Unchair That Butt — Discover Your Fitness Personality
Hey there! So how was your workout yesterday?
If you’ve just snorted, blushed, rubbed your nose or started feigning interest in that invisible spot on your right shoe, you and I my friend need to have a serious conversation. So put down that cookie and grab a chair!
OK then, what’s your excuse? Let me guess. “I don’t have time” is the most common, followed by “I wanted to but then something’s come up” or the simple and very nonchalant “I don’t like exercise”. Well, like it or not, your body is made to MOVE. And by moving I don’t mean being able to get up and walk to the fridge to grab a tub of ice cream or take you to the corner shop to indulge in a double meatball sub.
The human race has officially become sedentary. We value our comfort above all else and constantly develop new ideas to do more with less and less effort. We hop in our cars to get to the corner shop, get our post picked up by couriers, and order our food, clothes, medicine — you name it — online, from the comfort of our armchair. If the car breaks, and we have to use the bus to get to work, we get pissed if there are no seats available. We always seem to be in search of any opportunity to plant our butts down and get comfy in our favorite — and now default — seated position.
Therefore it is now more important than ever that you find a way to maintain that poor body of yours, if you want it to serve you well into your old age. If exercise doesn’t feel good, it is because you got so comfortable that any kind of movement out of the ordinary seems alien to your body. The good news is, once you start moving more, you’ll adapt very quickly and when you start noticing the benefits, it is less likely that you’ll stop.
Let me ask you a question.
When you hear the word “exercise” or “fitness” what pops into your mind? The intimidating image of a gym? Dynamic work-out videos from the 90s? Maybe a gut-wrenching boot camp with Sgt Emil Foley from An Officer And A Gentleman?
I will let you in on a little secret.
If you don’t like exercise, chances are you just haven’t found one that suits you. Being fit doesn’t have to equal going to the gym all the time (unless you want to, of course). It is perfectly OK to get creative and do what feels right for you, as we are all different.
Exercise and your personality
Research suggests that if you choose exercise according to your personality type, you are far more likely to successfully incorporate it into your everyday life. Through years of research based on the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorⓇ*, Suzanne Brue, a famous wellness expert has developed a revolutionary color coded system that reveals 8 different fitness personality types.
Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorⓇ is an introspective survey based on human psychology, and its purpose is to show the different ways people perceive the world around them and make decisions. When you take the survey, you will be given 4 letters, which indicate your type. Once you know your type, you can look up the corresponding color that will reveal your fitness personality.
See the questions below to determine your Myers-Briggs type:
Once you know your type, it’s time to find your color!
So for example, if your color is Silver and you consequently hate the idea of going to the gym, it is time to consider other ways to keep active, like biking with friends, going for a group hike or even try competitive ballroom dancing.
If you are Gold or Blue, you might benefit from working with a personal trainer, or trying a guided, step by step online workout system like my personal favourite P90x or P90x3.
Reds will probably enjoy trying different, high-thrill sports like snow-boarding, surfing or horse riding, while Purples might be drawn to fitness communities like Beachbody or Tone It Up, which provides support, guidance and accountability.
Knowing your type and color might help you understand why you have aversion to certain kinds of activities, and why you might have failed to reach your fitness goals before. But nothing is written in stone, so feel free to experiment with different activities until you find one that you really like.
Ideas To Get You Started
For a low intensity activity try walking, swimming, hiking, tai-chi or a beginner’s yoga or Pilates class. You could even walk dogs and make a few bucks in the process! If you’ve always admired ballet dancers and their svelte physique you could sign up for a barre practice. You can even join an adult ballet class!
So you find lifting weights boring. How about martial arts? You will get fit and learn a useful skill at the same time. Or is it dancing you fancy? Google “Zumba classes near me” and be on your way. You will get a nice work out and make friends in the process! No equipment at home? Have you heard of body weight exercises? (p.s. any body will do!) ;)
With group sports it’s a win-win, as you can socialize and get your workout in at the same time. Wouldn’t it be fun to play ball games for once instead of just watching it on TV? Even if you have a knee/elbow/wrist or any kind of injury there are ways to be active. The possibilities are really endless, you just have to start thinking outside the box.
To get you moving, I propose an experiment. For one week, try to consciously incorporate some form of exercise into your daily routine. Get out of your comfort zone; climb the stairs at work instead of taking the elevator, park 10 minutes away from your destination so you can have a little walk, or go to YouTube to find a 10–12 minute yoga practice you can try at home.
One of my all time favourite quotes is from Socrates. He said: “No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
So remember, you are made for this. You are capable. Move. Experience life to the fullest. Do your best, because believe me, that is always enough.
*® MBTI, Myers-Briggs, Meyers Briggs, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Trust in the United States and other countries (aka meyers briggs or myers briggs).
