Personal Trainer Prerequisites

10 Tasks Every Trainer Should Be Able to Perform

by John Izzo, NASM-CPT, PES

Real simple…if you want to be respected by your peers and gain notoriety amongst colleagues, fellow staff, or your bosses, then you should be proficient at these 10 tasks. Although it is not the end all, be all list of tasks that define you as a person, they do set a benchmark for the level of professionalism needed to solidify a status as a professional fitness trainer.

How was this list compiled? Easy…through the years I have had the opportunity to interview over 50 trainers at the 3 different facilities I have managed. Some I have hired, most I have never called or seen again. Some of these traits were easily identifiable in interviewees and some needed some fostering and instruction. Nonetheless, those trainers went on to experience some success in the field.  Some of the tasks are not going to be completed before you enter the field or within your first year. Some of the tasks reflect your character and how it correlates to the field of personal training (i.e. dealing with client issues), while others reflect your understanding and preservation of academia and concepts learned through the process. However, you should concentrate on working towards proficient completion of each one within 2 years in the field. Each task will ensure you become capable and skillful as a fitness professional to your peers, your clients, and most importantly…yourself.

All Good Trainers Should…

…be multi-tasked. Trainers have an enjoyable job that lets their passion lead them, but there is always the need to be organized and professional. The ability to schedule appointments, prepare ahead of time, and return phone calls—all at the same time—is the grain of this profession. The more aptitude you demonstrate, the more likely you are to maintain a consistent schedule and reap the rewards of word of mouth business and successful planning.

…have an assertive personality. I usually tell new trainers that if they are not a “people person”, then they are in the wrong field. Half of this profession is filled with educated trainers that can design an entire off-season program for a dozen lacrosse players—but have the personality of bird-cage paper. Education is an important element to have in this field, but without the proper vehicle (personality) to convey that knowledge, it makes it virtually handicap to the receiver. The ability to converse with your clients abuts off-topic issues and maintains their focus on the exercise at hand is critical and a very important “middle-ground” to have when sustaining a profitable client load.

…perform skin-fold (caliper) measurements. I know the use of the bio-impendence analyzer (Omron) is popular and easy to use; however, it is still not as accurate as a properly performed skin-fold test. This simple fact is enough reason for all trainers to take the responsibility to become proficient at using the Lange or Skyndex caliper. Since the introduction of the Omron to the market and mainstream fitness, most new trainers forego the task of performing caliper testing as an alternative to body fat measuring. This is an error. Learning and becoming efficient at using calipers projects an image of professionalism and skill. Most detractors will argue that clients feel intimidated and uncomfortable with even the sight of a Lange caliper; however, with the proper instruction and explanation, a trainer can perform the body fat assessment with a caliper—even on the opposite gender. Most 3, 4, and 7 site tests include simply lifting or adjusting clothing—but never fully removing. I understand that you may still have clients that feel uncomfortable with this, but with proper explanation and professionalism, a client should feel comfortable enough to “give” themselves to you during this 1 minute test.

…name at least 3 top fitness experts or their work (which you’ve hopefully read). It disheartens me when I have a conversation with some trainers, who have been in the field for a number of years, and they do not recall any of the sources that I cite in my programs or articles. For instance, by now you should know who Michael Boyle, Stuart McGill, Juan Carlos Santana, or Alwyn Cosgrove is. You should know or have read some of the written materials that they have produced to help reassure that your programming is up to date. Books like “Functional Training for Sports”, “Athletic Body in  Balance”, “Low Back Disorders”, “Starting Strength”, and “Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes” should be on your “to read” list. Among the hundreds of resources available today, it is important to continue the learning process from those that are more learned that you. The internet has enabled users to obtain information from millions of resources across the world—albeit the more important it becomes to make sure that the resources your do acquire your additional information come from reliable and trusted sources.  Here are a couple of good websites that are worthy of your valuable time to gain more info: http://www.ptonthenet.com/default.aspx;

http://www.physsportsmed.com/,

http://www.training-conditioning.com/

…maintain a minimum client load of 10-12 sessions per week.  I know, it doesn’t seem like much, but it ensures that you are serious about this career. Keeping a dozen people happy is harder than keeping 3 people happy and easier than keeping 25 happy. So 12 is a well-rounded goal to meet for a minimum. Most trainers that work part-time, typically stay in the field”part-time”. Trainers who dabble with fewer client hours or typically work another 40-hour week job (not fitness related) tend to not fully grasp the on-going learning process; lack program creativity; and tend to miss client sessions or be tardy at them. If you are currently under 10-12 hours per week in actual training sessions and you are content with that amount, my advice would be to challenge yourself to learn a new concepts and take your continuing education seriously.

