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Fit Soul, Fit Body

February 9, 2009 in Natural selection by lara

Mark Allen is a six-time Ironman champion. Brant Secunda is a shaman. They’ve known each other for many years, and collaborated on a book called “Fit Soul, Fit Body”. The book doesn’t detail how to attain fitness, nor does it detail how to attain enlightenment. Rather, it delves into the aspects that come together to create a murkiness of fitness, enlightenment, health, wellbeing, awareness, and all things in between.

I went to hear the men talk at the Boulder Bookstore two nights ago. The place was packed and people were lined up against the walls. Athletes of all abilities were there, a veritable “who’s who” in the Boulder Triathlete community.

Mark told a story of how he was striving to win his 6th (and last) Ironman title. He got off his bike to learn that someone was ahead of him by thirteen and a half minutes. He considered quitting, of walking back to his hotel and just giving up. The short of it is that he did NOT quit, that he overcame his opponent in mile twenty three of the twenty-six point two mile run, and ended up winning his last Ironman title.

Was he more fit than his opponent? Did he want it more? Neither of these is true. The fact of the matter was that when he dug deep and allowed himself to clear his mind, silence the chatter, and focus on the task at hand, he was able to persevere and ultimately accomplish his goal. Every time he allowed the chatter, the inner monologue, to get too loud, he fell back and doubted his ability. Only with a still mind was he able to win his 6th Ironman at the ancient age of thirty seven.

I was still thinking about this when I woke Saturday morning to head out in the pre-dawn light. Daylight had been breaking earlier now that we’re past the winter solstice, and it’s plenty bright when I pulled into the parking lot. We’re a small group compared to last week; only nine of us are here to run Doudy Draw to Eldorado Canyon. Without Susan, Cherry and Bernadette to set a tempo pace, Greta, Clare and I settled into an easy clip.

Greta is training for a half-Ironman in late May, with several races between now and then. Today’s run is supposed to be an easy two hours. My ears perk up at this; I don’t know if I could do a hard 1:40 tempo run like she was doing last week, but maybe an easy two hours… this is feasible. The pace is easy, the company is lovely, and my mind is calm. I mull the idea of extending my run with her today. I don’t need to be home until 9:30, I could skip coffee with the ladies… hmmm. Possible.

As we climb the hills toward Eldorado Canyon I consider the fact that when my mind is quiet, I can do more than I ever thought possible. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a STILL mind, per se, though I’ve had moments of utter peace and bliss. Many of these moments have occurred on hikes or runs through these very hills when I’m deeply connected to nature and not thinking about the to-do list of the day. Something Brant said the other night resonates with my own deep feelings about this beautiful place where I live; “Boulder is a beautiful place, and many people choose to live here because of their connection with nature.”

Movement and nature. Nature is ever-changing; that is the complexity of nature. On any given day I can go into the mountains and see something that will not be there again the next day, or a week later. Running is the same for me; my energy levels are extremely variable, as are my moods, the distances I can cover, the time at hand, and my state of mind. The state of nature and the state of mind and body when running are both things that are both a part of my being, and separate from my spirit at the same time.

On this particular day, the usual pace-setters are absent. Greta, Clare and I settle into an easy cadence and just… chat. My body knows these movements and I don’t have to think about the physicality of running. I can still the mind and not listen to my inner chatter of “how fast am I going”, or “uh-oh, here comes that huge hill”, or whatever it might be. There’s no hurry, and I am more peaceful.

Greta and I extend our run at the end and head up the Mesa Trail for another few miles. She’s running an easy two hours today, and I’m up for it.

Afterwards, I realized that I made a breakthrough. I found out that I’m capable of running a lot longer and farther than I thought, which also means, in the grand scheme of things, that I am stronger than I thought. This is good for my psyche in so many ways. It brings me contentment and a semblance of inner peace to know that I don’t have to struggle to be something I wish I could be, because I already… AM. Does that make sense? A physical breakthrough created a mental breakthrough. That’s what I like about running. I like where I’m going, literally, and along the way I start to discover that I like the company I keep (me).

A Conversation with Brant Secunda and Mark Allen, Authors of FIT SOUL, FIT BODY

Q: How is the FIT SOUL, FIT BODY program different from all the other fitness and self-help books on the market?

Brant & Mark: Our backgrounds are totally unique, and from that we integrate two worlds that are rarely united. We see books that focus mainly on physical fitness but only touch lightly on the inner person, while others delve deep into personal growth, yet have very little if anything about how to have good physical health.

Our philosophy trains your mind alongside your body, which can bring a profound metamorphosis. The Fit Soul, Fit Body tools and practices transform both body and soul by using small focused changes that are sustainable, enjoyable and impactful. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the Fit Soul, Fit Body program is the way in which a connection to nature is promoted as a universal way to reduce stress, stave off boredom, find gratitude, and gain the energy we need to move through life with grace and power.

