I have to be honest, I was a terrible student in High School. That is ofcourse when I even went to school. It’s not that I wasn’t capable of learning, I just had no interest in what I was learning and therefore never took the time to apply myself in order to reach my true academic potential. Being a rebellious teenager only amplified my reasons to “go against the grain” by skipping classes, paying others to complete homework assignments, and cheating on exams whenever possible. And even though I was a bad student, I wasn’t necessarily a bad kid. Yes, I did get suspended a few times, and sure there was even an expulsion or two (we can save those stories for another blog) however for the most part, I always knew that no matter what I did in life, I was going to become successful.
Learning Outside The Classroom
I’ve told the story before about how when I used to cut classes, I would go to the gym and workout with the older bodybuilders who taught me how to train properly and eat correctly. And ironically enough, all those years of cutting classes to go to the gym and workout actually paid off. For without that wealth of knowledge and experience that was provided to me at such a young age, I would not be in the position that I am in now with regards to running a successful business and having a career that I absolutely love in the fitness industry.
In my opinion, when it came to weight lifting, I learned how to do it from some of the best of the very best. Not only did the older bodybuilders teach me proper form and technique, but they also taught me how to design an effective training split that works each muscle group separtely and in an efficient manner. Most, if not all of what I learned when it comes to resistance training I learned from these people. And most, if not all that I learned back in my earlier days in the gym when I was skipping those classes in school, I incorporate into my own clients’ training programs and workouts today.
School Sucks!
Okay, to be clear, not all schools suck. Having a post-secondary degree is very important and beneficial (to most people anyways). And in hindsight, I do wish that I had taken at least a few business courses after I had graduated High School. This would have allowed me to make far less mistakes than I did when I first started my own business close to two decades ago. However like most things in life that I did when I was younger, I learned the hard way through trial and error (a process that I highly recommend no one ever uses).
With all that said, when it comes to learning how to become a Personal Trainer/Coach, the Personal Training Courses that are offered are COMPLETE GARBAGE!!!! Sure, you learn a bit about human anatomy and physiology. And yes, they do teach you a thing or two about how to work with different aging populations. And if I’m not mistaken, I believe our instructor even spent a whopping 15 minutes discussing health issues, injuries and physical limitations (more just listing them off then actually explaining how to teach people who may suffer from these conditions though) enter eye roll here…..
In my opinion, the Personal Training Courses that are taught are a complete joke. According to the PT Manuel, Trainers should “Warm-Up” their clients on a piece of cardio equipment for 5-10 minutes. Followed by “Instructing” their clients by teaching safe and functional exercises (FYI balancing on a Bosu-Ball on one foot with your eyes closed is NOT functional to everyday life). Finally, the last 15-20 minutes should be spent “cooling down” your client by performing some nice and easy static stretches.
Ugh, the thought of doing this type of workout with one of my clients bores me to death. In fact, I think if I were to stand besides one of my clients while they “warmed-up” on the treadmill for 10 minutes, they would drop by ass before the session even began. And a 15-20 minute cool down?!?!?! What the hell are we cooling down?!?!?! Once my clients’ workouts are finished they usually walk home or walk back to the office from the gym. There’s your God Damn your cool down! My clients don’t need me to sit besides them while they stretch. Enter second eye roll here.
Our clients hire us because they want results. Results with their health, results with their strength and performance, and results with their physiques. I can’t justify giving someone a 30 minute workout when they are paying me for 60 minutes! And I can’t promote a generic workout that is taught in some bullshit course, when I work with a variety of individuals that all have different goals and are all at different fitness levels.
Education + Experience = The Winning Formula
In an ideal world, I’m sure we would all like to work with a professional who has lots of experience and a good education. And in some industries, this is possible to obtain. Unfortunately the Fitness Industry is not one of them though. Over the years, I’ve watched Trainers and Kinesiologists who were much more educated than I, lose clients after their first few sessions or once the initial training package has ended. I believe the reason these Fitness Professionals were unable to maintain a relationship with their clients was because they did not listen to what their clients wanted. They simply followed what they themselves were taught in school to do. And in some cases this might work. Especially if you are working with a client that does not want to exercise intensely and prefers a more “relaxed” workout. However if you’re like me, and like most people who are serious about achieving results, then you should want to get the most out of each and every training session that you do with your Personal Trainer/Coach in the gym.
And at the same, as Personal Trainers/Coaches, it’s our job to continue our education and work on our skillsets from time to time. No, I don’t think it’s necessary to go back and take some Bullshit PT Courses. However I do think it’s important to remain up to date on the latest studies when it comes to building muscle, losing fat and improving overall health. And the more educated that we has Fitness Professional become by studying, researching and listening to REAL Health Care Professionals, rather than some weekend course just in order to maintain are CECs (continued eduction credits), the more of an asset that we will become to our clients.
So yes, both Experience and Education are equally important. Although hopefully that experience does not create bad habits, and that education isn’t generic rhetoric being passed down to teach and coach the masses.
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance