– By Melinda Perkins

Pick up your pen. Put it down.

Within seconds, in that simple act, your body and mind will have engaged in an intricate dance that is different from any other human on the planet.  

Now take a look at the next name on your schedule. 

Whatever corner of the health industry you commandeer, you will have some fitness protocol in place for this client. Whether it’s a “do more exercise” suggestion or a detailed exercise prescription, you wouldn’t dream of letting that client go without at least mentioning their activity level. 

Why is it, then, that we don’t give a nod to the elephant in the room: the cognitive and emotional aspects of movement?

Maybe you do. 

Maybe you already know that the next client up has a unique mental framework that influences your engagement with them, the intervention strategies you put in place, and ultimately, the outcomes they will get from any fitness plan.

If not, I invite you to take the next few moments to dive into the nexus between the brain and the body. The brain plays a pivotal role in how the body perceives and responds to exercise. So when we set our clients up to train with their mind in mind, we are tailoring the fitness paradigm to resonate with the individual’s needs and predispositions, enhancing both their experience and results.

Here’s what I mean: 

Just like the wealth of information that zinged through your nervous system in that instant you picked up your pen, your client comes pre-programmed with their own neural pathways for each movement. Add to that their own internal narrative, motivations, and challenges and you have an entire spreadsheet full of data to process for one person. 

That’s why we break them down into scientifically-backed HealthTypes™ with biologically-driven tendencies, guided largely by their cognitive processing and emotional needs.

Let’s take a closer look:

Crusaders: The Motivated Minds

Crusaders possess an internal drive toward a chosen mission that fuels their motivation for physical activity and everything else. The brain’s frontal lobe plays a pivotal role in how exercise is perceived and processed. They prefer structured approaches like progressive overload, which aligns with the brain’s affinity for sequential processing.  As their health professional, your role is to tap into their intrinsic motivation by knowing their ‘why’, then providing clear goals and structured plans to keep them focused and driven.

Guardians: The Steady Minds

Guardians require a compelling reason to engage in and sustain physical activity as well as a supportive environment and guidance to stay on track. Their perception of exercise is influenced by a longer memory of pain. They are externally focused and motivated to do things for others which keeps them busy, so they require a sense of having enough time to successfully complete their routine.  They feel stronger at the end of hard work, so long workouts with ample time for each session and plenty of external support work best for them. Your job is to provide dedicated accountability to get them moving and keep them moving for long enough to create change in the body, helping them override their internal resistance and encouraging persistence through challenge.

Activators: The Instinctual Minds

Activators are ready to go. Their bodies crave movement and their brains are sparked by unpredictability, chaos and challenge. They prefer to dive into exercise (and all of life) without extensive planning or explanation. As their health professional, your role is to provide a flexible plan and challenge them to jump into action. Incorporating unpredictable elements into their fitness protocols satisfies their craving for novelty and intensity, engaging the brain and body equally, thus fostering positive outcomes.

Diplomats: The Thoughtful Minds

Diplomats tend to spend a lot of time in their heads, analyzing and planning their moves which can hinder their willingness to engage in physical activity. Anything the mind perceives as “hard” or uncomfortable will demotivate them further. The key to mobilizing these individuals lies in simplifying the decision-making process and ensuring that exercise feels manageable both in timing and execution. As their health professional, providing clear instructions and a distinct pathway out of the brain and into the body will encourage them to transition from thought to action smoothly, thus streamlining their way to success.

Sensors: The Balanced Minds

Sensors are attuned to the concept of alignment and harmony between the mind and body because that takes the least physical effort. They are sensitive to environmental factors that can trigger physical tension, such as noise or temperature extremes. Facilitating exercises in calming settings that promote a sense of safety and relaxation can help engage the parasympathetic nervous system, release the tension and drop them from the mind into the body. Your job as their health professional is to encourage movement that feels natural and effortless while promoting mind-body connection in warm, quiet surroundings, thus enhancing their overall exercise experience and adherence to your protocol.

Connectors: The Social Minds

Connectors thrive in environments that promote camaraderie and acceptance. Activities that feel aggressive or isolating can be counterproductive, dampening their motivation. As their health professional, encourage them to embrace the community aspect of fitness and celebrate their achievements alongside others. They will love the variety, interaction and fun which will keep them moving and engaging your services.

Now, pick up your pen. 

Put it down.

Did you notice anything different? Maybe a micro-action that you acknowledge as being completely unique to you? 

Training with the Mind in mind is more than just a fun thing to say.

In fact, I hope the catchy phrase will stick in your brain and at least make you wonder: What if you tailored your approach with your next client to align with their psychological predispositions and cognitive style? 

What would your success-rate look like?

How about your client-retention?

The mind-body connection is a powerful tool that, when harnessed fully, enhances the effectiveness of exercise interventions and significantly improves client engagement and satisfaction which garners more positive outcomes across the board.

Are you ready to get precise with your clients? It’s simple. To learn how to apply precision methods and technology solutions to your service offering check out our Level 1 Course for Health Professionals