Fitness Industry Intelligence The Career Network for Health, Fitness & Performance

Tales from the Hybrid Fitness Coach

Since 2020 virtual and online fitness coaching tiptoed into the lives of many fitness professionals as the world shut down and we were championed with finding creative means to maintain connection and center our wellbeing at home. Since we all began to creep outside of our four walls, venturing back into the world as we know it now, hybrid fitness coaching has taken off as a means of offering options to fitness professionals and clients themselves.  

As a hybrid fitness coach, I know all too well the need to remain flexible and malleable in the world of health and fitness. As a servant to my clients, I see the need to individualize plans while also individualizing the approach that best suits each client. There are ways that I can positively maximize my reach, while there are also the subsequent challenges of coaching clients without being there in person with them. That being said, hybrid fitness coaching has changed the world of health and wellness for the better across the board. 

I’ll be honest with you. Like many of you who made the shift to more online options in 2020, the use of technology and working more virtually made me extremely nervous and took me out of my comfort zone! But, like with all the changes we should adapt to, I’ve learned to take these lessons as an opportunity for growth and expanding my business. 

Accessibility for myself and others

Hybrid fitness coaching means that sometimes I can conduct in-person sessions or meet with people in real life. Other times, it means that I can hop onto my laptop and engage with folks online. Accessibility, for me, means that I can balance a schedule that includes a commute when meeting in person along with having the flexibility to cut out the commute and meet via a video meeting platform. Considering online spaces require the proper lighting and camera angles, along with ample room to move around and demonstrate, the key to good online sessions is to be prepared. There is no difference with in-person meetings, as I want to come prepared and ready for proper equipment and spatial considerations. 

Best practices for coaching: Hybrid and in-person

Best practices for coaching clients span all sorts of sessions, no matter the location. Here are some I can share that translate across the board:

  1. Think of each client’s individual needs – hybrid wellness and fitness coaching requires a coach to consider the needs of the client from their preference for proximity, their communication methods, and their motivational needs. Getting to know your client can ensure that their learning style and personal preferences are priorities at all times.
  2. Give yourself a buffer – Online sessions and in-person sessions both require time to prepare, schedule, and forecast disruptions. Traffic jams, lags in internet signal, or schedule conflicts can all jumble our day in ways we least expect them to. Maintaining a schedule that gives buffer time in between sessions can make space for these interruptions and so many more. Creating buffers between sessions also prevents us from becoming burned out from doing too much back-to-back!
  3. Ask for feedback – Like every other industry, the fitness and wellness industry changes constantly. Since you were certified, have you dug into continuing education? Do you ask those who love you the most to keep it 100% with you and give you feedback to help you continue to be an even more awesome influence in the lives of others? Do you ask your clients to give you input on how you can keep serving them? We can do this in many ways: dialogue and conversation, online surveys, or regular check-in feedback opportunities. 
  4. Focus on play – It’s easy to get caught up in “training sessions” being “training sessions” but creating motivating environments online and in-person can also challenge coaches to distract clients from another mundane task of working out and instead see training sessions as time for themselves to enjoy movement and wellness.
  5. Build-in admin time – We need time to prepare, like I’ve said a few times already. I could be driving home a point from lessons learned myself, but take it from me that admin time should be a priority! Playlisting, workout programming, research, checking on equipment being operatable, and even scheduling time with mentors and those who can provide feedback for ongoing personal development are all ways that we are still working to coach the best that we can!

As a busy mother figure and human in this chaotic world, I am forever grateful for the shift to hybrid coaching. Having been in the industry for over 15 years, I have seen so many changes that can benefit others and help us continue to tackle chronic health outcomes in a multitude of ways. Colleagues in this space, who I consider friends as well, constantly check in with me and feel the same, but how about you?

Are you a hybrid fitness coach? 

What are your best practices and tips for being successful for clients of all locations? 

References: 

  1. Club Industry. 2021. 22 percent of gyms have closed, and $29.2 billion in revenue lost since COVID-19 hit. clubindustry.com/industry-news/22-percent-gyms-have-closed-292-billion-revenue-lost-covid-19-hit.
  2. Goodman, J. 2022. How big Is the online personal training industry? Personal Trainer Development Center. theptdc.com/articles/how-big-is-online-personal-training-industry.
  3. Huguet, L.C.T. 2021. Business model reinvention: impacts of COVID-19 on the fitness gym industry. ISCTE Business School. repositorio.iscte-iul.pt/bitstream/10071/24161/1/master_lea_tiphaine_huguet.pdf.
  4. Rizzo, N. 2021. Fitness industry statistics 2021-2028 [market research]. Run Repeat. runrepeat.com/uk/fitness-industry.
  5. United States Fitness Market Overview [LINK]

 

Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.

