This article first appeared in Fitness Network Magazine, published by Fitpro Using NLP in the Studio Setting
Increasingly the Fitness Industry is waking up to the benefits of using NLP ( Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Life Coaching. It is now accepted that using the techniques and skills that these disciplines offer can ensure clients reach their fitness goals. Leading Fitness Professionals understand that enabling a client to address their thought processes will help them make changes in their physical self. How we are, and who we are, physically, is simply an expression of what goes on in our heads; or, as we say in NLP,
Mind-Body One System.
“B-------“, I can hear the traditionalists shout, “clients/the populace have weight issues because they don’t exercise and they eat too much.” And I wouldn’t disagree, but think about this - your clients know that already. In fact any literate adult with access to the tabloids knows what it is they need to do. Much of the knowledge we have is out there in the public domain – think Ultra Fit, Personal Trainer for Women, Health and Fitness and Zest, to name but a few. Making it happen though is another matter entirely. It follows then that
the majority of clients do not come to us for what we know, they come to us in the hope that we can make them do that which they have been unable to make themselves do. They are not in control of this aspect of their lives and they are trying to pass the buck to someone else. Because it’s not just a matter of exercising more and eating less, luckily for us, in fact, otherwise we would definitely be out of a job! But can we really be responsible for our client’s health and fitness and do we serve our clients well by attempting to do this? I would suggest that it is dis-empowering rather than empowering and I have held that belief since before I Knew what the letters NLP stood for. Students on Fitness Unlimited courses learn how to enable their clients how to be in charge of themselves so that they can easily eat well and exercise more. Behavioural change is easy when your thought processes support you in the change you want to make.
So how can we enable our clients to think differently? Undoubtedly training in NLP and Life Coaching equips you with these skills but how else can we introduce our clients to some of the concepts that will empower them? One solution would be to add The Metaphor Circuit TMto your existing repetoire of workouts
‘Metaphor’ is DIFFERENT! It is not for the faint hearted, and by that I mean the trainers and not the clients! It doesn’t sit well with stiff upper lip; I have delivered seminars on Metaphor to Corporate Fitness Managers where some participants have simply opted out and sat on the sidelines. And that, as we would say in NLP speak, ‘ is perfect for them’ – we are all different and ‘Metaphor’ is not for everyone.
It’s off the wall, wacky, and believe you me I get some very strange looks as I collect an interesting assortment of equipment off luggage carousels! If however as a trainer, you enjoy a good laugh, can be open minded, are uninhibited and up for it ‘Metaphor’ will be a unique experience for you and your clients.
It’s not surprising then that the Program Director at IDEA believing it will appeal to their delegates, has specifically requested that I present The Metaphor Circuit TM at this year’s Personal Training Summit in New York. It’s pioneering and it’s about being prepared to engage with yourself. For example, one of my most memorable training moments was being part of Lorna Lee Malcolm’s
‘Jump for Joy’ Metaphor experience. (See Lorna’s review).
I also have fond memories of one client who, shaped similarly to the space hopper she tried to stay on, got more exercise laughing at herself as she fell off than she did in the rest of her workout put together. She too felt the benefit of increasing her serotonin levels – and it is about choice – just the simple act of smiling even when we don’t initially feel like it affects our brain chemistry positively, so imagine how much we benefit from a great big space hopper sized belly laugh. Enabling our client’s to enjoy exercise I personally believe is the greatest gift we can give them.
The beauty of Metaphor is its flexibility ; its application ranging from down right good fun to the therapeutic. I have watched clients grow a couple of inches as they ‘Stand Tall’, and have witnessed others ‘Letting Go’ of all manner of stuff from their lives from clutter to un-useful emotions. My own personal favourite is setting a goal and emerging in the ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’ with a clearer vision of where it is I am going. Two years ago that goal was to present internationally.
unique and fun filled
What is Metaphor Circuit TM?
The Metaphor Circuit is bodywork with an emotional content designed to encourage self-awareness. It provides a unique and fun filled opportunity for participants to exercise using a circuit training format ( at a level appropriate level) while simultaneously working on personal development issues such as confidence building. Indeed, it is the ultimate acknowledgement of the NLP presupposition Mind-Body One System as it literally works with both at the same time. This approach enables clients to work towards their health and fitness goals and effect real change in their lives.
exploiting the feel good factor
How does The Metaphor Circuit work?
The approach that the Metaphor Circuit tm adopts is unique in that it goes beyond simply exploiting the feel good factor associated with exercise. Participants move through a sequence of pre-determined metaphorical exercises, while focussing on specific emotional issues. The technique is powerful because the experience of for example, ‘Letting Go’ is a physical one and not just emotional
Naturally, it represents a different experience for each participant as the emotional content will very from person to person.
During participation the Coach employs a number of techniques drawn from disciplines such as NLP, Life Coaching, movement therapy and play therapy Using skills that help the participant build confidence and increase positive thinking, such as creative visualisation, the coach encourages the individual to focus on specific issues.
Metaphor Circuit Review - by Lorna Malcolm
I signed up for the Fitness Unlimited NLP first module because I suddenly realised at the beginning of this year that I had done nothing for my own personal development for the previous two years. Although the course was marketed as being valuable for developing communication skills that fitness trainers could use with their clients, I saw that these were also skills that would help my in every day life.
In one session on the course we did a circuit called the Metaphor Circuit. Each station was designed to tap into emotional elements and encouraged greater self-awareness and focus on different aspects of one’s life. Some ‘stations’ required the facing of a problem or issue, e.g. wanting to spend more time with a partner, children, or family in general, and then had the participant think through the issue and how they could realistically achieve their objective and welcome what they want into their lives. At the same time, they would do an exercise, e.g. catching a medicine ball or beach ball, the significance being that the catching of the ball and bringing it towards the chest/body simulates welcoming what we want/need more of into our lives.
Each station was demonstrated before we did the circuit and I had to help demonstrate a station called ‘jump for joy’. This was a rebounder station and my task was to jump and express to the other course participants 50 things that gave me joy. My initial thought was “how am I going to think about 50 things?” I got onto the rebounder a little apprehensively and started jumping. I went through the aspects of my life that I readily recognise give me joy, like my family, especially my nephews and neice, and my work.
I quite happily included the material things that make me joyous, like my new car, my home and garden because these are things that I have worked hard for and are part of what I have achieved. Once all the obvious things have been covered I had to start thinking more deeply and yet, the things that give me joy are also very obvious. I think that it just takes a second or two to re-appreciate the things that we maybe take for granted, like good health, sunshine, good food and wine, travelling, spending time with friends etc.
I reached my 50 things with emotion and joy building as I jumped and put effort in to the physical aspect of the exercise while mentally and emotionally re-connecting with elements of my life that I like and enjoy but don’t take the time to think about and appreciate. I got off the rebounder, having completed my 50 good things, on a high. The feelings and emotion were overwhelming in an uplifting, dynamic and energy giving way and affected not just me but also the course participants watching. I felt very grateful for all the positives in my life and the whole experience gave me a renewed perspective that is still with me 6 months later.
It was interesting and enlightening to experience how such a simple exercise, coupled with an emotional task could result in such a great state of physical and mental well-being.
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