Emotions....Guides to Health and Wellness Behaviors

This morning I was reading the workbook for my tapping (eft) weightloss group. The author, Jessica Ortner, wrote that whether we exercise or not is correlated to our emotions. So when people stick and stay with my classes or drop off, it may have to do with me, but perhaps it has more to do with their emotions. I can relate soooo much as I evaluate my own challenges and triumphs on my health and well-journey. Emotions absolutely have a lot to do with how I eat and if and when I exercise. The happier I am, the easier it is for me to workout and eat healthy. The more stressed or emotionally challenged I am, the harder it is for me to make choices that benefit my health. There are times when I see the women who take my classes struggle with coming to class. I often wonder if I am not doing a good enough job as an instructor. There is never a time when I don't care about my classes. There is never a time when I don't care if the women who take my classes are satisfied with their workout with me. Typically, my goal is to deliver a great workout mixed with lots of fun and laughter. At the end of the day, I think that I am holding up my end of the bargain. So, in order for me to frame their seeming unhappiness in my classes and not take it personally, I will also have to consider that they are struggling with their emotions and that those emotions are making them feel less than happy in my class or to workout in general. As a fitness instructor I have to consider my part of the equation but that is all I can do. There is the participants part of it, too, and I have no control over that. What I can do is help people realize the role that emotions play in their health and wellness behaviors and suggest ways to acknowledge and release emotions that impede their progress. This revelation has been freeing for me because I don't always know how to handle it when a person who seemed very happy with my classes all of a sudden seems to hate my class. Even in their mind if they hate my class, at the end of the day for most people, it may be something emotional that has nothing to do with my class. Maybe they do need to move on to a new format but maybe their emotions needs acknowledging and they need to find a happy place within. I will figure out my way of helping to raise emotional health awareness. Until then, I will keep teaching to the best of my ability. Tirra Omilade Hargrow, M.P.H., A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness Instructor

5 Lessons from a GEX Fit Pro: How to be a better instructor....

http://summersidesfitness.com/fitprolessons/

Top 10 Traits of Highly Effective Group Fitness Instructors

Top 10 Traits of Highly Effective Group Fitness Instructors Part 1

Top 10 Traits of Highly Effective Group Fitness Instructors Part 2

These are great articles to assess where you are in your development as a group fitness instructor professional.

~Tirra