Fitness on the Spectrum – Beginning to Understand Sensory Movement

Cognitive Benefits of Movement

Accessible fitness and wellness modalities come in an array of methods that work for different clients. Coaches should constantly be equipping themselves with the knowledge to support a wide range of diverse individuals in order to ensure they are being as open as possible to support their community with their classes and training. Supporting a wide range of individuals also requires coaches to understand that clients can benefit from movement for reasons beyond the aesthetic and even outside of improvements that they can receive relating to chronic health outcomes. 

Movement benefits the body in a multitude of ways, including improving cognitive function and reaction time. Physical exercise can also contribute to releasing dopamine and serotonin, boosting our mood and igniting positive feelings emotionally. Opportunities for movement can also come with a coach’s ability to foster a safe sensory space for their clients so that their degree of comfort is unique to their sensory needs as well. 

What movement does for neurodivergent individuals

As an individual who is on the neurodivergent spectrum, I am aware that my fascination with physical movement was not attached to the physiological changes it provided my body. Instead, I focused more on the dopamine release that came with movement; I became more and more aware of how movement made me happy and put me in the best mood. Walking outside in nature helps me feel euphoric, creating positive sensory responses in my body. I can only speak from personal experience, or draw from those that have been shared with me from those I know in the neurodivergent community. Focusing on fitness on the spectrum focuses on understanding how movement feels to those who identify as being on the spectrum, as well as understanding the benefits of exercise on the body aside from what has been traditionally taught by fitness professionals. 

Movement and fidgeting are forms of stimming for many individuals with neurodivergence and therefore can be done in the form of exercise. Stimming can be described as physical actions with someone’s body such as foot tapping, hand flapping, rocking the body, or finger/limb flicking. Many neurodivergent individuals may self-regulate with stimming movements that also come in the form of physical exercise and general movement of the body in order to process information more productively. 

Movement can be translated as self-soothing, self-regulating, and a mechanism with which a neurodivergent individual can receive positive feedback and response within their bodies. Children and adults on the neurodivergent spectrum can receive positive feedback from external stimuli such as walking, running, exercising, or just moving their bodies physically however it feels best for them.  

What can coaches do?

Coaches can support their clients, neurodivergent or not, by helping them get in tune with their bodies.  The goal is to remove the strict connotations that can come with “physical exercise” and turn physical activity into a method of receiving positive feedback within the body.  Asking questions such as these below can encourage clients to dial into their workouts and gauge interoceptive feelings and how they make them feel:

Coaches can release the tendency to strictly focus on “fitness plans” and organized workouts, and encourage clients to move for the sake of movement alone. Also, understanding how to consider volume in fitness classes and spaces, lighting, and the impact of that on certain individuals, or what may or may not feel comfortable on or within someone’s body are ways that sensory considerations can be taken into account. 

In a future piece, we will dive into more related to how to facilitate sensory-friendly fitness sessions and environments for clients whose needs relate.

References:
  1. “Feel good” hormone could explain why exercise helps boost your brain. (2024, January 24). ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240116131729.htm
  2. Kapp, Steven & Steward, Robyn & Crane, Laura & Elliott, Daisy & Elphick, Chris & Pellicano, Elizabeth & Russell, Ginny. (2019). ‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331437023_’People_should_be_allowed_to_do_what_they_like’_Autistic_adults’_views_and_experiences_of_stimming
  3. Ranieri, A., Mennitti, C., Falcone, N., La Monica, I., Di Iorio, M. R., Tripodi, L., Gentile, A., Vitale, M., Pero, R., Pastore, L., D’Argenio, V., Scudiero, O., & Lombardo, B. (2023). Positive effects of physical activity in autism spectrum disorder: how influences behavior, metabolic disorder and gut microbiota. Frontiers in psychiatry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10681626/
  4. Stimming: Self-Stimulating Behaviors. (n.d.). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/stimming

 

Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.

