Strength Training: A Woman’s View

I proudly served in the United States Navy for twenty-four years. During that time I had the pleasure of working alongside and knowing many exceptional female leaders. Many have since retired while others are still serving our country. They continue to lead and inspire others daily, and the military is a better place with them in it.

Since retirement I’ve had the pleasure of training numerous female athletes and helped others become stronger and fitter versions of themselves. Further, I have been blessed to network with exceptional coaches from around the world and continue to learn from the them all the time.

The subject of strength training for women, both for its benefits and training differences that exist between genders (Which isn’t really isn’t as much as some would think) has been covered thousands of times by people much smarter that myself.

What I haven’t seen very many articles covering is the viewpoints of ladies representing a wide range of ages and training backgrounds.  This weeks blog is the viewpoints of some exceptional female coaches from across the USA from their twenties and up.

I asked the question “How has strength training benefitted you in life?”

These are their stories…

Twenties…

Elizabeth Coronado-Ledenich, 26 years old, NASM CPT
Las Vegas Nevada, Life Time Athletic and EOS Fitness.

liztrainerlife.wordpress.com
lizcoronado08@gmail.com

“In order to understand what strength training brought into my life I must first start by sharing a little bit about my past. In 2012, I had dealt with some drug related issues one of which landed me in the hospital for overdosing. I never once thought that I was unhappy. I weighed close to 300 pounds and that never raised a red flag for me. I never lacked self esteem or had body image related problems so I never thought there was a problem.

It wasn’t until 2013; one night, after smoking marijuana in my friends closet that changed my life. I walked out to the room and at the time I didn’t know what I was experiencing but it was an anxiety attack. It continued like that for weeks. My mental instability led me to believe I really was going to die and it was only a matter of time. I was so desperate to find a solution to why I was feeling this way and advice from friends led to eating better and exercising. I had nothing else to lose so I gave it a try. I started eating better and going to the gym and my path to health started.

I worked on building healthy habits and started seeing the weight come off. Most importantly I felt so much better and the panic attacks started going away. I discovered so much more about myself during this time. It wasn’t until I lost about 60 pounds that I became interested in becoming a personal trainer to share with others the importance of fitness and nutrition in life.

I stopped teaching middle/high school to attend a personal training class to pursue my new career path. I had a lot of doubters and people that tried to discourage me from continuing on this path. I think it was mainly because I didn’t look like I “worked out” and still had weight to lose. During this class I met two amazing people that propelled me to new heights. First person was a student in my class who is one of my best friends to this day; Jean, who kept me focused on my path and goals regardless of the naysayers. The second person was someone who I met during my internship hours and his name is Chris (The author of the blog and amazing coach and mentor) I shadowed him training clients a couple of times. Before meeting him I had never picked up a barbell and I had only messed around with light dumbbells.

One night after getting signed on my hour of shadowing I made a comment that I had never even touched a barbell and in that moment Chris walked over to get one. I will never forget this night. He started teaching me how to press it over my head. Already in my head I was thinking “there is no way I’m going to be able to press that thing over my head but I’ll try because it looks like fun,” I walked over and held it in my hands as Chris started giving me cues on what I needed to do and incorporate every part of the body to assist with the lift. With that I pressed it over my head. I remember looking in the mirror and being in shock that I was actually doing something I had already told myself I would not be able to do at all yet. I put the barbell down and the first thing he said was “You’re so much stronger than you think you are,” I went home that night just thinking of how amazing that felt and how I wanted to get stronger. (Chris you’re the best!)

Strength training has brought on physical, mental, and emotional strength in my life. I look in the mirror and I love the person I have become. I am a completely different person than I was back in 2012 and a lot of it is due to the fact that I have become a stronger individual. I gained confidence, and lost the anxiety attacks. I love going into the gym and thinking “How much stronger am I going to get today,” Strength training led me to teaching fitness classes and becoming a much more well rounded personal trainer. Now in 2016. Strength training and breathing techniques helped me during the natural birth of my newborn son and it will continue to help me to be the best I can be.

Thirties….

