Decode disconnection, align your daily rhythms, and thrive with Alignment Fitness

CipherLine Open Edition - 26 Oct 2025

Welcome to chapter 16. In this Cipherline, I’d like you to forget what you know about fitness because that’s not what will get you into a state of Alignment Fitness is.

Yes, the peak of your alignment fitness, in part, involves physical fitness, but the physical act of going to the gym, cycling 60 miles or doing laps in a pool is not even half of it, that’s just the body, there’s still the mind and soul to work with.

I was at a function recently, for a tall ship I was a Sailing Master of, about twelve years ago. The crew hadn’t seen or heard of me since then, and one of the skippers, who I worked with a lot back then, was talking to me as if he had never met me. I went along with it because I’ve experienced this before. It’s a little party trick I am able to shock people with these days.

We were close back in the day, and had many memorable voyages. He was describing one of our more exciting and memorable moments, off the New South Wales coast. I let him lead me on as if I was thinking of joining up. He honestly didn’t recognise me explaining the extraordinary lengths a sailing master goes to at times. That was, until I said “ yes Billy Bones, I know, I was there and you got me up on deck, “off watch”, in my underwear to execute an emergency sail drop, because you were about to be blown onto a lee shore with a stormy surf break”.

Bill looked like he had seen a ghost. “Paul, is that you, crap, I didn’t recognise you, so sorry mate.” As people do, he politely referred to me not having the beard, then he noticed I was thirty pounds (fifteen kilos) lighter, I looked super fit, and at peace.

My point is, Billy Bones remembered the stressed, worn and unhealthy me. Paul Cobbin 2.0 had achieved Alignment Fitness, and now for the first time in my life I am thriving. I was three feet or one meter from a close friend, face to face and unrecognisable. That’s how good alignment fitness is.

DECODE

What is Alignment Fitness and why does it matter?

Most people think fitness means gym routines and green smoothies. But when you’re navigating a chronic illness, the first thing to collapse isn’t your body, it’s your sense of clarity, control, and connection. That’s where Alignment Fitness comes in. It expands the idea of fitness beyond muscles and treadmills. It’s about building resilience across your Mind, Body, and Soul so you don’t just survive your diagnosis, but start living again on your terms.

Realignment starts the moment you stop chasing perfection and begin practicing presence. Whether it’s a heart diagnosis that knocks you flat, a burnout spiral, or the slow erosion of purpose, Alignment Fitness is what pulls you back. One small habit and one element at a time.

ALIGN

From Inaction to Integration

If diagnosis is the great disrupter, then Alignment Fitness is the great restorer. In my case, my physical fitness was ahead of the game, but my mind and soul had quietly unravelled under the weight of stress, shame, and stagnation. Only when I worked with professionals, committed to daily rituals, and found mentors and frameworks (like The Core by Aki Hintsa and The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape), did the restoration truly begin.

To align your fitness with your condition, your lifestyle, and your values, try this:

• Mind: Journal before bed, meditate in the morning and use breathwork when stress flares.

• Body: Move daily, gently if needed and prioritize rest as much as reps.

• Soul: Engage with purpose,say no to what drains you and say yes to creative sparks.

Alignment Fitness isn’t something you achieve, it’s something you recommit to in the quiet moments of each day.

THRIVE

What makes Alignment Fitness sustainable is the ability to adapt.

For me, hotel rooms became makeshift gyms, buffets became health choices and silence became a sacred space. With the help of professionals, from nutritionists to meditation coaches my fitness evolved into a fully integrated practice.

You don’t need more willpower, you need a rhythm that reflects your capacity, not your calendar. Let fitness become less about force and more about flow.

Key Insight

True fitness isn’t about how strong you look, it’s about how aligned you feel.

Fitness is the byproduct of living in rhythm with your Elemental self.

Alignment Fitness Audit

• Which of your Elements; Mind, Body, or Soul, feels most depleted right now?

• What’s one micro-adjustment you could make this week to restore it?

Try This Audit

Quick scan. No guilt, just honesty.

Element

Current State, 1 Small Action

Mind

🟠 Cluttered / 🟢 Clear

Example: Start 2-min breath work at 3pm each day

Body

🟠 Fatigued / 🟢 Energised

Example: Stretch every morning before coffee

Soul

🟠 Disconnected / 🟢 Fulfilled

Example: Rejoin your creative or spiritual circle

Pick one Element, not to fix it all, but to start small and make it yours.

🕊️ Fama’s Nudge

Your fitness is not measured by steps or scales, but by how deeply you live in alignment.

Today, move not just to burn energy, but to build clarity, capacity, and calm.