Creating Inclusive Fitness Programs for Everybody

Understanding the origin story of an institution can form a better understanding of how it has evolved and why it is the way it is now. Fitness is one example of this. Fitness started as a means of transitioning athletics and sports into the everyday lives of people as a way to get them to move more often and create healthier benefits. Yet, what resulted was instituted narratives of ideal bodies as having a certain size to be fit, impacting views about fitness and health and harmfully exclusionary fitness culture. Much of the research included in early interventions of fitness and wellness left out a bulk majority of excluded identities and created stereotypes still deeply embedded in fitness culture today. Creating inclusive fitness programs for everybody should shift the mindsets of coaches towards one of self-awareness and rewriting some of the teachings we have perhaps seen in the earlier part of our careers. 

Since the definition of “inclusion” is the action or state of including or being included within a group or structure, a fitness professional must know the origins of fitness and how systemic imbalances from those origins cause the bulk majority of individuals who need fitness to be excluded. We have to know where we come from in order to know where we are going.

Stereotypes of bodies

Due to the limitations of individuals used in historic fitness and wellness studies, many stereotypes were formed as a result. Outside of a thin and lean aesthetic, many bodies are excluded from what most would define as “fit” or “athletic”. Origins of fitness stem from athletics and sports, so there’s no wonder that many present-day gyms and fitness spaces can be spaces of exclusion and assumption. Deeply embedded structural barriers and cultural norms are not welcoming to individuals in larger bodies, those with disabilities, women and gender expansive identities, as well as LGBT+ individuals. Therefore, accessing health, fitness, and wellness begins with the removal of the stigma attached to what a body looks like that is capable and deserving of movement and exercise. 

Defining “movement” on an individual level

Along with variances with individual bodies come differences in ranges of motion and how bodies move in many unique ways. Whether it’s from textbooks or historical certification material, the way that a body moves does not indicate its ability to move properly. What a plank looks like can shift from person to person. How “intense” an interval should be can vary from person to person. Lifting weights should serve as a means of facilitating functional movement instead of showing how strong someone is within a fitness facility. Coaches and fitness professionals want to learn to take the time to learn their client’s individual needs. Success in movement can vary from person to person and day to day, and every moment that someone can celebrate movement is a moment to celebrate – period. Gone are the days of “going harder” and “doing more” and instead we should all meet ourselves where we are at and be grateful for, however, we can move within our given ranges of mobility, time, and effort each day.

The goal of physical exercise and movement is longevity, chronic health condition prevention, and improvement, as well as embracing fitness and wellness outside of the aesthetic. Yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) globally tracks that one in four adults and over 80% of adolescents do not engage in adequate amounts of physical activity to improve health outcomes. We have an issue with education, accessibility, and consistency of moving a pivotal part of everyone’s daily regimen. 

Movement on an individual level has to be understood as a way of working within what’s possible each day.  Many coaches understand sessions and time as a luxury that everyone has access to, but that is not always the case. Walkability, moments of movement sprinkled into the day, and affordability don’t always come easily for everyone depending on where they are and what they can access. Coaches who want to provide guidance will understand that inclusion starts with understanding and getting creative to help progress someone’s fitness journey outside the conventions of traditional coaching sessions and group fitness classes. Many individuals may only have access to in-home movement and for short periods each day. Other individuals may have multiple responsibilities in their day as caretakers, so have to incorporate movement alongside their household members and community to see it as possible. Coaches should also learn from groups working to enhance inclusion in the fitness industry to debunk their internal biases and stigma. Everyone comes into the fitness industry for personal reasons, and [often] those reasons don’t always fit the stories of their clients and the general public. Organizations such as Fitness 4 All Bodies work toward transforming fitness spaces into those that are more welcoming for systemically ostracized populations. Their mission is to address structural injustice and facilitate vulnerable groups to engage in meaningful conversation, build community connection, and liberate their bodies through inclusive physical activity. 

References
  1. Bell, D., Rahman, S., & Rochon, R. (2023). (Trans)forming fitness: Intersectionality as a framework for resistance and collective action. Frontiers in sports and active living, 5, 944782. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.944782
  2. Thedinga, H. K., Zehl, R., & Thiel, A. (2021). Weight stigma experiences and self-exclusion from sport and exercise settings among people with obesity. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 565. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10565-7
  3. Wilson, K. (n.d.). The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in fitness. https://blog.afaa.com/diversity-in-fitness

 

Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.

