But I Can’t Today
10.25am. Context.
I hurt. GOD I hurt. My shoulder is screaming at me today, the right side of my torso is full of a dull ache, I have a stomach-ache, and my left knee has a very specific angle it dislikes.
I feel utterly broken. The last Jilly on the shelf, properly battered and dented, barely functional.
My spiritual energy is sub-par, too. I’m tired in every sense, and in a way that caffeine won’t help...
I don’t feel like I have The Stuff to work out today. In fact, it feels like the notion of training is for other, capable people. For me to do it is frivolous, ridiculous even, and completely ‘extra’ to what is important to be doing right now*. So, wish me luck – because I’m putting my broken-ass self into my PT’s hands, and making myself do this.
*Zero plan for that, btw
12.10pm. Reflection.
THAT WAS GLORIOUS! But bear with me – this isn’t a lecture on the importance of physical exercise, or even a more holistic hot-take on well-being. This is a breakdown of the power of really effective coaching. Let me reflect on it, and distill what happened...
Neil and I always kick off with a chat. Not a completely off-topic social, but a chat that allows me to really arrive for training, and him to gauge where I’m at with my ongoing shoulder injury. So having already being pre-warned, he got the unedited and much swearier version of all of the above. Let's just say context was duly established.
He then got me to try a couple of fairly hideous things that wouldn’t exacerbate anything, but made my face do things (with accompanying noises) that told him what he needed to know about my actual range and constraints today. Assumptions removed.
We trained. My arms stayed in a comfortable range, but I worked hard and trained thoroughly. Throughout, Neil prompted me to reflect on how everything felt, on what was positive, and on what adjustments I could make (he passes this off as getting me to do all the work, but we both know what’s going on and both have a wry smile at it). We tried using grip aids (straps, for those in the know) to help me to move greater weights, and Neil positioned it beautifully to make it clear that it needn’t feel like a negative. It enabled me to make progress, rather than focus on frustration and losing my metaphorical and actual grip.
I left with a sense of achievement, a focus on what I can do (which is more than I knew!), and an awareness that even from the starting point today had, there’s still forward motion. And a wonderful metaphor about circles that’ll be too hard to describe here, but was lovely and profound. Sorry.
Working with a really talented coach took me from feeling incapable and frankly a little lost, into a whole different space. With compassion, positive intent, and that all-important belief in potential.
(Thanks, Neil…)
Neil Gallagher is a Coach, PT and all round great guy, based at Pyramid Performance gym (pictured) in Stockport. Follow him on Twitter/Instagram for all of the knowledge bombs @Pyramid_Neil.