GYMNOS – Fitness Scenarios For Self-Examination
Gymnos is the Greek origin of our modern-day word Gym. It means “naked.” GYMNOS is a regular feature in Faith & Fitness Magazine to challenge you. In the literal sense, when you are naked in the locker room there is nothing to hide. That makes most people uncomfortable. Use this scenario to get naked spiritually—be honest, transparent, undisguised and willing to be totally open with yourself and others.
ERIK’S STORY
Erik’s performance review at work was the final proof that things had clearly gone wrong. Lagging sales figures, increased disrespect by employees and customer complaints were not the results he had expected from his change in management style. Now he was being told to “get things right – fast”.
Six months ago he thought he was taking the right steps to getting things right. He had hired a personal trainer to improve his form and make gains but mostly he did it for the motivation. The form had improved some but any increase in muscle size and strength really wasn’t too evident. Now he had to admit that any hope he held for being challenged had faded long ago.
It started with the extremely light weights the trainer insisted Erik use, “We don’t want injury.” It quickly developed beyond, “take time to get comfortable with your workout” into a stagnant routine of feel-good motions, lots of undirected conversations and (as Erik had now realized) a symbiotic relationship cleverly crafted by the trainer to keep the sessions going. Erik’s good intentions had been derailed as he unwittingly embraced the trainer’s attitudes and perspectives.
KAREN’S STORY
Karen, a customer service representative, was also looking for change. A co-worker commented that ruthless customers who incessantly complain were exploiting Karen’s Christian weakness. She was getting tired of being kind and then being run-over. So, she found a trainer that recognized her faith and developed a “tough-love” approach to training.
The trainer was aggressive seeing that Karen was willing to be pushed way beyond her real limits. She finished each session ringing wet with sweat. Yes it hurt. Her trainer refused to accept anything less than the goal – “be tough, be tough!” The trainer was defining a new and brutal edge. Karen accepted the “trade one injury for another” mentality.
Recently Karen’s co-worker helped a distraught customer resolve an issue that Karen refused to address. “Wow Karen, have you seen that episode of the Simpson’s where Marge is on steroids whooping everyone in her way? Take a look in the mirror.”
What criteria should be used for selecting a personal trainer?
How does your personal training strengthen or undermine your broader life needs and goals?
What experiences have you had similar to Erik or Karen where someone who should have done good ultimately did harm? What did you do to correct it?
In what ways have you influenced others in ways that ultimately were not good for them? How have you learned to interact differently?
* All characters in this scenario are fictional. Any similarity to an actual person is coincidental.
