Skip to main content

Trainers are suffering from OCD! Stop it!

One big problem that I have noticed is that trainers seem to go from one extreme to the other. They either know nothing and do not cue during a session or they suffer from OCD (over cueing disease). I know people are happy when they learn new techniques or ways to train but keep the cueing to a minimum. No client wants to hear you yap for the whole session about how to do the exercise. They just want to do it. My theory is talk for no more then a minute on how to do the exercise and then cue a few points during it. You might not be able to fix everything in one session. The key is to fix what they are majorly doing wrong and fix the finer details later on.
The next issue I want to address is along the same line of the OCD trainers; it is talking over the clients head. I believe every trainer should study anatomy and physiology but most clients do not know the name of every muscle, origin, insertion, nerve innervation, fascial line, ligament, tendon, aponurosis, process, foramen, etc. So why as a trainer would you use these terms to cue them, other then to show how smart you are. I live my life by the KISS principle and this is how I cue clients. Keep it as simple as you can. Save the medical talk for when you talk to doctors.
Trainers also need to learn how to balance the amount of cueing with praises as well. What I mean is that if you tell them what they are doing wrong while you cue,you must also tell them things they are doing right. No one wants to be corrected all workout long on how bad they are doing. Remember you are there to empower them, not make them feel like they can't do anything right.
If I had to sum it all up in one sentence it would be; Watch the OCD, keep it simple and show Love.

-FLO

Comments

  1. RichMejiasJuly 23, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Well said...I don't even name the muscle groups when talking to a client...All they want to know is how this is going to help them get to their fitness goals. It goes back to the old "K.I.S.S." principle..."Keep It Simple Stupid"

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taking the NEXT STEP

Taking the NEXT STEP!! Im sure we have all reached a  point in our lives where we know its time to take that next step, next level, begin the next chapter in our life. It is by far  one of the scariest times for all of us. The point where we realize everything we have ever done has led us to THIS! This is our moment to shine and like Eminem says, " You only get one shot, do not miss your chance blow. Opportunity comes once in a life.".  The one scary thing is, you know after THIS moment, nothing will ever be the same.  Once you cross THIS line, you can not go back.  THIS is it and the pressure is on. They say, "Pressure bust pipes, but It can also make diamonds.", only you can decide what it does to you.  We all get to THIS moment, but few rise to the occasion. Few feel the fear and keep walking forward.  You can either step into greatness or step back into comfort.  Many will choose to step down and let THIS moment pass them by. Once they do that, the rest of t...
6 comments
Read more

Quad & Hip Flexor Mobility & Flexibility

Why is it important to include mobility work for the quads and hip flexors? Tight muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg can cause a number of problems, two of which I will discuss in this blog. 1.     Tight quadriceps and hip flexors can put you at an increased risk for a hamstring injury. When people say that a muscle is “tight,” they are essentially saying that the muscle is chronically shortened. Without getting too much into the anatomical specifics, when the hip flexors are “tight,” or shortened, they pull on the lumbar spine. This pull on the lumbar spine increases the curve of the lumbar spine (excessive lordosis) and in turn causes an anterior pelvic tilt.  When the pelvis tilts anteriorly, the hamstrings (attached to the ischial tuberosity) can become excessively stretched/lengthened, which can lead to a strain. Therefore, by keeping the hip flexors and quadriceps at proper length, we can keep our ...
3 comments
Read more

TOP 2 Mistakes most young fitness pros make with their programming

TOP 2 Mistakes most young fitness pros make with their programming                   After 3 years of running a mentor program for fitness pros, 6 years of being an adjunct professor at a college for Athletic Training majors, 6 years of being a preceptor for 3 colleges Athletic Training programs, and 16 years in the fitness industry; I have seen my fair share of programming.   There are many mistakes that beginner fitness pros make, as they should because they are new, and with this blog I would like to talk about the top 2 that I see all the time. 1)       Planes of Motion.   I cannot stress enough how important it is the train your athletes/clients in ALL three planes of motion. When I give my college students an assignment to write a program for an athlete, I always get the same exercises ; squat, bench press, leg press, shoulder press, clean, sit ups. ...
3 comments
Read more