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Neuro-typing for Your Workouts
Working with all types of personalities in physical rehabilitation, chiropractic & personal training you really get to know people. After a while you get to a point where you have a pretty good idea on the individual's cognitive ability on the way they learn a workout or how they demonstrate an exercise. When working with individuals I started to realize that certain people had better results with certain programs based on their learning style and even what they did for a living. I started creating programs not only based on their goals but with their personality traits in mind. Client’s reached their goals faster and were more likely to “stay” with their workout plans.
When an individual is in their proper environment they will succeed. A workout is no different. Many people will find an online workout and a percentage will say this workout was great for their them and others not so much. Neuro-typing is a way to cut down on the trial & error component. For instance, it took myself a quite a few years of what doesn't work to find out what works for me personally. If I knew about Neuro-typing years ago I would have been further along in my training.
Neuro-typing is utilizing personality traits to determine your neurotransmitter dominance and then using that info to strategize specific training methods to maximize your results. In layman's terms it means that you will have the best results from the workout that mimics your personality. What are your personality traits and how do those traits correlate with your workouts?
Neuro-typing has been around for some time but has gained traction from Canadien strength coach Christian Thibedeau. Christian Thibedeau developed neuro-typing as a way to maximize his clientele’s training progression. I’m going to list the 5 neuro-types and as a unique twist I’m also going to add the hunting & fishing styles to these 5 personality traits. As I have seen many of these same personality traits correlate with activities associated with those who pursue specific outdoor activities.
Let’s take a look at the 5 personality traits and see how you can utilize them to maximize your workouts and your outdoor pursuits. First, try to identify yourself with a personality trait. If you are unsure with the trait, try to match up with one of your outdoor pursuits. You may fit more than one of the training styles. However, you should see a pattern that places you in one category over the others. Also, the more personality factors that fit you, the more likely you will be able to adapt to a wider range of training principles.
Let’s take a look at the categories below.
Neuro-type 1A - Low Dopamine & low Acetylcholine
Celebrity types: Teddy Roosevelt, Donald Trump, Angelina Jolie
Personality
Very Low Anxiety
Short Temper
Handles Stress Well
Thrill Seeker
Loud, verbal, talkative
Outdoor Pursuits
Big game hunting dangerous animals or treacherous terrain
White water kayaking/rafting
Tend to hunt shorter periods at a time than an all day sit
Elk hunting & Turkey hunting
Big game fishing like Marlin, Salmon, Musky
Training Style
Loves competition
Attracted to Strongman training
High frequency 6-7 days a week
Fewer exercises per workout
Shorter workouts (45 minutes or less)
Neuro-type 1B - Low dopamine & High Acetylcholine
Celebrity types: Johnny Depp, Deadpool, Katy Perry
Personality
Comfortable in social settings
Lots of imagination
Risk taker
Doesn’t care what people think of them
Adrenaline junkie
Outdoor pursuits
Fly fishing
Bass fishing
Coyote/Predator hunting
Elk, whitetail & turkey hunting
Backwoods adventures/bushcraft
Training Style
Likes explosive movements
Great natural athlete
Learns a new exercise quickly
Higher training volume than 1A
High training frequency 5-6 days per week
Neuro-type 2A - Low Noradrenaline, High GABA
Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk, Judge Judy, Mark Twain
Personality
Thrive on variance
Good at reading other people
Great at solving conflict
Not so great with stress, until they are pushed. Then they become superhuman.
Chameleon personality, fit in with the surrounding crowd
Outdoor Pursuits
Hunting or fishing that involves other people
Ice Fishing
Canoeing/kayaking with others
Hunting waterfowl & upland birds
Small game hunting
Training Style
Needs variety in training
Skill work necessary and needs to practice to become good
When working out they become stronger mentally as well
Prefer bodybuilding routines
Ideal rep range 3-6 on compound lifts & 8-10 on isolation work
Neuro-type 2B - Low Noradrenalin, Low GABA
Tom Hanks, Adele, Spiderman
Personality
Loves to be a helper
Needs to feel connected to people
Not the greatest under pressure
Hates crowds
Introspection
Outdoor Pursuits
Enjoys guiding
Enjoys fishing activities that require you to feel the bite
Likes small game hunting
Outdoor activities that keep you moving
Likes paddling sports
Training Style
Enjoys bodybuilding type routines
Needs to feel the pump
Need the adrenaline rush
Wants to learn the exercise on how it’s supposed to be performed
Likes to research and learn different training styles
Neuro-type 3 - Low Serotonin levels
Bob Ross, Winona Ryder, Howard Hughes
Personality
Introverted
Avoids risk
High anxiety
Does not like critique
Perfectionist
Outdoor Pursuits
Doesn’t mind sitting in a tree stand or a blind for long periods
Enjoys painting, creating lures, calls, etc. where they can be creative
Prefers more solo pursuits compared to group activities
Solo kayak/canoe trips
Likes to “tinker” with outdoor gear
Training Style
Is drawn to endurance sports
Does not like variation in training
They want to be a perfectionist
Needs to follow a structured plan
Likes steady state cardio to zone out
Let’s take a look at an example of how to utilize neurotyping to create your workout. We will use the 2A Low Noradrenaline - High GABA personality type for our example. These types do well with variance and for them change is a good thing. They can also handle a higher volume. These individuals do well with parallel weekly workouts. Meaning they can run two different workouts side by side during the week. So, a strength orientated workout two days a week and a speed orientated workout the other two days within the same week would work well for this type of individual. Also, workouts and types of exercises should be changing almost every 6-8 weeks because the 2a type like variance.
Simply put, match your personality to your workouts and even to an extent your outdoor pursuits. By doing so, you are matching the workout you're meant for. All workout programs will work to an extent and don’t forget to work on your weakness as well. If you work only on what you're good at (Neurotype Training) you are going to create functional deficiencies in other areas. This opens yourself up to injury and over time stagnation. Neurotype training should only be seen as a base with other styles as an extension of functional training.
Neurotype training should increase your workout satisfaction and help you make gains in areas that you may have been stuck in the past. I hope this article gives you some ideas to think about in creating your own workout and getting yourself in shape for the new year. Get going with your workouts, hunt, fish and keep on grinding.
-Clint Ward, Oak & Iron Outdoors.
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