Personal trainers are vital to helping clients reach their fitness goals. They provide support, accountability and education, making them the perfect fit for people looking to improve their lifestyle through healthy habits like eating better and exercising regularly.
Check a potential trainer’s credentials. Look for a nationally accredited certification or a college degree in kinesiology, sports science or exercise science.
Goal Setting
In personal training, goal setting is a critical part of the job. Whether it’s earning new fitness certifications, expanding client relationships or learning how to use cutting-edge exercise technologies and apps, goals are the guideposts that help trainers navigate their professional journeys.
To set effective goals, they should be measurable and achievable. Psychologists refer to this as a SMART approach to goal-setting. Those who achieve a SMART goal are more likely to sustain their self-efficacy and push themselves toward future challenges.
Keeping in mind the “why” behind each goal will also help keep motivation alive and make large, lengthier goals feel less overwhelming. Research in the journal Psychology & Health suggests that those who find meaning in their workouts are more likely to stick with their plans.
Nutrition
When it comes to personal training, nutrition is a vital part of the equation. A client may have the best workouts in the world, but if their diet isn’t supporting their fitness goals, they will likely struggle to see real results.
For this reason, it’s important for fitness professionals to understand how nutrition and exercise work together. Those who offer nutritional advice can set themselves apart from other trainers and boost their earning potential.
There are a number of nutrition certifications available, but it’s important to choose one that aligns with your training philosophy and career goals. Look for a program with a holistic approach, like the IIN Health Coach Certification, which covers a variety of dietary theories and lifestyle factors that impact wellness.
Motivation
When it comes to fitness, not all clients are motivated in the same way. Some are driven by the desire to perform certain activities such as squat jumps or sit-ups, while others simply want to improve their overall health and feel better about themselves.
A Vaughan personal trainer can help by identifying a client’s motivational style and tailoring their workouts accordingly. For example, if a client wants to perform burpees but cannot physically do them, they can substitute with other exercises that offer similar benefits.
In contrast, extrinsic motivation describes behavior that is driven by external rewards such as money or praise. These kinds of rewards may work for a short-term goal or to get a client started with a new behavior, but they do not provide lasting motivation.
Injury Prevention
Injury can be a major setback for anyone trying to maintain their fitness goals, but personal trainers are expertly trained in preventing exercise-related injuries. They ensure clients understand potential risks, implement proper technique and safety measures and take into account factors like age, gender, history of injuries, and previous physical limitations.
Trainers also regularly assess each client’s progress and make adjustments to their workout plan as needed. For example, if they notice a client is struggling with an exercise, a trainer may change the load of the exercise or adjust their form to avoid overstressing the muscles and causing injury.
In addition, trainers educate their clients on the importance of a proper warm-up and cool-down routine to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injuries. This preventative approach keeps clients healthy, happy and injury-free.
Support
Your clients are likely to share a lot of information with you. It’s important to treat that information with respect. It’s also a good idea to avoid judging your clients. You may have a differing opinion on diet or lifestyle and that’s OK, but they should feel safe discussing anything with you.
Personal trainers can help clients reach their fitness goals, but they aren’t able to solve all of life’s problems. That’s where friends and family come in!
As a trainer, you need to ensure that your client feels supported. That means being easy to get in touch with outside of training sessions, as well as being transparent about your cancellation policies and behaviour rules. You should also invest in a great piece of software for keeping track of measurements and workouts.
