Let's start with an ice-breaker fact about me: I find watching YouTube videos of elite CrossFit athletes working out and competing to be relaxing and inspiring. It's actually one of my favorite ways to unwind.
I have always been intrigued by the mindset and dedication of elite athletes, especially those in individual sports such as running, tennis, and, yes, CrossFit.
Distance runners and elite athletes from various disciplines maintain detailed training logs to track the miles they run, the laps they swim, the weights they lift, and the hours they sleep. Training logs provide motivation and document athletes' progress toward their goals. They help athletes and coaches identify performance patterns and determine when and how to make adjustments.
Now, you might be wondering, what does any of this have to do with me?
I recently started a year-long program with New Ventures West to become a Certified Integral Coach. As I contemplated my next steps personally and professionally, I knew I wanted to work one-on-one and with small groups to help people reach their full potential. While I enjoy making an impact and motivating members as a fitness coach at Orangetheory, I desire to go deeper and facilitate true transformational development.
When I discovered the Integral Coaching methodology, I was inspired by its versatility in addressing various coaching topics and needs. As a platform, Integral Coaching will allow me to combine life and career coaching with certain aspects of health coaching, given my background and other certifications.
The certification program follows an executive cohort model. Throughout the year, I will be learning alongside the same group of ten other students, supported by experienced coaching faculty from New Ventures West. The entire cohort gathers quarterly for "virtual retreats" that span four to five full days of learning, practice, and profound connection. Each quarter has a specific focus that builds towards certification by the end of the year.
The first order of business is building the mind, heart, and body of an Integral Coach. This aspect of the training is expansive and will extend beyond this first quarter of the program, beyond the year, and into the entirety of our lives.
The work of self-development involves embodying a new way of being in the world through a life of practices, which I refer to as “workouts” throughout the day. I’ll be sharing with you what I’m reading, journaling, and learning about myself and the methodology of coaching as I immerse myself into this life of practice.
The coach’s practices are:
sitting meditation: daily, with the aim of working up to 30 minutes
journaling: daily, with provided prompts
exercise: average five times per week of aerobic exercise and/or yoga
reading: during this year, my reading will be focused on ten developmental books
new activity: for a three-month period during the year, I will take up an activity where I am a complete beginner that requires me to be coached
All of this is to say: Welcome to my Coach’s Training Log! In this space, I plan to periodically document, reflect upon, and share about the transformational process of becoming an Integral Coach.
Ok, so I’m not training for the Olympics, the CrossFit Games, or even the Boston Marathon. This is not a training program with an aim to reach peak performance for a singular event. It’s a journey to develop a new way of being. My goal as a coach is to empower others to do the same in their own lives.
Just like an athlete, every day of practice and rest is important. I know from training for road races that some days will just flow, while some training days will inexplicably feel like pushing a rock up a hill. It’s all about consistency — and trusting that the cumulative effect will be greater than the sum of its parts.