More Than A Mom: Helping Clients Achieve Fitness And Wellness While Juggling Life

Many clients can fit into an identity of being a mother figure to little humans who depend on them for their day-to-day support and safety. No small feat, being a mother comes with so many positive aspects of life from molding children into the people they will become in the future and partaking in the many snuggles that kids are the best at giving. Facets surrounding motherhood can also be heavy on the psyche as mothers juggle their bandwidth alongside having to be key providers of well-being for others. As coaches who support moms and their wellness journeys, it’s important to reflect on how support and guidance offered to moms can center their individualistic identities separate from their role of “mom.” Individualism does not take away from someone’s ability to parent, it only adds more multifaceted layers to someone’s essence and sparks their desire to grow into a unique person.

Understanding how physical activity fits into the lives of mothers with young children is crucial. Physical activity benefits their health and sets a positive example for their families. Motherhood is multifaceted, yet society often idealizes it as the pinnacle of a woman’s role. Genderized perceptions can shift sometimes, but the consensus of expectation remains that good mothers prioritize their children’s needs over their own. Despite the diversity of motherhood experiences, taking care of others rises to the top of key priorities, leading many mothers to gauge their value by the care they provide to others, often at the expense of their own needs. This can result in feelings of guilt when they take time for themselves.

Movement has been cathartic for me on so many levels since having my child. Early on, I promised myself to be patient through the process of healing my body post-baby, as well as remembering that I may not go back to “the life I had before” physically. Okay with the process of growth and learning with my child watching, my movement journey has morphed for the better over the last seven years. My child has seen me move for myself, she takes part in my exercise with me, and she also sees that I am placing priority on caring for myself before I shift caretaking duties to those around me. Prioritizing me shows her that she should always prioritize her.

Shelley Murdock, also known professionally as the founder of Fit2Flaunt and who I stumbled upon in my Instagram searches, is a pole-dancing phenom who empowers women to achieve their fitness goals in a fun and body-positive environment. A mother of twins, she has used her love of pole dancing fitness to help her through her journey of post-partum recovery. On her journey, she has faced backlash from opponents to her lifestyle and profession, with some comments stating she didn’t have the right to vent about her struggles as a mother, since she decided to pole dance. Pole dancing is Shelley’s escape from the stressors in life, and helps her to center herself so that she can be the best and more authentically genuine mother for her children. She deserves the right to move her both, in a way that feels fluid and right for her, without judgment or conformity.

Coaches can support their caretaking and mother-figure clients by helping them see that prioritization of their well-being positively impacts all of their other life responsibilities and to stay in a place where routine reigns supreme.

Michaela Brown, General Manager of VIDA Fitness & Aura Spa and Chairwoman of VIDA’s first Diversity and Inclusion Board, found her passion for supporting fellow mother figures after entering the fitness industry after being an athlete herself. She moved through the ranks of becoming a group fitness instructor and personal trainer and then into leadership to continue her career in wellness. An early client provided her testimony to Michaela of being grateful for her fitness journey because of how it helped her pick up her daughter without pain which was a pivotal milestone that inspired her journey. She uses her experience with uplifting social justice and advocating for excluded identities to evolve the world of fitness and wellness into one that is equity-centered.

Michaela makes her care a priority in her life, while it can feel like a “secondary” priority after a meaningful job and being present with her family. Her main way of taking care of herself is to ensure she gets restful sleep. She’s the clearest early in the morning, when she’s up before dawn, and can set the course for her day with clarity before diving into her to-do list. She is intentional to affirm herself; she knows she can trust the care she gives others to maintain a high level of importance for the time she takes for herself. She emphasizes how intimate of a relationship coaches can have with clients and that there need to be constant check-in opportunities to center the purpose of each session, staying mindful of active listening to keep a pulse on how a client’s life is going on “outside of the workout”. She encourages coaches to put themselves in the point of view of others and to expand their influences to truly empathize with what life as a mother figure is like.

