primary and secondary body type. In health
there is freedom.
to be quick, precise and linear. Exercise education often works well as a motivator
Health is the first
for them. Becoming fit, well or healthy is the right thing to do, for themselves and
of all liberties.
their family.
If they work with a coach or trainer for the first few weeks, Autumns are more
- Henri-Frederic Amiel
likely to religiously follow their exercise routine, almost as if inertia was keeping
them from stopping. Yet, Autumns have a high tolerance for discomfort, and so may
ignore pain or other warning signals and end up overtraining or getting injured.
Workouts to balance this tendency include T’ai chi ch’uan, swimming and
ballroom dancing—opportunities to help them get out of their heads, find calm
and have fun.
Winter | The Ox | The Strategist
Psycho-physio profile:
Systematic thinker, appears aloof; endomor-
phic with strong musculature and may tend
toward a slower metabolism (gains weight
easily)
Intrinsic motivator: Seeing the big
picture
Most compatible workouts:
Body building, Ashtanga yoga, martial arts,
cardio-kickboxing, tennis, golf, swimming,
Chen-style T’ai chi ch’uan
Like Indian Summers, Winters see things
from a holistic point of view. They take their
time gathering information and once they
see the whole picture, act decisively.
Winters are patient listeners—not
necessarily to understand another’s emo-
tions, but to gather information. Some may
perceive the inwardly directed Winter as
aloof, even cynical, but more likely, Winter is simply processing information and
creating strategies for setting and attaining goals.
Winters want to know, “What will this workout do for me? How will it fit in
with everything else I’m doing?” A logical approach to working out using a system-
atic schedule is effective for them.
Early mornings make the best times for Winters to exercise. Especially as they
get older, they settle into themselves, like bears getting ready for hibernation. They
need constant, regular stimulation, change and challenge.
Tennis, fencing, swimming and martial arts all are recommended, as well as
the more vigorous Eastern practices, such as Chen T’ai chi and Ashtanga yoga.
David-Dorian Ross is America’s T’ai chi champion, whose competitive
performances have won him seven U.S. gold medals and three World medals. He
is the owner of Full Circle Fitness and the Full Circle T’ai Chi Academy, and is the
talent behind the book, Exercising the Soul, award-winning educational DVDs and
a PBS series. Visit DrTaiChi.com
January 2009
23
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