Naomi “Coach Ninja” Recania

CrossFit CF-L1, CrossFit Kids, CrossFit Mobility Trainer, USAW Level 1 SPC, NASM CPT/YES
Santa Barbara, CA, USA; CrossFit Santa Barbara
http://www.crossfit-santabarbara.com
http://www.facebook.com/crossfitsantabarbara
Instagram: @crossfitsantabarbara

“ I noticed at a young age that I was stronger than other kids. Athletics, dance – anything that required body awareness and strength came easy to me. However, I always felt emotionally different than others. I am extremely sensitive and feel life very deeply. Twelve years of competitive gymnastics allowed me to grow mentally and emotionally, but I still felt incomplete. It wasn’t until I found CrossFit that I was able to understand and learn how to cope with my emotions.

Inc. magazine published a fantastic article the other day entitled “5 Reasons Why So Many Entrepreneurs Do CrossFit”. One paragraph in particular stood out as it encapsulated my views and purpose for participating in the program since 2010: “Pushing yourself to develop strength and skills in areas where you’re not naturally gifted… helps you push past your own belief systems around what you’re capable of doing. It breeds fortitude and mental strength.”

It was the belief systems that I, and others, had created that prevented me from reaching my potential in various aspects throughout my life. Once I was able to break through those barriers, I grew immensely – not only physically, but also emotionally and intellectually. As such, I am now Owner and Head Coach of CrossFit Santa Barbara, and the gym is thriving. It is through my physical strength training in CrossFit that I attribute my continued growth of “fortitude and mental strength” that I am able to apply to all aspects of my life.”

For above-mentioned article: http://www.inc.com/tanya-hall/5-reasons-why-so-many-entrepreneurs-do-crossfit.html

Nyki Harrington NASM-CPT, PN1 Coach (Far Left)
Tucson, AZ – currently with UFC Gym North Tucson Strength and Conditioning Coach/Kickboxing Instructor
520-481-8833 – nyki.ufcgym@gmail.com

“I’m a chick. Obviously. But I think I did things backwards according to the so-called status quo of chicks who workout; I’d choose to up my PR on bench press over run on a treadmill any day. Strength training hasn’t simply brought something to my life, it has brought life to my strength (oh that sounded so cool!).

I’m also a fighter but I would’ve never been able to become a fighter without strength training myself, being that I’m in my 30’s, a mother of three crazy monsters, a history of arthritis (for reals…) and was overweight my entire life; losing close to 100lbs overweight. I mean, I would get winded checking the mail and now I roundhouse kick others girls in the face, how awesome is that?! I would never have the confidence nor the general ability to poise myself to learn boxing, kick boxing and now Muay Thai without strength training.

IT DOES NOT MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A DUDE! I can lift heavier than my husband on most days and trust me, he looks like a dude, I do not. I feel strong, confident, sexy and my basal metabolic rate has increased while my body fat has decreased, I was once 46% BF now sitting at a comfortable 17% and still dropping.

With my clients – I have successfully built an impeccably strong army of female warriors who walk up to the free weights like a BOSS. They are no longer scared to do those “guy routines” and in turn have also seen the same results as myself. Strength training is as important as nutrition and I wouldn’t trade my kettlebell for all of the treadmills in the world. (no offense to treadmills)”

Forties….

Liz Jones: BA, MAOL, RYT, CPT, CMWA, Nutritional Therapist
Wylie, Texas (Dallas)
WEBSITE: www.lizjones.co

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lizjones.co/

“I have been strength training since I was a teenager and have gone through ups and downs with my fitness throughout my life.  I am now about to turn 45 in October and can say that strength training, along with stress management and nutrition, is one of the things that has helped to keep me young and manage my health through the years.

Personally, strength training has empowered me in many ways, helping to keep my body strong helps to keep my mind and resolve strong as well.  I love the acronym SWEAT She Will Endure All Things- which I have on a tank top that the company donates proceeds to domestic abuse programs.

