path; the dream rather than the job and the comfort of ‘security’.

Good psychological health and good stress copers can affect our physical health and our longevity at life. Jeanne Calment of southern France is said to be the oldest person living (120 years old!). Longevity expert Jean-Marc Robine says that “she has an extraordinary resistance to sickness, stress and depression” (“Psychological Hardiness is a Buffer Against Aging” – Vijai P. Sharma Ph.D). For those like Jeanne who are on top of the “age pyramid, he or she stands alone at the peak” (“Psychological Hardiness is a Buffer Against Aging” – Vijai P. Sharma Ph.D). By Jeanne’s age she has coped with loss; spouses, friends and relatives and has witnessed younger generations- nieces and nephews, grandchildren and even great grandchildren fade away right in front of their eyes. It takes mental toughness and high self-sufficiency to adapt to the loss and focus on the positive impacts of family, relationships and surroundings. George Vailliant conducted one of the longest follow-up studies in human development. He followed 185 young men of Harvard University for almost 40 years. Valliant was very surprised to find that “people who had been healthy and robust in their youth could die suddenly and prematurely because of their tendency to react poorly to stress” (“Psychological Hardiness is a Buffer Against Aging” – Vijai P. Sharma Ph.D). In the group of 185 people, 48 were identified as poor stress copers; out of these 48 people, 18 died by the age of 53. Vaillant concluded that good mental health slowed down the aging process while poor mental health hastened it.

There are 4 keys to developing mental hardiness; enlist love ones, seek out challenges, get physical, reward yourself. Loved ones are “crucial to the cultivation of both inner strength and physical endurance (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”). According to West Point psychologist Michael Matthews, “many Medal of Honour winners were just normal soldiers who were put in a situation where their love of their buddies overcame any concern about their own well-being” (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”). Nothing strengthens bonds between people more than a shared struggle; the people in our lives- our cheerleaders and enablers- give us strength.

‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going!’ Most people actively avoid problems and hard, needless work. The truly tough light up at unexpected obstacles such as conflicts and dilemmas and see them as exciting moments for them to conquer. The key to mastering this hungry mind is to develop self-confidence in your abilities and breakdown the major problem at hand into small achievable goals. “Start telling yourself that the smooth, comfortable life is not something to strive for, but rather a recipe for boredom and stagnation” (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”).

Exercise is the building block to overall hardiness (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”). Lilly Mujica-Parodi, director of the Laboratory for the Study of Emotion and Cognition at Stony Brook University, tested the heart rates and hormone levels of novice skydivers before, during and after their first plunge. She found that skydivers with a higher percentage of body fat took longer to return from elevated stress-hormone levels and performed worse on tests of mental ability. According to Mujica-Parodi, “not only does physical fitness produce stress resilience but fit individuals are better able to preserve their cognitive functions” (“The Tough Track” – Jeff Wise “Psychology Today”).

Completing any worthwhile goal requires the desired pat on the back- whether it is the glory of the end result, the acknowledgment or the intrinsic sense of achievement. Facing a challenge is not always fun; but if it was fun we always sought we would always choose the road more comfortable where we gave into our sweet tooth and lounged in the sun all day! Taking on challenges inspires us to want more and to be more- we all seek rewards greater than basic gratification; we may face a gruelling workout to be fitter or leaner, we may complete a marathon because it was beyond what we thought we were capable of or we may work at our art (whatever it may be!) until we ache, bleed or collapse because we see that at the other side of it there will be results and praise and acknowledgment. Our reward brings us into a higher state of being and we feel we have evolved by the challenge at hand.

Most of us have faced set-backs or misfortunes at certain stages of our lives and, despite the devistating impact we feel, often hardiness comes from the pure realisation that life goes on!  Real life doesn't offer the convenience of a full stop or rolling credits to signify an ending; things keep going and the experience influences the events that follow.  We may not be able to control or erase the event itself but we can control how we respond to the event and what we choose to do after.  This is not easy!  It is really hard!  But sometimes it is set-backs and not success that test our commitment and ignite our passion, sometimes loss makes us appreciate more what we have and sometimes a loss of pride helps us learn and grow.  There is always more if you don't get stuck at the road blocks.

