How To Train A Winner?

Muhamand Ali Vs. Sunny Liston 1965

 

How To Train A Winner? By Mr. Giovanis 

 

       Somebody asked me once; “how do you train a winner?”  The immediate response would have to be, “you have to be able to identify a winner.”  Many cosmic things have to go right in order for a trainer and a “winner” to run into each other at the right time and place in a rare and harmonious manner.  But beyond that, and so we don’t take an elitist approach to this very democratic matter, sometimes as a trainer –you have to make somebody a winner.   You have to understand that the pursuit of happiness starts with the pursuit of fitness.  

 

      The most important aspect of training a winner is to train their mind.  But in a world where people are constantly nourished with emotional cliches and their bodies are used to the convenience/comfort of lazy living; it is very difficult.  You might have already tuned out and popped a pill of some sort.Being in shape is “another world.” Initially this world seems unreachable…even with a space ship that takes off in our imaginations and needs no fuel.Broadly speaking, I would say the biggest ingredient of this mission is sweat.  Honesty hides in sweat. 

 

      Start off small, and reduce everything to this quality. In this introduction, I like to learn about the student.  The less they tell me and the more I infer from their behaviors; the easier things become for me.  I look for strengths and weakness and I attack both with tough love.  This is tricky stuff.  Looking at a boxer punch with their arms and hands, it is hard to explain that what we are actually seeing is power coming from their legs.  One way or another, I must make my students believe in me - so they can ultimately believe in themselves…they are looking to me to learn something - not just spend money or act like they are taking a class (those ones drop out quickly).  Making someone believe in themselves, believe that they are truly able to learn what I am truly able to teach, is sometimes difficult because some of the things they are looking to “learn” are already in their DNA; and so a student may not forgive the subtlety of progress - intentionally.  Growth and bigger ordeals are soon to follow and excuses come in handy. 

 

      Being unfit is essentially, and for the most part, a choice - it is a person ignoring the health inside them. The only comfort we have in that scenario is that obesity and unhealthy living are so widespread and so omnipresent in our society - that somehow it makes it OK?  Somehow we are all like greasy chips in a bag instead of people in flesh?  I’m not sure.  All I know is that students can lie to me all day long, but I resent it when they lie to themselves.  I punish them for this.  Eventually, when they work through this “adolescent” mind frame - I make them look into this invisible mirror constantly, to the point of some “gym rat” narcissism; I try to get them to love their image and ultimately the self, this new ego emerging as if a stranger, for there is not much of a greater feeling.

 

      Learning a martial art is a painful process to eradicate this ignorance.  Sometimes putting ignorance in a lock till it taps out, or punching it in the face till it bleeds - is necessary.  Fitness is an unforgiving honesty…one that requires a loyalty, dedication and fortitude that is a basis for this complicated relationship. Try and get your boyfriend or girlfriend to understand that!  Not quite a “voyeur,” but I love to watch the progress in this struggle.  After a while, a student will often get to the point where they “choose” whether or not to continue on the path that leads to the next level of physical enlightenment.  The irony is - and it took me years to figure out - that many quit, right as they reach an easier threshold in this journey.  Why?  Maybe the answer lies somewhere in the details of why they came to the gym to begin with, a type of confusion that might easily be like a tag on a key chain being scanned for absolutely no reason at all.  So in essence, a big part of my job is to try and knock the quit out of them.  It is in this phase where “winners” and “losers” are discovered or promised like diamonds.

 

       As they stick around and put roots into the mat where they jump, kick, punch, grunt, scream, push, lift, resist, fight, befriend, adapt, sweat and breath till they run out of breath; I try to show them that being fit is a two tier system very dependent on a balance and extremely more fragile than it seems – a true mind and body convergence or experience; a type of ecosystem with living and nonliving rewards. 

 

       But so you don’t think it’s all work and no play, I will tell you that I feel it is important to LAUGH.   I try to make my students feel the pain of a good workout but also the joy of laughter in that process.  I give them reasons to be happy and I make them understand that things of this nature take time (this is where you sign up for a 6 month membership). 

 

      Still don’t believe me?  Did you know that laughing burns 1.3 calories/minute while working the muscles of the abdomen, diaphragm, back and shoulders?  That might not seem like much, till you consider that laughing also burns 100 calories/minute of emotional stress.  Always remember that emotional stress causes weight gain (especially around the abdomen).  Working out and becoming addicted to this process of health leads to a laughter that ultimately relieves pain, brings greater happiness, and even increases immunity.

 

      If you enjoyed any, or this entire little essay on “training a winner” please join us at XTC gym.  Whether you like it or not, in reading this, we’ve already begun to exercise your eyeballs.  As a trainer, I’ve come to learn I need to instill all these things to students and people willing to learn - or I feel out of shape.

Well, did you think it was “wax on, wax off” and have them chase a live chicken?

Increase Your Uplifts

How do you increase your uplift?  Simple: You do little things that bring you pleasure.  You don't just wait passively to be uplifted-you make it happen! For example, you can lift your spirits by:

• Treating yourself to a delicious dessert in the middle of the afternoon.

• Join a dance class like Zumba and go every week.

• Spending lunch hour sunning yourself on a park bench.

