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005: How I Prep Gym Sessions for My Brain, Not Just My Body
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Your mental health can be your emergency — and that means you can leave the gym if you need to. No guilt. No shame.
In this episode, Rhiannon discusses making fitness accessible for neurodivergent people, addressing everything from executive dysfunction to sensory overload at the gym. Learn practical strategies for overcoming mental barriers and why it's perfectly okay to prioritise your mental health, even if that means leaving early or adapting your workout. If this resonates with you, please share with someone who needs it 💖
In this episode of the Not So Typical Fitness Podcast, I’m diving into what it actually takes to mentally and emotionally prepare for a workout — especially when you're neurodivergent. From task paralysis to sensory overload, and even the overwhelming pressure to "just push through"... this is a safe space where we unpick all of it.
I'll share how I prep gym sessions around my brain, not just my body — and how I coach my clients to do the same. You’ll hear:
- The real struggles behind getting to the gym
- Why flexibility in your fitness plan is a non-negotiable
- How to build your own mental health toolkit
- And yes — why you always have permission to leave
Whether you're autistic, ADHD, overwhelmed, or just need to hear that fitness can work with your brain (not against it), this episode is for you.
Visit My Website: www.notsotypicalfitness.co.uk
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannoncooperpt/
Email: [email protected]
Timestamps
00:00 Your Mental Health Can Be Your Emergency
00:34 Welcome to Not So Typical Fitness
01:47 Preparing for a Workout (Mentally + Physically)
02:20 The Biggest Weight Is Your Own Mind
03:07 Flexible Plans for Real Brains
04:47 All-or-Nothing Thinking & Neurodivergence
05:29 What Counts As Movement? Small Wins Matter
06:48 Toxic Fitness Culture vs Inclusive Coaching
08:34 When Even Showering Feels Impossible
10:45 Sensory Overload After the Gym
13:01 Standing to Record: Flexibility in Action
14:00 Anticipating Struggles Before They Happen
15:07 Health Includes Mental Health
16:50 Task Paralysis: The Car Scroll Struggle
18:48 Planning Micro-Steps to Start
20:25 Decision Paralysis at the Cardio Machines
21:25 When It's Too Much: You Can Always Leave
24:22 Real Life Flexibility: Ending the Episode Early
25:17 Final Thoughts & Ask for Support
🎧 Listen and subscribe for more honest, empowering chats about fitness, mental health, and neurodivergence.
📣 Tag a friend who needs this reminder: You’re allowed to do things differently.
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