AN APOLOGY TO ALL PERSONAL TRAINERS

Jeffrey Crawford · 11-07-2006, 02:32 PM

Interesting article...
Link is work/family safe and is a letter from a s&c coach.

http://www.coreperformance.com/artic...p=3&s=1&id=226

John Seiler · 11-07-2006, 03:41 PM

I've been to one of Boyle's seminars. He seems like a good enough guy with lots of good info, but it's nice to hear him say it. One thing he leaves out, the difference in commitment level between the athlete and most PT clients; woah!

Douglas Chapman · 11-07-2006, 04:11 PM

Getting and keeping "normal" people motivated is the toughest part of my job. Being a trainer goes beyond technical expertise and involves being a counselor, mentor, coach and hammer.

Part of the reason I changed my business model to 90% group classes was the hand holding that goes on during personal training. Many of the clients, regardless of what they said their goals were, just wanted attention. The clients now bond to the class and people in it rather than soley to the trainer. The client becomes accountable to their peers and many times put out more effort next to their friends than they would if they were alone.

For me, it is all the good stuff of training with none of the downside.

Don Stevenson · 11-07-2006, 04:15 PM

I do both jobs in my business and he's really hit it on the head.

As a S+C coach I never have to cajole or nurse fragile egos. You just tell athletes what to do and they nod and get at it.

As a PT i'm sometimes horrified at the gap between how people percieve their fitness and their real abilities. Last night I was training a client who had described herself as pretty fit, active and who claims to have had a personal trainer for several months previously. She couldn't squat, do a single situp and struggled to learn box squats! A big case of patient explanataion and not crushing her with what I was actually thinking.

I think the difference between a good PT and a bad PT is that a good Pt will work through the frustrations to get their clients doing functional exercises while a bad PT will put it in the too hard basket and make their client do leg extensions.

Mike ODonnell · 11-07-2006, 07:28 PM

Amennnnnnnnnnn

I always say controlling the 1 hour they are with me is the easy part....having control of their other 23 hours a day is the hard part!

If you want to be the best personal trainer in the world.....learn how to keep people motivated and going strong all the hours you are not with them. That's what separates the good from the bad.

Kenneth Urakawa · 11-08-2006, 06:44 AM

As the saying goes, it's the difference between "involvement" and "commitment". Most clients are just involved in fitness.

Think bacon and eggs: the chicken is 'involved', the pig is committed.

Peter Queen · 11-08-2006, 10:47 AM

OK, soooooo, I'm assuming that "involvement" is a lesser degree of dedication as opposed to the degree of dedication in "commitment".

I sure hope I'm right Kenneth, 'cause you sort of lost me on the chicken & pig scenario.:lol:

Scott Kustes · 11-08-2006, 11:33 AM

Chicken is involved - it donates an egg or two, but overall has no investment.
Pig is committed - you eat the pig. The pig gave it's life for your breakfast. The chicken just gave a few minutes of it's time.

Peter Queen · 11-08-2006, 12:06 PM

Wow, that's a lot to think about over just a simple breakfast. In the mornings, I'm usually more concerned with getting to work on time.:biggrin:
But hey, I see where you are comming from.

Jeremy Jones · 11-08-2006, 03:33 PM

Just about any instuctor can teach a great student with natural talent and drive.

It takes a GREAT instructor to teach a punk or deconditioned grandma how to be an athlete.

(Paraphrasing from my Tracy's Kenpo teachings)

(Message edited by jjones on November 08, 2006)

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11-07-2006, 02:32 PM	#1
Jeffrey Crawford Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne FL Posts: 685	Interesting article... Link is work/family safe and is a letter from a s&c coach. http://www.coreperformance.com/artic...p=3&s=1&id=226

11-07-2006, 03:41 PM	#2
John Seiler Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 1,687	I've been to one of Boyle's seminars. He seems like a good enough guy with lots of good info, but it's nice to hear him say it. One thing he leaves out, the difference in commitment level between the athlete and most PT clients; woah!

11-07-2006, 04:11 PM	#3
Douglas Chapman Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Belleville MI Posts: 504	Getting and keeping "normal" people motivated is the toughest part of my job. Being a trainer goes beyond technical expertise and involves being a counselor, mentor, coach and hammer. Part of the reason I changed my business model to 90% group classes was the hand holding that goes on during personal training. Many of the clients, regardless of what they said their goals were, just wanted attention. The clients now bond to the class and people in it rather than soley to the trainer. The client becomes accountable to their peers and many times put out more effort next to their friends than they would if they were alone. For me, it is all the good stuff of training with none of the downside.

11-07-2006, 04:15 PM	#4
Don Stevenson Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney NSW Posts: 1,038	I do both jobs in my business and he's really hit it on the head. As a S+C coach I never have to cajole or nurse fragile egos. You just tell athletes what to do and they nod and get at it. As a PT i'm sometimes horrified at the gap between how people percieve their fitness and their real abilities. Last night I was training a client who had described herself as pretty fit, active and who claims to have had a personal trainer for several months previously. She couldn't squat, do a single situp and struggled to learn box squats! A big case of patient explanataion and not crushing her with what I was actually thinking. I think the difference between a good PT and a bad PT is that a good Pt will work through the frustrations to get their clients doing functional exercises while a bad PT will put it in the too hard basket and make their client do leg extensions.

11-07-2006, 07:28 PM	#5
Mike ODonnell Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,566	Amennnnnnnnnnn I always say controlling the 1 hour they are with me is the easy part....having control of their other 23 hours a day is the hard part! If you want to be the best personal trainer in the world.....learn how to keep people motivated and going strong all the hours you are not with them. That's what separates the good from the bad.

11-08-2006, 06:44 AM	#6
Kenneth Urakawa Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chandler AZ Posts: 539	As the saying goes, it's the difference between "involvement" and "commitment". Most clients are just involved in fitness. Think bacon and eggs: the chicken is 'involved', the pig is committed.

11-08-2006, 10:47 AM	#7
Peter Queen Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dousman WI Posts: 1,567	OK, soooooo, I'm assuming that "involvement" is a lesser degree of dedication as opposed to the degree of dedication in "commitment". I sure hope I'm right Kenneth, 'cause you sort of lost me on the chicken & pig scenario.:lol:

11-08-2006, 11:33 AM	#8
Scott Kustes Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 1,258	Chicken is involved - it donates an egg or two, but overall has no investment. Pig is committed - you eat the pig. The pig gave it's life for your breakfast. The chicken just gave a few minutes of it's time.

11-08-2006, 12:06 PM	#9
Peter Queen Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dousman WI Posts: 1,567	Wow, that's a lot to think about over just a simple breakfast. In the mornings, I'm usually more concerned with getting to work on time.:biggrin: But hey, I see where you are comming from.

11-08-2006, 03:33 PM	#10
Jeremy Jones Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Concord Ca Posts: 1,218	Just about any instuctor can teach a great student with natural talent and drive. It takes a GREAT instructor to teach a punk or deconditioned grandma how to be an athlete. (Paraphrasing from my Tracy's Kenpo teachings) (Message edited by jjones on November 08, 2006)