…be able to properly instruct a client to perform the Squat, Deadlift, & Push-up.

Over the years, nothing has been more and more compelling to me than the importance of these three movements. It wasn’t until I really understood why they were important that they became staples in every one of my clients’ programs. When you have a comprehension of human biomechanics and real-life functionality—the role of the squat, deadlift and push-up become clear. These movements help improve the body’s natural locomotive mechanism and assist in the progression of external loading. These movements are translated in everyday life and more often than not, are tattered with poor compensatory patterns and dysfunction. The typical general population client picks his briefcase up every day poorly; or has trouble standing from a seated position; or the simple task of closing a door becomes cumbersome because the over-abundance of joint deficiencies have caused these primal movement patterns to be lost through age, inactivity, atrophy, and injury. The simple, yet effective instruction , of these three exercises can propel a trainer to success—yet, too many trainers view this task as either “too simple and not overly complicated” so it is skipped in exercise programming for balance and “core work”; or they are not proficient enough themselves in performing them. In either case, if you are a trainer who is not sure how to perform these three movements, I suggest you hire yourself a good fitness trainer and learn them.

…be able to improvise. The ability to make acute changes in daily programming and exercise approach are key elements in showing a client that the trainer is able to lead. Many trainers lose focus and grasp when an unforeseen situation presents itself during a session. For example, if a client is trained in a commercial facility that boasts a large amount of people in attendance, chances are space and exercise selection may be limited—even though, the trainer has a sequence in mind to use with the client. If the trainer can make subtle changes during the session –without the client’s acknowledgment-- then the trainer has kept the client’s focus, trust, and confidence intact. If you have these three fundamental traits covered, you are sure to have a successful client.

…be flexible. I am not speaking in terms of free time; I am talking about physically having a heightened degree of flexibility. Trainers should be able to demonstrate flexibility exercises with ease and precision. I am not speaking that you should be able to perform a “split” or be a yoga queen, but I think trainers should be able to demonstrate active hamstring stretches, piriformis stretch, self-myo-fascia release, and similar exercises without a hitch. Clients are more inclined to stretch on a regular basis if they are taken through the flexibility exercises with the trainer during each session. This also ensures clients will remember how to perform the stretch correctly if they can “see” it performed by you.

…be able to tell the client WHY he/she is performing a particular exercise. Many new trainers tend to “memorize” exercises or seek out only the photos in books, magazines, or websites. There is no problem with learning new exercises, movements, and drills to share with your client or class; however, the trainer should understand the following for each new exercise learned and prior to having a client perform:

• What muscles is the exercise using?
• What plane of motion does this exercise utilize?
• What joint actions are occurring?
• What type of load (if any) is appropriate with this exercise and is it conducive to the client’s goal?
• Is the exercise efficient as a primary movement or as an auxiliary exercise?

I should also note that the trainer should perform a new exercise a number of times on oneself before administering it to a client. The trainer should be able to spot any deviations from perfect form and find biomechanical cues to instruct to the client.

Here are some good resources to learn more about the “how’s” and “why’s” of exercise:

http://www.getbodysmart.com/

http://www.rad.washington.edu/academics/academic-sections/msk/muscle-atlas

http://www.performanceworkouts.com/exercise_guides_full_1.shtml

http://www.physicalfitnet.com/

…be able to perform a single leg exercise. Trainers know that the importance of single leg work translates to improved functionality for the general population client; and the regular use of single leg work attributes to improved proprioceptive communication between the ground and foot, then why can’t many fitness trainers accomplish a single leg squat? Please don’t let this prerequisite scare you into thinking you should become a “pistol” squatting fool, but it should make you aware that if you, as a trainer, practice what you preach and understand the importance of single leg work—not as a circus act, but as a component of a sound exercise program—whether for athlete or grandmother—then the conversion of this training into real-life activities makes the trainer more effective for his/her client.

 
This article may not be reprinted without written permission by the author. Please contact the webmaster if you would like to use this article for informational purposes. If you would like to use this article, please keep all references and links intact with proper annotations. The content of this article is for informational purposes and should not be misconstrued as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any physical or health ailments. It is not intended to replace or substitute the advice or treatment of a qualified medical professional. Be responsible and seek out a medical professional (therapist, physician, dietitian, etc) before engaging in an exercise program.