When my son was 14 (he is now 26), he was in a terrible accident that put him in a coma which lasted for ten days. They were not sure he was going to make it.  This weekend is the 12th anniversary of his accident and it is hard not to reflect on the pain and tragedy of that time of our lives, but it also, in all it’s horribleness, also made us stronger in many ways.  Physical strength and fitness helped to get me through a time when I needed all the strength I could find from within.  I lived at the hospital with him for a month and six days before we were able to go home and would do yoga by his bedside, run in the parking ramp and use the free weights in the physical therapy room while he was in sessions.  It was one of the few things that kept me sane during an emotional crisis watching my child go through terrible pain and suffering.

It also helped me as a single mother to be strong and to raise a son to know what strength looks like, both physically and philosophically.

When I work with clients, many of whom are women in their 40’s and 50’s (I work with all ages and genders, but my primary audience is middle-aged women) I always talk with women about body awareness, self-acceptance and self-esteem.  We focus a lot more on gaining strength over time that we do on scale weight.  I teach women the importance of weight training and how much it makes a difference in their longevity and in functional fitness.  If you have children or grandchildren, you need to be able to pick up 50-70 pound without being injured.  Doing yard work, maintaining a healthy sex life, preventing bone fractures and hormonal issues are all affected by strength training.

Having energy to get through your daily routine whether you work in an office, in your home or a combination of the two is something women of all ages need to focus on.  Weight training is vital to a woman’s health and wellbeing.  I make all of my clients work on their Wonder Woman pose while training, because not only does it help them get in correct form and good posture, it is a powerful stance that creates strong energy.  I teach women to honor their bodies and to be women of strength.”

Fifties….

PJ Olsen (age 57) StrongFirst SFG I, Original Strength Certified Coach, Certified Yoga Instructor, FMS Certified, Yoga Therapist (in training)
Nashville, TN
Restorative Strength and Music City Kettlebell
Website: http://www.RestorativeStrength.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Restorative-Strength; https://www.facebook.com/musiccitykettlebell/

“Although I have strength trained most of my adult life, it’s really been in my 50’s that I have found it to be the most rewarding and transformational! At 50, I was suffering regularly from running injuries, and the poor posture that resulted from sitting behind a computer at work 10 hours a day was taking its toll on my body.

I then discovered kettlebell training which completely changed my life! It quickly improved my overall strength, mobility, and endurance like nothing else ever had!  I was so inspired by my own results that I went on to pursue my kettlebell instructor certification at the age of 53.

Physical strength is empowering! Strength training has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone. It has helped push fear back in the corner where it belongs and provided a way of dealing with everyday stress.  My desire and ability to learn new things has increased dramatically…and has even set me on a new career path that I am so passionate about!

With my continuing education in kettlebell training, Original Strength, and Yoga (and currently in training to be a Yoga Therapist), I now have skills and knowledge to help others…especially those over the age of 50…rediscover the joy of moving well so they may enjoy an improved quality of life! I feel truly blessed that strength training has provided me my purpose in life!

I truly appreciate this opportunity to help spread the love for strength training! I hope that I inspire someone in my age group to go pick up a kettlebell…or start crawling!”

Namaste,
PJ
Sixties….

At present I do not have any female coach friends in their sixties.  The below viewpoint was provided via the clients coach. (MTC)

Claudia (Left) with her coach Rocky Kitzmiller.

Rocky Kitzmiller, MS,MAED,NASM WLS,CPT,HKC
RockBody-Fitness, LLC
Virginia Beach, VA
http://www.facebook.com/rockysrockbody
rockbody-fitness.com

“I have pretty much been working out all my life. Through strength training I have had the ability to fight through menopause. At 66, training to keep my strength, stability, and flexibility is even more important than before. Once retired, I have had more time for travel and adventure. My golf game is still improving and having the ability to play is important to my wellbeing. I look forward to more travel including such places as Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands. To be able to enjoy life’s adventures, I need my strength and need to continue to train throughout life to maintain. I will continue to climb mountains and jump into the waters as long as I can. I’m far too young to stop now!”

 

Depth

I will start this blog by saying that no trainer on the planet has not made mistakes.  We are humans and good trainers everywhere continually hone their skills and improve at their craft.  It is my firm belief that every trainer should hire a trainer of their own from time to time even if the coach trains in the same method as the trainer.

