For the Personal Trainer...

Danielle Kwoka
Sep 22, 2022
4 min read

Hey #fitfam, I hope you're having a great week. Today we're talking specifically to the personal trainers!

Being a trainer for the past ten years, learning from some of the industry's best, making loads of mistakes, and creating solid client/trainer bonds, I wanted to put together some of the advice that I have found to be helpful!

So here's tips to creating a great brand...

1. Always hold a timely session.

That may mean coming early to set up space or review the program. It also means to end the session on time. People are busy and the gym is not the center of everyone's world. Some people need to be in and out in a timely fashion to be able to have the time to workout! If it constantly makes them late for the next thing or otherwise unable to get something else done due to the session going over, they may not see the extra time as a good thing.

Occassionally, we will be late or even miss a session. Keeping in mind that you are not solely responsible for your client's fitness is key. However, being humble and owning up to mistakes is also key. If this should happen, be sure to apologize, both immediately and in person, as well as offering a way to make it up to the client. An additional complimentary session, etc.

2. Give the client what they want as well as what they need.

The client may need a full hour of corrective exercises, however they may still want an intense workout filled with anaerobic exercises and high intensity bouts. Ultimately, they are still paying for a service, and if they don't get what they want, why should they stay? Even if you "know better". A large part of the art of program design and where we get to demonstrate our expertise and creativity is creating a program that gives the client BOTH what they need and what they want. I always try to make it a game!

Additionally, the majority, if not all, of your client's workouts should not be like your own. A trainer may have a particular focus each week for all clients, but everyone requires different considerations. Therefore, my workout should look different than my client's workout. With that being said though, anything that I give my client, I should be willing and able to do myself at some capacity. I cannot deadlift 400lbs but I can demonstrate a proper deadlift because I also deadlift at my scale. But I should never give an exercise that I would never do myself.

3. Be mindful of positioning.

A client's comfort level is among the top things that keeps a client coming back to a trainer. Some ways to build comfort into a session is being mindful of the physical positioning. We never know how insecure someone is in a gym setting and it's important to facilitate an ease of being there. A clear positioning rule for me is that I am never speaking between a client's legs. I try to always keep our heads on the same side if they are laying on the mat, usually staying next to them.

Avoid being on the phone. If a trainer uses the phone to hold programs, consider getting a tablet. Otherwise, the client deserves an explanation of the need to check phone during the session. Explaining that the program is on the phone can be important to not let them guess why the phone is out.

Understand your client's comfort level in the gym. Some clients want to be front and center, and some want to be at off hours and off to the side in case anyone comes in. Work with them to help keep them as comfortable as possible.

4. Do not overcomplicate things.

Giving more than two cues at a time is usually too much for someone to understand in a particular movement. Using medical/anatomical names may demonstrate your knowledge but adds little to nothing in effective communication with your client. Always try to speak in ways your client can easily understand, focusing first on the best way for your client to receive the information.

5. Last but definitely not least, Understand the scope of practice, and Maintain boundaries.

As personal trainers, we are NOT doctors. Diagnosing, even in it's most general form- "It's the meniscus" can create a lot of liability because even if we are sure it is something, we are NOT doctors and CANNOT diagnose. Exploring possibilities and creating a picture using movement screens can help lead us to effective workouts and programs while managing considerations and restrictions. However, a large boundary for me, is if a client says something "hurts", we DO NOT continue. Regardless if the movement has evidence that supports it's benefits. Seeking more information about what the client is feeling is always best and safest. If it is deemed as pain, we always stop. No matter what.

Furthermore, we are NOT the clients' friend. Even if we are, it is so important to create boundaries in our professional relationships. It is so important because even though we can be so well-intentioned, we cannot fix our client's problems. During a training session, it is easy for many client's to discuss personal topics. Sometimes, a client will discuss personal problems or topics to distract from the daunting exercises they will endure for the fifty five minutes. How much a trainer lets a client discuss personal matters is ultimately case by case, but it is so important to know where the boundaries are and hold them tight. This one is so easy to make mistakes in because usually the trainer just wants to help and add value to their session. However, giving the wrong advice on topics with no formal education during a paid hour might create problems down the line. Giving the right advice might lead to codependency. There is a lot of psychological connection to our training and especially our nutrition, that I stay on the side of caution now always. I am not qualified to deal with people's problems aside from their physical movement. So it's important to stay there to demonstrate professionalism.