World Class Trainer and Author bevan james eyles he thought he was at the top of his game in 2009. He was an award-winning trainer, a triathlete, and had worked in fitness “forever.”
But when a friend confronted him about the fact that they were “out of shape” (people were moving less and gaining more weight), he realized himself.
“My thing was that if you are in shape, I am great. If not, I don’t know how to help you.”
Once she realized she didn’t understand people who don’t incorporate movement into their lives, or how to help them, she set up a running group in Christchurch in 2012, designed to take people from inactivity to running 5Ks.
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Initially, however, “everyone failed.”
“I was a little heartbroken and what I learned in that moment was that I didn’t understand people who didn’t exercise.”
“I had to learn a new set of rules.”
That is exactly what he did. His running group now has a nearly 90% success rate, and he has partnered with Stuff to launch a dedicated program designed to get New Zealand off the couch and in shape for Round the Bays in March 2022. .
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Most people fail when they incorporate movement into their lives because they aim too high, too fast, says Bevan James Eyles.
And it’s all for a simple reason, says Eyles. Incorporating running or walking into your life has a host of life-changing benefits. In fact, he insists, “you’ll function better as a person.”
“And not just for you, actually for your world.”
While we live in a world where not moving is too easy, Eyles says that in addition to the obvious benefits (being healthier, having energy, better heart health), there are many life-changing benefits that are “not sold so much”. .
Self-esteem is boosted, it can be a healthy and fun way to socialize, and your ability to overcome adversity (especially if you start out as someone who does little to no movement) can carry over into other aspects of everyday life. .
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Bevan James Eyles’ current running club has a success rate close to 90%.
“[People tell me] Bevan I am a better mother, I am better at work or I am a better person”.
A confessed “old dropkick” Who said Stuff in 2014: “I was always the most drunk, it was a real shame. I was a sleaze and unreliable,” says Eyles that working out now comes second nature. But many people start the wrong way.
But while it’s easy to have fleeting moments of motivation, it’s just as easy to fail.
“What we often find when people want to start exercising is that they think about the result they want and it is often too ambitious. They don’t do anything and they say, ‘I want to run a half marathon.
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Exercise has a host of benefits, from increased heart health to improved self-esteem and the ability to cope with adversity.
“People have moments of motivation, … but they create an experience in which they are almost certain to fail. You don’t suck at exercise, you suck at establishing exercise in your life.”
Instead, he says, the trick is to focus on habit-building and check off the behaviors involved in that, whether it’s packing up your gear the night before or letting your partner or coworkers know you’re leaving early for a workout.
“If you are someone who is not doing anything at the moment, the most important thing is how to put movement in your life. The habit of walking is a very important habit to have a good cardiovascular condition ”, she says.
And it’s vital not to go too hard, too fast.
Instead, the first step should feel easy and enjoyable. That, Eyles says, is what keeps people coming back for more. When people push themselves too hard, they don’t enjoy the experience, expose themselves to injury, and are much less likely to come back a couple of days later.
“If we can create an experience…at a level that feels really easy…there’s a better chance you’ll show up next time.”
Eyles’ Round the Bays program is designed to motivate and guide people at a variety of fitness levels, whether you’re looking forward to walking the event, running and walking, or ultimately running the entire course.
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“If you are someone who is not doing anything at the moment, the most important thing is how to put movement in your life.”
And after eight weeks of training, motivational techniques and expert programming, Eyles says an event like Round the Bays, which can be done from virtually anywhere in New Zealand, is a perfect way to celebrate the habits formed in the weeks before. .
“That’s the beauty of an event like this, it’s so accessible to so many people… A lot of people who think they can’t, if they work hard, will be able to walk.”
5 tips to get your body moving
1. Keep it easy in the first part, both physically and mentally.
2. Focus on wisely developing the habits that allow you to realistically incorporate exercise into your life.
3. Get guidance by your side, don’t try to do it alone!
4. Do movements that you know you enjoy.
5. Reward yourself for the habit-building work you’re doing.
What is RTB Fitness Club?
Stuff is launching the RTB Fitness Club with trainer Bevan James Eyles to help New Zealanders get excited about exercise, build long-term habits to stay motivated and connect with a like-minded community. Whether she joins the Round The Bays fun run in Auckland or participates virtually, she can join the club and an eight-week training program that promises to be loads of fun.
For $25 you will get:
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An 8-week walk, walk-to-run, or run-only training program
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Weekly Tutoring Videos with Bevan
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Live weekly Q&A with Bevan
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A strength and stretching component to help prevent injury
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Access to the exclusive RTB Fitness Club Facebook group
The first 250 people to join the club will get a FREE Under Armor T-shirt. Register your interest now here and be the first to know when the club opens in December.
