As part of jump-starting my foray into Mental Pilates, I thought it best to visit Andy at his booth at the Health and Wellness Expo being held in town, support him in the nascent steps of his venture, show him that I was on-board, be there to provide my own brand of “atta-boy!,” love, good vibes, whatever. Plus I heard there was free stuff.
The first thing that struck me upon entering this tradeshow was that it was clear that not everyone was on the same page regarding the definitions of “health” and “wellness.” I hear “health and wellness,” and I think “multivitamins, exercising, and being forced into rehab against my will.” Clearly others at the expo were thinking “incense, magic rocks, chanting, and contacting the dead in order to get their take on the matter.”
To each their own, I strongly believe and support. However, what does this say about Mental Pilates?
I’ve always been on the fence regarding anything kool-aid-esque that promises serenity and well-being so long as I smile a lot and love thy neighbour and stop eating abused chickens. I entered into this arrangement of giving Mental Pilates a fair go of it, coming in with an open mind, but confirming that Andy’s mind was open as well – open to the acerbic sarcasm about to invade his life for the next seven or so weeks. We are each other’s Everests. So for me to find on day -1 that I’m being smacked with the scent of Nag Champa as I witness someone telling me I’ll lose weight by wearing a certain kind of ring on my finger, my kool-aid alarms are going off.
I’ll be fine; I have writing pithy editorials to vent my suspicions. But what about others like me? Does it make sense to advertize a mental health curriculum based on cognitive behavioural therapies and practical life-coaching theorems among a culture of alternative approaches widely disbelieved and mocked by the kool-aid intolerant? I may not be 100% on board with smiling and loving my neighbours, but I certainly wouldn’t group modern day psychology in the same category as tarot card readings.
But maybe that is the point? “To each their own” is the message to take away? The paranormal/alternative Health and Wellness crowd may not find themselves reading Psychology Today in the lobby of their mainstream health practitioner’s office. Comparing Mental Pilates to cognitive behavioural strategies may have these folks sounding their own version of Do Not Want alarms. By positioning himself as One of Them, perhaps Andy’s just doing his best to appeal to the widest spectrum possible.
Just so long as he’s also setting up booths in an incense-free, No Chanting Allowed, westernized conference next month, I’ll believe this is a case of brilliant marketing strategy as opposed to my cue to jump ship.
I’ll even forgive the fact that by the time I arrived, there was no more free stuff at the Expo. A real shame, too, as I’m often in the market for detox tea.
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Wow! Now I see what I may be getting myself into!!! But, in fact, I welcome the spirited joust!!!
ReplyDeleteTo be absolutely clear, I encourage the development of kool-aid alarms, they are critical life skills that prevent the innocent from being scammed!
But here is my interpretation of when your kool-aid alarm should go off, and when it should remain silent so that your mind can investigate the possibility of there being tangible value. My kool-aid alarm is triggered using the "and then the miracle occurs" test. For instance, place the ring on this finger and you lose weight and on that finger for arthritis. That type of claim clearly require3s the "and then the miracle occurs" phrase in order for it to make sense. My kool-aid alarm was going off left and right at the Health and Wellness Expo. There were lots of miracle cures, people employing scare tactics about unfiltered water and those who were trying to evoke the power of the placebo effect.
What should prevent Mental Pilates from triggering the kool-aid alarm is that there is no miracle promised or required. Mental Pilates teaches skills and includes specific exercises for developing these skills. My criteria for success in the seven week webinar series is that the participant agree that the seven skills are indeed skills that could be learned, and that the exercises actually help you develop these skills. If that is achieved, I will have achieved my objective.
And with that knowledge in mind; nothing will happen as a result. Just like physical exercise, learning about the muscle groups and knowing which exercises strengthen which muscles does not make you physically fit. You actually have do perform the exercises on a regular basis.
The same is true with Mental Pilates. I teach seven skills for leading a vital and fulfilling life and provide exercises for developing these skills. Then, only if you choose to fold these skills and tools into your daily routine will you experience the benefit.
So, the good and the bad news is that there is no miracle, no placebo, no free lunch. What there are exercises that help you become skillful in the formation of habits, behaviors and relationships that contribute towards your health and wellbeing!
Thank you Rhiannon for opening this dialog.
It will be fun for all.
Andy
I can't wait for the next installment! Fabulous dialog.
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