Exercising in the Pursuit of Happiness

There are many things that make the inactive populous shy away from taking up an exercise regime; ‘it will hurt, I’ll pull up sore, I’ll get out of breath and might not be able to do it, I’ll sweat and go red and look a mess!’ There are a lot of negatives that get in the way of people bringing about a positive change to their lifestyles. However, ask a regular exerciser about their training and I bet there is no major reference to the idea of pain. Exercise is depicted as a ‘time-out,’ a pleasurable thing, it might even be considered ‘addictive!’ A lot of recreational joggers talk about a “runner’s high;” hitting that ‘zone’ or state of “flow” that takes them to a place where any physical discomfort is suppressed by the feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Now, even medical practitioners have latched onto exercise as a powerful “feel good” aphrodisiac for patients with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Exactly how exercise boosts moods is unknown, the answers are probably both in the body and the mind.

There are two neurochemicals released during exercise that can brighten the mood; serotonin and endorphin. Serotonin “serves to elevate mood, increase feelings of satiety, and lift depression (“Exercise and Mood” – Claire Dorotik). Serotonin gives us that satisfied feeling after we have a long run, after we finish a large bowl of pasta or when we take comfort in our close friends or family (“Exercise and Mood” – Claire Dorotik). When Serotonin becomes depleted with stress, anxiety, inactivity or low carbohydrate diets, we become irritable, moody, depressed and exhausted.

Endorphins are “morphine-like brain chemicals that can trigger feelings of euphoria and relaxation” (“Scientists have a Good Feeling about Exercise” – Carol Krucoff). Endorphins are responsible for the decrease in physical pain when we exercise. A “runner’s high” is a good example of this; many runners will “attest to the fact that chronic pains seem less noticeable during, and immediately after a run” (“Exercise and Mood” - Claire Dorotik). Many runners can complete long distances without even noticing a blister on their foot or muscle fatigue in their legs.

According to Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, director of the depression and anxiety disorders program at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, ‘patients with a depressive disorder generally have an imbalance in certain brain chemicals including serotonin and norepinephrine” (“Scientists have a Good Feeling about Exercise” – Carol Krucoff). Trivedi states that “in these patients, the endorphin release from exercise may help modulate neurochemistry and restore balance.” A study conducted by Atlantis, Chow, Kirby and Singh on how exercise affected the mental health of 73 subjects over 24 weeks also showed that exercise improved stress levels for depressive symptoms (“Studies on Exercise and Well-Being” – Mead GE, Morley W, Greig CA, McMurdo M, Lawlor DA). This study was conducted on a group of Australian casino employees and involved a program of aerobic and weight training exercise plus behaviour modification. The study concluded that “multi-modal exercise (aerobic + weight training) improves self-reported measures of stress and quality of life” (“Studies on Exercise and Well-Being” – Mead GE, Morley W, Greig CA, McMurdo M, Lawlor DA).

Exactly why exercise is an aphrodisiac to mood disorders remains unknown. There are many factors. Some researchers speculate that “repetitive, rhythmic physical activity, such as swimming laps or running- may exert a tranquilizing effect on the brain stem and nervous system in a manner similar to rocking a baby. Others note that exercise enhances sleep, allowing people to “recharge their batteries” more fully at night, resulting in more stable moods during the day” (“Scientists have a Good Feeling about Exercise” – Carol Krucoff). There are also physiological factors – weight loss and lean muscle gains can inspire a sense of confidence, and there is the social outlet that most work- out venues provide that can alleviate the sense of isolation and loneliness often felt by those suffering from depression.

As a Group Fitness instructor I can see how all of these factors can brighten one’s mood. When in an RPM class the constant pace of the ride set to the beat helps give a rhythm to my intensity – it creates a sense of control (that many people with mood disorders long for!). When people have ‘felt the burn’ or experienced a part of their workout they have considered challenging I often hear a popular phrase “I’ll sleep well tonight!” It’s as though they needed the exercise to send them off into a state of blissful sleep. Sometimes it takes a focused session where you really work the body to shut off the mind.

