Philosophy of Care
I see health as the aggregate of many incremental changes that accumulate over time and result in deeper and more meaningful connection to oneself, others, and the wider world. As a personal trainer I am only with any given client 3 hours/week, (at most) and those sessions are one small piece of that much larger puzzle. Supporting clients in connecting to themselves more deeply entails: 1. educating them about the biomechanics of movement so that they are able to train and move safely and enjoyably, 2. collaborating with them to define clear, achievable training goals, 3. guiding them through a program written to accomplish those goals, 4. creating an interpersonal environment that reinforces innate agency, worthiness, and dignity. I apply the HAES® principles in my work with clients by: 1. framing the conversation about training in the way I’ve described above, (health as connection) 2. inviting clients to become aware of what their body is communicating to them and to respect those communications, (when to push forward, when to back off, etc) 3. writing sustainable training programs that avoid (and ultimately prevent) injury while incrementally progressing clients towards their goals, 4. incorporating a broad, creative movement vocabulary (not just ‘fitness’ movements) in a way that invites playfulness, creativity, self-expression, and light-heartedness. I don’t believe it’s possible to separate the muscles, joints, tendons, bones, and ligaments from the nervous system. And it’s impossible to separate the nervous system from the context it exists in, namely relationships, society, economy, family of origin, etc. I’m interested in engaging with the whole personhood of every single one of my clients, without exception.
Although working out does lead to aesthetic changes, the main goal of this is to give people more access to the kinds of movements and embodied experiences that they enjoy and want more of in their life. Some examples include being on your feet for longer periods of time, getting less winded going up and down stairs, being less nervous about elevated heart rate, playing with kids more, getting up and down off the ground more easily, feeling physically stronger and more secure on a daily basis, etc. It can also include more athletic activities such as hiking, running, climbing, throwing, rowing, gardening, lifting and carrying, squatting, crawling, pulling, wrestling, catching. While of course not every client is able to achieve the same level of strength, flexibility, motor control or body awareness, every client is capable of making progress and improving over time. Because there is no “finish line” or “perfect body” that we’re trying to achieve, everyone simply starts where they are and improves gradually and sustainably over time. (Slow and steady wins the race, dude!)
On an emotional/intrapersonal level, I believe that it’s healthy to feel your feelings, that there’s no need to disconnect from your emotions in order to workout, and that how you relate to your body physically is not separate from how you relate to it emotionally and ‘energetically.’ In other words, our minds and bodies, as well as the context in which they exist, can’t be separated from one another. We have to engage with them holistically (and begin wherever we are) in order to see real, long-lasting change.
If all of that sounds good to you, then reach out and let’s have a conversation to see if we’re a good fit!
Please note: I am not a licensed therapist or clinical mental health practitioner. Training with me is an excellent addendum for the work you’re doing with a therapist; it is not a substitute for any form of therapy in and of itself.