Flexing Through Life

R.

E.

A.

L.- Learning Through Life

I recently joined the gym and hired a personal trainer– the best choice I’ve made in a long time.

TJ, my trainer,  took time to get to know me from day one. He was warned by his boss that I would be working around a temporary back injury, but he quickly learned I was a goal setter who wouldn’t settle for average. TJ was committed to learning about me; he would ask questions that led him to discover my quirks and crazy personality. I love our meeting times, because I feel challenged and most of all valued as a “worthy” gym member.

What Not To Do

When TJ joined me for our second meeting, he brought a list of ten exercises we had to avoid at all cost while my back was healing.

He said,

“Mrs. Martin, (yes he is a southern boy and is probably ten or maybe twenty-one… same thing) I did my research and considering your temporary injury, I need to take a few minutes to show you a few things.”

Then, he modeled every single one of the “must avoid” exercises and taught me not only the “why” but also how to keep from repeating these types of motions in my “everyday” actions, outside of the gym. It took a good chunk of time from our training session that day, but by applying what I learned, I’ve felt so much better. Not to mention I’ve saved my back a few times by using this invaluable feedback. 

Tighten the Core

During that same meeting, he kept telling me to “tighten my core,” to which I was certain I was doing it already. I was an athlete as a teen, even a kickboxer at one point, and was confident I knew what I was doing. So, I sucked in hard and tightened my core. “It’s tight, TJ. I’m ready.” We continued the workout, and I was unsure why he continued to say “tighten your core” while we were doing circuits. I kept thinking…was I doing it wrong? 

The next day I saw my physical therapist for a checkup on my back,  and I said, “What does it mean to tighten your core?” He said, “Cough. Feel how your core pushes out. Now, hold that. That is how you tighten your core.” Then, he went on to show me why sucking in was far less stable than actually tightening your core.

Now, I’ve been tightening my core with every exercise but also during the day. It’s a back saver! 

Feedback Mixed With Modeling

In both scenarios above, I needed specific feedback along with modeling to truly relate. The last one was a comment I’ve heard since I was a teen training for various sporting events. How did I not know that?

In the Edu-World

How often do we say stuff like this in education? For example, “We need to tighten the core.” Then, our colleagues and those we serve are saying, “It’s tight. We’re ready. We are teaching the standards. We are doing everything within our power to help our kiddos achieve academically” But, what if they are “sucking in” and not “expanding” to tighten their core? There is a huge difference.

How often do we use phrases we think everyone knows and miss opportunities to make it meaningful? Had my physical therapist not explained and modeled for me what “tightening the core” meant,  I might have had a huge set back with my current back situation. Likewise, we must take time to provide and explain our meaningful feedback; it has to be relevant. We owe it to those we serve.

No One Way

During my current personal training sessions, TJ was continually asking me,

“Mrs. Martin, do you like this exercise?”

One day, I asked him, “Why do you ask me that? I know I must do things I don’t like to do to meet my goals. I’m cool with it.”

His reply caught me off-guard but caused me to think of my role as an educator. He said,

“No, you need to like what we are doing. I want you to enjoy exercising. For example, if you don’t like this bicep exercise, there are many ways we can work that muscle. We will find a few you enjoy and create a menu of options that suit you. There is no one way. Will it burn? Do I expect it to push you? Yes. But, I want you to enjoy working out and get the results you are aiming for. Both can happen at the same time. That’s key. That’s my job.” 

Wow! Yes, is that not what we do as educators? If it is not, shouldn’t it be?

Choice.

Voice.

Feedback.

Survey those we serve. 

Make the learning experiences meaningful, challenging, and rewarding.

Thank you, TJ, for reminding me the value of feedback and the relevance of modeling expectations when teaching a set of new skills. I love that you make my workout experience personal and enjoyable. Oh, and of course, I’m digging my new guns! Don’t make me flex. Just sayin…

As educators…

For REAL, there is no “one way” to learn in our world today. There are many ways, and it requires us to get to know those we serve and meet their needs.  

Let’s learn through life together! Heck, let’s flex through life together, too. Our colleagues, students, and community members deserve it.

Sketch Credit: Carrie Baughcum @heckawesome