AN OPEN LETTER TO PERSONAL TRAINERS.

Dear Personal Trainer,

You’ve decided to make an impact on the lives of others, and for this, you are to be commended.

But you MUST realize, that many, if not most, of those that are taking this next step with you are perhaps completely terrified of something you’re completely comfortable and familiar with – fitness and the language thereof.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you perform your professional duties -- I'm sure I'll think of more and thus add to this list as needed.


BUILDING BRIDGES AND KNOCKING DOWN WALLS
Perhaps you know about all the ins and outs of frontal / saggital / transverse planes, abduction and adduction, concentric / eccentric, medial / lateral / anterior / posterior, proximal / distal, origin and insertion, etc. but most people don’t know nor need to know this information to make progress towards a fitter lifestyle.  People don’t need to be confused and bogged down with asinine terms such as “muscle activation technique.”  And this is YOUR responsibility to break things down in the easiest to understand terms so that they feel comfortable with each new stage of fitness progression.


BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME, FELLAS (AND LADIES)

Speaking of breaking things down, if you have someone new, you MUST break things down to the basic, most easy to understand, square one, starting line, beginning place when instructing exercises and techniques therein.  You've been around the gym and you know the shortcuts (some of which are simply because you have the physical strength now to take certain SAFE shortcuts), but they don't, and like a child, they are watching you like a hawk and are going to do EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DO.  Gradually advance them as they're ready and as they have the strength to do so.


SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
But only when the time is right!  Whether or not you like it and whether or not they realize it, you are their therapist.  When a trainee comes in for an appointment, don’t spend their session unloading YOUR problems onto them.  Regardless of how much you know about fitness and wellness, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.  It’s THEIR time to unload onto YOU.  Why?  Because you won’t internalize their issues like they will and as they can get things off of their chests (in a confidential fashion of course, and if you can't be confidential maybe you're in the wrong line of work), they can perhaps eradicate more stress from their lives thus allowing them to be in better shape both holistically and physically speaking due to their time with you.  Exception: if you have someone who is a regular trainee for a long period of time, and a friendship develops in which you can both equally share about “life stuff,” then so be it.  But initially, IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU.


DO AS YOU DO, NOT AS YOU SAY
NEVER HAVE SOMEONE DO AN EXERCISE OR A ROUTINE THAT YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY PERFORMED YOURSELF.  You will look like a fool (and thus destroy your credibility) if you cannot perform the task that you are putting your client through.  Enough said.


At the same time you’re building fitness-bridges between the uninitiated and experienced, you’re also tearing down walls that keep people from taking steps towards a better life.  Walls of fear, uncertainty, doubt, misinformation and confusion.  They don’t need more obstacles that will keep them from getting there and it’s your responsibility to make sure they are shepherded as such.

I thank you and they thank you.

You'll be just fine if you simply remember to keep it simple while being honest with yourself and with them.  It will pay dividends for both of you that you couldn't imagine.

Have a strong day, trainers.