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 profile:
intellectually and spiritually. You
Typical fitness 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 beneficial 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 flow 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 intrin-
experience of the dance, one’s appreciation of sic motivator toward regular exercise is a sense of competition—if only
its depth and meaning—its soulfulness. All of against 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 fit 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,
FinD YouR WoRKout
Summer | The Horse | The Free Spirit
One way I help people identify what fitness/
Psycho-physio profile:
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
typing, Chinese 5 Element theory, Meyers-
Most compatible workouts:
Briggs and Human Dynamics.
Hatha yoga, low-impact aerobics, dance, jazzercise,
It also factors in the truth that people
Nia, circuit-training, walking, hiking
feel better about exercise when they
are successful doing it. Also, that your
Summers are spontaneous, fiery, charismatic and dra-
body may feel better or more natural
matic, but also intensely loving and empathetic. They
in a workout that most efficiently uses
feel emotions strongly, whether their own or another’s.
the type of muscle fiber of which you
They are great communicators, the life of the party, and often solve problems
have the most: fast-twitch fibers,
by talking things out. Summers tend to think of problems in terms of the people
which are especially good for
involved and how they are feeling. Some may view Summers as touchy-feely.
anaerobic, strength-type move-
Summers tend to make good athletes, dancers and gymnasts. They love to have
ment; or slow-twitch fibers, which
fun, to do activities that involve other people, but not necessarily with any particu-
are most efficient at aerobic,
lar end result in mind; it is the process that inspires them. Summers are about more
endurance-type movement.
than the goal. They often stick with an activity because of the people involved, not the
activity itself.
Workouts like aerobics and jazzercise can draw out the strong feelings on which
January 2009 17
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32