My Approach to Personal Training
For me, personal training is about empowerment – it gives you the guidance and knowledge you need to be able to initiate positive change. I can’t physically do the work for you but I can show the way and this is as much about mindset and mental approach as it is about actual direction. Part of the challenge is to help people to rethink their current routine and re-evaluate how they approach their health, fitness and wellbeing.
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This all sounds very evangelical but in reality it’s not – it’s really about appreciating some very scientific principles with regards to the way our bodies work and adapting our lifestyles to align with the science.
Don’t cheat yourself..
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Someone said to me recently...“I am seeing my personal trainer tomorrow but I am going to have to lie again as I’ve been bingeing on chocolate this week”...now I think this probably happens a lot because people feel they don't want to let their trainer down (or get told off!) - but it makes no sense! Your PT will not mind if you fall off the wagon – but if you don’t give them the full picture how can they really help you to progress! They would rather know all the facts so they can understand why you are not progressing as fast as you should be – otherwise they will end up changing aspects of your programme that don’t need to change!
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There is a good analogy with golf here (an area where I specialise!)…if you are playing a round of golf on your own and setting yourself a personal target to beat your best score for the course – would there be any sense in marking your score incorrectly and not counting a few shots here and there? The answer is NO by the way - you are only cheating yourself!
It’s all about you!
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The most important thing to remember is that this is about you. It is you that has initiated our partnership because you want to make a change based on the goals you set for yourself. My job is to find the approach that is going to work best for you and fits your personality and lifestyle. We are all unique and have our own unique circumstances so while the underlying principles may be the same there is no “one size fits all” – this is why personal training can work for you, because your programme is tailored to suit you and only you.
It’s not all about hitting the gym
Many people associate personal training with hitting the gym – this is not the case. Increasing activity and exercise is usually a big aspect and of course the gym is an obvious way to do that, but it is not the only way to do it. The reason I say this is know that the gym is a very divisive subject...some people love it, others hate it! Personally, in general I don’t find them particularly welcoming places for first timers, but they all vary, and some are better than others in that respect. They are often designed by people that are fit – for people that are fit - and to the untrained they can be intimidating places.
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We have options here – you may never want to step into a gym which is fine, there are alternative ways to exercise. Alternatively, you may want to ease your way into attending the gym once you feel confident and comfortable doing so and we can work towards that, or you may already be a regular and want to get straight in there! Basically, it’s whatever works for you!
Being open and honest
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When we work together it is very much a case of working as a team and it’s important that you feel comfortable being open and honest with me. Some aspects of personal training are, as the name suggests, quite personal and it can take time to build trust before you feel comfortable talking about certain aspects of personal health that you may be sensitive or self-conscious about. This is entirely understandable and it’s not a problem – remember this is about you. People are very different and what for some may be something to joke about, may for another be a deeply sensitive subject. This is something I am particularly sensitive to and you will never be expected to discuss anything you don’t feel happy talking about. (I should note here that there are of course professional ethics, standards and legislation around confidentiality and data protection that always apply and are strictly adhered to). I operate with a high degree of professional and personal integrity and generally you are likely to get more from the process the more open and honest you feel you can be. However, what matters is what is comfortable for you and so you always set the boundaries.