With constant advancements in health and fitness personal trainers are recognising the benefits of taking a mind, body and spirit approach . Helping the human body reach its potential requires attention to the physical body, a well-rounded mental state and a tranquil spirit. If you have been looking to help your clients get the most out of their daily training rituals, consider paying attention to these three areas .
Advice and advantages of a holistic fitness approach
Mind, Body and Spirit Benefit #1: Serving the Body
The first third of a holistic approach to health and performance concerns the needs of the body itself. This involves the need for correct nutrition, the right amount of movement, and exercise techniques that benefit strength, agility and overall fitness.
Giving the Body the Fuel it Needs
Ensuring that the body has the fuel that it needs to perform at its best is one of the cornerstones of holistic health practices. Approach the needs of the body from the perspective of a well-crafted dietary plan that ensures your clients are getting enough to fuel and repair their muscles .
Keeping your Clients Active
Rigorous exercise is not only beneficial for the body but can also have a profound positive impact on a person’s mental state, energy levels and motivation. Inspire in your clients by having them push themselves, constantly challenging them to do better.
Seeing to Strength and Flexibility
Well-rounded exercise programmes are an excellent way to ensure that your clients get the body they want. Exercise should not only emphasise the need to get them looking good but should work towards making them feel better too.
Mind, Body and Spirit Benefit #2: Calming the Mind
Helping your customers relieve stress through mediation techniques will help them to become more motivated, sound of mind and more likely to reach their goals. A holistic approach to physical well-being should never neglect the need to both stimulate and calm the mind. Activities such as Pilates and Yoga will help your clients strengthen their mental states while also achieving excellence in physical prowess.
Mind, Body and Spirit Benefit #3: Building the Spirit
In this fast-paced life of ours, it can be difficult to find and maintain the motivation and courage needed to achieve our goals, whether they be physical or professional. For this reason, a sound and holistic approach to health should always be mindful of the human spirit. So, help you clients reach their potential by offering them life coaching services, a skill which you can acquire through our life coaching course.
What a lot of people forget is that the vast collection of over 84 classic Yoga poses and their variations were traditionally practised with the sole purpose of finding comfort for extended periods of seated meditation. Meditation is an invaluable tool used to centre, calm and focus the mind, relieve stress and anxiety. Even just 10 minutes of practice a day can bring about increased overall happiness; among other wonderful mental, emotional and spiritual benefits.
Asana translated as “posture or pose”. It literally means “seat” and according to the Yoga Sutras it should be firm yet relaxed. Typically one sits for meditation in Sukhasana (Pleasant Pose) or Padmasana (Lotus Pose) with your spine erect and shoulders relaxed. A cushion may be added under your behind to relieve stress in the lower back.
Guidelines to enhance meditation’s powerful effects
Create a serene environment
Find a quiet place to sit where you will be undisturbed and free from as many distractions as possible. Bring a personal touch to the space by burning your favourite incense, lighting a candle, playing soft Yoga music, adding photos of people and/or objects that inspire you, helping you feel connected to your space.
Warm up
More than just stretching and toning the physical body; the Yoga poses open the bod’s nadis (energy channels) and chakras (psychic centres) allowing energy to flow unrestricted. A few gentle stretches to release and relax the muscles before your meditation will go a far way to find comfort in the sitting pose. Neck Rolls, Half Spinal Twists and Forward Bends will offer a gentle, opening release to the body.
Begin with the breath
Pranayama (breathing) is used to focus the attention of the mind and practising Ujjayi (Victory Breath). Alternative Nostril Breath (Nadi Shodhan Pranayama) and Kapalabhati (Shining Breath); before your sit for meditation will give you an even quieter mind from where to start.
Become a witness
Instead of trying to cease thought all together, practise becoming a witness to your thinking and watch as thoughts flow into and out of your mind, without forming any attachments or judgments to them. Bringing your attention back to the breath or a mantra will help keep your minds from wandering too far away.
Relax your face
Keeping a soft and gentle smile throughout your meditation helps your face remain relaxed and enhances this soft, loving experience.
Consistency is key
As with anything in life, the more you practise, the better you become. Do not become disheartened if meditation does not come easily to you; just commit yourself to keep doing it. Setting aside preferably both morning and evening time to allow for this self-practice will give you additional mental space and increased clarity in all areas of your life.
Come back gently
Do not rush to get back to the world. Open your eyes gently and perhaps find a closing prayer or daily affirmation to use to keep your mind centred in the joy.
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you would like to find out more about obtaining the skills and knowledge to give your clientele a holistic approach to health, why not contact Trifocus Fitness Academy for more details on their Mind Body Specialist course or our Yoga course, which will give you a better understanding of holistic wellness.
