How does one quantify wellness? Wellness is a complex and inter-woven relationship between our physical health and mental balance. Each aspect of well being can be improved. Read below to learn more about improving the fitness aspect of the balance. More to come in later posts on reaching other aspects of wellness.
Physical Wellness
At any given time, an individual can strive to improve physical wellness. Even top athletes suffer overuse injuries and imbalances meaning that they too have room for improvement. Yet many perceive that the population of top athletes as the most likely to have attained a state of impeccable physical well being.
Physical wellness is framed in context by where you are in the timeline of life and can be improved through planned conscientious effort. Think of being the best you can be at a given time along that timeline. Physical wellness is a constantly shifting state that is redefined as we age and as we face changes in our bodies caused by illness or injury.
The most successful means for making positive change in physical fitness or well being is through setting goals. Those goals should be small and attainable, and should have measurable benchmarks to allow you to evaluate progress. Setting realistic goals is the first priority and largely the most critical aspect of attaining an improved state of being.
Several years ago I was hired by a 45 year old woman who was badly de-conditioned. A.J. had suffered physical setback due to illness and had not participated in exercise for several years while she was in graduate school. A.J. could barely walk from the campus parking lot to classes.
The first priority with A.J. was to measure and document her current state of health, then to develop steps small measurable steps toward improvement. Our first goal was to walk 5 minutes without stopping. We also established goals related to stretching and strength to help A.J. better enjoy life. At first A.J. walked very slowly, looking at landscaping for 3 minutes and then for 4 minutes and finally for 5 minutes. Soon we were setting more challenging goals and A.J. indicated that she had a dream of running a 5-K foot race.
Each week A.J. moved through her goals and savored her successes. Within 12 weeks of beginning her training we picked a 5-K race date that would mark her 6-month anniversary of creating change in her wellness. A.J.'s persistence and motivation, fueled by her small successes moved her into a new plane of wellness and allowed her to attain her dream of completing a 5-K foot race. Even though she walked for long intervals during the race, she was delighted at the way she felt and the freedom she had gained from making concerted change in her life.
Physical goals should include specified time-frames and specific outcomes. Start with some 2 or 4 week goals. Document what you plan on achieving at the end of that time. When you reach the deadline assess your progress, both positive and negative outcomes. Keep notes for future reference and learn from what helped you attain your goals and what hindered your progress.
Setting good goals is essential in improving your wellness. Professional physical trainers, sports coaches, and life coaches such as myself can provide you assistance in setting goals that will carry you forward to success.
For more on individual coaching services visit http://www.envisagelife.com/
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