Divine Appointment

Have you ever had a “divine appointment?”  Being in the right place at the right moment.  A message delivered to you just in time.  A complete stranger paying your lunch bill at a restaurant.  What about an unexpected someone striking a chord on an off-limits area in your life? An unforeseen moment of self-discovery while driving or walking the beach?

While traveling to Virginia this past week I encountered a woman while working out in the hotel gym.   After sweating out 3 sets of dreadful step-ups, she approached me with great concern for me.  “You must work out frequently and have a strong core, but do you realize the strenuous impact is to your internal organs?  What?!  On a bad day I would surely have snapped “uh, yeah… I’m actually a certified Personal Trainer; I do know what I am doing.”  But this moment was unique, totally unexpected where it tuned me in to her wisdom.  She went to explain a condition called pelvic organ prolapse.  Say what?  It is a when “the muscles and ligaments supporting a woman's pelvic organs weaken, the pelvic organs can slip out of place (prolapse). Pelvic organ prolapse can worsen over time, and you may need surgery to fix it. There are different types of pelvic organ prolapse. Some women develop pelvic organ prolapse after childbirth, a hysterectomy or menopause.” (Mayo Clinic.org) 

So the message delivered to me that day was a warning; keep my core very strong and avoid crazy heavy lifting and jumping.  This sweet lady had suffered through this surgery and recovery, and she too was a certified trainer in her earlier years.  I was awoken by her compelling care and just knew I was in the right place at the right time, so I typed it in my iPhone notes as a reminder. Prior to reflecting on this moment, I was conjuring up an intense workout plan for after vacation, but her visit was an important reminder not to over-do it in the gym.  

Obvious to some, it is vital to train smart.  But unfortunately most are overzealous to get fit that they end up injured in some way.  Today so many fitness gurus are obsessed with Cross-Fit Training—an intense Olympic style utilizing a heavy racked barbell with explosive, specialized moves meant for the professional, well trained, or younger audience.  My early days of certification drilled safety 1st which I follow religiously.  Never hurt your client and follow the GPO Principle--gradual progression overload.  Many of the untrained gym goers don’t get this until the mid-40’s, because their ego says yes, but in reality their bodies can’t handle it especially if they have been training incorrectly for years. 

Of coarse anything is possible, but who wants to injure themselves and be on the “bench” all season? I encourage friends and clients to get a yearly physical then see me for a fitness assessment and plan. Having this promotes success, safety, time, money, and healthy body functionality in the long hall. So with all that said, be open to new ideas and views because a moment of awakening, or a divine appointment can inspire you to the realization that you were made for greatness. God works in mysterious ways.