It’s hard for me to watch a trainer using methods and techniques that they are clearly not skilled in and working out of their depth.   Personally, it hasn’t gotten easier with time even though I try to not let it bother me.

It could be argued “Chris, you have no idea what the clients situation is, what the goals are and if there are any physical limitations the trainer is facing.”

You would be right.  I don’t know these things much less anything about the trainer.  The trainer might be a perfectly nice person and otherwise well meaning.

But wrong is still wrong, at least in my world.

I can reasonably expect a beginner to not have perfect form in a given exercise.  We all start somewhere and learning curves vary greatly.  The key that improvement occurs over time using progressive resistance to instill physical literacy and technical mastery.

I routinely see trainers living up to this statement.

A trainer should be able to teach an exercise correctly, provide coaching cues and course corrections to improve the clients form.  If the movement is taught wrong in the first place all sorts of things can go wrong.   It is entirely possible to have terrible form on a machine just as much as a free weight.  Form is important.

 

The 45 degree leg press (top left) is a very different move than the FMS Squat/Inline Lunge Tests (top right) or the NASM CES Overhead Squat.

I cannot fathom how using the 45 degree leg press machine can be a substituted for a functional movement or corrective exercise squat test.  For a RM test it can be the equipment of choice (repetition maximum, how heavy and how many times a weight can be moved generally expressed as 10RM, 5RM or 1RM.)  It has been a staple in bodybuilding for local leg hypertrophy for years and strength gains can transfer to other activities to a degree so it is certainly not without its uses.  Functional movement and corrective exercise screenings just aren’t one of them.

The Movement and Corrective Exercise guys know what I’m talking about.

The Overhead Barbell Squat.  Not a beginners move.

If a beginner older client cannot perform a decent body weight, goblet or front squat I see no reason whatsoever to try making them perform barbell overhead squats.  The overhead squat performed with a dowel or PVC pipe has purpose in screening, loaded bar overhead squats are used to develop Olympic lifting skills, which indicates shoulder, hip and thoracic mobility along with core stability and a foundation of strength has been developed.  The former is performed early and not under a load, the latter is for athletic populations.

The Performance, Strength and Conditioning, Olympic lifting, Power lifting and Kettlebell Coaches know what I’m talking about.

I haven’t even addressed trainers taking on clients that they are ill-equipped and under-educated to properly service and utilizing training methods that I can charitably call questionable, or in some cases outright dangerous.  Those medical issues, over 55 years of age, non-athletes over 300 lbs and children all have different training needs and a one-size fits all approach cannot be taken.

My advice to trainers:                                                                                                                   Train to your level and do it as best you can.                                                                                   No matters how well read you are on a subject, practical experience still trumps it.                             If you cannot do it, don’t make someone else do it.                                                                   Saying “I don’t know” can be tough, but is something you need to be honest about.                 That’s a human being you’re moving.  Think about what you are doing and apply logic.

Things Learned

A bonus in developing a private forum for fitness professionals is having the opportunity to learn something new every day.  Since the groups inception two weeks ago this has been the case  and I am always on the lookout daily for new people to bring aboard.  The sudden influx of ideas, opinions and experiences has caused me to re-examine a few of my thoughts to various degrees and I am thankful for this.  Some trainers confine themselves to a single way of doing or looking at things, I myself try to be more open minded about things.

My practice in training continually evolves based on (a) the needs of my clients (b) where I see potential or (c) purely out of self interest.  At one point things leaned towards medical based exercise and special populations training, now I find the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction and I am more inclined towards long-term athletic development. I believe both paths are worthy and in time the pendulum will swing again.

I view my continual education in terms of greatest value added.  I don’t consider what it will cost me, rather I consider what value will this bring and how can I apply it to the widest swath of humanity. Presently Kettlebell and mobility training, coupled with my other tools fits many bills quite well.  This is part of the reason why I am presently training for StrongFirst Kettlebell certification (SFG.)  I have seen far too many people simply guess their way through kettlebell movement and do not wish to add to their numbers.

