The Importance of a Coach/Trainer

You don't always need a personal trainer/coach to tell you what to do, you probably need them to explain how. 

If there is something that I have learned in my time as a coach/trainer, it's that most of our society knows (or at least thinks they know), how to be fit. Whether fit or not, I hear the same strategy from everyone. Eat less junk, exercise more. To be honest, that's more than likely the right idea, save for some exceptions. 

Even when it comes to what exercises to preform, most people are aware what they are supposed to be doing. Society understands that cardio must be part of the equation and that lifting weights is essential to burning fat and building muscle. As a matter of fact, finding someone who is not familiar with a push up, pull up, squat, bench press or plank would be difficult. The classic lifts/exercises are still just as effective as they were years ago when done properly. 

So, if most people know what to do…what's the problem? I won't pretend to have all the answers here. And there are probably many many more reasons and excuses out there, but I believe that one of the major issues is the how. 

Having the general idea of what to do is not the same thing as knowing how to do it. For example, most of us know what is needed when it comes to cooking, but we're not all chefs. If someone hands you a list of ingredients for a great recipe, it's worthless if you don't know how to use them. What gets out into the pan first? How high or low should I set the heat? How much of each ingredient am I supposed to use? Does it matter what order I put them in? Therefore, cook books come with measurements and step by step instructions. 

Secondly, memorizing information is not the same as understanding that information. You can teach any toddler that is learning to speak to memorize that 12 divided by 3 is 4. And every time you ask them they will answer correctly because they've memorized the answer. But hand that same child 12 popsicle-sticks and ask them to divide it by 3, he or she may not understand what you mean. In other words, knowing what a squat looks like and that it's beneficial does not mean you understand how to perform a squat, much less coach someone else to do it safely and properly! 

Here is my advice:

Trainer, educate yourself. Do everything possible to soak in information from well-known and highly respected sources. This can come in many forms: schools, mentorship, tutoring etc. Furthermore, social media can be helpful and is something worth considering but it does not qualify as education. If you happen to see someone perform something for Instagram/YouTube, research the move! And learn to perform it properly before trying it yourself and/or trying it with a client. Lastly, learn how the body works. This is more important and valuable than knowing fancy moves or crazy tricks. If you understand the body's mechanics, you will keep your clients safe and be able to teach them better. 

Client, be patient. I understand that you pay us to get you into shape and reach all your fitness goals. I understand you want to be drenched in sweat after every session. However, sometimes we need to slow things down to ensure you learn a movement pattern correctly. Maybe learning to dead lift or lunge properly doesn't happen right away. That is okay. Spending those extra 5-10 minutes learning the movement and retaining the information will pay off in the long haul. If you are moving improperly the only guaranteed result is injury! And that is multiplied if the movement is loaded with resistance. Oh, and please, ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask! If you don't see the point of something, ask! Your trainer/coach should have an answer. If they don't, consider moving on.