It is no secret; the more active you are the more calories you burn. Most people, even if they don’t alter their diet see a physiological change when they exercise. Even if we convince ourselves that looks aren’t important, when we become leaner or develop lean muscle mass, it enhances our sense of self-confidence.

My best classes have been the ones where I have looked out amongst my participants and seen them smiling at me and each other. What makes a class amazing is realising that it is a shared experience; we feel a part of the energy, the music and each other and ride out the highs together. Classes are the ultimate social work out! Yes, you can catch up with your friends in the gym and chat about your week but that is nothing on feeling the emotion that music can bring, losing your self-consciousness because you know that all of those around you feel what you feel! There is nothing lonely or isolated about a class; everyone shares the moment.

A friend of mine once said to me she didn’t understand why people got distressed about missing their workout. All I could think to say to her was “try working out once and a while!” My harsh but true advice had a point! Initial workout regimes are hard, long term ones become like candy; they promise sweetness (in this case results), produce neurochemicals that tell us we want more! And make us live for the moment, whether that be because of the social environment presented to us or because of the level of control we feel over ourselves at that point in time. Because of this I understand the addiction, the pleasure and the cure.

No Pain, No Gain

“No pain, no gain […] compresses the story of a protagonist who understands that the road to achievement runs only through hardship” – David B. Morris

It was Jane Fonda who turned “no pain, no gain” into a catchphrase associated with gym junkies just wanting to “feel the burn” and push past the point of experiencing muscle aches. Most of us at some point have felt the effects of lactic build-up, breathlessness or severe discomfort that intense physical exertion can cause. However, although the physical pressure is overwhelming it is often not a physical breakdown that causes us to stop, it is the emotional pain associated with the experience that hinders us. We are creatures of comfort who strive to seek pleasure and not pain. However, whether it is an athlete, an artist or an intellectual, history has proven over and over again that the true high achievers who shake our very core and dis-prove that there are limits to our human capabilities do so because they choose a path that confronts them with awkwardness, discomfort and pain. By stepping outside their comfort zones new skills are developed, new accomplishments are achieved and there is an evolution in human capabilities. The benefit of the change is realised and suddenly pain is forgotten.

According to achievement expert Brian Tracy, “90% to 95% of people will withdraw to the comfort zone when what they try ‘doesn’t work’. Only that small percentage, 5% to 10% will continually raise the bar on themselves. They will continually push themselves out into the zone of discomfort, and these are always the highest performers in every field” (Climbing Out of Your Comfort Zone The Ultimate Secret to Lasting Change and High Achievement – Tom Venuto). According to psychologist Ryan Howell in his work Momentary Happiness: The Role of Psychological Need Satisfaction, the studies proved that people who engage in behaviours that increase competency, although they may decrease happiness due to momentary stress, when subjects looked back on their day as a whole they felt happy and satisfied. Whether it was work, school or the gym, it was discovered that the process of becoming proficient at something, although initially stressful, lead individuals to’ reap the happiness’ when they obtained new skills and increased competency at them. According to Howell,” the greatest increase in momentary happiness was experienced by participants who engaged in something that met their need for autonomy – any behaviour that a person feels they have chosen, rather than ought to do, and helps them further their interests and goals” (No Pain, No Gain: Mastering A Skill Makes Us Stressed in the Moment, Happy Long Term – Science Daily).

Studies conducted by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi at the University of Chicargo concluded that “the highest achievers are those who consistently push themselves out of their comfort zones” (Climbing Out of Your Comfort Zone The Ultimate Secret to Lasting Change and High Achievement – Tom Venuto). These individuals endure feeling awkward, uncomfortable and pain to strive for a higher, better level of performance. According to Csikszentmihalyi, these individuals can become so immersed in the task at hand that emotions become harnessed in the service of performing and learning that they reach a state of “flow’ (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi). Flow is the mental state of operation “in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement and success in the process of the activity” (Wikipedia). Csikszentmihayli began researching flow due to his fascination by artists, such as painters, who would essentially get lost in their work. They would get so immersed in the task at hand that they would disregard their need for food, water and even sleep” (Wikipedia). There are 10 factors to flow; Clear goals that require a high challenge and skill level, deep concentration, a loss of the feeling of self-consciousness, distorted sense of time, direct and immediate feedback (so that the behaviour can be adjusted as needed), balance between ability level and challenge, a sense of personal control over the stimulation or activity, the activity is intrinsically rewarding so there is an effortlessness of action, a lack of awareness of bodily needs (eg. no sense of fatigue or hunger), absorption in the activity, narrowing of the focus of awareness down to the activity itself.