We provide practical and simple tools that can be implemented by everyone and will give the reader an incredible transformative experience. As Stephen R. Covey says in the Foreword to our book, if you do just one thing differently this week based on a single idea given, you will notice a change for the better and want to keep going.

Q: Mark, you say that Brant’s teaching was what helped you become a champion. What were the most important changes that Brant helped you make?

Mark: All of the top athletes trained their bodies the same, but the teachings of Brant were what lifted me up and distinguished me from the others. Before meeting Brant, I had a fit body, but not a fit soul and could never put together the winning elements to be the world-class athlete and champion I had hoped to become. Brant helped me do this.

In specific terms he gave me invaluable tools to deal with stress, handle pressure, and to be able to feel comfortable in just about any situation including the unpredictable and chaotic environment of a race. But perhaps one of the most important parts of having a Fit Soul that Brant gave me was a way to feel happy and fulfilled BEFORE the starting gun went off. This is the strongest starting point for any endeavor, especially those in life requiring a personal “world champion” effort.

Q: Brant, what have you learned from Mark in developing this program together?

Brant: What I learned was to become fit in the context of the modern world, which for most people including myself was very different than having it be a byproduct of life as it is in an indigenous culture where gathering firewood, growing corn and clearing fields are ongoing parts of living. I now enjoy using a fitness center, and have learned to love running as a way to bring the different worlds together through exercising at spectacular places in nature. Also Mark’s strategies and insights into nutrition were invaluable tools in developing our program together. And I lost 50 pounds!

Q: What do you think are the best ways to conquer stress?

Brant & Mark: One thought that can shift all stress on the spot is this, “In the quiet of the heart, no stress can reside…only joy, power and hope.” This is one of our 9 keys: learning to quiet the mind. Next, take the weight off of your soul by conquering stress with one deceptively simple tool: respond with calmness. It’s easy to forget that this is the way we can respond to tough situations, especially ones that are emotionally stressful. But ultimately it is when we reach a place of calm that stress is eliminated. Then make sure to honor your body by eating well and exercising. Once again, this is simple advice, but it will go a long way to fortifying your body so that stress becomes manageable. These themes are especially developed throughout our book.

Q: In today’s world, we’re bombarded with information. What techniques do you suggest for quieting one’s mind?

Brant & Mark: We have many, but here are two very powerful ways to quiet the mind. The first is to take a few minutes or an hour to disconnect with the information overload that can occupy your mind and go out in nature with the focus of just quieting the thinking process. This can be as simple as watching a sunset or taking a few moments to sit under a tree in a park. Enjoy the natural process that is ongoing regardless of our busy lives and breath that peace into your soul.
The second tool we suggest is to take a walk, go for a run or do any other form of exercise long enough to feel your mind quiet. Let the problems of life take a back seat to the happiness you can feel from moving your body.

Q: One of your keys is “slow down to get faster.” Seems like a contradiction – can you explain?

Brant & Mark: This is another example of how our book is different from many others. “Slowing down to get faster” addresses our core genetics that we all have in common. In the modern world most people feel they must push their bodies and souls to the limit to make any gains in fitness or to change their approach to life. But we are not set up that way. We all thrive when you apply small focused changes that are more gradual, not intense. Going fast in life has its place, but not as a staple for long-term gains, which is good news for anyone who has quit exercising because they didn’t feel a walk would do any good for changing their body or who haven’t given themselves the permission to slow down and enjoy a few moments of a glorious sunrise or sunset to make their soul feel better.

Q: How would you describe someone who has a fit soul?

Brant & Mark: Someone who has a Fit Soul we call “whole” or “complete,” which means among other things that you feel content and are filled with laughter. You experience joy and pure happiness. A person with a Fit Soul sparkles in the presence of others as well as in the silence of their own solitude. This not to say that every moment in life will be easy or without challenge. But more often than not they have the ability to go through the good and the bad, the joy and the sadness, the happiness and pain that sometimes appears in our lives.

Q: What is shamanism? What benefits does it have for all of us?

Brant: Shamanism is a system of healing and living in harmony with nature, our environment and all of life. It’s also about feeling well by helping shifting your focus onto positive qualities, thoughts and emotions. You can see that without knowing it, many people are drawn to this concept when they choose a place to go on vacation to charge their bodies and souls back up…most are in spectacular places in nature (a mountain resort, an ocean or lake, or a spa nestled amidst spectacular rocks). Inherently, this approach heals the soul and body and strengthens our connection to both our inner and outer environment making us stronger mentally, emotionally and physically.

Q: What do you hope that people will take away from reading your book?

Brant & Mark: FIT SOUL, FIT BODY can bring fundamental positive change to your life. By reading the book you can gain insights on how to create a life of contentment and happiness. Our book is about transformation; whether that’s losing weight, changing old patterns, having a stronger connection to your community and your environment, or finding trust in life itself. Readers will get this and much more