As I suggested in my last article (Bulletin Vol. 25, No. 3, Fall, 2002), the difficulty for many people in maintaining an exercise program frequently results from choosing an exercise program that is incompatible with their personality, and is "doomed from the start." My research in this area indicates there are different motivations, styles, and requirements that influence the kinds of exercise activities and environments that are preferred by each of the 16 types.

In an effort to gather information about the connection between type and physical exercise, I have been interviewing individuals of the various personality types who exercise regularly, asking the following questions:

1. Describe a typical week of exercise.
2. Where do you exercise: What aspect(s) of the environment is important to you?
3. Do you exercise alone or with friend, family, or group?
4. What motivates you to exercise? Describe the benefits.
5. Describe your history of physical exercise.
6. What types of exercise, exercise interactions, or environments turn you off?
7. What coaching/training styles work or don't work for you?
8. What advice would you give to people of your type who do not exercise?

For the purpose of this brief article, I will provide highlights from a few interviews to illustrate the sensing function and its connection to physical exercise. Intuition will be explored in a future article.

Although individuals with extraverted sensation and introverted sensation perceive information and data through the senses, the extraverted and introverted expression of this function differs dramatically in form and, perhaps no-where is more evident than their approach to physical exercise.

Extraverted Sensing
ESTP, ESFP, ISTP, ISFP

Extraverted sensation in the dominant or auxiliary position is typified by an outward focus on the physical world with attention directed toward and merging with the environment. The present is the reality. Information is perceived in an uncategorized fashion. People with extraverted sensation are typically motivated and engaged in physical activity and exercise in the following ways:

• Attracted to the highest level of sensory stimulation.
• Enjoy using their outstanding ability to navigate.
• Live in real time.
• Enjoy exercise that provides an opportunity to enjoy observing details in the physical environment.
• Relish spontaneous activities.
• Embrace active and lively activities that call for quick response.
• Pursue novelty, but prefer it to be a variation of what they already know rather than something completely new.

ESFP, ESTP

Extraverted sensation in the dominant position is characterized by an attraction to activities in the environment on a large scale. When the auxiliary is feeling, the attraction usually involves the companionship of individuals or groups of people. When the auxiliary is thinking, the attraction is to performance or competition.