was successfully added to your cart.

Who Needs Psychological Coaching?

By June 12, 2015Blog

Some of our clients have autism. Some have brain injuries. Some have behavioral challenges that make them different from “normal.”

But EVERYONE needs psychological coaching.

The “special needs” cases draw media attention, but every client is a “psych” client.

CrossFit has solved much of the “Physical Health” puzzle. We’re zeroing in on “optimal nutrition” for human function (or returning to it, maybe.) When someone shows up to the gym for the first time, and then continues to show up on a regular basis, we can actually build a buffer against most health conditions. That’s remarkable.

The problem is getting people to show up. Entering a CrossFit gym for the first time is a bit scary, especially in 2015. The early adopters–alphas and extroverts with high esteem–already belong. They’re waiting inside. But the introverts and ambiverts–90% of the world’s population–are still driving past the front door.

The next problem is keeping people engaged. We’ve been building an adherence model (called, “Bright Spots”) since 2005. It’s quite different from anything else in the gym world, just as CrossFit is quite different from anything else in fitness. In both fitness and attendance to fitness programs, change was absolutely necessary because the old system is ineffective. And no one shows up, either.

Every client entering a gym is struggling with a psychological problem: doubt. Every coach struggles with another psychological problem: motivating his clients to show up, push hard, stick to their diets…and do it again tomorrow, let alone for the next 40 years.

The inability to squat is a physical problem. We’ve solved it. Getting people to squat is a psychological problem. This is the final large hurdle. And the knowledge exists to solve the psychological piece, but it doesn’t reside in the fitness world. Until now, that is.

Our mission is not only to fix what’s fixable in the cognitively impaired, but also the general population who has NO reason not to run, jump and play. The vast majority of the North American public knows they SHOULD exercise; they know the cost of NOT exercising; they have the resources to do so. But they, the overwhelming majority, do not. If we can solve this puzzle for the toughest cases, we can solve it for everyone.

Every population is a special population. We differ cognitively by degree, not kind. Application of Ignite methods will enable the disabled and facilitate the disinclined.

According to the CDC, 20.6 percent of adults in the U.S. exercise. That doesn’t mean they exercise intensely, or even exercise enough to make a difference: they just report, “I do something sometimes.” This is the market gyms fight to attract. But the REST of the market – over 300 MILLION PEOPLE – could be motivated to exercise. If one percent of those joined a CrossFit gym, that would mean 300 new clients for 10,000 gyms.

How do we convince 1 non-exerciser in 100 to start exercising? How do we keep the tenuous client engaged and eager? Stay tuned.

Leave a Reply