The main topic for this blog is to address the amount of distance we as trainers have placed between our programs and the basics. By basics I am referring to very principles that govern strength and conditioning. I am so sad to say that we in trainers have become to focused on client approval. Yes I agree that client satisfaction is important, but we as health and fitness professionals can not allow our methods, programs, and systems we dictated by the clients wishes. We must simply included the client's wishes with our existing methods. I believe clients have been poisoned by media and advertising. They feel this instant need to come into the gym and get started immediately doing deep squats on top of a bosu ball with an overhead grip. Why? This is because the websites, magazines, and tv shows the general population is being exposed to our pushing fad exercises and fad products. Then I see these poison-minded clients come to work with a trainer and the trainer puts them right to work doing these novelty workouts. I believe this isn't because the trainers are dumb or incompetent. I believe it is because they are to wrapped up in satisfying their clients wishes. It is our job as professionals to present a united, sound approach to health and fitness. We are the experts and we should dictate to our clients what is the proper procedure when dealing with health and fitness. No client is ready for such complex and dynamic exercises advertised until far into their training program. This is why I strive to communicate to clients that health and fitness is a long-term commitment where each day builds upon the latter. We cannot skip parts of the progression in order to keep clients and make money we must maintain our integrity or we cannot call ourselves professionals.
So since so many trainers have strayed so far from the fundamentals in lue of doing bosu ball squats, one arm kettle bell hang cleans, and hanging leg raises (which by no means am I trying to say these are poor exercises I am simply meaning these are poor exercise choices for most clients, especially beginners) we must reconsult the basic fundamentals which guide proper and effective exercise. For me I believe in the Big Three. That is I hold the principles of intensity, movement, and progression above all else. These three principles will guide any program to producing quality results. The key word there is quality results not quantity of results.
If we as professionals can remember these fundamentals and get back to focusing on these rather than the next great modification to an exercise to improve its effectiveness we will become much more effective in what we do. This is a call to all trainers to forget the frilly stuff. Get your clients working on basic exercise form and tempo. Teach them how to properly move and control their bodies. Progress them through each stage do not rush or skip a progression because the client is becoming impatiences and wishes for more aesthetically pleasing results. Progress must be made in a inside out manner. Last of all get your clients working at the right level of intensity too many of us are either pushing our clients beyond their level or severely under shooting it. The right level of intensity will create the needed stimulus for adaptations desired.