Relieve Low Back Pain | Reduce Low Back Pain | Canada's Leading Authority in Human Movement | Dev Chengkalath

Thanks to Shauna for showing me how those Liverpudlians do it.

Now go out and move.

And be happy.

Dev Chengkalath

Whatever you may say, the body depends on the soul.

Nikolai Gogol

I ended my last post with the underlying and unifying passion that drives me in this industry.

Empowerment.

Most trainers and physical therapists in the fitness industry believe there is no greater sense of satisfaction than to see tangible and dramatic changes in their clients. Their clients themselves will seek the same nirvana, the same raison d’être.

Everyone wants to see results.

Think about that for a moment.

Is it the weight-loss, or the muscle gain, or the 5″ of extra vertical jump that will allow you to lead the life you not only want, but deserve? Is it those “results” that let you take control of your destiny and allow you to follow your dreams? Is that what will get you out of bed in the morning, looking forward to the day? Is that what truly breaks your own personal “quiet desperation”?

“How much do you bench?”

Gym Dude

Sound familiar? When asked about their amazing transformations, my clients are more likely to talk about their numbers and their hard data:

“I lost 23 lbs”

“I dropped 7% body fat”

“I put on 8 lbs of muscle”

Or, they may talk about what everyone else is saying about their changes.

“At work yesterday, my co-workers asked me if I’ve lost weight.”

“I was out for lunch with my friends and they noticed the change in my arms”

But when taking the time to actually listen to what they’re saying, the message is quite different. It’s not just the numbers, it’s not just the physical changes.

It’s much, much more.

As a trainer and physical therapist, I’ve gotten caught up in the fitness game, aiming for those specific measures, aiming for that ideal percentage and following along in an industry dominated by numbers, facts, figures and a whole lot of fiction.

I lost sight of why I got involved in the first place, what my purpose was, what my reason was.

For my clients, those numbers offer instant gratification, at times worn like a badge of honour and pride. And deservedly so.

However, more importantly, and lost to me until just recently reminded, those numbers are actually an external display of a more important internal transformation.

From kitten to lion

It’s that fundamental soul-shift, that subtle change, that allows my clients to not only experience the life they want, but create the life they deserve.

The changes start gradually. Posture improves. Confidence and self-esteem slowly increase. Energy begins to appear in abundance.

They are empowered through exercise. And motivated by movement.

They can face our challenging world and all the daily stresses, battles, and commitments: deadlines, time lines, bills, family and friends. They can keep smiling. They can be true to themselves.

They can live guilt-free.

And because of this, they impact those around them and spread that positive energy.

They can live powerfully.

Dev Chengkalath