Weightlifting & Therapy: Not as Different as You May Think

Personal trainers and therapists are more alike than you might think. Both are trained professionals who seek to help their clients meet their goals and are there to offer specific recommendations that, over time, will lead to great success even though the personal goals may differ from client to client.

Weightlifting and therapy are also more alike than you may originally have believed. Many come to therapy hoping to seek coping skills, of which we are happy to provide. But these are meant to make the work easier–not easy. No matter the quality of the wrist straps, the freshness of the water, the music playing in the background, the act of weightlifting is not an easy process. Nor is therapy.

Many skills in weightlifting are also helpful in therapy. Find a few below that may work for you

When it gets uncomfortable, direct your attention to your breathing.

Even though it feels instinctual to tense up and hold your breath, breathe. Feel your whole body lift up with each breath and guide you forward to drift through the discomfort.

Establish a routine.

One hour a week with a trained professional is great, but that is only 0.6% of the hours  in a week. To see consistent growth, it is paramount to do work outside of session and follow the established plan.

Be proud of the small successes.

Weight is not added to the rack in 20, 50, or 100 lb increments, and you do not start your training session by lifting the heaviest you possibly can. Start small, and begin by adding 10, 5, or even 2 lb increments.

Personal trainers cannot make 100 lbs weigh less than 100 lbs, just as therapists often cannot directly change your stressors. But therapy can make you strong enough that one day, the weight you are feeling is as light as a feather.

Though we therapists are trained professionals, most of the credit for change should go to YOU, as YOU are the person putting in the significant work it takes to grow your strength. That is something to be proud of.

If the therapists at Compassionate Healing can be of any assistance in helping with your training journey, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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