New Age Health Spa
What do we mean when we use the expression, “practice makes perfect”? We are stating our awareness of the fact that as humans, we rarely get things right the first time around; often times, we still err the second and third time around, for that matter! Planning a “practice session” means taking the time to do a “dry run;” it means that you are providing yourself with the opportunity to try something out--all with the expectation of discovering the glitches. Inherent in the word “practice” is the concept of “mistakes.” The entire purpose of practicing something is not only to learn what DOES work, but equally importantly, to pinpoint what DOES NOT work. Only by identifying what is wrong, can we begin to set it right.
It is interesting that most people completely understand this process of trial and error, but do not think to apply it to their own situations. Unfortunately, it is more common for people to view past unsuccessful attempts as “complete failures,” rather than to view them as vital experiences that hold crucial information in the quest for a better plan.
When designing a program for a client during a private fitness consultation, the first thing I ask is, “what are your goals?” and the second is “what is your fitness history?” By examining the client’s fitness history, we can usually discover why attempts at sticking to a past routine have not worked. It is by viewing those attempts as “practices” that helps us uncover the obstacles; only then can we begin to correct what did NOT work.
For example, if a client describes a past program that involved getting to the gym an hour before work three mornings a week, and then claims to have followed that plan for only two weeks--we have something to investigate. When I then ask, “what do you think went wrong?” the guest often blurts out exactly what caused the plan to fizzle. He might say, “I am just not a morning person!” or “It was tough to get an available shower at that time, and I was late for work twice!” This information is useful--it helps us in formulating a better plan.
Take an honest look at your own fitness history. Did you follow a wonderful walking program from April to November, and then fall into a winter slump? Is that due to the fact that you just don’t enjoy walking outside in the colder weather? That information could help you to prepare for those months by signing up for some class which would start right around the October/November time. By trying to view our past “failures” instead as “practice attempts,” we can free ourselves from disappointment, and thereby gain insight for future successes.
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