Intuitive Training—A Different Approach To Exercise

Intuitive training may be new to you, or you may know it by another name: autoregulatory training. It's a flexible approach to fitness based on listening to your body and organizing what you do according to how you feel and perform. Could intuitive training better help you integrate exercise into your life without the additional stress of fitting it into your life?  

Personalized 

Intuitive training stands out for its ability to adapt to your unique physical and emotional states. Unlike one-size-fits-all programs, it respects and adapts to what your body needs on any given day. This approach can accommodate changes in lifestyle, work schedules, and stress levels, making it a highly adaptable and personalized form of programming that aligns with your daily life.

Mind-Body Connection

This method fosters a connection between mind and body by encouraging you to listen to and respond to physiological cues. This enhanced awareness can lead to better decision-making in all aspects of health and well-being, not just exercise.

Flexible

Flexibility in training is a significant advantage, particularly if you have an unpredictable schedule or changing daily demands. Intuitive training allows you to adjust your workouts in real-time, adjusting the variables (volume, intensity, frequency, and complexity) up or down as needed. This flexibility can minimize feelings of guilt or failure when life disrupts a more rigid training schedule, thereby maintaining a positive and sustainable relationship with exercise—something many people do not have.

Reduce Burnout

Intuitive training significantly lowers the risk of physical and mental burnout by prioritizing what you do based on your body's signals over strict programming. Recognizing the need for rest, lighter training days, or different exercises helps prevent overuse injuries and mental fatigue, contributing to a more enjoyable and sustainable fitness journey. This approach ensures that exercise remains a source of rejuvenation and longevity rather than a draining obligation.

Autonomy

Intuitive training is empowering as it places you at the center of your fitness journey, not a pre-determined program created by someone who doesn't know you. This autonomy over your workout program brings a sense of ownership and responsibility for your health. By making choices based on your body's needs, you feel more connected to your fitness journey, potentially leading to increased motivation, satisfaction, and a long-term commitment to an active lifestyle. I've seen this play out for years with my clients.

It's Not For Everyone

Lack of Structure: The lack of a structured training program may lead to inconsistent training, which can impede progress toward specific fitness goals. A lot of people crave structure—proposing an intuitive approach gives them anxiety just thinking about it. 

Overtraining or Undertraining: Without objective measures of workout intensity, or measuring volume, there's a risk of either overtraining due to misinterpreting signals like fatigue or undertraining due to prioritizing comfort.

Potential for Neglecting Exercises: Intuitive training may neglect specific movements, particularly those that are less enjoyable or more challenging, potentially leading to imbalances.

Difficulty for Beginners: If you're new to exercise, you might find it challenging to interpret your body's signals accurately or understand your physical limits, increasing the risk of injury or ineffective workouts. When I work with clients, they get an introduction to intuitive training from the get-go. Every session and check-in, they're asked to rate how they feel on a scale of 1–10. If it's a low score, we look at why. If it's a high score, we look at why as well. Together, we co-create the program. Eventually, they take more control of the reins, and our sessions become more of a check-in with guidance. 

Achieving Goals: For those with goals of running a marathon, bodybuilding, or a specific sport, the lack of a structured plan can slow progress. Most of my work is with folks who share a common goal of living stronger, longer in the 2nd half of life. So it's not so much about specificity as it is about becoming a badass generalist. We do a lot of things really well. We're just not the best in the world at any of them.

Intuitive training can be a liberating and highly personalized approach to a sustainable and enjoyable physical practice. However, its effectiveness relies heavily on your ability to accurately read and respond to your body's signals, which can vary widely among individuals. So, is it for you? Let's chat.

PS. The story you think it takes may be the thing that's held you back from succeeding in the past. Let's connect on a complimentary call and discuss how you can integrate strength training into your life. No pressure, no pitch. If you'd like to move forward at the end of the call, we'll discuss how. If not, we'll say goodbye as friends. Reply here or contact me at [email protected]