The purest form of jackassery
Before I even start discuss this post let me start off by saying that I am by no means an expert...at anything (except spitting weak game at hot chicks and biting my fingernails). I have a long way to go in that regard. But, I do take pride in the fact that I continue to educate myself in when it comes to training and do everything I can to make sure my clients get every pennies worth of my services.
Ever since I started in this industry I was told to make my clients feel like they need me. I totally agree, but not in the way that I was being told (this was not by all trainers, but a good number of them). I was given advice on every gimmick possible. Everything from substituting free weights for manual resistance (which has its time and place, but when you are doing leg press which 9 times out of 10 you shouldn't be doing anyway, and instead of loading up the sled the trainer uses his body weight to push against the sled), to destroying a potential client during an initial workout to make them incoherent in the hopes of increasing the likelihood of them signing up for some sessions (yup, I was really told that). I have a crazy idea to substitute those previous examples with. How about instead of using these shady gimmicks you replace them with knowledge and real experience (crowd awe's in amazement).
To further expand on the previous paragraph, my girlfriend (yeah I feel sorry for her too) has a few sessions with a trainer to use up at a commercial gym (her trainer left that gym before their sessions were used up), and she was telling me how she doesn't want to work with the trainer she would be set up with. I don't blame her. I happen to know this trainer, how they train their clients, and witness what training means they use with their clients. Now in fairness to that trainer, I don't know what their clients goals are, what their rationale is for using the exercises/lifts they use with their clients, or what the plan is for helping their clients achieve their goals. But here's the thing, I know enough about this person that I know that they don't know any of the answers to those questions either. It's a joke. But without a doubt the thing that pisses me off the most is that this same trainer carries conversations with their clients during their sets. As a trainer/coach you are to COACH during sets, not talk about who you think is going to win American Idol (I just lost 7 man points with that American Idol reference).
Maybe I should mind my own damn business. Maybe I don't have the right to be upset about any of those subjects, because I'm not involved. But as a professional, I can't even count the amount of times I've witnessed "trainers" be everything but professional. I am by no means perfect, but I have my principles and providing services to the best of my abilities without any of the bullshit is one of them. Maybe these "trainers" are doing the best to their abilities, but in my opinion its shear laziness and lack of passion. As "trainers" we need to step up and be a true go-to source for our clients. Now despite all the nonsense that is associated with personal trainers, there are those who are top-notch and real class acts. Individuals who have had a huge influence on me and thousands of others include Mike Robertson, Bill Hartman, and Eric Cressey. These guys walk the walk and talk the talk and are living legends in our industry. Thanks to all of them! With that said I only have one more thing left to say... Coval Out! (and my man points are further deducted by 23 points).
