The Healthy Body/Mind Connection
Posted on 09. Aug, 2009 by Sophie DeVore in Body and Mind
Aja Davis is a Brooklyn trainer, with a fascinating background. Originally from North Carolina, she started studying martial arts at the young age of 6. She excelled in sparring and became a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwando. Continuing her studies in other forms of martial arts and with a degree in Gender Studies and Japanese, she is constantly challenging her mind and body.
Currently Aja is a personal trainer and creator of her own bootcamp classes. She is also a holistic counselor in nutrition. Aja can therefore offer her clients guidance to not only physical, but lifestyle changes that can help them achieve their goals more efficiently/effectively.
In Aja’s words, here is what someone should look for in a trainer or fitness professional. “You want to train with someone who knows what they are doing, who cares about you as a client, and with whom you feel you can build a good relationship”. In her opinion, one of the most important things someone should consider when hiring a trainer is their “ability to communicate how they are going to get you from point A to point B”. For Aja, results are key. Once people start seeing changes in their body and their energy level, they will be even more motivated to pursue their workout regimen and even take it to the next level.
An experienced trainer or class instructor will introduce you to your body, your mind and emotions. They will teach you to listen and understand how they are all linked together. He or she should give you the power to be self-sufficient, to recreate some of the changes you are going through in your sessions, and adapt them to your everyday life. The more you can think of your body and your mind, the more changes will happen quickly and become long-term ways of living. If you put time and attention into your body, it will pay you back in mood, energy and focus. Same is true of the food that enters your body and how it will fuel you throughout your day.
Look for someone with specialties. Many trainers have taken continuing education courses or training in pre-post natal for ex, special populations (such as diabetes, osteoporosis, injury prevention, pain management) or with backgrounds that might match yours or peak your interest, like specific sports or martial arts.
A trainer or educator who wants to help you beyond your one-on-one sessions, or your classes could and should provide you with homework to practice at home. There are many stretches and exercises that can be recreated at home or in your office, with minimal to no props. If you are concerned with time and money, this is a perfect way to go. A trainer can set you up with a program to suit your goals and needs. You can check-in with them periodically to make adjustments to your routine and to make sure you are keeping proper form.
Some personal trainers and class instructors also have backgrounds and certifications in nutrition, energy healing, homeopathy or other modalities such as yoga, Pilates or other types of movement. They would then be able to give you tailored movement that is from various sources, not just what you can get from a gym. Educators often keep learning and taking courses that complement their specialty as they want to keep up with what the world is discovering and be more informed for themselves and their clients. Aja reminds us that “being certified is definitely good, but having more certifications doesn’t necessarily make someone a better trainer. The real key is to see yourself developing a relationship with this person as they coach you towards your goals.”
Look for a trainer or teacher with the right energy and pep. If you need lots of motivation, find someone who is smiling, eager to get you started and with a good sense of humor. What you might need is, on the other hand, calm and focused energy or a soothing voice. A good trainer should be able to adapt to your personality and even to your changing moods on different days. Aja says, “If the trainer makes you uncomfortable, you’re not likely to want to continue to train with them and you’ll drop off.”
The more you like your instructor the more you will want to see them and work with them. Trust is a huge part of the equation as well. Aja adds, “a personal trainer should offer potential clients a trial of their services before a client commits to large packages. Usually an assessment, brief workout or something along those lines, so that both can know whether their relationship will work. It is just as important for the trainer to feel comfortable as it is for the client.” So shop around if you haven’t quite met your match. It’s an investment in you: body, mind and spirit.
Aja Davis teaches fitness bootcamp classes at Fort Greene Park starting the week of April 12th, 2010 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm. Each session is an hour and will run through the summer. On rainy days, the sessions will be held indoors. Please contact Aja for details at 347.324.9875 or via email at aja@ajadavis.com.
Group classes and gym memberships are other ways of staying fit in this age of stress and recession. The neighborhood is full of these opportunities.
Crunch gym (61 Fulton St.) and Pratt’s gym (On Classon Avenue, end of the Pratt campus) are just two local gyms on opposing sides of the neighborhood. Just like working with a trainer, the class setting will give you plenty of challenge and motivation. The energy can be really high, a natural boost. Crunch offers a large variety of classes to anyone’s liking, including yoga, Pilates, dance, cardio and many more that will keep you inspired, smiling and fit. Pratt gym at Pratt Institute doesn’t necessarily offer state-of-the-art equipment, but is fully equipped and all at a very reasonable 6 or 12 month membership.
In the spring and summer, many class opportunities will open up in Fort Greene park and throughout the neighborhood, including:
Stroller Fitness with Stephanie Severe Severe offers mommy-and-me type classes with an outdoor flair (details can be found at stephaniesevere.com).
Move with Grace offers African dance, Yoga, Pilates and fitness classes (469 Myrtle Avenue, visit movewithgracestudio.com for class information – adults and children)
Yoga classes at Lucky Lotus Yoga (184 Dekalb Ave – visit luckylotusyoga.com for class information)
In the spring, summer and early fall months, the outdoors will offer a wonderful alternative to indoor workouts.
Take a stroll or jog around the neighborhood, or head to Fort Greene park for some tennis, Frisbee and soccer action and more walking and running opportunities. The sunshine (in moderation) will be good for your mood and energy, as will the fresh air.
Ride your bicycle around the neighborhood. More and more streets have bike lanes (Dekalb, Willoughby, etc). Or get to your destination with your bike, instead of the subway or the bus. On two wheels you can cover much more ground!
If you work from home, the walk outside will take you away from your computer screen, therefore resting your eyes and will bring motion to your body, promoting circulation and an increased oxygen intake. In the end, you will return to work refreshed, energized and much more productive!
Combined with a healthy diet, daily exercise and the outdoors have a very positive effect on body and mind. So let’s get out there and take advantage of it!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sophie lives in the Clinton Hill Coops
