Movement Snacks: Your movement should be specific to your needs
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Hey Reader, 2 weeks ago, I published a piece on my substack about the problem with using AI or ChatGPT as your personal fitness coach. I wrote the article because a fairly prominent wellness influencer had recently announced her new strength training "method" which was created entirely from ChatGPT prompts and YouTube videos. She's not a personal trainer or movement professional in any capacity. She just discovered the many benefits of lifting weights (again, thanks to AI and YouTube) and decided to share her love. And trademark it. βYou can read the whole piece here. I won't fully rehash it in this newsletter. But I do want to talk about a tiny piece of it -- the idea that a specific routine of exercises can work for everyone (which is what this influencer is now selling). Your individual needs and goals matter when it comes to movement. ChatGPT isn't going to program for you, as an individual. It's going to program generally, mostly because ChatGPT doesn't know you, your body, or your goals. And while ChatGPT can (unfortunately) pull from an enormous database of training practices, it is not a skilled professional capable of creativity, curiosity, or nuance -- all of which are essential when it comes to movement. The point is not just to say that ChatGPT shouldn't be programming your workouts, but that actually, what you need and want out of your workout matters. You have a voice and a choice. That doesn't mean you need to personally be responsible for every workout. In fact, it's entirely possible that you don't want to be responsible for all of that and it might even prevent you from moving your body more regularly. But instead of turning to ChatGPT (which we've established is not a good personal trainer), you have options. Option 1: you can work with a coach to plan out your workouts month to month. I do this with my coach, Alison Heilig. She programs workouts for me that are tailored toward my goals (building strength and doing an unassisted pull-up or 3). Occasionally, when I am dealing with an injury, she offers me options so I can rehab my injury while still sticking with my regular workouts. I highly recommend working with Alison (or any coach. I work with people individually, too). Option 2: Working individually with a coach can be pricey and worth it, but still out of your budget. So I built a lower cost option into my online studio, MOVE with Naomi. In the MOVE Plus tier of my online studio, I will program a month of movement for you, built from workouts in my online archives. It's tailored to your needs -- how much time you have and what you want to focus on. Plus, you have the option of texting me or emailing me after each workout for accountability support. Option 3: For a big step up from ChatGPT, but less expensive than my MOVE Plus membership, check out my app, Strength in Midlife. While it's not me programming specifically for you, it's still guided by me and you're doing my practices. And you get to determine what you need. So you can build the exact routine you want, but without having to pick every practice individually. It's a pretty sweet, affordable option. My goal with sharing these is to help give you options to make movement more accessible and also more specific to your needs. That might mean you work with me or sign up for the things I offer. It also might not. While I would love to support you in getting more movement in your life, if I'm not the right person for you, I am happy to point you in a different direction toward someone who could be. One of the ways I know that is by getting to know you better. Last week, I sent an email re-introducing myself and invited you to share a little with me, too. I heard back from a few folks, but I'd love to hear from more of you! So if you're willing to share, please respond to this email and tell me a few things about you that you feel comfortable sharing! If you need an idea of what to share, look for my email last week! And I also have one last, small request: I want to create content that truly supports you on my YouTube channel. β It's my largest free resource for all things movement. I currently share full length videos twice a month and short videos 3 times a week. I'd love to know what you'd like to see more of on my YouTube channel. ππ½ββοΈ Do you want practices you can do along with me? ππ½ββοΈ Do you want how-to videos for particular exercises that troubleshoot issues that have come up for you or stopped you from doing something? ππ½ββοΈ What would best support you in getting your body moving more often? I'd love to hear from you, so please respond to this email to let me know! Thanks for being a part of my community this year. I am so grateful for you. Warmly, Naomi Want to stay in touch during the week? Here are a 2 easy ways: Follow me on Instagram, where I share movement inspiration 3x a week as acts of resistance, connection, and strength. βFollow me on substack, where I write about the intersection of movement, perimenopause, and the culture that we are all moving through. Or better yet, subscribe so you have immediate access to regular essays, including my most recent substacks. There are many ways to support my writing on substack, which focuses on women's health and motherhood during perimenopause through an anti-diet and pro-science lens: π Become a free subscriber |