“Regardless of how busy a mother was, when she lived in the moment and felt like she was in control of her schedule, she was more likely to make time for exercise,” says Danielle King, assistant professor of psychological sciences at Rice University and co-author of one study. Offering ideas and strategies to help mother figures feel like they have more control over their schedules is a key component to the success of their wellness programming. Timeboxing is a great tool that can work for some moms. The main factor in timeboxing that can showcase results related to fitness and wellness goals is that time is boxed out during times in the day that are achievable; just as meetings and school events are scheduled, time focusing on wellness goals deserves the same level of importance.

Another area of coaching support that advocates for mother figures is how the notion that their movement or nutritional interventions have to be done in an “all-or-nothing manner.” A “what you can when you can approach” can balance the skill of scheduling alongside having grace in the moments where unpredictability supersedes the day. If a client can get in moments of movement, for example, that includes 15 minutes of playtime with their kids at the playground and a walk around the block during a work break, that’s all that fits into a day it can still be celebrated. If meal prepping includes building options that are affordably accessible such as frozen vegetables and bulk whole grains, coaches can encourage clients to do the best they can with what they’ve got.

Including children in the wellness routines of mother figures can also set a positive example of how “prioritization of mom” is non-negotiable, and also models proper wellness habits for their children—modeling matters across all aspects of motherhood and raising young children in this world. So much of hustle culture teaches people to prioritize work and worldly matters, but well-being and centering the care of one’s self can go a long way in our universal mission to ultimately take care of others.

References:
  1. How some working, single moms manage to exercise. (n.d.). Association for Psychological Science – APS. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/how-some-working-single-moms-manage-to-exercise.html
  2. Paulise, L. (2024, February 20). 5 steps to start Timeboxing and Improve your Time-Management Skills. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2022/11/03/5-steps-to-start-timeboxing-and-improve-your-time-management-skills/?sh=532fe9525ef3
  3. Wittels, P., Kay, T., & Mansfield, L. (2022). The Family Is My Priority: How Motherhood Frames Participation in Physical Activity in a Group of Mothers Living in a Low Socioeconomic Status Area. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3), 1071. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031071

 

Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.

Coaching Women Through a Blue Zone Lens

Pivotal moments throughout human development shape the future of health outcomes for individuals across the identity spectrum. Women, in particular, have key moments in time where nutrition and overall well being contributes to their lifelong health depending on what happens and are instilled from an early age. Supporting the health and longevity of women starts from childhood, through adolescence, and into adulthood and beyond. As coaches supporting clients who might be working mothers, stay-at-home mothers, and caretakers, or who are facing challenges around mental health and burnout, awareness is needed to ensure that care is of the utmost importance long term.

Certain lifestyle conventions tend to support women throughout their lifecycle with regard for nutrition and movement recommendations. An overarching focus on mental well-being and mindfulness supports longevity across the decades of life as well. Diets and “temporary” methods for working on fitness goals aren’t sustainable. Within the first 7 months of a diet, more than 90% of individuals stop and start another trend. A solution is the need to sway away from diet culture and learn, instead, to embrace lifestyle changes that can stick. Research on physiological changes in women as well as the study of centenarians, provide insights into what daily habits support wellness across dimensions. Although epigenetic and chronological age are not one in the same, key traits of those that live chronologically longer indicate that health habits do make a difference. Decade-over-decade, elements of wellness that start with a solid foundation of routine can benefit women throughout their lifetimes.

20-30s: A foundation of social networks & routine

Supporting women starts with understanding how daily life can impact wellness goals with a professional at their side. A focus on social interaction, nutrient-dense food intake, and intentional movement opportunities from an early age dictate habits being carried on later in life.

In the South Pacific islands, where the world’s longest-lived women reside, many secrets to longevity can be found. One such tradition is the Okinawan moai, which creates strong, supportive social networks. These networks are vital, offering financial and emotional support during tough times and providing the comforting knowledge that someone is always there for you. Okinawan children join these committed social groups as early as age five, emphasizing how crucial social bonds and community are for women to thrive at every stage of life. This sense of belonging and continuous support plays a significant role in their well-being and longevity.

Starting out life with a firm routine that includes daily movement and physical activity can set the course for the future. Women who aren’t solely involved in exercise, but who make movement a part of how they commute and get around in the world leverage positive gains for their bodily systems to function over time. Adolescence is a time of increased need for vital nutrients and minerals that support bone health and overall metabolic efficiency as well. Beginning at age 30, the body naturally starts to lose 3–5% of muscle mass per decade, so ongoing muscle development and building should continue from this age.

