Using Compassionate Mind Training during gym work-outs
Compassionate Mind Training offers skills and tools to connect with our compassionate self, to embody strength courage and wisedom
Red-faced? Check!
Sweating? Check!
Least fit in the class? Check!
….. and …..
Smiling!
Embodying my Compassionate best!
Feeling proud of myself!
The cultural narrative of challenging work-outs is that they are
> punishment for the food we’ve eaten,
> atonement for our sins of gluttony and sloth, or
> celebrated as a punishment we have masochistically put ourselves through.
The alternative Compassionate Mind Training offers is learning skills and tools to connect with our compassionate self, to embody
> the strength to keep going when we’re find things really hard,
> the courage to try despite risking failure and
> the wisdom to recognise that actually, no one in the class is looking at me with criticism: I understand that these thought loops are my ‘threat-mind’ doing it’s best to keep me safe by protecting me from social rejection, so it’s natural that such thought ‘loops’ bubble up, but it’s not what’s happening in the minds of others (they’re focussed on working hard in their work out, just as I am).
Combining the skills taught in Compassionate Mind Training of
mindfulness,
a friendly facial expression,
compassionate voice tone and
encouraging inner dialogue
during workouts helps to move from threat-based striving to affiliate-fuelled drive to keep going and meet our goals.
This is moving from avoidance and discomfort to sustainable resilience.
When you’re ready, I’m available for mentoring through a structured pathway of 1-1s for Compassionate and supportive new way to meet your health and wellbeing goals.
Let’s do this.