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Topic Summary |  |
The accident report said the bus was traveling at least 58 miles per hour when it hit exercise guru Robyne Arrow while she was sitting in her parked car back in 1996.
The fitness trainer – who up to that point had been a fixture in health and fitness magazines, a local, regional, state and national bodybuilder and fitness title holder and named one of America's top ten athletes – suffered an injury to the section of the brain which controls vision and balance. For a trainer, it's the same as a surgeon who suffers nerve damage. Her career was cut short, and it was unlikely she'd ever be able to return to training.
She engaged in daily therapy for eight years, and in doing so, she worked at restoring her brain's ability to control her body. As she progressed, she unlocked secrets of the mind-body connection that she now recommends to everyone, especially beginners, in order to help people from all experiences find the comfort zone that can make working out a painless and fulfilling activity.
The fitness trainer – who up to that point had been a fixture in health and fitness magazines, a local, regional, state and national bodybuilder and fitness title holder and named one of America's top ten athletes – suffered an injury to the section of the brain which controls vision and balance. For a trainer, it's the same as a surgeon who suffers nerve damage. Her career was cut short, and it was unlikely she'd ever be able to return to training.
She engaged in daily therapy for eight years, and in doing so, she worked at restoring her brain's ability to control her body. As she progressed, she unlocked secrets of the mind-body connection that she now recommends to everyone, especially beginners, in order to help people from all experiences find the comfort zone that can make working out a painless and fulfilling activity.
Discussion Questions
What challenges did you face after your accident?
How did you overcome them?
What did you learn in the process of your recovery that can help beginners get a foothold in starting their own fitness program?
How does the fitness industry help or hurt beginners?
What advice do you have for people who are overweight or out of shape who just can’t seem to stay with a training program?
Why do so many people start a training program and then drop out of it?
How can people start a program they can stay with?
Topic Overview
Robyne Arrow is disheartened when people who genuinely want to try to get healthy can’t get started because the fitness industry has made too much of a science of working out. Her view is that it should be simple, easy and basic for beginners, so they can build their confidence and comfort levels so fitness can become a part of their lives.
"Too many people are left without a supportive instructional program showing them step by step how to start an exercise program from scratch," said Arrow, host of the training DVD Exercise 4 Beginners (www.robynearrow.com). "Despite some people's experiences to the contrary, it is possible to stay on the right course without giving up their life, time or money. The element that can prevent some people from working out and achieving real fitness and health is that sense of incompetence and unworthiness when comparing self to others who are successful with exercise. Anyone who is 20 pounds overweight who goes to the gym for the first time feels this, and the things I discovered can help those people find their comfort zone to get past those feelings."
Arrow believes that the fitness industry has become something of a "member's only" club, where those who are starting from the very beginning are made to feel out of place and doomed to failure.
"There are so many positive benefits to exercise it's disheartening to see others get discouraged or sidetracked by all the negatives surrounding exercise," she added. "The industry is plagued by misinformed trainers, media and society dictating what people should do or not do to get in shape. The key is to start slow. and, Yes, have fun while working at your own pace, no matter what timetable some trainer may have set for you." Contrary to what others say this is success.
Arrow's tips for beginners include:
Start Slow – Doing too much too fast can not only sour you on the experience, it can also do permanent damage to your body. Most of those who are overweight and new to exercise will say exercise is awkward. Unless one gets comfortable and confident with the basic movements, finding the comfort zone will be difficult.
Stay on Track – Get your focus, plan and then strive towards accomplishing your goals, instead of using an "all or nothing" approach. You'll be amazed how much quicker the results will be.
Ignore the Naysayers, Including Yourself – Getting past the first hurdle and learning basic movements will be the hardest part. Once you are past it, the whole concept of exercise will be more comfortable and easy.
"It's time for individuals who want to learn how to exercise and get the most from exercise learn how to create a basic foundation, as opposed to simply following what others are doing," Arrow added. "I don't want people to be just like me because I succeeded in overcoming my injuries and other life's endeavors. I want to encourage others to start from where they are now, and show them how to progress from there. Everyone is different, and their path to that mind-body connection has to fit their challenges and their goals." The journey along the way is what makes the person not the end result.