40-50s: Adjusting the routine

Life’s challenges and day-to-day chaos can cause many women to feel the brunt of impacting their wellness goals and prioritization of needs. Facing challenges with increased responsibilities and imbalances societally, women require the support of their coaches to make adjustments to their routine and find ways to prioritize their well-being above that of others they are championed with taking care of, even in a communal sense. Leveraging breaks between work schedules, movement with family as a time to “workout, and setting up solo dates or dates with friends for movement can be creative ways women shift their intentionality around how to enmesh wellness into their every day. Setting a solid purpose in life, that is not solely focused on caretaking or work, can keep the mind sharp over time and keep a client intentional about their wellbeing.

Many women can also lean on the guidance of their coaches to stay aware of what methods for muscle-building work and which can be heavily focused on trends. Examples can include glute-focused work or wanting to get “bikini” ready after having children. Instead of honing in on target areas of work, clients can benefit from overall body movement and stabilization of their core and spine-supporting muscles to combat daily life and desk sitting. Focusing on glutes isn’t necessarily bad, but articulating how this large muscle group is responsible for stabilizing the hip, core and lower back muscles can send a clearer message about functionality.

Hormonal impacts can take place heavily during this time in life, so understanding the luteal phases and how to ensure that plant-focused nutrition serves as a base for daily eating can be a way coaches guide women with food. Proper amounts of fiber (the goal being over 35 g as women cross 50) can come from mainly eating plant-based foods and building from there with whole grains and healthily sourced protein sources.

60-70s+: Staying focused and in motion

Since bone density begins to decrease around the age of 50, continuing to build solid muscle to support the skeletal system is hugely important. Coaches should be mindful to ensure their clients understand that debunking societal notions of “sweating” for efficient exercise is not the way to effectively live longer and be able to move with more function.

Cognitive decline can accelerate during this span of life, so it’s imperative to engage in daily habits that not only work the muscles but also work the mind. Proper sleep, starting from earlier than this decade, impacts overall growth and recovery in all individuals. As women age, their circadian rhythm can be impacted, so naps can be vital to securing adequate sleep time. Stimulating the mind can come in the form of reading, writing, doing word puzzles, playing board or card games, engaging in group discussions, and playing or writing music. A healthy brain is a brain that stays “in motion.”

Nutrition should be plant-focused, so coaching should revolve around a diet that a centenarian would eat. Beans are the top longevity food and a staple in all five blue zone regions. One cup of beans a day is a healthy centenarian habit, so encourage clients to stock up on chickpeas, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, soybeans, and all other beans. Clients can easily enjoy them in hummus, soups, stews, and salads to provide higher nutrient content in their diet while also upping their fiber intake over the years.

Start well and keep going

Supporting women throughout their life cycles begins with a solid understanding of the need for daily movement, plant-focused nutrition, adequate hydration, and restful sleep. Staying connected to social circles and community can ensure that women are held from the time they are girls within safe spaces that foster their growth and development from the inside out. Simple interventions and routine-building habits ensure that women and girls have a base of routine that elevates with the support of their wellness team and practitioners.

References:
  1. Buettner, D., & Skemp, S. (2016). Blue Zones: Lessons From the World’s Longest Lived. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 10(5), 318–321. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827616637066
  2. Engelbrecht, H. R., Merrill, S. M., Gladish, N., MacIsaac, J. L., Lin, D. T. S., Ecker, S., Chrysohoou, C. A., Pes, G. M., Kobor, M. S., & Rehkopf, D. H. (2022). Sex differences in epigenetic age in Mediterranean high longevity regions. Frontiers in aging, 3, 1007098. https://doi.org/10.3389/fragi.2022.1007098
  3. Roundtable on Population Health Improvement; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine. Business Engagement in Building Healthy Communities: Workshop Summary. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2015 May 8. 2, Lessons from the Blue Zones®. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK298903/

 

Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.

Understanding Burnout

What is Burnout?

The everyday person regularly juggles day-to-day activities and responsibilities that generally come with adulting. Many individuals balance work, partners, parenting, caretaking, and financial responsibilities, and are trying to do the best they can with what they have. Recognized as an international “phenomenon” in 2019 by the World Health Organization (WHO), “burnout” became a worldwide issue that required even deeper research and understanding to prevent negative health outcomes. Working alongside many clients who identify with multiple roles and wear multiple hats daily, coaches should understand what their clients are facing with compassion to serve as key support in their wellness journey. 

