We live in a time where physical activity is less, if not any part of our daily lives anymore.
Physical activity is now a choice that people must actively make. With 1/3rd of the U.S. population being obese, these choices are not being made often enough. Humans tend to take the easier, less stressful path. Finding the time, desire, and motivation to exercise can be very difficult for many. This is where personal trainers fit into the health and wellness model. People hire a personal trainer for many different reasons, they want to lose weight, their doctor recommended they exercise, or just to improve their fitness. The client’s fitness/health goals are sometimes not very specific. It is up to the trainer to discuss with the client and help set realistic and measurable goals. These goals should be tied into a deep meaning for the client. Sure, they may want to lose 20 pounds, but the client’s “why” must be also identified. After a bit of digging, the client may open up and say how losing the weight will help him/her get back to a healthy weight and will give him/her more energy to enjoy time with kids. Once this “why” is found the trainer can better motivate the client and keep him/her on track during the program.
During the “interview” process, the trainer must identify what road blocks the client has and create a program to work around these blocks. Common barriers are: not enough time, not enough energy, lack of exercise knowledge, and not seeing results in past exercising. Many of these barriers can be broken with the right intervention of a personal trainer. Let’s take time and accountability, having a set schedule of when a client meets with a trainer will keep them coming in on a regular basis, and the trainer will hold the client accountable to his/her previously set goals. It is hard to find the motivation to get to the gym after a long and stressful day at work. Having that appointment with the trainer will lower the likelihood of a client not coming in.
The trainer must cultivate a supportive and 
motivational environment for the client. The relationship between the client and trainer must be set up with open lines of communication; the client should feel open to share struggles and daily issues but also wins and successes. Exercising is a great stress reliever, and the client may also take that time to talk through some daily stressors. This is important for his/her emotional health as well as physical. Many exercises are uncommon to the average client, and can seem awkward and uncomfortable at first. The trainer will help by demonstrating proper form and coach the client on how to safely perform the exercise. The trainer should explain how and why the program is set up the way it is and give the client choices and a say in how the program is implemented. Empowering the client with choices helps to build his/her autonomy and feelings of confidence in the program and individual abilities.
It is important to remember that the trainer is here to be a guide and keep the client on the right path as they work together to achieve goals and results.
By Alex Nigro
Personal Trainer and PIT Coach
Four Seasons Health Club