Why are you doing that with your client?
I my ten years of experience in the fitness industry, I have to admit I’ve seen some very scary stuff on the gym floor. A few examples would be people doing exercises they shouldn’t be doing, using incorrect and sometimes dangerous form, exercising to the point of oblivion-the list goes on and on. But what irks me most is that their trainers allow them to partake in this type of activity. As a new trainer, I want you to ask yourself the question-why am I doing this with my client? What are the benefits and risks? I feel it is a question that is often bypassed in hopes of giving clients a “kick-ass” workout.
Before I started training clients, I went through a rigorous internship where I had to observe other experienced trainers for hours upon hours, and only after months of doing this was I allowed to work with clients, but still not on a one on one basis. I had someone observing me and making sure I was showing each client how to do every exercise correctly. What I see most often these days is trainers taking online tests and hopping right on the gym floor, prescribing exercise programs that are not fit for the client they are training. Before you create any type of program for your client, I’d like you to ask yourself these questions:
- What are my client’s goals and needs?
- What are my client’s medical restrictions? Does the client have any injuries that I need to work around?
- Why am I giving this client a certain exercise? What benefit will it have for the client?
For example, if you are training a client who has cervical issues, lower back problems, and knee issues,why would you have them swinging a kettle bell? I’ve seen this happen, not to mention loads of other dangerous exercises that are not appropriate for a certain client.
You must remember that most of the clients you will train are not fit, and their bodies can only handle a limited amount of stress. It is crucial that you weigh risks versus benefits when prescribing any exercise or program. Exercises that you do now may have an impact on them for LIFE. I know it is fun to give clients exercises that challenge them, that surprise them, and that won’t make them bored to tears, but it is imperative that you think about what you are doing before you do it!
And please, study, read, and do the work before you start training clients. There is nothing more powerful than a well-educated, knowledgeable, and confident trainer. You will never have trouble finding business.
Excelllent!!! It baffles me too when I see some trainers or group instructors having people perform squats, done without proper form and with no corrections given, with a bar bell across the back of their neck… Help!!! I’ve seen some participants who I know have shoulder, neck and lower back issues in those classes perfroming those terribly potentially dangerous exercises which proves that the instructor or trainer did not take the 1-2 minutes it takes to ask the simple question: “is there anyone here with any injuries I should know about…knee, neck, shoulder, wrist, or lower back?”
I think the biggest issue is that while some trainers/instructors are bored with some exercises, they forget that for most of their clients, it is the first time they have ever seen much less attempted them. Sometimes the most basic exercises are the most challenging, not just for new fitness participants, but also for the most seasoned instructor or athlete.