Kettlebells as part of a mobility program has helped with the post-rehab conditioning of a CrossFit athlete.  Kettlebells, Mobility and Sandbags have helped an 55+ client that is intimidated by barbells and dumbbells perform resistance training and build muscle.  High Rep heavy swings are being used as part of a cardio strength training program to help a client drop another dress size.

Now that I am working more with athletic populations, certification under USA Weightlifting (USAW) is also something that I am considering and would add another set of coaching skills to my toolbox. This however is far more limited in practical application and requires that I work in a facility set up for Olympic weightlifting.

The Power of Community

The power of community in the fitness world has shown up throughout the years, from the days of muscle beach to the jogging craze, from Zumba to CrossFit, from Strongman to StrongFirst. In the modern era CrossFit stands as a popular example of community within a given sport/exercise method. The StrongFirst School of Strength (under Pavel) and Training for Warriors (under Martin Rooney) are also headed in this direction and represent international brother and sisterhoods.

I recall what trainer and coach forums were like 15-20 years ago and see where many are now.  I have made some great friends through these forums, but take issue with board members who’s only purpose it seems is to antagonize or patronize others while contributing nothing of note to the group.  I missed how things used to be and decided that now was the time to begin building a new community.  I established and serve as administer of an online forum of personal trainers, strength coaches and other health and wellness professionals that currently stretches across the United States and multiple countries abroad including the Philippines,Canada and Australia.

The power of community has shown itself again.  Professionals are asking questions and getting great responses from other dedicated professionals and not a single online fight has started.  As far as I am concerned I am 70x smarter simply by being around these awesome people.

Coaching Part 1

Coach, as defined by Merriam-Webster…

“A person who teaches and trains an athlete or performer.
“A person who teaches and trains members of a sports team and makes decisions about how the team plays during games.
“A private teacher who gives someone lessons in a particular subject.”

The role of the coach in the context of strength and conditioning or performance enhancement requires numerous skills to effectively deliver positive functional outcomes.

– Communications.
– Knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology.
– Technical Skill and Knowledge.
– Psychology.
– Physics.
– Applied Science

An effective coach sees the potential in each client/athlete and develops the systems, methods and long term training plans needed for the athlete to reach their full genetic potential.

The effective coach not only looks at the “here and now” but also “what is down the road”,sets realistic and measurable goals.

Constantly, the effective coach seeks one thing.

“How do I make this better?”

My inspirations for this blog came from two sources. One from the writings of an athlete blogger here on WordPress that has an especially tight relationship with her coach, and the other after reading a post on a social media site where a person (I can’t type the word trainer or coach to describe this person) stated that she didn’t she need be able to perform an exercise provided she “understood the exercise, knew how to coach it, spot it etc.” in order to teach it to a client.

My thoughts are “How can you really say you know something if you have never experienced it yourself?”

Learning an exercise on the academic level is one thing. There is substantial information from numerous quality sources on how to perform a given technique written by people far smarter than me.

YouTube DOES have some quality instructional videos and a sharp eyed person could pick out small details that others may miss. You just need to know where to look.

Knowing how to cue a movement could simply be a regurgitation of the same cues someone else gave.
A good coach knows when to be active and when to be passive.

Proper spotting greatly depends on the exercise.

It is my belief that in order to truly know something you must have spent time away from the books actually LEARNING and EXPERIENCING it.

What is the human body actually going through?

What mistakes have you made, and how did you fix them?

What accomplishments and frustrations did you run into?

Where do performance flaws typically show up and how to avoid them?

How can you coach the barbell squat without known what it feels like to have a very heavy thing on your back?

How can you honestly coach a pull-up if you’ve never performed them yourself?

This in now way means that to coach the deadlift I had to have achieved and an arbitrary number or could perform 100 Kettlebell snatches in 5 minutes to teach the KB Snatch. It does however mean that I have pushed my deadlift weight and worked high repetition snatches.

I know that the bottom position of the deadlift is a pretty uncomfortable place to be.

