MOST-EFFECTIVE
The 5-Season BodyMind Types
WORKOUT IS
RELATIVE
Humans experience the world
Spring | The Lion | The Warrior Spirit
on all human levels simultane-
ously—physically, emotionally,
Psycho-physio profi le:
intellectually and spiritually. You
Typical fi tness club member/trainer; good com-
and your spouse or friend may expe-
petitive athlete; large-boned mesomorph (natu-
rience the same event in profoundly
rally muscular and able to shed weight); strong
different ways. Part of that experience
musculature

is created by the way you’ve learned
Intrinsic motivator: Achievement/action
to process information. Another part
is given by the way you are genetically Most compatible workouts:
predisposed to process information. Conventional, highly physical or active exercise
For example, while T’ai chi ch’uan,
the internal soft martial art for health and
Springs are the quintessential go-getters. Their number one intrinsic moti-
longevity, is benefi cial to everyone, each
vator is their initiative and drive for achievement. Springs are mavericks,
individual will experience it differently,
pioneers, adventurers and entrepreneurs—‘take charge’ people.
and not everyone will enjoy it. If you aren’t
Springs have a strong mental component to their temperament and like to
enjoying yourself, you probably won’t slide
think they have logical reasons for everything they do—although decisions
into that fl ow moment that reveals your soul
are just as likely to be based on emotion and instinct. They are competi-
to your inner eye.
tive and impatient; others may sometimes interpret this as being pushy or
I do many things—I surf, ski, practice
controlling.
yoga and dance a lot, aware that it’s not the
Springs love conventional strength/cardio workouts, which satisfy
dance performed that is important; it is the
their need for stimulation and a sense of achievement. Their best intrinsic
experience of the dance, one’s appreciation of
motivator toward regular exercise is a sense of competition—if only against
its depth and meaning—its soulfulness. All of
themselves.
these activities nurture the bodymind. If you
Springs tend to lose focus or get distracted by the next challenge
steer toward experiences that are more com-
that comes along. So, while Springs are the least likely to enjoy T’ai chi,
fortable and successful for you, you’ll make
the practice can help them stay in tune with their body’s signals, balanc-
your efforts to stay fi t and healthy irresistibly
ing their tendency to ignore their intuition and even physical warnings
fun, and therefore effective. If any given activ-
like pain. It also can help them stick with an exercise routine through its
ity doesn’t transport you to an “Aha!” moment,
depth, both of different exercises and principles, which provide logical
try something else that will.
reasons to work out.
KNOW YOUR TYPE,
Summer | The Horse | The Free Spirit
FIND YOUR WORKOUT
One way I help people identify what fi tness/
Psycho-physio profi le:
wellness pursuits would be irresistibly fun
Will try new, fun things; small to medium-boned
for them is through a 5-Season BodyMind
mesomorph; lean dancer’s body

Typology. I developed this system with other
experts based on meta-analysis of dozens
Intrinsic motivator: Spontaneity
of different typologies, including Ayurvedic
Most compatible workouts:
typing, Chinese 5 Element theory, Meyers-
Hatha yoga, low-impact aerobics, dance, jazzer-
Briggs and Human Dynamics.
cise, Nia, circuit-training, walking, hiking
It also factors in the truth that people
feel better about exercise when they
Summers are spontaneous, fi ery, charismatic and dra-
are successful doing it. Also, that your
matic, but also intensely loving and empathetic. They
body may feel better or more natural
feel emotions strongly, whether their own or another’s.
in a workout that most effi ciently uses
They are great communicators, the life of the party, and often solve problems
the type of muscle fi ber of which you
by talking things out. Summers tend to think of problems in terms of the people
have the most: fast-twitch fi bers,
involved and how they are feeling. Some may view Summers as touchy-feely.
which are especially good for
Summers tend to make good athletes, dancers and gymnasts. They love to have
anaerobic, strength-type move-
fun, to do activities that involve other people, but not necessarily with any particu-
ment; or slow-twitch fi bers, which
lar end result in mind; it is the process that inspires them. Summers are about more
are most effi cient at aerobic,
than the goal. They often stick with an activity because of the people involved, not the
endurance-type movement.
activity itself.
Workouts like aerobics and jazzercise can draw out the strong feelings on which
January 2009
21
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