The concept of being in “the zone” during sports or physical training fits with Csikszentmihayli’s description of flow. Forrest Gump inspired a whole nation when he ‘just couldn’t stop running!’ and many athletes describe the effortless nature of their performance while achieving personal bests. Even some days spent training whether it is a run, a ride, a swim or just lifting weights, there are days when your energy and strength seem boundless and you are ready to take on any challenge at hand. You embrace it regardless of weather conditions, the effort required, the unfamiliar territory of meeting the new challenge or the time you will spend doing it. The challenge and the accomplishment in overcoming it create a sense of rapture that you can’t get enough of!

During my time as a Group Fitness instructor and Personal Trainer I have seen people ‘stop trying’ for numerous reasons. I have seen people so thrown out of their comfort zones that they run out of Group Fitness studios in fear because of the pure awkwardness of the activity, I have seen them shake off a whole set of push ups claiming ‘fatigue’ knowing that the concept of working to failure wasn’t even a consideration, I have seen people lift the same weights for years and go about the exact same work out regime without intensifying the experience and then scratch their heads at why they aren’t getting results. I have also heard of individuals who attempt something for the first time, get a dose of their first post-exercise soreness and then never attempt an activity again! When did anything worth having ever come easy? If you think back to the last achievement in life whether it be mastering a game, a skill, a maths equation or proficiently playing the violin it didn’t start easy. There was the frustrating process of familiarising yourself with the thing and understanding it, there was practice and possibly many mistakes along the way. Then, after much hardship, you master it! Whether the reward is the activity itself or even if there is recognition of your mastery, the sense of accomplishment creates a sense of happiness and personal satisfaction. Why should your training be any different? All fitness regimes (regardless of personal goals) take commitment, discipline, motivation, education, challenge and mastery. It is a high achiever indeed that takes on the challenge of better health and fitness.

I have worked as a professional Group Fitness instructor for 12 years and my first real experience of finding strength through the ‘no pain, no gain’ principal came in my 11th year. Don’t get me wrong! I challenged myself on numerous occasions; attended gruelling workshops and spent hours training and perfecting my technique on numerous disciplines. However, I had never really hit my wall… After 10 years as a cycle instructor I decided to do my RPM training. I didn’t really think that I would teach it, I just thought that I could be on call and back up any instructor that needed my help (I think I even thought that the training would be easy!)… Day one was gruelling, lots of technique and a Race of Truth challenge that kept us working at high intensity for 2 hours non-stop. After that I was tired but still feeling confident about presentations the next day. Day two…. reality hit! Our trainer demanded perfection! And as a dancer with a turned out, anti-cycle posture instructor I had some work to do. The bike, that I held no ill-feelings towards in the past, became my new torture chamber! My body was in agony and felt so contorted out of its comfort zone that I was reduced to tears and imagined myself walking away from the course all together. Then the most amazing realisation occurred to me! All these years thinking I was a hard core Body Attack and Step instructor, I was holding back! My wall was so far beyond where I thought it was and suddenly I was even fitter and stronger than I thought! I just hadn’t been challenged to the extreme before now to realise that! Now I realise that there is more effort to be found, more technique to master and the energy I can muster is boundless! There is always more if pain is not your barrier.

The critics of the ‘no pain, no gain’ concept (and there are a lot of you) must have been comfort zoners; lost in the pleasure principal and like Sigmund Freud’s ‘id,’ afraid that any sense of pain brings on a sense of danger! However, high achievers in all realms in life whether it is Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open or Einstein inventing the atomic bomb have achieved their mastery by going beyond what is considered comfortable, stepping outside what is often praised as normal and pushing themselves to a level not even considered humanly capable. Achieving results takes work. It often does demand blood, sweat and tears. The pain is momentary, the strength found in your achievements lasts a lifetime