I know what it’s like to have your abs fatigue during high rep snatches or barbell squats.

I’ll give a personal pass to the walking wounded trainers that have medical reasons why they can’t perform a given exercise. Some people are looking for any excuse they can find to avoid a thing called “effort.”

I have great respect for the credentials and specializations that require live testing and coaching performance from their candidates. To the best of my knowledge the following organizations require the abilities to perform, plan, communicate, troubleshoot and instruct to earn a designation:

NASM Master Trainer. The NASM Master Trainer requires candidates to hold a minimum of three specializations in addition to their certified personal trainer credential and the candidates must pass a written exam and live peer review of their skills. Currently there are three particular Master Trainer tracks candidates can pursue depending on their specializations.

I could talk my way through a lot of this, but I would still have to be able to deliver the goods when it comes to the peer review. Me being the bastard that I am would ask the candidate to demonstrate and breakdown an exercise they want to give a client. If the candidate couldn’t do physically perform it (without medical justification ) I would ask why are they expecting someone else to be able to perform it?

Dragon Door RKC and StrongFirst Kettlebell Level 1-2 both include evaluations of the candidates ability to perform the core movements and skills in teaching techniques to others within a short timeframe. Strength standards are required with entry level and graduate performance minimums.

I could only talk so much about the kettlebell movement without having to actually perform the movement myself. There is no way I could show up and pass an RKC/SFG without preparation and physical literacy in the techniques.

USA Weightlifting National Coach requires video submission of your personal Snatch and Clean and Jerk technique in addition to producing athletes that have competed at the National level and a level 1 Sport Performance coach certification.

Starting Strength Certification. The coach must demonstrate proficiency in the performance and coaching of the basic barbell lifts (Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press, Press and Power clean) according to the Starting Strength model, pass a rigorous exam demonstrating theoretical knowledge of the physics and biology involved. I’ve read the pass rate for the SSC certification is around 10-20%.

I could memorize Starting Strength cover to cover but would still have to had spent a lot of time under the bar.

Hiring a Personal Trainer 101

Today’s post is my 101 guide to hiring a personal trainer.  Hiring a trainer is an investment and I fully belief that everyone would benefit from having a personal trainer, even if only for a brief period.  That said, not all personal trainers are created equal, nor are they necessarily well-qualified or experienced to do what they are being paid to do.

The two main types of trainers  

Gym Staff Trainers.  These men and women are employees of  the gym and are paid a portion of whatever you are being charged for personal training services.  These trainers can only work within their own franchise gym, and sometimes only at a certain location within the franchise.  They are usually not allowed to train clients outside of the gym.  The credentials and experience level of these trainers varies widely.

Independent Trainers:  These men and women are self-employed and may work out of the same gyms where staff trainers are employed.  Generally the independent trainer pays the host gym either a percentage of each session or pays a flat monthly rent fee.  These trainers generally have the freedom to work at multiple locations.  The credentials and experience of these trainers also varies widely.

In my opinion, the honesty and transparency of the trainer, results their clients achieve, experience, education and professionalism are the main points I would look for when deciding on hiring a personal trainer.

Questions to ask a potential trainer (Staff or Independent)

Q1. What is your educational background and credentials?   While I have stated before that a credential is only as good as the trainer that holds it,  there is also the fact that not all credentials are created equal.  The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) are all well-regarded credentialing organizations .  The credentialing exams for these organizations are known for being highly difficult and several of their areas of specializations require a minimum of a bachelors degree just to sit the exam.

Below is a short list of the more prestigious credentials under each organization:

 

Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP), Clinical Exercise Specialist (CES), Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer (CIFT), Cancer Exercise Trainer (CET) and Health Fitness Specialist (HFI – sometimes shown as HFS.)

 

Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)

NASM also offers credentials in Fitness Nutrition (FNS), Weight Loss (WLS), MMA Conditioning (MMACS) and special populations (Children, Senior Citizens and Female specific training.

Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) Some trainers will only hold the CSCS designation as the CPT is not an entry requirement.  Current CSCS graduates must hold a bachelors degree in any field of study in order to sit for the exam.  Previous CSCS graduates were required to hold a bachelors degree in an exercise related field.  NSCA also offers the Certified Special Populations Specialist (CSPS) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) credentials.

