Enneagram Type 4 (The Individualist) Fitness Personality
Enneagram Type 4 individuals—aka "The Individualist" or "The Romantic"—tend to struggle with exercise because they desire self-care, emotional expression, and personal growth.
Enneagram Type 4 Exercise Struggles
Here are some common challenges and potential struggles an Enneagram Type 4 may face when it comes to exercise:
Emotional Connection: Type 4s are driven by emotions and often seek depth and meaning in everything they do. When it comes to exercise, you may struggle to engage in activities that don't resonate with you emotionally. You may also resist exercising if you find an exercise routine boring or unfulfilling.
Desire for Uniqueness: Type 4s often want to be unique and special. You may find mainstream or popular exercises too ordinary. As a result, you resist doing those exercises and feel like they don't align with your identity.
Perfectionism: Type 4s have a strong inner critic. You may set impossibly high standards for yourself in life and exercise. This perfectionistic mindset can cause you to avoid exercise altogether because you feel you can't meet your expectations.
Embracing the Physical Body: Type 4s are more attuned to their emotions, thoughts, and inner world. This may cause you to neglect the physical aspect of life. Regular exercise requires a connection with the body, which can be challenging when you live in your head.
Competing with Themselves: While some thrive with competition, Type 4s are more likely to compete with themselves. This mindset can be motivating and draining. You may lose interest in your fitness journey if you don't see immediate progress or significant achievements.
Lack of Structure: Type 4s often prefer spontaneity. You may struggle with creating and maintaining a consistent exercise routine.
Self-Consciousness: Type 4s are highly attuned to their emotions and may feel self-conscious about their physical appearance during exercise. You may fear judgment or rejection from others, making you less willing to attend group activities.
How to Improve Your Relationship with Exercise
To overcome these challenges, here are some strategies that may help Type 4s create a more positive exercise experience:
Exercise helps release and manage emotions:. Exercising can help you express yourself and release built-up emotions. The endorphin boost you get after exercise also offers a euphoric effect (making you feel happy!).
Embrace Uniqueness: You can explore unique and unconventional workouts that resonate with your personal style. If you’re trying to re-enter running, the Expecting and Empowered Running Program offers a running assessment that evaluates your body and tailors a unique exercise plan to your needs. (have also used this assessment for pelvic floor and prolapse patients)
Celebrate Effort: Shift your focus from achieving perfection to celebrating your efforts and progress. Focus on small milestones and improvements rather than fixating on an idealized end goal.
Mind-Body Connection: Try mind-body activities like mindfulness practices, meditation, or nature walks. These exercises can help you reconnect with your body while bringing more awareness to your emotions.
Work With Your Mood: Acknowledge that your mood changes are normal and can affect motivation. Choose exercises that you can adapt depending on how you're feeling. Don't feel pressured to stick to a rigid routine.
Creative Challenges: Think of exercise as self-expression and personal growth. You may enjoy themed accountability challenges or workouts that help you compete with yourself in a creative way.
Create a Flexible Structure: Find a flexible approach to exercise that allows spontaneity and variety. You may enjoy having a loose exercise schedule—like following a 3-day workout program where you can workout different days and times each week.
Choose a Safe and Supportive Environment: Find non-judgmental spaces to exercise—at home, in a small group, or in a welcoming fitness class. Feeling accepted and supported will help you feel more comfortable.
Set Realistic Expectations: When setting exercise goals, take small steps and be patient with yourself. Progress doesn't have to be dramatic to be meaningful.
Try Partner or Group Workouts: Workout with a close friend, partner, or a supportive group. Connecting to an exercise community (like Expecting + Empowered!) or having a workout accountability partner can make exercise more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Type 4s can develop a more positive and fulfilling relationship with exercise by choosing exercise that offers flexibility, emotional release, and uniqueness. Remember, everyone is unique! These suggestions may not apply to every Enneagram Type 4. It's important to listen to your own needs, preferences, and limitations when it comes to exercise.
The Expecting and Empowered App is a great workout tool for Enneagram Type 4 moms who need flexible structure and a supportive environment for successful pregnancy and postpartum workouts.
The app offers step-by-step progressions that give you a variety of workouts, but you can complete them at any time. You make the weekly schedule, so no rigid structure necessary! Postpartum programs work on basics like core and breathing, while gradually progressing to more dynamic and whole-body movement. If you need more emotional connection to exercise, the Prenatal Yoga program offers 20-30 minute classes that talk you through breathwork, positioning, and safe modifications. The Expecting and Empowered community of moms also offers support and accountability through every season.
SOURCES:
Schwarz L, et al. (2012). Changes in β-Endorphin Levels in Response to Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise. https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-199213010-00003