• Taking 20 minutes to meditate.

• Taking time to feed the birds who visit your yard before going off to work.

• Watching children play.

• Daydreaming about positive experiences you've ha in the past.

• Giving yourself permission to have that extra cup of coffee before you join in the "rat race."

• Enjoying a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe.

• Listening to some of your favorite songs while driving from point A to point B.

• Reading a magazine article about something that interests you. 

 

These are the things that you can initiate.  They don't depend on what other people are willing or able to do that might please you.  They are things that you have control over.  Enjoy life, make the best out of each moment, it is the only one we have.

Identify Who or What Makes You Smile

Think about what a smile does for you.  It attracts people.  It says to the world "I'm happy, confident, competent, satisfied person."  It makes it easier to build a support network-people who will rally to your side when adversity strikes. It helps you transcend difficult times.

 

I don't want to say that most people are clueless when it comes to knowing who and what makes them happy, but it is true that people's understanding of the relationship between life circumstances and positive emotion is not as precise as it should be.

 

One simple, easy way to identify your particular sources of happiness is to rummage through old photographs and cull out the ones where you are smiling.  Some of those will no doubt be pictures if family gatherings where everyone is posing for the camera-looking happy for the camera's sake whether you feel that way or not.  But other pictures may capture moments of genuine happiness, as evidenced by the smile on your face.

 

Examine those photographs carefully and ask yourself what the common threads are that connect them.  For example, maybe whenever you are in the company of certain people or whenever you are engaged in some particular activity, you are smiling.  Start your day with a big smile, it makes your day go by easier and make sure you make someone smile today, it goes a long way.

Recognize the Importance of Rituals

 Much of everyday life is made up of rituals-established, predictable, patterned behaviors that structure the day.  There are morning rituals (brushing your teeth, showering, reading newspaper), midday rituals (everything from the so-called "power lunch" to a simple sandwich in your office), and evening rituals (a cocktail or two, dinner at 6:00 pm, a few minutes of intimate time with your spouse, and -if you are lucky---sex).

 

Rituals are a form of structure that actually make life flow more easily.  They are mindless- you do them without thinking. Perhaps most important of all, they orient you as to where you are and what you should be doing.  Rituals are like an invisible watch- if you are taking a shower, it must be morning! Without rituals, every day is a new day full of unpredictability, uncertainty, and the possibility of unhappiness.

 

Here are some examples of what rituals you can incorporate into your life:

• Exercise first thing in the morning, join a gym with group classes, and make sure the instructors are certified and know their discipline.  Being in a group environment motivates you to keep going, and you have a partner who is accountable.

• Sitting for a few minutes of quiet contemplation, in meditation or prayer. 

• Getting a professional massage once a month.  Relieve stress from your body and relax your mind.

• Browsing through your favorite bookstore every Saturday morning (you gotta hurry before they close them all down)

• Checking in via email or text with loved ones once a day.

• Taking an afternoon nap.

• Enjoying some quality, one-on-one time with your pet.

• Spending five minutes every day reflecting on all the things you have to be grateful for.  Count your blessings.

Don't become a slave to rituals; otherwise they become tedious.  If something more interesting comes along at the same time you normally take your afternoon nap, go for it!  You can always nap tomorrow.

In the Face of Challenges, Rivise Your Life Plan

Major life challenges and trials disrupt your life and force you to redirect your energies, interests, and commitments.  But how do you do that? It's not easy to revise your life and move into a positive, more satisfying future.  But these steps can get you moving in the right direction:

• Create a positive mindset by sitting quietly with your eyes closed while opening your mind to the possibility of hope, optimism, and creative behavioral change.  Take ten exaggerated breaths, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth while silently repeating the word relax each time you exhale.

• Identify a short list of valued life goals-for example, being closet to your family, becoming a more spiritual person, reconnecting with old friends, and getting in shape. Goals give you a sense of direction in terms of the changes you want to make.  Basically, you are deciding what you want your life to stand for from this point on.

•  Surround yourself with people who have positive energy, who can push you and direct you toward your goals.

• Decide what the incentives are for you to reach these goals.  What is the end game?  Will you have greater peace of mind?  Will you be happier? Will you live longer?  Be specific.

• Ask yourself how committed you are to achieving each goal.  The more committed you are, the more successful you will be.

• Ask yourself how confident you are about making these changes.  Commitment and confidence are not the same.  You can be committed, but not all that confident- or, the other way around.

• Consider what specific things you would need to realize each goal.  Where would you start?  How much support do you need?  If you have several goals, which one do you begin with?  Make it easy on yourself-start with the smallest, easiest thing and work your way up to the big changes.

• Identify any obstacles to meet your objectives.  Do you have physical limitations that might interfere?  Are other people's attitudes holding you back?

• Begin-Just Do It.  It does not matter what you do; the important thing is that you just do something. Change takes effort, so you have to persist, even when going gets tough.  There is no easy way to accomplish change.  Change also takes time, so be patient.  As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day."  You Cannot reconstruct your life in a day either.  Focus on the destination, but enjoy the journey.

• Reward yourself for whatever changes you make no matter how small.  If changes is rewarding, keep at it-if it isn't, quit.  It's just that simple.