Mind Over Success & The Art of Fitness Coaching!

By James Villepigue

Despite their best intentions, most people don’t stick to an exercise program. That fact shouldn’t come as a surprise to owners and managers of fitness centers across the county. In January, New Year’s resolutions are made, enthusiastic members sign up, and gyms are filled to capacity. A few short months later, crowded classes and abundant enrollments are a distant memory.

So what’s the challenge here? Why aren’t people able to fulfill their commitments? Why do they quit? According to Bruce D Schneider, Founder and CEO of iPEC Coaching, successful people finish what they start, and the key to getting people to stick with an exercise program is to get help them get rid of the thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs they have that are blocking them from reaching their goals.

Look at professional athletes – despite their physical gifts, they readily admit that the most important aspect of their success is mental. It’s no different anywhere; what goes on in peoples’ minds is the number one determinant of their success.

Although it might sound mysterious and complex, the mind-body connection is simply the combination of inwardly-directed focus combined with a direct plan of action. This "inward focus" shouldn’t conjure up images of aromatherapy candles or crystal balls; instead, it’s the process of becoming aware of the habits and patterns that people have, exploring the thoughts that led to those ways of living, and evaluating how those thoughts are supporting them – or not supporting them – in reaching the success they desire.

According to Schneider, everything, including our thoughts, is made up of energy – and that energy is either anabolic or catabolic. Those thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs that are supportive are "anabolic," that is, they are positive, healing, and building. "Catabolic" thoughts, however, are negative, destructive, and non-supportive. The key to success is to shift catabolic to anabolic – and to change habits and patterns that aren’t leading to success to ones that will.

I have been training clients for over 17 years now. Though the traditional way of training - concentrating only on the physical aspects of a training program – worked for some of my clients, it certainly didn’t work for all of them. Something was missing, and when I mastered the skills of the Holistic Fitness Advantage Program, I realized what that missing element was.

The "advantage" of the Holistic Fitness Advantage Program is iPEC Coaching’s Core Energy Coaching process – which, in a nutshell, helps people achieve their potential by shifting their energy from catabolic to anabolic. What that means to my clients is that I work with them on their entire selves - I don’t only prescribe an exercise regimen to them, but I also work with them on exploring their motivation for wanting to reach to their goals, look at the habit and patterns that they currently have that don’t support them, and partner with them to change their mindsets, as well as come up with strategies and a plan that will work for them.

The first step is helping my clients look at what they really want. For example, the vague idea of wanting to get in shape isn't going to cut it. Like taking a road trip with no destination in mind, how can you possible know when you've reached a destination or in this matter, achieved your goal? Getting in shape can mean so many things - losing weight, toning up your muscles, improving your cardiovascular health – the criteria are different for each person.

Then, it’s important to explore why they want what they want – do they want to feel great, be able to keep up with their children, look good in a bathing suit – again, this "why" is different for each person.

Once we know the "what" and the "why," we then work to see what’s blocking them from being where they want to be, and come up with ways to get rid of those blocks so that not only can they reach their goals, but sustain them.

Coaching has empowered me to help my clients in ways that I never could have imagined, and these powerful skills not only help my clients achieve their dreams, but also, has allowed me to grow my personal training business – because my satisfied clients are my best source of referrals.

Working towards achieving ideal physique and health goals is not an easy task by any means. It takes hard work, consistency, and dedication, but when people actually engage in a fitness and wellness lifestyle and for the first time, see and feel dramatic results, it’s unlike anything that they have ever experienced.

In my own life, fitness coaching has completely changed my total life experience. I am thrilled to have also been a coach to hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have also been positively changed, both from my personal training and from reading my books. The combination on fitness and coaching is extremely powerful, and it is my sincere wish that anyone who is frustrated, feeling down, or is fed with past attempts to get in shape, steps up and request information on how to finally & forever achieve success in their lives. More information on the program can be found at www.holisticfitnessadvange.com.

Wishing everyone the very best,

James Villepigue CSCS International Best Selling Author, Fitness Expert & Certified Energy Leadership Coach

James Villepigue is an International Best selling author of over 18 books - Including The "Body Sculpting Bible" books; one of the most successful fitness book series, in history.

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