The other day after finishing up a workout with one of my clients on the gym floor, my client informed me that he continues to train with me after all these years because I keep things simple. Now by “simple”, my client did not mean that his workouts were easy. That’s another reason he continues to train with me because he enjoys how intense and demanding our workouts are in the gym and knows that he wouldn’t be able to maintain that same level of intensity if he were to train on his own. By keeping things simple, my client was referring to how I don’t overanalyze each exercise we perform or become overly detailed with form, movement and technique.
Now I know what you’re thinking – As a Personal Trainer/Coach, isn’t it my job to teach proper form, function and technique while performing exercises in the gym? Yes, of course it is. However, like most of my training methods, I’m a little less conventional regarding my teaching techniques. Sometimes I don’t even correct form right away. Instead, I allow my clients to make mistakes (as long as they are not endangering themselves) before I say anything at all.
And now you must be thinking – Shit, this guy sucks at his job.
Before you consider firing me or potentially reporting me to the Better Business Bureau, I ask that you continue to read through this week’s blog, as I promise you that there is a method to my madness.
Information Overload
Resistance Training isn’t complicated.
1) Lift Weight Up
2) Put Weight Down
3) Repeat
However, where shit does start to become a bit more complicated is when you start to become more advanced with your training in the gym and want to learn how to stimulate your muscles properly to maximize your results with your physique. Now all of a sudden, you need to learn about eccentric contractions, concentric contractions, synergist muscles groups, isotonic movements, fast-twitch muscle fibers vs. slow twitch muscle fibers, proper breathing techniques, and learn how to “depress”, “elevate” and “retract” certain muscle groups when deemed necessary.
Ugh, if I were a beginner or new to working out with weights, just thinking about learning all that at once would make me not even want to step foot inside a gym. And that’s exactly why I believe it’s essential to keep things simple, yet informative, and most importantly intense all at the same time when it comes to coaching my clients.
Why Do People Hire Personal Trainers?
Let’s be honest. Most people hire Personal Trainers because they want to become healthier and fit. No, not everyone wants bulging biceps and ripped abs. But people seek out my services because they want to make a change in their life. Yes, we all know that working with a reputable and experienced Trainer/Coach holds people accountable for their workouts. Still, more importantly, it provides them with a safe and efficient way to maximize their results in the gym.
People who genuinely want to transform their physique and improve their health (or at least my clients) want to be challenged when they go to the gym. They don’t want to stop for 5 minutes in between sets while someone over-explains to them every little detail behind performing a bench press, seated row, barbell squat, etc. These people want to sweat. These people want to over-exert themselves. These people want to work out.
That’s Not What The PT Manual Says To Do!
Fuck the PT Manual!!! If I listened to the Personal Training Manual, I would have my clients warm up on a treadmill for 5 minutes, play on a foam roller for 15 minutes, and then cool down with some “light stretching” for 20 minutes at the end of the workout. That would give us a total of 20 FUCKING Minutes to do anything productive in the gym!!!! And if you were to throw in some overanalyzing bullshit between each set for 3-4 minutes, then you can take that number down to 10 MINUTES easily.
I apologize for my profanity. I just feel very strongly about providing the best workouts I possibly can in the allotted time I have available to spend with my clients. So no, I don’t have my clients waste time doing shit with me that they can easily do on their own. And if they choose not do that shit on their own, then that’s their prerogative.
Keep It Simple Stupid
I correct form, I perfect technique, and I always ensure that my clients are training with the utmost intensity. I’m not a weight training scientist, though. I don’t over-explain, overanalyze, or over-critique every little detail I see that happens during a workout. I do, however utilize a systematic approach that allows my clients to learn how to perform complex movements in a timely fashion that does not take any time or intensity away from their workouts.
“If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard. You’ll be hard to beat.”
Herschel Walker