The Butterfly and the Bee
By Coach Hannah
After spending so many hours on the gym floor, I have learned a thing or two about how people approach fitness and wellness. One of the things I have noticed is that athletes tend to fall into two particular patterns and sets of behaviors in the gym. I call these behaviors the bee and the butterfly approach. The idea of the bee and the butterfly athlete has been in my mind for a long time, but just last week it began to feel like something I needed to share. You see, I was coaching a class, and when I mentioned to the group (of particularly sticky bodies) that they should try yoga, I was met with scoffs and eye-rolls. This made me think, what is so particularly different about the CrossFitter and the Yogi? I think the butterfly and the bee can offer us an answer.
The Bee
The bee is focused, takes direct action, and takes a “do or die trying” type of approach to the world. The bee tends to hone in a narrow focus and approach projects with aggression and certainty. Bees tend to see only what’s directly in front of them and love the feeling of accomplishing a task. Bees are hyper-active, with busy bodies and even busier minds. They can make decisions quickly and get things done efficiently. Bees value hard work in themselves and others, and value team efforts towards the greater good. When they face an obstacle, the bee will plow right through it, or work non-stop until that obstacle is completely demolished.
Though the bee can gets things done, they are often so driven toward success that they don’t step back to take a breath. Self-care is not high on the priority list for a bee, and they are often willing to sacrifice their own health and wellness for the sake of a goal. Additionally, bees can often be so focused that they forget to check in on their other relationships. The bee loves a good challenge and can rise to it, but they are often too stubborn to stop trying when something goes wrong. They would rather lose their stinger than show any signs of weakness.
The Butterfly
The butterfly is slower and more methodical. The butterfly weighs their options and takes a balanced approach to accomplishing their goals. They tend to have a wider lens when they look at the world, which allows them to take a different path if something gets in their way. Butterflies also see the beauty in silence and meditation. They value patience and kindness in themselves and others, and tend to work best on their own. When they face an obstacle, the butterfly assesses it’s options, finds the positive in the obstacle, and uses it to their advantage to help them succeed.
Though the butterfly is gentle and giving, they can also be flighty and hard to pin down. Sometimes the butterfly is so patient that it works against them, and they get stuck inside their comfort zone. Self-care and caring for others are both high on the priority list for the butterfly, so much so that they often over-extend themselves trying to satisfy everyone around them. The butterfly also loves to be challenged and easily finds success, but they can often get overwhelmed and feel lost in a project if something goes wrong. They would rather wrap themselves up and hide away than fail and face the consequences.
We are all a combination of the bee and the butterfly. You probably relate more to one than the other, or maybe you switch back and forth from year to year. Or maybe, you are completely one and wish you could be more of the other.
The Bee and The Butterfly In the Gym
In the gym, the bee likes to lift heavy, is always determined to crush a PR, and wants to workout all the time. The bee knows their best for every lift and would never forget something like their 1 RM back squat. The bee goes home and watches people snatching on youtube, and is always looking for the newest thing to help them succeed. The bee is driven to success and is extremely self-motivated in the gym. On the flip side, the bee tends to value weight over form, and is more likely to overtrain or push through an injury. The bee approaches everything with an attitude like, “I MUST DO THIS NOW 100% OF THE WAY”. Instead of seeing their body as a process and taking one step at a time, the bee demands results from day one.
The butterfly on the other hand, values perfect movement and elegance in their performance. They are consistent but don’t overdo it. They take a balanced approach to their strengths and weaknesses and are OK with taking it a step back when necessary. The butterfly often forgets their 1 RM for a given lift, or even what they lifted yesterday. The butterfly is concerned with feeling good and not straining themselves, rather than reaching a certain performance number. On the flip side, the butterfly doesn’t push themselves hard enough, and doesn’t step out of their comfort zone very often. The butterfly approaches things with a “one step at a time” approach, but may not ever increase the number of steps their taking.
I think that most CrossFitters tend to take the approach of the bee, while yogis tend to take the approach of the butterfly. Bee-like CrossFitters attack yoga like they would a WOD in the gym. They want to WIN YOGA, hit all the poses perfectly, and be the MOST ZEN in the room. If they aren’t good at it, they tend to say “why bother” rather than give themselves the time it takes to get better (which is a long, long time). Yogis on the other hand approach CrossFit with a slow methodical strategy that can sometimes hold them back. Every squat is perfect but it takes 10 seconds from top to bottom and their workout takes twice as long to complete. Or, they don’t ever increase weight because they are worried their form will suffer. It takes too long to see progress or they can’t quite reach the level of intensity necessary to do so.
What this really tells us is that we all need a little bee and a little butterfly in order to be successful and sustainable in the gym. A high quality athlete has both drive and self-compassion. They follow the recommended percentages but still challenge themselves to work a little harder or faster than last time. They value mobility and meditation equally to strength and speed.
Are you a bee or a butterfly?
If you are a butterfly, it’s time to take some lessons from the bee. We offer plenty of CrossFit classes to push you out of your comfort zone, can you commit to increasing your CrossFit classes by one per week to see what else you are capable of?
If you are a bee, it’s time for you to start integrating a little more butterfly into your life. We offer a full schedule of yoga classes; can you commit to one hour a week dedicated to improving your flexibility and mind-body connection? Take the chance to try something new and see what it does for you. I challenge you to try one yoga class per week for six weeks. You are a bee after all, so committing to a goal is kind of your thing. The challenge has been set, can you rise to meet it?