Types of Burnout

Workplace stressors can impact clients depending on their vocation, commute, and overall bandwidth in the day to juggle their work while also taking on their other responsibilities. The WHO defines employee burnout as: “A syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” and includes key components that can manifest through feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negative toward one’s career, along with reduced professional productivity. Over 50% of Gallup-polled workers feel support from their employment teams and over 60% feel an increased sense of burnout since 2020.

For clients who are parent figures in the lives of children or who take care of other family members, stress and exhaustion levels can escalate to the level of burnout for as many as 20% of that population. These rates are higher for parents of children with chronic illnesses or who take care of multiple children and family members. Parental and caretaker burnout bubbles to the surface in individuals through exhaustion first – both physical and emotional. They can then display emotional distancing next, followed by a loss of fulfillment and pleasure in parenting while having feelings of guilt, shame, and self-discrepancy (distress over failing or inadequacy). The best predictors of negative impacts from parental/caretaker burnout are low emotional intelligence, lack of social support, social pressures toward perfection, co-parenting disagreement, and work-family conflict. Additionally, unemployment, financial insecurity, and a lack of leisure time are associated with an increased risk. Varying cultural environments or ways of living can contribute to the impact of parental/caretaker burnout as well. 

Looking across the globe, world and environmental stressors are impacting individuals every day. Three years ago in 2021, four out of 10 adults said they experienced a lot of worry (42%) or stress (41%), more than three in 10 experienced a lot of physical pain (31%), more than one in four experienced sadness (28%), and about a quarter surveyed experienced anger (23%). Feelings of worry, pain, stress, or sadness are already going up year over year with the Positive Experience Index dropping for the first time starting in 2021 progressively. Implications can be felt depending on an individual’s proximity to stressors directly and depending on where they live. Watching world news while feeling a sense of hopelessness or worry for the future continues to impact unhappiness on a global scale. 

What is the role of the coach with burnout?

Coaches need to know that their role in the lives of their clients and students is to support their clients who are focusing on their wellness while working to prevent burnout in their lives. It’s a huge step for someone to sign up to take a class or to make the time for coaching sessions. Given the fact that there are only 24 hours in each day, the first steps of starting a fitness journey are worthy of acknowledgment. During an initial assessment, it can be helpful for a coach to take the time to learn about their client and see what additional facets make up their day-to-day lives and could be contributing to burnout. When a client sets up their sessions, flexibility, and partnership on schedule can be key to finding what best times work for someone’s schedule along with the best method where they can feel successful (i.e. virtual sessions versus in-person.) 

Stay tuned for another piece focusing on how coaches can support their clients through guidance, showing how wellness can positively impact their day-to-day routine. 

References:
  1. Amplifying well-being at work and beyond through recognition. (2023, March 9). Workhuman. https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/amplifying-wellbeing-at-work-and-beyond-through-recognition-emea/?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=2160942&utm_term=2024_wh_sem_nb_awareness_secondary_na_phr_pros%7Eworkers_burnout&utm_content=1hMEuIhJHwPdULyw4v9YeN&utm_medium=cpc
  2. Moss, J. (2021, December 21). Burnout is about your workplace, not your people. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/12/burnout-is-about-your-workplace-not-your-people
  3. Ray, B. J. (2024, March 22). World unhappier, more stressed out than ever. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/394025/world-unhappier-stressed-ever.aspx#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20four%20in%2010,fewer%20experienced%20anger%20(23%25).
  4. Shpancer, N., Ph. D. (2023, August 1). Parental burnout: When parenting becomes too much What happens when parents are overwhelmed? Psychology Today. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202307/parental-burnout-when-parenting-becomes-too-much
  5. World Health Organization: WHO. (2019, May 28). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. The World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases

 

Katrina is a global educator and Certified Wellness Specialist dedicated to bridging gaps through equitable access and collaborative coaching. With over 20 years of experience, she leads diverse teams, creates support groups, and mentors future leaders. Katrina specializes in Bias Unearthing, Neurodiversity Inclusion, and Intersectional Inclusion. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell and USF, and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design. Katrina’s mission is to foster unity through self-care and compassion, making healing a path to deeper purpose and inclusivity.

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