Mark Jenkins
Point Of View
As a trainer who has worked with a slew of performing artists, I realize how much of an anchor proper exercise and diet can be. I have clients who won't even record unless they are training, much to the record company's dismay! To someone who is dealing with bipolar or depression, the need for such an anchor is even greater.
Having your body fall apart will only make it harder to handle bipolar or depression. It is hard enough to battle your mind. Neglecting your body will only make the battle more difficult to win. Keeping good physical habits will give you an edge. Being in great shape can be the difference between a depression that puts you out of action and one that only slows you down. A recent study1 suggests that exercising three times a week may be just as effective in relieving the symptoms of major depression as the standard treatment of anti-depressant medications. A conditioned body might help you with the challenges of excess energy and inability to focus that often accompanies mania.
There are four main areas to consider in taking care of your body in addition to good nutrition. Optimal physical fitness is only achieved by combining all four types of exercise with a diet that supports you well. The four types are strength, endurance, flexibility, and body awareness. Strength is best developed with resistive weight training. Endurance is increased via aerobic exercise. Flexibility comes through stretching. Body awareness is achieved through dance, yoga, tai chi, or the many activities that have you focused during movement.
Integration With Team
Fitness coaches are likely to spend more time with the client than any other team member with the exception of family and friends. They see physical changes that other members often miss. Sharing their observations can help the therapists and other team members catch depressions much earlier. They can also help clients to recognize the need for increased attention by the other team members.
The fitness coach motivates clients to get out where they interact with others. One of the negative effects of depression is to isolate from others and lose motivation. The coach can also encourage the client to go outside and get much needed sunshine. Exercise works to help change the negative patterns and leads to greater compliance with the other components of a program.
Assessment Process
Assessments are an important step before taking on any new exercise routine. Knowledge of your current condition can help avoid injury and make sure the program will be one that can be followed. Assessments can be as complex as body composition analysis and VO2 Max testing, or as simple as testing for ability to lift weights and touch your toes. It is important to set the baseline condition as well as periodically test for changes. Periodic assessments can help in analyzing the effectiveness of specific exercises and be used in making changes to the program.
A typical thorough assessment may include:
- Health History & Medical Screening
- Vital Sign Measurements
- Body Composition
- Cardiovascular Endurance
- Strength and Muscular Endurance
- Flexibility Testing
Goal Setting
The expertise of the fitness coach is critical in goal setting. While setting goals that are unreasonable can discourage the client from continuing with the program, goals that are too easy can result in boredom and disillusionment with the idea that making progress is based on effort. This disillusionment can spill over into the other aspects of the integrated program. A good coach knows from experience what goals to set and how hard the client is going to push to achieve them. The coach can also guide the client in adjusting the goals according to current mental conditions that affect motivation.
The advantage of fitness goals is that they are very specific and measurable. You either ran five miles or not; there is no ambiguity about it. The clarity of goals combined with achieving them gives the client self-esteem and faith that the less measurable mental goals can also be accomplished.
Treatment
The best fitness program is one that the client will do. The program needs to be adapted to each individual so as to keep up motivation. This is accomplished by finding the right mix of exercises that address the strength, endurance, flexibility, and body awareness needs while matching the interests of the client.
A unique blend of skill and creativity is what sets the great trainer apart from others. Anyone can change their body type if they can stick with a program, often consisting of an innovative fusion of pilates, calisthenics, sports drills, weight training, and high intensity cardio. The trainer needs to keep the custom-fit workout sessions fresh by incorporating a wide range of sweat-inducing activities, such as boxing, bungee cords, and kettlebells. I never give the same workout session twice. Staying away from routine keeps the muscles and mind constantly stimulated.
Comments are closed.