Allison Gonzalez teaching Krisna Hanks push-ups on the Wunda Chair
In a fast-paced world where robotics and self-serve kiosks take over how do we maintain a level of real “personal” training? What does it mean to “have” a trainer? Is the instructor tailoring your program to fit your body, that particular day and working to improve your skills in a sensible level of advancement?
As I spoke about in my last post, Changing Up Your Routine, many individuals struggle with consistency, especially when it comes to exercise and nutrition. In the US, it has a lot to do with our “all or nothing” mentality. Or as my European friends call it: Americans live in a crisis or complacency world.
Back to training, your instructor should be highly skilled in order to make each and every session part of a long-term game-plan. This applies to any sport and or exercise program like Pilates, as well as activities where you are working with a coach or trainer. Sessions should be varied to challenge as well as support your body’s movement mechanics and execution of those actions.
Progression should be in a heathy and organized framework; this entails at times breaking down an exercise into the pieces in order to understand the whole picture. Training periods should be varied to prevent injury.
You should see improvements in your skill level and overall comprehension of the method. You should be able to apply this to other aspects of your life. You should learn movements and or routines that you can practice on your own to enhance the training. You should always feel safe and adequately supported (in teaching terms spotted) while attempting exercises.
What you should not feel is that your body is completely trashed and that doing simple things the following day or two is impaired. You might feel muscles have worked hard and that you need rest. Your trainer should never be distracted by either a phone or engage in highly personal conversations during exercise which can distract you mentally. The focus is on the work, you the participant and the equipment/apparatus.
Why is this important?
In my work over the many years as a teacher, coach, consultant and instructor I continue to see many areas of training falling incredibly short on the marks mentioned above. Let me go through my perspective and offer some suggestions for improvement.
I start with Pilates (but applicable to other movement fields) since I’m both the manager of a studio and work at another studio right now. Where I see the biggest inadequacies in making smart decisions that enable one to teach the body in front of you is in the following:
- Lack of adherence to the order of exercises in the method
- Insufficient knowledge of proper progressions
- Too little time invested in breaking down exercises for enhanced execution
- Hop-scotch around doing a little of this and a little of that with no long-term plan
- Lack of knowledge in one’s own bodies from consistent training
- Workshops do not equal consistent training
- Too quick advancement of trainers into roles where ability doesn’t match
How to change this?
- Be open to critique
- Seniority should be based on actual merit
- Adherence and application of a method requires a high-level standard
- Advancement in an organization based on quality and proven training ability over a longer period of time
- Invest in stricter apprenticeship and mentorship programs
Final note
The ability to teach the body in front of you requires a high level of experience, knowledge and skill set. Developing a strong pool of candidates for the future who can meet those requirements should be demanded: if a field is to advance.
It starts with raising levels of praise and prize toward to those invested in life-long learning. Seek individuals who are constantly looking to improve themselves through consistent training, not just a new trick. Reward understanding and thorough comprehension of the method they teach.
If we keep lowering the standard on skill level and actual training intelligence our industry will disappear. Whether it is Pilates or education demanding comprehensive levels of knowledge needs to become a priority consistently and effectively at all levels of the industry.
“The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.”
Coach John Wooden
Krisna’s book “Finding Lifestyle Sanity: A Survival Guide” is available here.