My follow-on questions would be “How long have you been certified?” and “How long have you been employed/working at this gym?”

By no means am I purposely excluding other organizations and the trainers they produce. There are trainers with far less prestigious credentials that are exceptional at their craft.  The three organizations listed above have historically been recognized as the top three within the industry.

Other certifications of note: USA Weightlifting Coach (USAW Coach), Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC), Medical Exercise Specialist/ Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist (AAHFRP MES/PRCS) USA Triathalon Coach, SEALFit Coach and the ISSN CISSN Sports Nutrition certification.

Gym owners can choose any certifications they want to hire.  Some are highly selective and others are not.  In some cases there are people hired as trainers that are not credentialed, accomplished, experienced or formally educated currently working as personal trainers.  While I personally value both experience and accomplishment, they have  to be something that can be verified.

Q2:  Is your certification current?   Yes, some trainers let their credentials lapse.  Either the gym or the trainer should be able to furnish proof of certification via hard copy,  phone number or internet link.   If the certification has elapsed, I wonder what else this trainer is not paying attention too.

Q3: Do you have current CPR/AED/Basic First Aid Certification?  Ask to see proof! Yes, there really are (somehow) ways to “earn” CPR qualification online.  ACSM, NASM and NSCA all require valid CPR/AED certification prior to taking their exams along with most other accredited certifications.  Most, not all.  Furthermore, not all gyms check.

Worst case scenario: Can this person save your life, or at least sustain it until more qualified help arrives?  This is of double importance if you have a chronic disease, disability, frail or are highly deconditioned.

Q4: Do you have current liability insurance?  Independent trainers only- Ask to see proof.  Gym trainers are usually covered under their employer, doesn’t hurt to ask the gym manager to clarify.

Q5: What is your experience working with clients with the  same (or similar) needs/age as myself?  I have a good friend  that is a trainer at another one of our gym locations that  has been a top-5 national level bodybuilder for the past several years.  By his own admission he knows little about corrective exercise and rehab.

I hold a specialization in corrective exercise, but have very little knowledge of bodybuilding, save for how to build muscles.  Although both of us can help someone get in better shape, we each have areas in which we specialize and are inexperienced.  Neither of us would try to pass ourselves off as experts in something that we are not.

Q6: Do you have any current clients I can speak with that can testify on behalf of your skills (and cost) as a trainer?  Ideally, you would be able to have a face to face meeting with the client.  There is NO GUARANTEE the phone number the trainer gave you is ACTUALLY A CLIENT.  You could have been slipped the number for a friend of theirs.

Q7: What is your availability?  You want a trainer that can accommodate your days/times.  Unlike the trainer, your life may not revolve around fitness.  That said, a highly qualified and capable trainer that you get along with is worth moving a few things around for.

Q8: What are your session rates, forms of payments, session lengths and cancellation policies?  Most of this falls under independent trainers.  Gym staff trainers are held to a standard session lengths with the gym receiving the monthly personal training package money and a portion given to the trainer per session trained.   Gym staff trainer pay varies from company to company.

Q9: What is the trainers fitness philosophy?  I believe that any trainer with their salt (and your $) should be able to answer this question quickly and truthfully.  If they BS’d you, it will certainly be revealed during your training sessions.

 

My follow on question to this is “What is your fitness background?  This by itself may not be that important, but it would be nice to know where your trainer is coming from in their line of thinking and training.

Q10: What if I am unhappy with you as my trainer?  As the customer, you have the right to fire your personal trainer.  In the case of gym staff trainers your contract is with the gym, not with a particular trainer.  If you feel that your trainer is not serving your best interest then see the gyms fitness manager or general manager.  I make this point quite clear during my initial assessment and first training with new clients.   I don’t take it personal and certainly don’t hold any hard feelings over it.

Not getting along with your gym trainer, or not getting a particular trainer of choice (due to the trainers lack of availability) is generally not considered grounds to terminate your personal training contract.