18/11/2020
What to look for in a personal trainer
IT’s never easy to push something beyond its boundaries, more so when your job happens to be driving other people past their perceived limitations, squeezing every drop of strength and providing tons of motivation to guide them toward their fitness goals effectively and—more importantly—safely.
Being a personal trainer requires a special skill set, certainly not just brains and brawn. Knowledge, communication and empathy, among others, are needed to carry out one-on-one training that includes goal setting, health education, program modification and evaluation. A personal trainer is not a role to be assumed just because one has put in hours of gym time; the job requires not just knowing the principles of fitness and training along with the so-called the tricks of the trade but also, and just as importantly, putting your client’s well-being at the forefront of everything.
Before hiring a personal trainer to lead you down the path of overall wellness, or if you are trying to elevate your game, here are the qualities you need to keep in mind, according to IDEAfit USA Standard:
• Foundational education. Perhaps the best benchmark of a good trainer is foundational education. In terms of the philosophical debate over man of knowledge versus man of experience, a trainer needs to be a mixture of both. He must be educated enough to design a program properly and experienced enough to know how to execute it correctly.
• Certifications. These to trainers are what diplomas are to students. That said, a trainer who has stacks of certificates doesn’t necessarily mean he’s better than one who has only one certification. The consumer must bear in mind that there is a big difference between accredited and non-accredited certifications, which is why we should be aware of legitimate, high-quality certifications and the institutions or personalities facilitating these.
• Ability to apply knowledge. A certificate being bandied about by a trainer can’t by itself help the client on his cardio exercises. A personal trainer must be able to apply the lessons on the mat. He must also know how to apply those lessons on different kinds of clients who have different capabilities and goals. This trait is honed over time with experience.
• Communication skill. A good personal trainer knows how to communicate well with different kinds of people from all walks of life. Contrary to popular perception, personal training isn’t military camp. Nowadays, most clients prefer a more conversational type of discussion regarding training rather than being ordered to do, say, 50 obliques. We need to connect with our clients so that we can guide them through their exercises properly and keep them engaged.
• Knowledge of motivation and behavioral change. Being a personal trainer also means being a coach. Simple communication skills aren’t enough because a trainer’s words need to move bodies and make minds go. One must be able to find a way to push his client to go the extra mile, to do 10 more lunges and 20 more push-ups, or to swing that ViPR harder because you know he still can. Long-term progressive programming is important.
• Accessible personality. As mentioned earlier, interpersonal skills are important in every coach. The ability to make the client feel comfortable and cared for is not only assuring but motivating, as well.
• Assessment and progressive program design. At the start of every personal training session, a trainer should carefully assess his client, and this includes taking note of the client’s medical condition, risk factors and overall well-being. It is the duty of a personal trainer to assess and customize a program for every client. Also, a trainer should recognize a client’s limitations, medical or otherwise, and not force him onto unsuitable or unrealistic programs or regimens. Remember, a trainer’s main goal is to improve his client’s health and well-being, not the other way around.
• Nutrition and holistic wellness. A trainer’s concern is his client’s holistic wellness, and this includes nutrition. He doesn’t have to be a dietician but at least he should know the basics and how to address the nutrition needs of client, in accordance with the program.
• Risk-management skills and the drive to learn more. Risk management is an important practice and every trainer should carefully observe it to make sure his client is safe at all times. Continuous education by means of certifications and workshops is necessary in order to be always “in top shape.” A trainer should always be updated on new trends and techniques in the fitness so that he can integrate into his programs those that will truly benefit his clients. With JT Nisay
• Jonnel Cruz is a director at IFit Pro Unlimited (www.facebook.com/ifitprounlimited).
Jonnel Cruz / Inside & Out
ColumnLifeLifestyle
by BusinessMirror
- November 15, 2014
